I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, James Frey, Jobie Hughes Read Free Book Online

“How do you feel?”
    “Like a million bucks,” I say.
    I pour myself a bowl of cereal and sit across from him.
    “What are you going to do today?” I ask.
    “Errands mostly. We’re getting low on money. I’m thinking of putting in a transfer at the bank.”
    Lorien is (or was, depending on how you look at it) a planet rich with natural resources. Some of those resources were precious gems and metals. When we left, each Cêpan was given a sack full of diamonds, emeralds and rubies to sell when we arrived on Earth.Henri did, and then deposited the money into an overseas bank account. I don’t know how much there is and I never ask. But I know it’s enough to last us ten lifetimes, if not more. Henri makes withdrawals from it once a year, give or take.
    “I don’t know, though,” he continues. “I don’t want to stray too far in case something else happens today.”
    Not wanting to make a big deal of yesterday, I wave the notion away. “I’ll be fine. Go get paid.”
    I look out the window. Dawn is breaking, casting a pale light over everything. The truck is covered with dew. It’s been a while since we’ve been through a winter. I don’t even own a jacket and have outgrown most of my sweaters.
    “It looks cold out,” I say. “Maybe we can go clothes shopping soon.”
    He nods. “I was thinking about that last night, which is why I need to go to the bank.”
    “Then go,” I say. “Nothing is going to happen today.”
    I finish the bowl of cereal, drop the dirty dish into the sink, and jump into the shower. Ten minutes later I’m dressed in a pair of jeans and a black thermal shirt, the sleeves pulled to my elbows. I look in the mirror, and down at my hands. I feel calm. I need to stay that way.
    On the way to school Henri hands me a pair of gloves.
    “Make sure you keep these with you at all times. You never know.”
    I tuck them into my back pocket.
    “I shouldn’t need them. I feel pretty good.”
    At the school, buses are lined up in front. Henri pulls up to the side of the building.
    “I don’t like you not having a phone,” he says. “Any number of things could go wrong.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll have it back soon.”
    He sighs and shakes his head. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ll be right here at the end of the day.”
    “I won’t,” I say, and get out of the truck. He pulls away.
    Inside, the halls are bustling with activity, students loitering at lockers, talking, laughing. A few look at me and whisper. I don’t know whether it’s because of the confrontation or because of the darkroom. It’s likely that they are whispering about both. It is a small school, and in small schools there is little that isn’t readily known by everyone else.
    When I reach the main entrance, I turn right and find my locker. It’s empty. I have fifteen minutes before sophomore composition begins. I walk by the classroom just to make sure I know where it is and then head to the office. The secretary smiles when I enter.
    “Hi,” I say. “I lost my phone yesterday and I was wondering if anyone turned it in to lost and found?”
    She shakes her head. “No, I’m afraid no phone’s been turned in.”
    “Thank you,” I say.
    Out in the hallway I don’t see Mark anywhere. I pick a direction and begin walking. People still stare and whisper, but that doesn’t bother me. I see him fifty feet ahead of me. All at once the thrill of adrenaline kicks in. I look down at my hands. They’re normal. I’m worried about them turning on, and that worry might just be the thing that does it.
    Mark’s leaning against a locker with his arms crossed, in the middle of a group, five guys and two girls, all of them talking and laughing. Sarah is sitting on a windowsill about fifteen feet away. She looks radiant again today with her blond hair pulled into a ponytail, wearing a skirt and a gray sweater. She’s reading a book, but looks up as I walk towards them.
    I stop just outside of the group, stare at