Isaura by Ruth Silver Read Free Book Online Page A

our town, our home?
    I pushed aside buildings and debris, not caring that the ash
was still warm and the fire could spark again at any second. “Adelaide!” I
screamed trying to find her. I started from where Cate and Aidan had been found
and stretched further into the small town. Stepping over debris I listened with
the wind for any hint of survivors, including the two I desperately searched
for: Adelaide and Elsa. Beneath the rubble I heard the slightest hint of a
groan. “Hang in there! I'm coming!” I screamed, prying my hands between
shingles and siding, a mix of what had once been a home I found Collins gasping
for air. “Chancellor!” I tried to unbury him as best I could. His body was
trapped, his chest crushed as I moved aside the bricks near his head.
    “Olivia,” he gasped staring up at me, fully conscious though
struggling to breathe.
    “What are you doing back here? You should be in Torv!” I was
astounded that he was back.
    He coughed and his voice rasped and waivered as he tried to
answer me. “The girl. She's the key.” He coughed again, his lungs dying on him,
crushed in the ambush.
    “Who did this?” My hands rested on his face, wanting to heal
him, but knowing it would only delay his death, cause him more agony and pain.
I couldn't save him from an entire house falling upon him.
    His lips moved but I could barely hear him. Bending down
closer, I could make out his words. “By my hand, take it.”
    “What?” I shook my head in confusion. I didn't know what
that meant! “I don't understand.” I breathed watching as his eyes moved away
from mine towards where his arms should be. I grimaced as I pushed away more
bricks and a shutter. I wasn't able to move the heaviest items but I found a
small metal box and flipped it open. Inside held four syringes. “What are
these?” I asked staring hard, my hand coming to his face. “Collins, wake up!” He
wasn't falling asleep, he was dying.
    “Give it to the girl,” he whispered. “It's all you can do to
save her.” His last breath came out as a gasp as his life left his body. I
reached forward, closing his eyes and carefully stood up.
    “Adelaide!” I called again, searching for her. She had to be
here somewhere. I pushed aside more rubble, digging my way through what had
once been the house. I felt like I'd spent hours at it, but only minutes passed
by. Digging deeper I found her lifeless form, cold and pale in the hot ashes. “No.”
I shook my head, the air rushing out of my lungs. I choked back a sob and
pulled the syringe from the tin box. I didn't know if it would help or be too
late. She was young, I'd have thought too young for the drug, but doing the
unthinkable seemed the only option. Pulling her body from the rubble, I laid
her cold skin against my own as I maneuvered her into my lap. “Wake up, baby
girl,” I breathed removing the cover of the syringe. I pushed her hair aside
and brought the needle to the base of her neck, pushing it in and administering
the only bit of hope left to save her. Done with the needle I tossed it aside,
cradling Adelaide as the first few tears came. “You have to wake up.” I didn't
think it had the power to bring her back from the dead. My fingers reached her
pulse point, searching for any indication she might be alive. I could feel the
faintest beat, but she hadn't died, not entirely. She was so close to death. So
cold and motionless. “Adelaide, wake up,” I whispered kissing her cheeks,
rocking her in my arms. “Please, wake up,” I cried, breathing my energy and
life force into her body. I was tired. So tired from all we'd done. My eyes
closed and dropped the softest kiss to her cheek. “I love you,” I whispered,
unwilling to let her go, it seemed too late to help her. “Joshua!” I finally
called aloud, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.
    “What is it?” he asked finding his way slowly across the
homes and destruction towards me. I handed him the tin container with