The Institute (Falling Ash Chronicles #1) Read Online Free PDF

choke.
    Of course, the fourth member of the Scorpion team. How could I forget? Jonathan Adler, the classic boy-next door. He came from a rich family that had paid well to get him into the program. He was supposed to be some sort of predictor, able to guess at different outcomes that might occur, but I didn’t buy it. More often than not his “predictions” were way off base.
    Jonathan and I had a bit of history. We’d dated briefly, very briefly, almost a year ago. It was all going well until I let him kiss me. He was my first kiss. It was too terrifying to let anyone get that close, knowing that one brush of the lips could send me spiraling into their memories. It had done exactly that. I’d found out I wasn’t the first person he’d kissed that day, or even the second. And now we had to work together while he bagged his next conquest? I edged out of her elbow range, scowling down at my beige protein drink.
    “Ells, don’t tell them a thing. You guys need to read your brief. I don’t want to hear about any of you not being prepared,” Traci said warningly. She rested her other hand on my shoulder, squeezing it supportively. I raised my head to find three accusing sets of eyes on me. I shrugged. Not my problem.
    “I have to go,” Jose said abruptly as he came to his feet, forcing Traci to drop her hand and step back.
    “Watch it, Jose. Take care of your tray,” Traci called. His tray lifted and floated over to the messy stack that decorated the top of the stainless steel counter leading into the dish room, clattering into place. A single napkin rested on top of the stack, folded into his trademark swan. It looked oddly battered with one wing coated in oatmeal. “By hand,” Traci said, exasperated. She released a heavy sigh, turning back to us and offered a friendly smile. “I’ll see all of you at eight-thirty sharp,” she said. There was a chorus of murmured agreements as she turned and headed back towards her table.
    “Well, that was disappointing,” Kate grumbled, pouting as she shoved her tray away from her. Unable to sit any longer I abruptly came to my feet.
    “I’ve got to get going. I need to… um…. meditate before the meeting,” I said. I grabbed my tray and left the table before they could stop me, stacking it on top of Jose’s. Realizing I had forgotten my bag I turned to head back to the table. Already Kate and Tye’s heads were bent conspiratorially together. As I got closer I could hear that they were talking about me.
    “She’s so weird. Seriously,” Kate said.
    “Come on. Play nice. We need to be on her good side. Things are already promising to be rough with Jonathan on our team,” Tye warned. So that was it, the ‘tension’ Kate had referred to. I stiffened my shoulders, gritting my teeth. I deliberately clomped over, grabbing my bag. Kate leapt back in her seat, looking guilty. Tye offered me a wary smile. I glared as I shrugged my backpack over my shoulder and walked away.

Chapter 4
    Why was I surprised? I shouldn’t care. I hardly knew them, and they certainly didn’t know me. I didn’t care. So why did I find myself battling tears, stung by their careless words? I needed to be alone; a moment of solitude to settle my mind around the fact that I was going to have to work with the jerks. Don’t let them see your pain, I chided myself. Even a moment of weakness could be construed as a soft spot that they would mercilessly take advantage of. That I’d learned early on.
    I escaped through the glass doors that lead out to the courtyard that marked the center of the Institute. It was roughly the size of a football field, the entire area covered by perfectly green grass that never grew above an inch. It was mercilessly chopped before it got a chance to be unruly. A weed wouldn’t dare invade. A long track ran along the outside edge where students could jog. The enclosure was surrounded on all sides by long windows that went up all three stories.
    The courtyard was full