Eve of Man (The Harvest Book 2) by Anne Ferretti Read Free Book Online Page A

the warehouses, seven
rows of buildings, numbering thirty-five in total. She walked to the front of
the first building in the last row. The massive doors slid open at her silent command.
She walked past the tables of specimens hooked up to a multitude of tubes, not
seeing or caring about them as a living being. They were a means to avoid an
end. The Adita needed the humans if they were to continue on, to not turn into
savages controlled by instinct alone. The fact that her people were already
driven by a strong desire to survive, one that eliminated compassion or any such
feeling beyond that of basic instinct, never occurred to Eve.  Had this fact
been pointed out to her, that the Adita behaved much like animals, it would not
have altered her view. If asked, she would give her opinion that humans were
not so far advanced from the beast. Given the choice to live or to perish, they
would survive by whatever means necessary. The nature of the beast cannot be
altered or changed.
    Eve was almost to the end of the row when she paused at
the foot of a female specimen. The sound of the woman’s beating heart was clear
and a quicker pace than any other. She examined the woman lying on the table.
Behind the blank stare of her brilliant green eyes, Eve felt her strength
radiating outward. Laying her hand on the woman’s forehead, Eve explored
inside. Images of a familiar face flashed before her as the woman’s memories
played out. Eve focused on the future and the woman’s place in it. Life and
death, death and life, both were associated with the woman. An overpowering
emotion filled Eve’s mind and body. A feeling she’d experienced when Agra spoke
of Caleb’s future, his purpose. The one she’d felt when he’d spoke of
termination; so intense at times it liked to crush her. The same fierceness she
sensed coming from the woman.
    Eve decided then and there to take the woman to Earth
when she returned. She would help Eve gain the trust of the humans and would be
needed in the future. Reasons yes, but not considerable enough to ask
permission to again break Adita law. An action that if taken was against all
the rules and meant death for even allowing the thought to occur, but this
woman was important. Making the humans accept her was in part true, but not the
only motivating factor in play. Other events were going to happen in the future
and this woman would play a role in those occasions. Eve’s self-preservation
instincts were strong, stronger than loyalty to her people and of this admission
she felt no guilt. Maybe the cause being she’d spent too much time alone or perhaps
she’d taken on more human traits than she’d realized. The reasons did not
matter, only Caleb mattered.
    The process to revitalize the woman was complicated and
not without great risk, but Eve had other preparations to attend first. She
moved on from the woman, down to the last table in the row.
    “Good morning Captain Chase. How does your blood taste
today?” She smiled down at the putrid blob of flesh lying on the table. “Don’t
fret. This will be the last time.”
    Chase didn’t stir, but Eve could hear his muddled
thoughts. “Still cursing me?” She traced her finger down his arm. “Soon you can
rest forever.” Eve pulled his wrist to her mouth and drained the remainder of
his blood. She was sorry to lose him. His blood was sweeter than any she’d ever
tasted, except for maybe her first kill. He too had been a worthless despicable
man she’d taken great pleasure in killing. Chase’s arm fell limp to the side of
the table. His heart pushed out two more beats before giving up; his rancid
thoughts churned no longer. Despite her disdain, Eve appreciated his efforts.
He fought all the way to the end, never believing he would die. To her
surprise, his last lucid thought had been filled with regret. Not for being a
despicable man, but for lost opportunities, for Charlie.
    Charlie. Eve repeated the girls name in her mind and
brought forth an