Read Online Naomi Grim by Tiffany Nicole Smith - Free Book Online Page A

someone had been following me, I would have known. But the Foragers
were good at that sort of thing; that was how they beat us to the lifestones
sometimes.
    "I see you getting
close to them. Falling for that boy. Trying to fit in. I mean, look at your
face. Grims don't wear makeup. I've seen the glow. I hope you're not thinking
of doing anything stupid," the girl said.
    "What does that
mean?"
    "Stupid like stopping
this. Make no mistake, Naomi Grim. If you do anything to prevent this, you'll
have bigger worries than Dunningham."
    I stepped close to the girl
and looked her dead in the eye. "Don't you dare threaten me filthy
Forager."
    The girl only laughed and
then left the restroom.
     
    * *
*
     
    "Casper! Where've you
been all day?" Paige asked. I turned to see her, Roxy, and Ashley standing
behind me. Roxy was still glowing and I just couldn't bear to look at her.
    "I haven't been feeling
well. I was in the nurse's   office."
    Roxy frowned. "Oh. Feel
better?"
    "A little."
    "We're going to the
mall," Paige said. "Wanna come?"
    "Um, no thanks. I have
a lot of work to do." I thought it was best if I broke ties with them
then. I didn't trust myself around Roxy. I figured I'd blurt out my secret at
any given moment.
    "Ah, boo, party
pooper," Paige whined.
    "Sorry," I said,
backing away. "I'll see you guys around."
    * *
*
    The weekend came again
without incident. We had been at Kennedy High for almost two weeks now and I
wondered when "it" was going to happen. I avoided Hunter like he had
the plague, but once again he convinced me to go out with him. I told him on
Saturday afternoon we could go for a quick bite to eat, but that was it. Hunter
was going to die soon. The least I could do was give him a few hours of my
time. Part of me wanted to see Hunter because every time I saw him could be the
last.
    We went to a place called
Bubba's, which was half arcade and half restaurant. We shared a pizza and then
spent a good portion of the afternoon challenging each other at various games.
Hunter won every time. I didn't expect any different. We didn't have arcades
and video games in Nowhere, so he had a lot more experience than me.
    "Snowflake, you
suck," Hunter said playfully as we left Bubba's.
    "Hey, I'm just warming
up. Next time—" I caught myself. There wouldn't be a next time. I couldn't
go out with Hunter anymore. This had to be it. For all I knew, this massacre
could happen on Monday and I'd never see him again.
    Hunter grinned. "Next
time, huh? Is that a promise?"
    I didn't answer his question
as he opened the door of his pick-up truck for me.
    Hunter tried to make small
talk on the way home, but I didn't make it easy for him, replying with yes and
no answers. I think the more I thought about it, the more reality was setting
in. Hunter's life was over, not only his, but Roxy's and 146 other unsuspecting
kids. Kids who had dreams of homecoming dances, proms, graduations, and going
off to college. Their dreams would never happen and their families would be
crushed.
    We pulled into the driveway.
Hunter looked at me expectantly. He wanted me to kiss him, but I couldn't. I
did touch his chin and stare into his eyes. I had the power to save him. There
was a possibility that I could stop this, so why shouldn't I? For money? To
have more years added to my life? There would be plenty more opportunities for
that. Then I reminded myself that this wasn't just about me and the kids at
Kennedy High. It was about my family, Keira and Josh, and the entire colony of
Nowhere. We needed the lifestones. I remembered a sacred part of our Covenant.
It was not my place to determine who lived or died. It was my job to collect
the lifestones—nothing more.
    "Thanks, Hunter,"
I muttered, grabbing the door handle. "See you, Monday."
    He looked disappointed once
more and I wondered why he had so much patience with me. "Okay,
Monday."
    Both cars were gone, so I
assumed no one was home. Dorian and Josh had mentioned something earlier about
going to see