The Fledge Effect Read Online Free PDF Page A

do this! Now come with
me!”
Nick’s consciousness soon faded after
the man pounced on her back. However, he was
still able to catch glimpses of the two struggling.
Sound evaded his ears and an icy fire burned
throughout his chest. Screams, on the inside,
filled his head with the only noise he could remember.
“Please don’t make me do this to you.”
He closed his eyes, retracting a metal syringe
from his coat pocket. “I’m begging you to stop!”
“Never, Father!” she growled. With a
hiss, she lowered her face. “ Never will I stop. ”
He jabbed her in the shoulder, sinking
the needle deep into her clavicle. He exhaled as
the liquid transferred inside her. “I’m so sorry.”
She collapsed on Nick, as her muscles
stiffened. Pulling her up to his chest, he whispered in her ear, “ I’ll fix this. I know I can. Calista, I’ll bring you back to life. Your old life… As
a human. That is a promise. ”
With his other hand, he tapped on
Nick’s face. Each tap hardened. “Sir? Are you
okay?”
Nothing but trapped groans escaped his
lips.
Nick’s eyelids weighed down as he lifted
them open. Flames now ignited inside his chest,
falling down from the side of his neck. He
groaned, “I can’t… I… My chest… Breathless.”
Marcel tilted Nick’s head to the side,
checking for a pulse. Two puncture holes bled
without pause. The man slapped his face
harder. Without a response, he sat back on the
bed, thinking I’m too late. But, not too late to
save my Daughter. Heaving the stiff body over
his shoulder, he left Nick’s home praying this is
the end.
On the way back to his lab, he aimed to
take samples of the three lifeless bodies that laid
still on the pavement. When he approached the
spot, he lost his breath. “They’re gone!”
He searched the open road, wondering, who would have taken the bodies. He prayed
that no one would know it was he. But, the cameras in his lab would suggest otherwise.
The door to the institution proved difficult to open with only one hand. He patted his
pockets, searching for his key card. “Shit!” He
realized it was on his desk. He searched the
parking lot, looking for another worker.
Two beeps, from a car alarm being engaged, caught his attention. “Emily?” he asked,
as she retreated from the driver’s side.
She looked up, and smiled. “Dr. Johnston.” Her smile soon faded. “Who is that on
your shoulder?”
“No time for questions. I need in.”
“Forgot your card again? Is that Calista?”
“Err, um, yes. But, I need to get in.”
She pulled her card from her purse.
“Okay, okay. Don’t rush me. Is she okay?”
“Yes,” he half-grinned.
She squinted her eyes, not believing
him for a second. “What’s going on?” she said,
opening the door open for him.
Before she received an answer, he disappeared down the hall to his lab. He slammed
the door shut, and seconds later reopened it.
“Get me a cage. Preferably a big one. Just leave
it by my door.”
He almost shut the door, and then he
remembered his manners, “Oh, and thank you.”
“Sure, thing,” Emily said as he shut his
door. “Something is up, and I am going to find
out.”
A student that had been shadowing her
greeted Emily at her door. “I called you three
hours ago.” His lisp, caused by his braces, made
her grunt. Her head was banging.
“Get me some Tylenol and water,
please.”
“Okay, but first, I have something important to show you.”
She rubbed her temples. “Is it anything
to do with teaching the monkey sign language?”
“Yes,” he grinned, returning with what
she had asked for.
She shook her head. “Go home,
Frankie.”
He frowned. His pimply face turning
red, he said, “Okay.”
Emily signed out on the biggest cage
she had available. She grimaced at the dirtiness
of the cage. However, she got the hint it was
needed ASAP.
She heeled it down the hall, knocked on
his door, and waited for him to answer. She
peered over his shoulder. Only a woman’s hand
was visible.