The Collector Book One: Mana Leak by Daniel I Russell Read Free Book Online Page A

the approaching evening. The flimsy fabric of the tracksuit did little to cushion the unforgiving brick.
    He flicked his thumb sharply upwards, flipping the cigarette box open. One surviving smoke remained. This he knew, but he still shook the box, just to be sure.
    “Ah, shit,” he said. “I’ve only got one left. You?”
    “All out.”
    Adam fished out the cigarette with his thumb and forefinger and poked it between his lips.
    Jake leaned over, his extended lighter already displaying a small yellow flame. Adam took a drag, sucking in the fire until the open end glowed orange. He nodded.
    Jake returned the lighter into the fold of his long coat. “Whatcha wanna do now? Looks like everyone’s gone inside. The cans are all gone too.”
    Adam peered over his shoulder, and true enough, the empty plastic bag blew across the shaggy lawn. A breeze had risen, disturbing the formerly calm and serene evening.
    Granite clouds had crept across the twilight sky, their undersides illuminated by the setting sun, which cast a rosy glow to the west. Darkness dominated the east. Adam gazed at the remnants of the sun. It seemed afraid, having run across the sky from the approaching night and hid behind the horizon.
    Strange thought. Sounds like something the Goth boy here would come out with…
    “We can’t stay out here,” he said, still looking skywards from underneath his baseball cap. “Clouds are comin’ in. Gonna piss it down soon.”
    “Whatcha wanna do then?” Jake repeated. “I’m not going inside, not with the fuckin’ mood she’s in.” He jabbed a thumb back towards the house.
    “She worries too much. That’s her problem.”
    Adam puffed his cigarette and tapped away the tip of ash. “So what we gonna do?”
    The immortal question. The amusement of watching the street had gone along with the players, who had retired into their homes. Penny Crescent failed to satisfy a couple of party boys.
    He smoked, thought about the problem, and smoked some more.
    “We could go and see Smithy,” suggested Jake.
    Adam wrinkled his nose. “Why the hell would we want to see that loser?”
    “He’s got new gear.”
    Adam inhaled another quick drag of the cigarette and rolled it between his fingers. Smithy might be a real nerd, with body odour so bad you had to hold your breath, but new gear?
    “How much he sellin’ at?”
    “Dunno.”
    Adam jumped from the wall; his designer trainers, both displaying a distinct logo, hit the pavement with a smack.
    “Where you going?”
    “The garage,” Adam replied, smoking the last of his cigarette and pitching the stub into the road.
    “Already?” Jake swept his fringe out of his eyes and also hopped from the wall. He rubbed his buttocks through his black jeans.
    “I know we got some, but he always has good stuff,” said Adam. “He’s sure to give me a good deal.”
    “How come?”
    “He’s a mate.”
    “A mate…yeah, right…”
    The curtains of the house opposite fluttered, and Adam nodded across the road. Jake turned.
    Anne Harper opened the curtains a fraction and quickly glanced up and down the street.
    “Sorry, Anne,” Jake chuckled. “Frank ain’t home yet. Want us to come over and keep you company?”
    “That would be sweet. Horny little bitch.”
    “Bet she goes like the clappers. Eh?”
    Adam nodded. “I’d rip her in two.”
    “Yeah, until Frank caught you, then he’d rip you in two!”
    Jake burst out laughing and punched his brother in the shoulder.
    “Bullshit,” said Adam. “I could take him. He’s only a physics teacher for fuck’s sake!”
    “Liar. Prove it.”
    Adam stared at his twin. “What?”
    “I said, prove it. Go over there, shag his wife and wait for him to get home. See how hard you are then, shall we?”
    “You’re joking, right?”
    Breaking into that the old witch McGuire’s house for pot money was one thing, but was his brother suggesting he forced himself on Anne? Raped even? No, definitely not worth it.
    Although he