Dissolve by Andrea Heltsley Read Free Book Online Page B

my gut that picking him up was the right thing to do. He reached my window and leaned in.
     
    “Thanks so much for stopping. It is getting really hot out here. Where are you headed?” he asked.
     
    “We are headed to Florida, down the west coast, how about you?” I asked peering into those piercing brown eyes.
     
    “Sarasota eventually, I sure could use a ride. I wouldn’t be any trouble. I have money and can help out,” he offered.
     
    I looked at Nessa and she gave a reluctant nod. We needed more money and he would help us with our cover. It truly was a brilliant idea. I nodded to the mystery hitchhiker, and then stepped out of the car. I was surprised when he threw his arms around me in thanks before letting himself into the backseat with haste. I reentered the car and we headed back on the road towards Florida.
     
    “So, this is Nessa and I am Cora. What shall we call you?” I asked with a light laugh.
     
    “My name is Noah. I can’t thank you enough for picking me up and taking a gamble on me. I promise I am not a killer or anything.”
     
    “Okay Noah, how did you end up in this predicament?” Nessa asked still skeptical.
     
    “My car broke down in Tennessee and I had to hitchhike to get down here.”
     
    “What happened to your other ride?” I asked.
     
    He put his head down in disgust as if he was fishing for the right words. “He was some creepy guy. He kept buying me drinks at the gas stations and insisting I keep hydrated. I don’t know why, but he was off. I wasn’t feeling too well and it was like he was pleased by it. At the last gas station, I made a point to lose him.”
     
    Alarm coursed through me and I could tell that one look at Nessa confirmed her suspicions as well. This guy had been with the guy who set this in motion. My guard went on high alert and I stared at Noah more intently. I tried not to let on that the wan look my skin was taking on and the sickness I felt at the mere thought of the creepy man.
     
    “Was he tall, dark and handsome?” I asked.
     
    Noah’s eyebrows shot up at that. “Yeah I guess, I don’t really check out other guys. How did you know? Do you know him?”
     
    “Not exactly, but I have a theory. How are you feeling now?”
     
    “Do you have a headache or any sweating?” Nessa interjected as she followed my line of questioning, interested now.
     
    “Yeah, how did you know? I think I might have a migraine. Do you have any ibuprofen?”
     
    “Oh hell, this is so not good,” Nessa said.
     
    “Do you think he is going to be like us?” I asked Nessa.
     
    “Like you how?” Noah said on guard now.
     
    “That creepy man has been following us. I don’t know why us, but he has been for a while now. Are you sure he didn’t send you here to us?” Nessa explained.
     
    “I swear I am just an innocent bystander. He picked me up just outside Nashville. I didn’t know him from Adam. Why is he following you?”
     
    “We don’t know, but he is extremely creepy. That I do agree with,” I answered.
     
    My suspicion soon dissipated and I began to pity Noah. He was going to be like us and he didn’t even know the half of it yet. It was a good thing I convinced Nessa to pick him up. He was safer with us than alone. I reached in the bag and grabbed some aspirin for him and a bottle of water.
     
    “Here, hope this helps,” I offered.
     
    “Thanks. It seems to be getting worse by the minute,” he said as he swallowed the aspirin and downed the water in a few gulps.
     
    Nessa shot me an unsettling look then returned to driving mutely. I knew she was thinking the same as me and was totally freaking out. This man was mutating us into super humans and we had no idea why or just how many of us this had happened to. Tom was just a small piece to this grueling puzzle we had yet to put together.
     
    I tried to shake it off and turned up the stereo on as I sank back and tried to calm myself in silence. Noah fell asleep and was to the point of