The Fledge Effect Read Online Free PDF

He stepped in her way, blocking the
view.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing,” he grinned.
“Then what is this cage for?” she said,
gripping it tightly close to her.
“No reason,” he said trying to yank it
from her.
“Then there is no reason you need this.”
He reached for it again. “I can’t answer
you at this moment.”
“I want answers. Now, Marcel!”
“Later,” he hissed. Calista groaned behind him.
“At least tell me what is wrong with her.
Maybe I could help.”
“No. She is just sick, that’s all.”
“With what? Come on. We are scientists; we can help her get better together.”
“She is fine. She just needs to rest.”
“She is my friend,” Emily said, burrowing her eyes deep into his.
He shook his head. “She is my daughter. I got this. Now go away!”
Emily felt reluctant to leave, but allowed him to take the cage.
•••
Grant found it hard to rest his eyes. More
shrieks continued to grow outside his window,
keeping him wide-awake. He got up, rubbed his
eyes, and sat on the edge of his bed. He groaned,
“Crap.” He didn’t have a clue as to why sleep
evaded him. He couldn’t get the conversation
out of his mind.
He stood, grabbing his phone. He wondered if his girlfriend was awake as well. He
watched the slightly lighted streets through his
window curtains. Misses Sawyer ran down the
street, and she was still in her pajamas. Grant
flipped his ponytail over his shoulder, getting a
closer look as he ended his phone call. “What
the… That is odd attire to be doing some late
night jogging.”
He rubbed his eyes. Am I dreaming?
He tried to see if she were being chased.
But no one was behind her. “Hmmm. She’s a
weird one.”
He ran down the stairs, but noticed he
was alone. Jeremiah wasn’t in the study,
kitchen, or anywhere. Grant rounded the corner
that separated the kitchen from the dining
room. “Hmmm,” he sighed. Extinguished cigarettes sat in the ashtray near the entranceway.
He knew his father left quite some time ago. But
he hadn’t the faintest idea of when that time
was.
A motor could be heard nearing the
house. A block away, as far as Grant could tell.
He headed towards the living room, half expecting to find his father smoking on the porch
swing. But, he wasn’t there.
He noticed a pair of headlights, shining
in from the living room. He heard the car park
in the driveway, followed by a slam of the car
door. He looked out the window. It was his dad.
Jeremiah treaded up the porch, swinging the
door open.
“Where did you go this late?” Grant interrogated.
He lifted up a grocery sack. “We were
out of eggs.” His hand shook in the air. Just the
weight of the eggs was enough to make him give
out. He rested his arm to his side.
Grant didn’t know how that was possible, when there was already a full carton in the
fridge. He shrugged. “Okay.”
He felt sorry for his father. He was
afraid the old man was beginning to get senile.
He patted Jeremiah’s shoulder. “Okay, now
time for bed.”
Jeremiah coughed. “I’m not that old,
boy.”
“Sure you’re not.” Grant was determined to ensure his father’s well-being. He
promised his mother that he would. After she
passed away, Jeremiah was diagnosed with lung
cancer. Then, after several years of battling it, it
was gone. No trace of it ever being there.
Grant didn’t understand how that was
possible. The doctors claimed it was a medical
miracle, but Jeremiah didn’t seem too impressed. Almost, as if, he expected that to happen. It baffled Grant. Yet, he always gave
thanks. He knew his father as a good man, and
knew it was about time for a good person to get
what they deserve.
Lately, to Grant, it seemed as if only the
bad ones were ever having anything good happen to them while the actual good people had to
suffer just because they were nice.
Jeremiah passed it off, handing him the
eggs. “Put these away. Night.”
“Hey, did you happen to pass Misses
Sawyer on your way here?”
He paused