The Tainted (The Tainted Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

you screaming.”
    “I was screaming?” Rebecca finally looked at Ingrid and it pained her to see the worry etched across the old woman’s face.
    “Yes, but you’re alright now and that’s all that matters.” Ingrid offered her a smile, but Rebecca still couldn’t find the strength to return it.
    “Come, I was just going to head downstairs to make scones for breakfast. Why don’t you help me?” Ingrid stood up and looked down at Rebecca.
    She still felt sweaty and shaken from her dream, but Rebecca wanted nothing more than to forget it all. Standing up, she towered over little Ingrid and nodded.
    By the time they were pulling the scones from the oven, Rebecca had been able to push aside the images from her dream. Ingrid had done her best to distract Rebecca, jovially talking about the garden and the plethora of vegetables they were soon to receive. It helped to speak of other things, to divert her attention, but Rebecca knew the dream was still there, haunting the back of her mind.
    The moment the smell of fresh scones wafted out of the oven and began permeating the house, Thomas appeared at the kitchen door. “Scones? My favorite,” he said with a smile as he sat down in his chair at the table.
    As they ate, Rebecca could tell that both Ingrid and Thomas were going out of their way to be happy and cheerful in an effort to calm her. She smiled and laughed at their jokes, doing her best to appear alright, but she knew there was only one thing that could truly calm her.
    As soon as they finished eating, Rebecca pulled on her trainers, told them she’d be back before nightfall, and slipped out into the forest. Today she didn’t run like she usually did. Instead she walked slowly, working to clear her mind.
    It was so peaceful amongst the trees. The world around her seemed to glow green as the light filtered in through the leaves. Birds called their songs from the branches above, and every once in a while a chipmunk would come racing across her path, cheeks bulging with nuts.
    She was almost to her clearing when she heard a noise that made her freeze instantly. A loud crashing sound was coming from the woods to her left and was heading toward her at an alarming speed. Rebecca threw herself behind the closest tree trunk, trying to ignore how much this situation resembled her dream, and waited.
    As the sound grew louder and louder, Rebecca’s curiosity got the better of her and she peaked her head around the side of the trunk just in time to see a giant figure come racing through trees, heading almost directly to where she was hiding. It wasn’t until the figure was less than 20 feet away that she recognized it as Maverick.
    Rebecca almost threw herself out from behind the tree before she noticed something about him that held her back. His face looked panicked, almost frightened. Every once in a while he’d chance a look behind him as he ran, never slowing his fast pace. He sped right past her and darted into the trees on the other side of the game trail.
    Rebecca felt stunned and confused, but it wasn’t long before she heard a new crashing sound coming from where Maverick had dashed through the trees only moments before. She looked toward the direction of the sound, searching desperately for any hint of who or what might be chasing him.
    When the figure burst into view, Rebecca froze, terror gripping her body. It was a tall, slender man, in a green, slim-cut, military-style uniform. The man ran at an alarming pace, even faster than Maverick, and his face looked angry and determined as he pounded forward. Within a matter of seconds, he’d run straight past her and into the trees where Maverick had gone.
    Rebecca remained motionless for a moment, not quite sure if she believed what her eyes had just seen. She was absolutely sure the uniform the man wore was identical to the ones she’d seen so many times in her dreams. But what did that mean? How could she have dreamt that?
    A loud yell from the trees ahead