Banes by Tara Brown Read Free Book Online Page A

see the light of the dark skinned girl.
    "Who was here?"
    "That be Mr. Brandon, he was here and I cooked him a breakfast."
    "Where is he now?"
    She shrugged her ghostly thin shoulders, "No clue miss. Not much of a talker that Mr. Brandon. You want I should make you something to eat?"
    Ari shook her head and walked out of the room, "Thanks anyway Annabelle."
    "Ari is that you, honey come in here." Lydia's voice filled the dark lonely hallway.
    Ari walked into the sewing room around the far side of the huge house.
    Lydia smiled up at her over her sewing glasses. She appeared to making something by hand regardless of the fact an old sewing machine sat no more than three feet from her.
    "Ari I need you to do something for me."
    Ari felt her spirits lift, "What, oh uhm sure whatever it is. I'm bored out of my mind."
    "We've been doing some tests on your cells and I need you to go to the gym in the back run on the treadmill as fast as you can for as long as you can."
    Ari sighed, "Okay."
    Lydia's grin grew slightly, "I need to cut you somewhere during the workout to see what your skins response is when your body is exerting itself."
    Ari laughed, old Ari cringed at the thought of a cut but it soothed New Ari. The idea of a slash along her skin while sweating and running was tantalizing like a chocolate sundae would be to most other girls.
    She ran upstairs and changed into running gear and ran to the gym to where Lydia stood beside the Ron man whom Ari wasn’t fond of.
    Ari climbed onto the treadmill as Ron approached her with a small blade in his hand. She felt her hackles rise as his shaking hand drew near her arm.
    "It's okay Ari. We will cut you twice for this exercise. I'm sorry honey."
    Ari shook her head never taking her eyes off Ron. His older face revealed his discomfort in being near her. Ari couldn’t help but wonder what he was exactly.
    A gleam of light whispered through the air as the blade came better into sight. Ron's cold clammy hand bit down on her thin arm and she watched in horror. The other Ari trembled in delight and as the blade slid along her flesh she moaned inside as the pain and stream of fresh red blood. Ron watched the thick crimson blood flow from her arm. He licked his lips slowly as Ari watched his breath increase.
    "Ron step back please." Lydia spoke softly breaking the plan New Ari had formulated involving grabbing the blade stabbing it into Ron's neck and watching in joy as his blood was spilled onto the dark grey carpet where hers was starting to drip.
    "Start the treadmill Ari, fast as you can in a sprint for as long as you can." Lydia sounded so clinical.
    Ari started the treadmill as Ron crossed room getting as much distance from her wound.
    Her legs started to push as her feet began to pound the moving platform. She pushed herself to run as hard as she could. She forgot about the wound, she left the blood behind and didn’t even consider the hate she felt for Ron. All she saw in the world was the desert road where she ran as hard as she could. She was lost in thought when she heard Lydia start to shout at her.
    "ARI LISTEN PLEASE!"
    She looked at the frown on Lydia's face, "Turn the machine off Ari."
    She nodded and pressed the emergency stop button.
    She was gasping for air, which she hadn’t noticed.
    Lydia walked to her taking her arm, "She's healed remarkably considering. Cut her again Ron."
    She looked at Ari and smiled softly. Ari frowned, "I'm outta shape Lydia." She tried to take a deep breath but struggled.
    "You were running at ten miles an hour for ten minutes. Anyone would have been out of breath."
    Ari winked holding her other arm to Ron, "I'm not anyone Lydia."
    Lydia laughed.
    Ron shook with anticipation and delight as he slid the blade down Ari's other arm again filling the air with the scent of her blood.
    "Run again Ari."
    Ari again started the treadmill running as fast as she could. She held back for a moment trying to get her stride noticing how her body almost ached