Tainted Cure (The Rememdium Series Book 1) by Ashley Fontainne Read Free Book Online Page B

presented itself. “Oh, did I forget to explain the college scholarship portion of your package?”
    Susan’s mouth dropped open. “Come again?”
    “Guess I neglected that section. Sorry. Yes, as a thank you for helping us, we’ve already secured a scholarship at Emory University in Atlanta. Barring any sudden side effects from your treatment, you are scheduled to begin classes at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing when the spring semester begins.”
    “What? No way! I don’t even have my GED yet! I haven’t applied…and I can’t afford to live in Atlanta! I have nothing! No clothes, no car, and certainly no knowledge of the area! Are you just going to hand me all this and then dump me off? Alone? I’ll freak!”
    Motioning for Susan to follow, Everett held the door open. “Susan, I assure you all has been taken care of. These perks are our way of thanking you for your time and service to the project. Think of it as one big eraser. Your old life is wiped away, and a door to the new one just opened. It’s as simple as that. And don’t worry, you won’t be alone.”
    “I won’t?”
    Everett stopped in front of a set of sealed doors. He unlocked them and ushered Susan inside. Twenty-four other heads turned to their direction, some smiling, some emotionless.
    “Susan, I would like to introduce you to the other participants in our trials. Each of them have similar stories to your own, and their reactions to the formula are just as impressive. Diane here will be your roommate in Atlanta. She’s also enrolled in the nursing course.”
    A tall, red-headed woman rose and walked across the concrete floor. She extended her hand to Susan. “Nice to meet you, Susan. I’m Diane Rogers. Come on, have a seat before you pass smooth out. I almost did when Dr. Berning brought me here earlier. Finding out you weren’t alone in all this is quite a jolt to the system, huh?”
    “Jolt? Uh, try bolt of lightning to the brain.”
    “Susan is our last guest to arrive, so please get acquainted with one another. Lunch will be served shortly. Oh, and congratulations on completing the program.”
    Without another word, Everett exited the large meeting room as all the participants stood and began making introductions to the freaked-out Susan.
    Lost in thought about finalizing reports, awash in the excitement at the knowledge they were only days away from announcing the cure to the general public, Everett never heard the footsteps behind him.
    Until it was too late.

     
    Regina smiled as she adjusted the vest underneath her uniform. The sounds of banter between Reed and Jesse in the living room was glorious. Reed was doing his best to convince his niece he was a better shot than Regina, and Jesse was having none of it.
    “I’ve been to the shooting range with Mom so many times, I’ve lost count. She outshoots any and all competitors every time. Women have a steadier hand, plain and simple. She’d whoop your ass.”
    “Care to put your money where your smart-assed mouth is?”
    “Name the time and place. I have every confidence in Mom.”
    Shaking her head, Regina veered off into the kitchen to fix a cup of coffee before heading to the station. After dousing the cup with more creamer than coffee, she joined the arguing duo in the living room.
    “Enough, you two. Jesse, are you ready for work? I’ll drop you off on my way.”
    “Mom, Uncle Reed thinks he is a better shot than you. When’s your next day off? We need to have a shootout! I’ve got a week’s worth of pay riding on you!”
    “No time to talk about that now, Jesse. Your shift at Walmart starts in fifteen minutes! You aren’t even dressed yet.”
    “That sounds like an excuse to me. Worried your daughter is wrong, Sis?”
    Regina scowled at Reed. “Not at all. Sunday is my next day off, so you’re on. High noon, brother. Now, Jesse, hurry up!”
    “Yes!” Jesse chirped. She rose from the couch and took off down the hallway to her room. “Don’t