Earth Blend by Lori Pescatore Read Free Book Online Page A

Ben's
presence close behind her. She went into the bathroom and tried to
close the door.
    Ben grabbed the
edge of the door as she tried to close it. "It stays open."
    "I need privacy,"
Laney said, giving her best pout.
    Ben narrowed his
eyes at her. "You try locking it and I'll break it down." He
warned.
    Laney nodded and
closed the door. She immediately went over to the window and
unlocked it. She turned on the faucet before opening up the window.
She had just pulled her upper torso through the window when she
heard the bathroom door open behind her.
    "Get back in
here!" Ben yelled.
    Laney hesitated
for only a moment before pulling her legs through. She scooted out
of Ben's reach through the window.
    Ben glared at her
as he raised his gun. "I said, get back here."
    Laney looked from
the gun to Ben. "No!" She yelled and began running as fast as she
could. It was at that moment that Steve ran out the back door
toward her. She tried to run faster toward the grove of trees
behind her house. She could hear Steve's footfalls behind her and
knew she would not be able to outrun him. Fear welled up inside her
throat when she suddenly heard a popping sound followed by Steve
yelling out in obvious pain. She stopped running and turned around.
Steve lay on the ground holding his leg.
    "Son of
a – " Steve groaned in pain.
    Laney watched as
blood soaked through Steve's pant leg. Her mind was telling her to
keep running but her body didn't listen. She went and knelt down
next to him.
    Steve stared at
her with a pain-filled expression.
    Laney placed her
hands on Steve's leg near the injury. Using her healing ability she
repaired the damage the bullet had caused. Her own leg began to
throb as the pain was pulled from Steve into her.
    Steve felt a
tingling in his leg. When Laney removed her hands to grab her own
leg, he rolled up his pant leg to look at the wound. The only
evidence of the injury was the damp bloodstains on his leg. There
was no bullet wound visible.
    Ben came rushing
over to them and grabbed Laney by the arm, yanking her to her feet.
"Sorry boss. You jumped in my shot."
    "Ow!" Laney
exclaimed as her own healing was taking longer than usual.
    "Leave her alone,
idiot." Steve ordered.
    "What?" Ben asked
but released Laney, who fell to the ground holding her own leg.
    Steve scooted next
to Laney and raised her head. "Did you heal me?" he asked her.
    Laney nodded as
more tears streamed down her face.
    Steve used his
thumb to wipe away one of her tears and smiled. "What else can you
do?" He did not give her a chance to answer. He stood testing his
leg. It felt fine.
    Ben stared
questioningly at him.
    Steve just smiled
and picked Laney up into his arms, settling her on his hip.
    Laney's use of
abilities and lack of food made her sleepy. "I want my daddy." She
said before resting her head on his shoulder.
    "I'm your daddy
now." Steve said and walked back into the house. Laney had already
drifted off to sleep in his arms. Steve ordered Ben and the other
man to gather a few items from Laney's room, then they were
off.
    Life as Laney knew
it would never be the same. Over the next forty-five years she
would live her life being used and abused until the day she made
her escape.
     

7. How to Begin
     
    Present Day
    "I'm your Daddy
now."
    Julie slowly woke
from her dream hearing the name of the man who had taken her from
the life she knew. Once she had escaped to the small Virginia town
she now lived in; she changed her name from Laney to Julie. Her
reasoning was so they would not find her.
    She stretched in
her nice warm bed as she recalled the events of the last few days.
Sitting up, she looked around her room. The apartment was furnished
but she had not been there long enough to add any personal touches.
There was one personal item in the bed with her. "Gero," she smiled
and picked up the stuffed cat. Austin had won her the adorable
plush toy at the carnival they attended. "I wonder how he is
doing?" She asked aloud. Austin was the