The Agrista (Between the Lines Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Marie slowly crossed the room and sat down in a chair across from her mother. “How are you feeling?” She placed her hand atop her mother’s. Melissa sharply looked up at her in a startled response. “I need to ask you something. I know it’s been a very long time, but do you remember why you came here?” She waited for an answer, but Melissa retained a stony silence. “Do you remember what you saw before you came here?”
      A flicker of panic flashed across Melissa’s face. It only lasted a split-second, but Marie saw it very plainly. She felt encouraged that her question had at least prompted a reaction from her mother. It may have not necessarily been useful, but it was something, and something was more than she’d seen in a while.
      “Mom, what did you see?” Marie struggled to keep her voice calm and even. Melissa looked like she was about to say something, then stopped herself short. “It’s okay. You can tell me,” she attempted to muster up an encouraging smile, but its insincerity only seemed to frighten Melissa more. Ugh, this is pointless! “Mom, I have to go.”
      Normally, Marie would try to visit with her mother for a couple of hours, but she couldn’t handle this right now with everything else that was going on.
      “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll come back soon. I love you.” She leaned forward and gave Melissa a quick peck on the cheek. The simple sentiment always felt awkward. Six years later, and her mother still felt like a stranger.
      Marie escaped the room as quickly as she could. She didn’t want her mother to see her upset, ever , and she was having a hard time keeping her emotions in check right now. Melissa was constantly on the brink of falling into a million pieces, and it would only take the slightest provocation to push her over the edge. It saddened Marie that she could never truly be herself around her mother, but there was no way around it. She had learned to accept their unorthodox relationship for what it was.
      It took all of her strength to resist sprinting down the hallway and out the door. She forced herself to slow down to a walk, but kept a brisk pace. Just as Marie pushed the door open to make her escape, she heard the rambunctious nursemaid calling to her.
      “Marie!” Isabel bellowed from the hallway, standing with her hands on her hips. “Don’t tell me you were thinkin’ of leavin’ without saying goodbye!” she wagged her finger in mock scorn, but ended her statement with a large, goofy grin. “I have something for you!” Isabel was panting by the time she’d reached Marie, even though she’d only run about twenty feet. “Your mama wanted you to have this.” She handed Marie a folded up piece of faded purple construction paper.
      “What is it?”
      “Got me, sugar! Now, give me a hug goodbye!” Isabel wrapped her up in a bear hug.
      “Bye Izzy,” Marie smiled, returning her embrace.
      “Don’t wait too long to visit again, ya hear?” Isabel released Marie from her grasp, grinning from ear to ear.
      “Okay Izzy, I won’t.”
     
     
      Marie examined the mysterious parchment the second she was alone in her car. The first thing she noticed as she pulled the corners apart was the writing at the top. It read: To Mommy, from Marie , written in little kid’s chicken scratch. She was shocked that her father had actually delivered it.
      Below the writing was a picture. Of what, she wasn’t exactly sure. It was drawn by a little kid, after all. After a thorough examination, she finally deduced that it was some kind of cat-dog hybrid. Little kids and their imagination, she snorted. After staring at it for a few minutes, she had a sudden realization, but she wasn’t exactly sure what it meant.
      The creature in the picture had silver eyes and blue wings. She thought back to the terrifying eyes she’d seen last night, and the peculiar feather she’d found a couple of days ago. Why had her mother given her this picture?