Allie's War Season One by JC Andrijeski Read Free Book Online Page A

seat, as if uncomfortable, or maybe just hearing his own words. “I would rather not.”
    Hesitating, he glanced at my wrists.
    My eyes started their waterworks thing. I couldn’t help myself. “Please don’t kill me,” I said. “Mom’s not even over dad yet...she’d never be able to handle this. She might really kill herself, I mean it...she’ll drink herself to death...”
    His gaze drifted out the window. He seemed to sigh.
    “Please! Mister, I...” My cheeks burned before I’d even said it. “I was always supportive of seer’s rights,” I ventured. “I was never one of those people who—”
    He laughed, startling me back into silence.
    Unsure how to go on from that, I was still fumbling with words when he turned, his eyes like two flat stones.
    “I do not wish to kill you,” he said. “I am sorry for your mother. I truly am. There is nothing I can do.”
    I absorbed his words.
    I felt the blood slide from the veins in my face when it occurred to me that he really wasn’t letting me go. With the GPS gone, even the cops wouldn’t know where I was. Clearly, they’d be looking for me, though. I glanced out the dusty windows in a kind of desperation, but only saw a semi-truck a few hundred yards ahead.
    When a car began to pass a lane over, I shrieked, banging on the glass.
    He grabbed my arm, one-handed, forcing me around, so that I faced him. The strength behind his fingers made my muscles lock.
    “No,” he said sternly, as if talking to a dog. “Do not make me put you to sleep.” His eyes flickered between mine. “If you need to hear it again, I will talk. Do you agree?”
    I felt my muscles unclench as a part of me deflated.
    Probably not a good idea to piss off the murdering seer who could read my mind and had me handcuffed to his car.
    “Yeah,” I said. “Okay. Sure.”
    He released my arm, returning his gaze to the road.
    But he didn’t talk.
    We drove in silence while I massaged my wrist. When I glanced up next, he was staring at my bare thigh, which had shifted out from under the ugly, gray blanket he must have put over me after he knocked me out.
    Slowly, I retracted my leg, hiding it back under the blanket.
    I’d forgotten all those other stories about seers.
    Frowning, he averted his gaze. “I haven’t seen you in the flesh in a long time.” He gestured vaguely with one hand. “You are...larger.”
    I said, “Oh.”
    “You are safe with me, Alyson.”
    I let out a low snort. I couldn’t help it.
    “You say that a lot,” I muttered.
    My fingers clutched the chain between the metal bracelets. I tried to think if there was any way I could talk him into unlocking the handcuffs...then remembered he could read my mind. That pretty much limited my options.
    “Yes,” he agreed neutrally.
    I faced him, biting my lip.
    “So what are you?” I said. “A terrorist? One of those ‘unaffiliateds’ who want a seer nation? What?”
    He made that soft clicking noise with his tongue. I watched him do it, fascinated in spite of myself. I remembered reading somewhere about seer language, how they used sign language in addition to verbal and telepathy.
    “Alyson,” he said. “Killing him bought us time only. I’d prefer not to waste it while you assume my agenda is that of fictitious seers portrayed on your human news.” He glanced at my face. “I was sent to bring you back to our world. That is all. I would only kill you––”
    Letting out a shriek, I slammed my shoulder against the door and window.
    The man grabbed my forearm, roughly.
    Once more, I found myself staring up at his face.
    “...I would only kill both of us if my attempt failed. If I failed, Allie. Understand?”
    I found myself staring back and forth between those clear, glass-like eyes. As I did, my shoulders relaxed involuntarily.
    “No,” I said. “I don’t understand.”
    “But you believe I will not hurt you.” I heard relief in his voice. “Good. That is good.” He released my arm, putting both hands