Eyes Ever to the Sky (A Sci Fi Romance) (The Sky Trilogy) by Katie French Read Free Book Online

fought a shovel and won? 
    A cold chill ran up Hugh's arms as he looked at the metal blade. The pain was nearly gone now. This couldn't be happening.
    The man watched as Hugh pulled himself up. In the sliding light, his face flashed with first terror and then fury. A snarl tore out of his throat. He dropped the shovel with a clang and grabbed for Hugh.
    Hugh stumbled into the corner, knocking a shelf off the wall. The man’s hairy fingers clawed at him, curled into his throat. Then they were choking, choking. Thumbs dug into Hugh's Adam's apple. The man's brown irises had receded to wild, round pupils. Spittle flecked the corners of his five o’clock shadow.
    “ Don't!” Hugh choked. His air dwindled. Stars danced across his vision. His tongue was a useless weight in his mouth.
    Hugh slammed both palms into the center of the man's chest. It felt like pushing a scarecrow. Instantly the choking hands were gone, and the attacker, too. The man sailed backward, arms flailing, shirt rippling. He slammed through the shed doors, smashing them open. They thwacked back and forth wildly. There was a thud somewhere on the grass beyond. Then silence. The bees buzzed madly.
    Hugh stared at the space where the man had been a moment before. He’d only wanted to breathe. He’d only shoved him. 
    Shaking, Hugh pulled through the shed, past the mangled shovel and over the weed whacker. He stepped onto the grass, one hand on the door to keep his footing. In the splash of light from the shed, he could see the body. He went to it, barely breathing, the dry July lawn crinkling under his feet.
    What have I done?
    He leaned over the body, his hands shaking. He was about to lose his lunch, but he had to see if he'd killed him. The man lay supine on the lawn, one arm straight out, the other tucked beneath. His flip-flop lay five feet to the left in a flowerbed. Hugh bent down, sure now he'd throw up, and pressed his hand to the man's back. The shirt was wet in the crease between the shoulder blades. Hugh yanked his hand back. Was it blood? No, only sweat. He leaned down again and listened for breathing. Oh God, let him be breathing.
    The man’s chest rose and fell softly. Hugh slumped back on his heels and blew out a breath. He rolled the man over. Grass stains painted the man's shirt, torn at the sleeve in a ragged white flap. A welt swelled like a plump fruit on his right temple. Other than that, he looked okay.
    The porch light snapped on. Inside the house a woman began screaming.
    Hugh dropped the man and bolted into the night.
     
     
     

CHAPTER EIG HT — CECE
    Tuesday 9:05 p.m.
     
     
    Cece opened the freezer and pressed her forehead to the cold metal door. Her shirt clung damply to both pits, her ponytail had come loose and wet strands were stuck to the back of her neck, but the clock said nine p.m. Her first day on the job was over.
    “ Brutal, right?” Fer asked as she slumped against the wall. Sweat dappled Fer’s forehead and glistened on her upper lip. Her size eighteen body sagged from every angle. She dug out another Kit Kat and snapped it between her teeth.
    Cece scrapped some ice from the clump clinging to the freezer wall and pressed it to the back of her neck. “Why didn’t you tell me it was like working in the depths of hell when you got me this job?”
    “Because,” Fer said, chewing, “misery loves company. Can’t sweat my ass off alone.”
    Cece threw a hunk of ice at her. Fer dodged and threw the remaining Kit Kat half at Cece’s head. It bounced off her skull and tinkled to the floor. “Hey!” Cece said. “That’s chocolate abuse.”
    “Here,” Fer dug another out of the jar in between the Heath bars, Nerds and chocolate chips. She tossed the Kit Kat in a clean arch. Cece caught it and took a bite.
    “ Perks of the job,” Fer said, chomping on another. “Lizzy doesn’t care if we eat the merchandise as long as we don’t go crazy. Now,” Fer rubbed her palms together, “Travis took off early to