Read Online Barely Alive by Bonnie R. Paulson - Free Book Online

of a baby in his smooth features. But his comment didn’t need an answer. He knew what he threatened me with.
    Her steps crunched on the dry crusted dirt. She stopped beside me.
    I didn’t want Heather to see what I could do. She’d seen what that dead girl had done, but that didn’t mean she needed to see me as a total monster. I ignored the possibility that she had seen me eat by the showers. I didn’t want to think of me doing it, either.
    Humans had a weird way of associating death with monstrosity. I was above it – or I’d like to believe I was – but I still killed things. Heather was a human I liked, who might not be human much longer, and I didn’t want her thinking I was a murderer. Pillager, kidnapper, assaulter, captor, strong hot guy she wanted to rub her body against, all okay, but murderer I’d rather not be.
    “ It might be best if you waited out here.” My nerves could have been attached to her face, fear etched in every line. I rushed to reassure her. “I’ll be as fast as I can.”
    Dominic muttered under his breath. “If you can stop.” He doubted I’d be able to stop eating and would come out from the building and eat the both of them.
    I’d stop. I would.
    Heather leaned against the wall beside the door and slid down to sit on the dirt. She looked up at me, her dark blue eyes somber and big under her bangs. Her hair was still pulled back in a sloppy bun, accentuating her cheekbones and slim jaw line.
    I would stop.
    “ Let’s go, Paul.” Dominic pushed the door open, releasing a wave of stock smells, chicken, cow, and pig mingled with hay and corn. Moos, clucks, and the occasional oink called to me.
    Meat.
    Fresh. Meat.
    Holy crap. I dove through the opening, shoving Dominic to the side.
    The door shut.
    Click.
    My mouth watered.
    Sensing a predator in their midst, the animals jostled restlessly in their pens. One cow, three pigs, ten chickens and a couple rabbits filled the small building. The more they moved, the more intense their scents became. I breathed in deep. I couldn’t handle it anymore.
    The cow was going first. I had to eat. Now. But I could make myself wait until I’d killed the poor animal. I didn’t need to torture anything. Refused to. I could make myself superior.
    I approached the heifer, unsure how to kill a cow but the presence of fresh meat and blood spurred me on. I was strong. Maybe I could break its neck. I looked into its eyes, deep, dark brown, not blue like Heather’s.
    Dominic had said he’d go in first. He wasn’t even in the building. He was alone with Heather.
    I tore myself from the animal smorgasbord surrounding me and approached the door with caution. I wanted to sob. Come on. I wanted to eat!
    Catching Dominic would be the only way I’d have proof of what he was, instead of this constant questioning I subjected myself to. I wouldn’t be tempted to stay with him or return. If he hurt her, he’d have another list of problems.
    The handle didn’t make a sound when I turned it. I inched the door open.
    “ You know you’re not going anywhere, right? Paul’s going to be busy for a while. Why don’t you and I have a little fun?” Dominic’s voice had deepened, its edge serrated with innuendo.
    “ I said no.” Sounds of struggling accompanied her words. A grunt and some gasping. The sound of a fist on flesh. She whimpered. “I said no.” More struggling sounds.
    That was all I needed. I opened the door. Dominic’s fingers had a firm grip on Heather’s breast and his other hand fumbled at his pants. He was panting, the pressure of his breath puffing the soft hair at the side of her face up and down with each exhale.
    A reddening area along her cheekbone screamed on her tan but otherwise colorless skin. Her eyes were shut tight and she had pushed herself across the ground until she’d gotten stuck between Dickhead and a cement foundation. She looked like she wanted to push herself into the cement wall – become one with the rock. She