The Sin Collector Read Online Free PDF Page B

told me never to take too much interest in humans. “They are very interesting creatures” he had said, “deeper than you would think, for ones who live so briefly, but in the end they will always die, there is no escaping it, and when they do you will only be hurt.”
     
    George’s sudden intense whisper broke through my own sad thoughts.
     
    “ I…..remember…..you.” He choked out.
     
    I nodded, “Yes George it’s me Lily, in the library, hang on George.” I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
     
    “ No…I remember you…in Japan….you looked the same.”
     
    It felt as if my stomach and heart had fallen completely out of my body. I began to shush him, telling him once again to save his energy. He struggled against the gasping coming from his own lungs and suddenly clutched my hand. He used the last of his strength to pull me closer to his lips. He gasped painfully every few words.
     
    “April 24 th …1945…we breached… the Machinato line…we stopped to rest and resupply…I was wounded...we had so many wounded….even more dead…”
     
    My entire body felt like it had been dumped in ice water. George had been there? George had seen me there. How could he remember? I had come to the line with the supply truck. The infantry commander was especially superstitious and strongly believed in the old ways. I had never even discovered how the Commander had found me. That night I performed the ritual of a Collector over 400 times on boys who looked far too young to be anywhere other than a playground. It had been too much. Japan was one of the last times I had ever performed the rites of a Collector. It was not the sins that overwhelmed me, but the loss of hope. I didn’t ever want to witness death again after that. Yet here I was, I could see the light of George’s eyes dimming, and I couldn’t lie to him.
     
    “ All this time and you remember me?” I whispered into his ear. When I leaned back, he was smiling. As though my confirmation had given him an extra burst of life.
     
    “I knew it,” He breathed. “I would recognize those eyes anywhere. The first time I saw you behind the desk.”
     
    I suddenly felt full of guilt and remorse. “I don’t do that anymore,” I whispered, ashamed. What if somehow George couldn’t find peace without me?
     
    “You….don’t….have to,” He gasped while still holding a big smile firmly in place. “Anne’s here.”
     
    Then he was gone. I felt his grip on my hand loosen and his eyes closed slowly. I sat back to lean against the bookshelves, sobbing now so hard I was shaking. The medics came around the corner then, but I knew it was too late. A soft hand clutched my elbow to help me to my feet. Only when I caught a glimpse of his strange sea-foam colored eyes did I remember his existence at all. My heart began to pick up pace immediately. What had he heard? How could I have been so reckless? In front of him of all people? I couldn’t speak. I was still shocked and crying. He sat me down at my desk pulling a chair up next to me. I sat there motionless for an uncertain amount of time. Finally a medic said something about coming back to file paperwork and I watched them roll out the stretcher. I was reminded that I wasn’t sitting alone when the puzzling man patted my back trying to soothe me and I let my head fall down into my hands.
     
    “Shhhh” he whispered gently in my ear as he stroked my hair. “It’s all going to be ok LiLi.”
     
    I sat bolt upright and stared directly into his eyes. It was only then that I realized exactly why his eyes were such a strange color.
     

 
     
    Chapter 3
     
    “William?” Was all I could force myself to say.
     
    “Actually I just go by Billy now; William is a bit old fashioned.”
     
    He smiled at me warmly but with a hint of hesitation. I had a million questions racing through my mind. I could have written a list a mile long. I ran through them in my head as I stared into his eyes, and