Read Online Stunned (The Lucidites Book 2) by Sarah Noffke - Free Book Online Page B

new. That is why it is unverifiable. I have been able to confirm them though. They are authentic events.”
    “The French girl, you mean? And the man?”
    “Yes, although I do not know the significance yet. But you are picking up on these events for a reason and I believe it to be important.”
    “The girl’s the one who was going to kill Ren, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Maybe he knows the significance,” I offer.
    “He has been consulted.”
    “Oh. So do I need to focus on finding more events linked to these people?”
    “No, let your intuition guide you. It will always deliver the event of most importance to you and the Institute.”
    “But you said before that sometimes reporters are asked to find specific events, right? And if you think these are important then maybe—”
    “I did, but in this instance that is a job for investigative reporters. Your job is to pick up on original stories or whatever comes to you naturally. Is that clear?”
    Why does Shuman make me feel like an eight-year-old child? I swear I sense pigtails I’m not wearing swing beside my head when I nod.
    “I will be disappointed to lose your talent,” she continues. “And yes, I would like you to continue to report until you leave.” She points at the chair. “Your station is open.” With a quick pivot she trudges away.
    I sink into the chair. When I’m in position I clap the headphones on and focus. The process is becoming second nature, automatic—like driving a car. A few seconds later something flashes in my vision. The gasp that falls out of my mouth is audible over the static filling my ears. An image of Joseph in his room crying fills my mind. He’s clawing at his bed sheets like there’s something underneath them that might provide sustenance. I watch this for a few seconds, but it tears my chest into little aching pieces. It hurts worse than anything I’ve felt recently and that’s saying a lot. The image of my brother drenched in tears and sweat is too much to bear. I force myself to wake up. At the computer terminal I type two words: no report.
    There’s no answer at Joseph’s door. I consider breaking and entering, but decide against it. Feeling lonely and disappointed I hide in my room for the rest of the day, skipping all meals. I spend my time reading the books that Bob and Steve had sent. Most of them I’ve already read, but even still their messages are deep and can use a second reading. I do everything I can to distract myself from the pain I know Joseph is experiencing. I don’t know what to do for him. I’m so lost and he’s further gone than I thought. I know most twin sisters would be twisted by the pain I witnessed. Hell, wouldn’t most people be distraught by the heart-wrenching letter from Aiden or the sweet attempts from George? But I’m the girl in the center of the country, the one who’s already so far away from here. The one they’re talking about in the past tense. The one who defeated Zhuang, or didn’t, however the story is written, and I’m in there somewhere. I’ve already visualized myself as the girl who isn’t here anymore, because more than anything that’s who I need to be.
     

Chapter Ten
    T he next day when my alarm tells me the sun has risen I awake. I slap on clothes and go to breakfast like a zombie would, if they did such formal things instead of eating brains.
    “I’m leaving the Institute,” I say, not making eye contact with anyone at the table.
    “Why?” Samara asks, dropping her fork. “You can’t!”
    “I think my time here is at an end,” I say, feeling George’s penetrating stare. He’s already plunged into my emotions and explored them layer by layer. I push my oatmeal around with a spoon.
    “But,” Samara argues, “there’s so much more to do. Your news reporting, aren’t you going to miss it?”
    “Of course, and I’ll miss you all too, but I can’t stay here right now.”
    “Girl, I guess I’ve been ignoring you,” Trent says, batting his