The Deepest Red Read Online Free PDF Page A

looking at Clover I can’t help but think of her and hope I can find my way back home. I’m certain befriending Clover would be easy enough but Connor on the other hand, I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw him. I need to compose myself and wait for my chance to run. I fold my arms in irritation and wince from the injuries inflicted by jumping through the gas station’s window. In the darkness, I detect small black splotches on my clothing. Connor frowns at the evidence of my abrasions.
    “Yeah, that isn’t going to work for me,” I remark, giving Connor the best intimidating stare- disregarding my pitiful state. “I want to know why you’re here and for how long?”
    Connor’s mouth opens to answer but before he replies a loud noise catches our attention. His bad attitude and bored expression is quickly replaced with a demeanor of a mountain lion ready to strike. He draws his weapons immediately and in response I do the same. The moon’s light gleams off of his steady knives and I’m reminded of the deathly beauty he is.
    “What is it Connor?” I ask.
    “If you want to know why we’re here, then pay attention,” he states, still appearing as if he is about to pounce.
    “Why don’t you just-” he glances at me with cold eyes, silencing my reply.
    “Shhhhh. I can’t hear anything with you talking,” he says.
    I pause in my retort. Where is Clover?
    The small girl that was beside me moments ago has vanished. Eyes wide I search for her, but she is nowhere to be found. The strange sensation to protect her flares up in my chest but I deny the desire and attempt to focus on the noise moving closer. The danger seems to be coming from my right. Whatever it is, it isn’t trying to hide its sound. I hear the crackling of leaves then dragging. I swallow pass the thickness in my throat as a deep moan utters from the dark woods. Again, the terror races up my legs. I think I’ve been more frightened in the last few hours than I’ve been in my whole life.
    I steal a glance at Connor. He’s still standing, ready and waiting. He isn’t concerned about Clover’s disappearance so I decide to keep quiet. The thoughts of running enter my mind again but fear and curiosity have me locked into place. I want to see what is coming. I want to know what is threatening me.
    A form appears in front of us of a hunched over man. I can tell he has been severely injured due to the way he is dragging his left leg.
    “Tom?” I whisper.
    I feel Connor’s eyes on me having spoken aloud. No, it can’t be Tom . He promised to stay put . I take another gander at the stranger. The man’s arm seems to be swinging freely from his socket. I make a face of disgust. The shoulder must be dislocated or broken. I relax a bit. The injured man doesn’t seem to be much of a threat by the damage I perceive from here.
    I begin to put my knife away when the moonlight catches the sickly bluish tint of his skin. His face is sunken, with large searching eyes. There are boils that litter his skin causing a brownish red blood to ooze from each infected area. On one side of his body, half his face seems to be melted. The clothes he wears are like what we used in the infirmary back home. However, this gown is covered in dirt with rips around the hem.
    I suck in a breath in horror as the gruesome stranger steps into the moonlight. I’ve never seen anyone like this before. Is he even alive? He’s moving but what is wrong with him? I call out to the deformed man.
    “Stop where you are, don’t come any closer.”
    I hear Connor’s huff of a laugh from beside me.
    “How very original,” he says to me then cuts his glare to my face. “Anything else?” He scoffs.
    I stand there, eyes wide, shaking my head as the horrendous man focuses his attention solely on me.  
    I understand the dangerous glint reflecting in Connor’s eyes. His face is so stern, yet focused on the stranger in front of us. Before I can say a word in response, Connor states