Into the Shadows by Jason D. Morrow Read Free Book Online Page A

he only says it because he doesn’t know what it would be like without her. Nancy gives him everything he wants. I think of the life that these two have had. I’ve heard the story of how they came to be here. In their mind, they have suffered since the outbreak. They have seen some of the undead up close. They have had a run-in or two with a raider. Life has been tough.  
    I shake my head at the thought. They have no idea. Nancy and Ray have had it way better than most. Way better than me. But haven’t I had it way better than others? I’m still alive. Somehow I have managed to not get bitten or scratched. I’ve gotten this far with only a bullet to the side. Sure, I’ve lost people, but who hasn’t?
    I look at Gabe next to me and think of how he is the only friend I’ve got left. It seems that everyone I come in contact with eventually dies or is lost to me forever. It was good to see my sister in Elkhorn, but our time together was so short-lived. And even while we were there, I didn’t get the feeling that we had enough time to spend together. I was busy trying to help Stephen and his people set up their defenses. Waverly was busy trying to see into people’s futures to get some kind of answer. She even looked into mine, though now I know she lied to me about it.  
    She told me she saw me walking through a grassy field and I see a shiny rock in the middle of it. She said that I look at it and think about picking it up, but decide not to. And that’s it.
    I know it’s crap.  
    I remember looking through her notebook of visions that she saw. All of them were filled with scary images and sadness. The vision of my future had been very different from what she told me. Instead of the nice scene of grassy fields and a shiny rock, I’m holding Evie in my arms and I give her away to a woman that I’ve never heard of. Her name is Jenna.  
    It’s strange to think about the vision and wonder if it’s going to come true. I don’t see how it’s possible. When Gabe and I were traveling with Paxton to come to Elkhorn, I could see how it would play out, but since Paxton betrayed us, and it’s a month later with no definitive plans of heading back to Elkhorn, I’ve just about given up on the vision.  
    It’s a strange power that my sister has and I can’t say that I envy it. I feel like it would be more of a burden than a useful ability. Unlike my gift. The past month, some of which had me stuck in a bed, allowed me to really practice at honing my ability. And I can say that a few weeks of having nothing to do has really made a difference. It’s weird because now when I close my eyes, I can seek out wherever I want to hear something and I can almost see everything happening in my mind’s eye. With the sound of wind, breathing, and movement I can almost recreate a view of the scene that I’m hearing—almost as if I’m standing in the room with them, though it’s more like shadows. My imagination or memory fills in colors that might be around the targeted person.  
    Gabe and I watch in silence as Ray sets out six plates on the table. Our lunch guests are still up in their room. I try to ignore whatever Ray is grumbling about and I close my eyes for just a few seconds, listening for the two men, Scott and Derek, in a room just down the hallway. Neither of them have any idea who I am or what I can do, so they have no reason to hide their conversation in their private room.
    I hear them shuffling around, but they aren’t talking. Their heavy footsteps come closer to the door and I suddenly realize that whatever conversation they might have been having is already over. I open my eyes as I wait for them to come into the dining room. When they come through the doorway, Ray lets out a hearty welcome.  
    “There they are!” he says, setting the last of the forks.
    Scott stands to the left of Derek. Derek is much shorter and has a thick beard with his long hair pulled back into a ponytail. Scott has his hair cut