Perennial by Ryan Potter Read Free Book Online Page A

and squeezes hard, pinning my arms to my
sides. I realize I’m being gripped by William’s powerful hands, and his
invisible body is so close to my own that I can feel his warm, pleasant breath
against my face and neck, spiking my pulse at a dangerously high rate.
    I
was murdered in my own bedroom, Alix. You’re the first person to use the room
since it happened. I’ve been waiting two years for you. I need your help.
You’re special. Vagabond gave me until the end of Friday.
    “Until
the end of Friday for what?” I say, wincing from the pain in my wrists.
    There’s
a long silence.
    I
have until the end of Friday to figure out who killed me.
    “Stop
it,” I say, trying to pull away but knowing I’m no match for his strength.
“You’re hurting me.”
    He
releases me but stays close.
    I’m
sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but my emotions are runnin g high right
now.
    “Who’s
Vagabond?”
    Somebody
you can trust. If you meet him, you won’t like him. Nobody does. But you can
trust him.
    “What
do you mean by if I meet him?”
     I’m
following Vagabond’s orders. It means you have a choice. He gave me until the
end of Friday, but I can’t make you help me. You have a developing gift, Alix.
ESP. Extrasensory perception. It’s not like I can make contact with anybody I
choose. Vagabond’s interested in you. He wants to see how good you can become.
That’s why he let me make contact. He says it’s no coincidence that you ended
up moving into my bedroom. I know you like school. Think of this as a test. If
you can help me find my killer, you’ll pass, and I’ll have peace in my world.
    So
many feelings and emotions race through me. Fear. Confusion. Disbelief.
Overall, I’m still convinced this is all a dream. Problem is I want to experience
William Weed for as long as possible, so instead of demanding to awaken in my
own bed I decide to play along.
    “So,
I don’t have to do it,” I say. “I can say no and call it a day.”
    Vagabond
doesn’t want people who aren’t interested in developing and enhancing their
abilities. So yes, you can say no and never have contact with me again.
Tomorrow your life goes back to its boring, predictable course. A boring senior
year, followed by four years of boring lectures in Ann Arbor, followed by a
boring job and a boring husband and kids you don’t want but will have because
you want your father to be a happy grandpa. That’s really what your life has
been and always will be about. Pleasing your daddy.
    “Screw
you, William,” I say, squinting and jabbing an index finger into his light.
It’s useless of course. My finger strikes nothing solid. “Maybe those are exactly the things I want, you idiot. Maybe you’re just jealous because you were nothing
but a drug addict with stupid tattoos and shitty parents.” I pause. He doesn’t
message a reply. “No. Wait,” I say. “I bet your parents were awesome and you
were just a spoiled-asshole son who was too weak to say no to pills, needles,
and powder.”
    His translucent
hand grabs the back of my neck and squeezes hard. William’s fingertips feel
like they could easily dig through my skin and crush my bones. I close my eyes
and sense his open mouth centimeters from my lips.
    Listen
to me, Alix.
    There’s
increased anger in his voice as he continues squeezing my neck.
    I
need your help. I’m just trying to convince you that everything you think
you’ve always wanted might not be your true destiny after all. Will you help me
find my killer or not?
    He
releases my neck, and I sense him backing away a few feet.
    “What
about the guy who threw me into a closet and told me to stay away from
Perennial?” I say. “And I’m pretty sure he’s the guy who texted me after I
visited your clever little blog. He told me I should have listened and stayed
away.”
    You
just answered your own question. If you say no, you stay away and nobody
bothers you anymore. But I need you, Alix. I need you more