Read Online Choke: 2 (Pillage Trilogy (Pillogy)) by Obert Skye - Free Book Online Page A

It’s unbelievable, and the world deserves to know more. Plus, you tore up a town,” he informed me needlessly. “I’m not the enemy; I’m here to help you, champ. I just want to see you and Kingsplot safe. And I want to know what you know. You need me, Beck.”
    Now it was my turn to laugh.
    “Tell me what happened,” he demanded, his tone suddenly harsh. “Are there more dragons?”
    “Dragons aren’t real,” I told him.
    I could tell by his trembling hands that he would have liked nothing more than to reach out and grab me, but he took a moment to cool down. “Beck, just what are you up to?”
    “I don’t have to tell you anything,” I said, backing away. “Now go.”
    Van closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his left hand. When his eyelids opened, he took in a deep breath and smiled. I could see that his teeth were discolored.
    “How about I come back later?”
    “No thanks,” I told him.
    “All right,” he winked. “I’ll catch you later.”
    He turned around and started walking down the driveway. He looked back once, and I waved.
    “Bye,” I hollered nicely.
    I waited until I could no longer see him and then left the driveway and entered the gardens heading toward Kate’s house. I ran halfway across the back gardens, jogged until I reached the partially destroyed conservatory, and then walked quickly the rest of the way. I lost some time when I tripped over a tree root I had not seen and banged up my shin. In total it took about twenty minutes before I saw any sign of Kate’s place.
    Kate’s family lived in a large cabin. It had once belonged to my family, but they had sold it to her family years ago. According to Kate, there was some trouble with the sale and since then her parents had not exactly been warm to my family. I had seen her mom and dad a number of times and I could tell that it took everything they had in them to even acknowledge me. I tried to warm them up with my wit and smile, but that always seemed to make things worse.
    Kate’s house had a large wooden front door with a metal goat’s head hanging on it. Dangling from the goat’s mouth was a big metal ring that, if swung properly, made a terrific thumping noise on their door. I knew they used the side door more often, but I liked using the knocker so much I always went through the front.
    I pounded four times and then stood there like a delivery boy with no goods.
    After a few minutes the door swung open and there was Kate’s mother. Kate’s mom was pretty with dark brown hair and a round face. She was thin and always wore shirts with flowers stitched on them. I smiled and waved at her. She didn’t wave back.
    “Is Kate home?” I asked.
    “You dare?” she bit.
    “I do?”
    “You almost killed our daughter.”
    “I was hoping to apologize,” I explained.
    “Apologize? Apologize?”
    I wasn’t sure why she said it twice, but I nodded as if her response was extra good.
    “Actions speak louder than words,” she snapped.
    That just confused me, so I sort of did made-up sign language with my hands as I asked, “Can I speak with Kate?”
    “You may not.”
    “But Mrs. Figgins, I . . .”
    “Don’t Mrs. Figgins me,” she demanded.
    “Okay, Laura, then,” I said trying her first name instead. “I just . . .”
    I know it’s not really possible, but I think I saw steam coming out of her ears. I wasn’t trying to make her angry, but my personality was doing me in. I decided to stop talking.
    “If my husband knew you were here, he’d box your ears,” she raged. “You have been nothing but trouble since the moment you came to town. Now get off our property. The same property your family once tried to cheat us out of.”
    She pointed down their driveway and I followed her finger with my gaze. I then looked back to her. I would have tried to say something polite, but my mind was preoccupied with wondering what “box your ears” meant.
    Kate’s mom slammed the door.
    I stood there for a