Read Online Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: C. C. Hunter
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she mostly always did the socially acceptable thing, the two simple words, “thank you,” formed on her tongue, but she couldn’t spit them out.
She couldn’t help wondering if he remembered her. She couldn’t help noticing how his blue eyes seemed to look inside her, just as they had all those years ago. They hadn’t been friends, but neighbors for a very short time. He hadn’t even been in her grade. But they had to walk the same three blocks home from school every day, and she could remember that walk being the best part of her day. From the first time she’d seen him riding his bike on her street, he had fascinated her in a mysterious kind of way.
And just like that, she remembered with clarity the last time she’d seen him. The sense of fascination shattered, leaving in its place a cold wind of fear.
She’d been sitting on a swing with her new kitten in her hands—the kitten her parents had given her because Socks had come up missing. Lucas’s head had popped over the fence, and his blue eyes met hers. The kitten had hissed and scratched her, trying to run for cover. The boy stared and then said, Be sure to take the kitten in the house at night. Or what happened to your other cat will happen to it.
She’d run to her mother crying. That night her dad and mom had gone to talk to Lucas’s parents.
Her parents hadn’t told her what happened, but she recalled her daddy looking angry when they’d returned from the visit. Not that it mattered, because the next day Lucas Parker and his parents were gone.
“You’re welcome,” Lucas said, his deep rumble now slightly laced with sarcasm. Then he turned and walked away.
Oh, great. All she needed was to start making enemies of one of the humans-are-on-the food-chain gang—especially one she knew was capable of doing despicable things. But face it, being nice to Lucas Parker was going to be hard. After all, he had killed her cat and threatened to do the same to her kitten.
Chapter Eleven
During lunch, the introductions proved to be as embarrassing as Kylie thought they would be. Everyone had said their name and “what” they were, but when her time came, she’d only offered her name. The silence in the room had felt suffocating in the seconds afterward. Holiday had jumped in and explained that the origin of Kylie’s powers was still being deciphered and that her “close-mindedness” was not intentional, but a product of her gifts.
If anyone in the room doubted that she was the freak of all the freaks, they had now been informed of the fact by the camp leader. Oh, Kylie suspected Holiday had been trying to help, but Kylie could have really done without it. Luckily, she had already managed to force down half a turkey sandwich because after that, there was no way she could swallow another bite.
Right after her embarrassing moment in the spotlight, Kylie’s phone rang. She saw her mom’s number on the call screen and turned the phone off. The last thing she wanted was for her conversation with her mom overheard by the super-hearing individuals.
As soon as the official lunch meeting ended, Kylie found Holiday to get her cabin directions. Dinner was set at six and until then, the afternoon was free. During downtime, mingling and getting to know your camp companions and cabin roomies was encouraged.
Instead, Kylie spent the four hours mingling with her emotional turmoil and hidden away in her closet of a bedroom. Hey, she understood the difference between “encouraged” and “required.”
Sitting up on the bed, she noticed again the size of her room. Not that she was complaining. The fact that she had her own room made the size a non-issue. Considering the night terrors that plagued her three or four nights a week, the privacy was much appreciated. She just hoped the walls were thick enough to contain what her mother called “bloodcurdling screams.” The walls at home sure as heck weren’t.
Biting down on her lip, Kylie wondered again how her
She couldn’t help wondering if he remembered her. She couldn’t help noticing how his blue eyes seemed to look inside her, just as they had all those years ago. They hadn’t been friends, but neighbors for a very short time. He hadn’t even been in her grade. But they had to walk the same three blocks home from school every day, and she could remember that walk being the best part of her day. From the first time she’d seen him riding his bike on her street, he had fascinated her in a mysterious kind of way.
And just like that, she remembered with clarity the last time she’d seen him. The sense of fascination shattered, leaving in its place a cold wind of fear.
She’d been sitting on a swing with her new kitten in her hands—the kitten her parents had given her because Socks had come up missing. Lucas’s head had popped over the fence, and his blue eyes met hers. The kitten had hissed and scratched her, trying to run for cover. The boy stared and then said, Be sure to take the kitten in the house at night. Or what happened to your other cat will happen to it.
She’d run to her mother crying. That night her dad and mom had gone to talk to Lucas’s parents.
Her parents hadn’t told her what happened, but she recalled her daddy looking angry when they’d returned from the visit. Not that it mattered, because the next day Lucas Parker and his parents were gone.
“You’re welcome,” Lucas said, his deep rumble now slightly laced with sarcasm. Then he turned and walked away.
Oh, great. All she needed was to start making enemies of one of the humans-are-on-the food-chain gang—especially one she knew was capable of doing despicable things. But face it, being nice to Lucas Parker was going to be hard. After all, he had killed her cat and threatened to do the same to her kitten.
Chapter Eleven
During lunch, the introductions proved to be as embarrassing as Kylie thought they would be. Everyone had said their name and “what” they were, but when her time came, she’d only offered her name. The silence in the room had felt suffocating in the seconds afterward. Holiday had jumped in and explained that the origin of Kylie’s powers was still being deciphered and that her “close-mindedness” was not intentional, but a product of her gifts.
If anyone in the room doubted that she was the freak of all the freaks, they had now been informed of the fact by the camp leader. Oh, Kylie suspected Holiday had been trying to help, but Kylie could have really done without it. Luckily, she had already managed to force down half a turkey sandwich because after that, there was no way she could swallow another bite.
Right after her embarrassing moment in the spotlight, Kylie’s phone rang. She saw her mom’s number on the call screen and turned the phone off. The last thing she wanted was for her conversation with her mom overheard by the super-hearing individuals.
As soon as the official lunch meeting ended, Kylie found Holiday to get her cabin directions. Dinner was set at six and until then, the afternoon was free. During downtime, mingling and getting to know your camp companions and cabin roomies was encouraged.
Instead, Kylie spent the four hours mingling with her emotional turmoil and hidden away in her closet of a bedroom. Hey, she understood the difference between “encouraged” and “required.”
Sitting up on the bed, she noticed again the size of her room. Not that she was complaining. The fact that she had her own room made the size a non-issue. Considering the night terrors that plagued her three or four nights a week, the privacy was much appreciated. She just hoped the walls were thick enough to contain what her mother called “bloodcurdling screams.” The walls at home sure as heck weren’t.
Biting down on her lip, Kylie wondered again how her
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