The Forbidden Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page A

all of
this?"
    "She went to the hospital with Ralph. That's the young
man you saved. He was helping us move some things around in the garden. I think
she's suspected there's more to you for a long time, but she loves you and
would never betray you. Don't worry about that."
    "That's not what worries me. While surfing this
morning, I had a sense that someone was watching me. Then I saw a man in black
before he got in his car and drove away. I know it sounds paranoid, but you
always said I should trust my instincts."
    He also told the priest about his fight with Brad, and his
best friend's concern about exposure with this contest.
    Father Patrick stayed silent until the end. "What do
you think you should do?"
    Drake sighed. "I hate when you do that."
    "When I make you think for yourself? Yes, I'm wretched
that way."
    "I want to stay in the competition. I can't live my
life in hiding forever."
    Father Patrick's kind eyes held Drake's for several long
moments. "You're on a path none of us can understand. You have to do
what's right for your heart. I can only tell you that I do see dark spirits
around you, so whatever course you choose, be careful."
    His words sent chills through Drake. Father Patrick's sixth
sense was unparalleled. If he said Drake was in danger, Drake believed him, but
that didn't mean dropping out of the competition would keep him safe.
    Drake said goodbye to Father Patrick, and an unexpected
melancholy swelled in his heart. He hugged the old man, who stood a good foot
shorter than him.
    "I'll come by tomorrow to help with the rest of the
garden."
    The priest pierced Drake with his eyes. "Be well, Son.
Whatever happens, know that you have a destiny to fulfill in this world."
    Strange parting words, but not unusual for someone who
enjoyed the cryptic. Still, they unsettled Drake.
    The feeling intensified as he walked out.
    A horn beeped, and the shy girl who'd sold him tamales not
so long ago hurried up to him with her cart, only her smile had turned to fear.
"Señor, alguien que ha destrozado su coche."
    "What? Who vandalized my car? What did you see?"
    The force of his words frightened the timid girl. He calmed
his voice. "I'm sorry to scare you. Please, tell me what happened."
    He followed her around the corner to his car, which sat
lower to the ground than it should, and... something had been painted on his
window.
    "Shit!" He ran to the car, fearing what he'd find.
    All four tires had been cut and the word
"FREEK!"—misspelling and all—had been spray-painted across his
window.
    "Who did this? Did you see?"
    Her eyes widened. "I sorry. I no stop him. I scared of
big man in black."
    "It's okay. You did the right thing. It's not worth
getting hurt over. Thank you for telling me."
    The damage looked like some kids pulling a prank, but a big
man in black sounded more like a hit posed to look like a prank. Why? To scare
him?
    Drake pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to the
girl. "Thank you for telling me."
    She nodded, slipped the money into her pocket, and dashed
off.
    Drake pulled his phone out and called Brad. "Dude,
someone knows."

Chapter 4 – Sam
     
    Music blared from Luke and Lucy's suite, next door to my own
room. I let myself in and plopped down on their overstuffed purple couch.
    Lucy saw me and turned down the radio. "What
happened?"
    I tossed her the file.
    Luke walked through the wall from his bedroom into the
living room and stood behind his sister to read. He frowned when he noticed the
dates. "What about your interview, and the contest?"
    "Higgins said he'd try to get me in, but I've got to
take this assignment." I sighed and flopped back on the couch. "This
totally sucks."
    Lucy sat next to me with her arm draped over my shoulders.
"At least you got your painting done. Come on, no more moping. It's
Saturday. Let's eat junk food and watch movies."
    So we did. All weekend long.
    When Monday arrived, so bright and early, I had a major
sugar hangover, but my mood had improved from