Judgement 8 (Subject Alpha #1) by D. H. Sidebottom Read Free Book Online Page A

you.”
    Janice leaned forward, pressing her mouth to Elina’s head, her eyes squeezing closed. “Always, honey. I’ll love you always.”
    I pulled out when I felt her sag under my hands. Silence descended, an eerie calm around us now the storm had passed.
    My breath stilled as my eyes found Elina. She stared at me, a deep sorrow in her eyes as a tear dripped from the corner and trickled slowly down her cheek, pooling at the dip of her ear. “I had forgotten,” she whispered. “The happiness.”
    I gulped, her heartache tangible and choking.
    Her eyes were heavy, her slow blink making me aware of her exhaustion. I tucked my thumb under a stray piece of hair that was stuck to her flushed cheek and moved it away softly. “Sleep.”
    She nodded and closed her eyes. Waiting until her breathing steadied, I unbuckled the restraints and took the helmet from her head gently so as not to wake her. I couldn’t take my eyes from her face, the beauty of her intensifying now she was at peace. Her soft breaths were soothing to my harsh ones. She didn’t deserve this life. Fuck, no one did. After Petra died, I made it my mission to find the others. The night Elina ran into my club, I thought she was one of the eight.
    But I was wrong. She wasn’t one of the eight.
    She was the one.

 
    MY MOUTH WAS SO dry, my lips were stuck to my teeth. My sore throat struggled under my attempt to swallow and my heavy eyes protested when I peeled them open.
    I scanned the room, blinking frequently to clear the blur. What the fuck?
    The room was strange. It was as large as it was colourful, masses of authentic African furnishings and décor made my eyes narrow in confusion. The heavy ethnic features were a stark contrast to the aroma of frying bacon in the air and the heavy tunes of Linkin Park beating through the walls.
    I slipped out of bed, glancing down at the new t-shirt that covered me. It wasn’t as large as Reid’s other one but it was as long, the hemline covering my gangly knees, thankfully.
    Following the tunes through the strange house, I emerged into a small kitchen.
    Jonah swung around when he sensed me and smiled widely, reaching for a small control and turning down the music. “Well, sleeping beauty has arisen. You hungry, sugar?”
    “Where am I?”
    His huge brow creased for a moment. “You’re at my house.”
    I nodded, taking in the bright kitchen. “Why?”
    He regarded me with a curious gaze then sighed and pulled out a chair for me at the small table. “Tea? Coffee?”
    “Uhh.” I squinted, my frazzled brain refusing to play ball. I must have really downed some vodka the night before. “Tea. Please.”
    He nodded and smiled, then proceeded to brew me my morning drink as I gawped at my new surroundings.
    “How much do you remember?” Jonah asked when he placed my drink in front of me and took the chair next to me.
    “What?” I blew the tea over the rim then took a sip. “I got drunk with Reid. But . . .” I blew out a breath and shrugged. “I don’t think I was that drunk.”
    He swallowed and tipped his head. “There was a storm.”
    I nodded, taking another sip of the soothing hot liquid as I waited for him to carry on. I stilled when he didn’t. “And?”
    He gave me a lopsided grin and a pitying gaze. “You . . . well you kinda blew up Reid’s digs.”
    I squinted at him mid-blow. Was he having me on? “What?”
    “You really don’t remember?”
    I shook my head, my body growing cold with unease and I took another gulp of tea to counteract the chill seeping through me.
    He glanced towards the door. “A storm came . . . for you.”
    I choked on the tea when it trickled down my throat then forced its way back up and dribbled down my chin. “What do you mean, for me?”
    “Buggered if I know, sugar. All I do know is a storm came and it tried to fry the hell outta you and Reid.”
    “Oh my God! Reid!” I jumped up, my heart stilling as my stomach plummeted in terror, but Jonah grabbed my