Fledgling: Book 1 (Afterlife) by Katrina Cope Read Free Book Online Page A

have served well.”
    A smile creeps onto Orange’s face. He looks relieved.  
    Archangel Michael summons the small cloud in between his hands and reaches in, withdrawing a shiny bean for Orange. Orange takes it and swallows as our leader moves along to Blue. Blue stands straight with his royal blue wings folded down his back as the archangel approaches. He places a finger on Blue’s forehead while he looks deep into his eyes. A white light passes through the finger just as it had done to Orange.  
    I am panicking. He's reading their minds. How am I going to bypass this? I can’t let him see my conflicting thoughts over the conscience implants — he would be so mad. I have to find a way to block it, and quickly.  
    Blue’s finger touch lasted only a few seconds. Archangel Michael pulls away and places a hand on Blue’s left shoulder. “Good work fledgling. You have served well.”
    I am happy for Blue, but I roll my eyes out of sight. Of course, Blue has served well. He always does. Archangel Michael prepares the bean for Blue’s next mission and then steps toward me. My palms are sweaty. I am glad I don’t have to shake his hand. I am still wondering if I can block my conflicting thoughts.  
    His sapphire blue eyes are boring into mine. It feels awkward, but I have no choice. The finger touches my forehead, and a warmth seeps into my skin around that point. I can see my mission in front of my eyes. I see the replay of the man’s life, bad and good, pass in front of me again. I feel the sickness that came with the visions and then the face, the haunted face of my victim. The vision passes to the two young girls and their families and the joy of returning them safely home. I then see the hospital and the dead victim who had taken his life.  
    The warmth leaves from my forehead, and I realise he has removed his finger. He did not see my conflict over the inserted conscience, but I am not breathing a sigh of relief yet.  
    My eyes study Archangel Michael’s expression, trying to pick up any emotion. I cannot read him. He reaches forward and says, “Good work fledgling. You have served well; you saved an extra Innocent as well as the allocated one. But, you should never check on the victim of our punishment. You may not like what you find.”
    I can’t hide the frown. I am confused, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He holds his hands together and forms the cloud. Reaching in to grab hold of my shining bean, I take it and swallow. My stomach warms the second the bean reaches it. I hope this mission will not turn out with such a bad ending.
    Archangel Michael progresses along the line of fledglings. Even though I passed, I am the only one with the correction. The others all have the simple ‘Good work fledgling. You have served well’.  
    Am I the only one curious about what happens to our victims, or was I the only one who had someone die? I had to see what happened to my victim. The look on his face after the process is plastered across my mind.  
    With the final fledgling completed, Archangel Michael stands in front of us. He almost looks proud.  
    “Well done, Fledglings. You have all protected your Innocents. Go forth and complete your new mission with confidence.” He looks at each of us individually. “Might I remind you to come back to base as soon as you have completed your mission.” His eyes fall on me. “It is not wise, or encouraged to visit the receiver of the conscience.”  
    I try to hold his gaze, but so many mixed emotions are flowing through my body. How can I care for one person but not the other when I see goodness in both?  
    His gaze finally leaves me as he walks away while pacing. I sneak a quick look at Blue. He turns at the same time. His deep blue eyes express concern, but he puts on a smile for me. I can see he is trying to make me feel better.  
    In my peripheral vision, I see Archangel Michael turn back and head our way again. I spin my head to the front, and so does