Shifters (Shifters series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Shifters rule while us Ordinaries work for them.”
    “It was nice enough. We weren ’ t slaves; we were left to pursue our own talents, but there were those that were discontent with being considered secondhand citizens,” Mom continues.
    Bryce nods mutely, eyes wide. He must remember some of this.
    “One d-day,” Dad stutters slightly, nervous, “There was a prophecy. A young Shifter would change the balance of things, make the Ordinaries rulers again.”
    I shake my head. This is all too crazy. There ’ s no way this can be true, but . . . “ The Young, ” I say. “They ’ re hunting down the Young to avert the prophecy.”
    Dad nods mutely. Mom looks pale and weak.
    “So, you fled here with us?” Tanner asks, unsure.
    “ Your parents, ” Mom says, her eyes filling with tears, “tried to bring you here, to safety. But, they had to . . . they gave you to us. Before . . .”
    Mom can ’ t continue, and I know. I know they died to save us. They died to give us a chance.
    My parents died for me.
    “So, you see,” Dad says, “Shifters are,” he shudders, “evil.”
    “ Not Kai, Dad, ” I say. “He ’ s only fourteen, like Tanner.”
    Mom ’ s eyes go wide. “Fourteen?”
    “There are others,” my Dad says. “Others like you who escaped to the lost colony, to Earth.”
    I shake my head. Is Kai an orphan too? Does he know this prophesy? “How did he find us?” I ask.
    Dad furrows his brow. “He must know a way to discover other Shifters, and if he does, they will too. You ’ re no longer safe here.”
    “It ’ s okay,” Mom whispers. “They haven ’ t Shifted yet.”
    I shake my head, afraid to tell them the truth.
    Lucky for me, Tanner is here to ruin my night and admit it to them. “Ryland has!”
    Mom and Dad both turn to look at me, ghost white. I glare at Tanner. “I . . . I Shifted tonight. I was scared when Kai pulled a knife.”
    “He what?” Mom practically shrieks.
    I grimace. I probably should’ve left that part out.
    “It was because Ryland tackled him,” Tanner continues.
    I’m so dead. Thanks, Tanner.
    “He thought she was a Shifter,” Tanner tries to explain.
    Dad ’ s mouth hangs open for a split second too long. Is that pride I see in his eyes? Is he proud of me?
    “Then they have to leave?” Bryce asks.
    I feel a rock in the pit of my stomach. Somehow, I know he ’ s right. We aren ’ t safe here. If they were willing to kill our Shifter parents, they ’ ll have no qualms about our Ordinary ones.
    “No!” Mom gasps, almost pleading with Dad.
    He looks pained, unsure of what to do.
    “Yes,” I say, resolute. “We ’ re leaving. We ’ re going with Kai.”
    Tanner looks at me like I ’ m insane. I do my best to tell him with my eyes. He has to understand. We have to leave. To protect Mom and Dad and Bryce and . . . surely no one would hurt little Peanut, would they?
    He looks frightened and angry with me, but I see understanding dawn on his face. He knows why we have to leave. He knows they won ’ t be safe if we ’ re here.
    “ You aren ’ t going off with some kid you just met,” Dad snaps. “We have a plan, David and I. We’re going to hide you. Everything’ll be fine.”
    But I know he ’ s wrong. I know it won ’ t work. I know we have to leave.
    “Okay,” I say. “Okay, we can do that.”
    Tanner meets my eyes, and I know we’ve silently agreed. We’re leaving. For them.

Chapter 5
    The iPod and the Fire Alarm
    –TANNER–
    How am I going to sleep now? I know Ryland is right. Nobody ’ s safe around us. How did Kai find us? He said he knew it was her. What did that mean?
    Bryce fell asleep quickly enough. He ’ s always tired though. The nightmares wake him constantly—and me for that matter. Mom said his nightmares are real. Now I feel bad for yelling at him and complaining to Mom all the time.
    I must have fallen asleep at some point ‘cause Ryland scares me to death when she throws her backpack on my bed.
    “Uh . . .