Read Online The Human-Undead War Trilogy (Book 1): Dark Intentions by Jonathan Edwardk Ondrashek - Free Book Online

cage. “You’re not seriously considering this crap, are you?” 
    Brian shrugged. “Kind of, yeah.” 
    “What? Why?” 
    “It makes sense. I’ve just been offered immortality and a seat of royalty from the Undead patriarch. I’d be protected, plus have all the time I need, with all the equipment I could ever want. Even if it took centuries, I’d be able to see it through.” 
    “That doesn’t justify becoming a vampire.” 
    “Yes it does.” He crawled to the edge of the cage and peered through the bars. “The platelet mushroom was a mistake and I haven’t been able to recreate it. I’ve performed experiment after experiment, and the only possible solution—the only missing link—is a human body. A live one. And you know Strajowskie’s stance on that.” He paused. “Barnaby would let me create one without restraints.” 
    She snorted and laughed. “You’re delusional. He’ll kill you.” 
    He frowned and looked away. He’d never shared much about his past with Ruby, but now was a perfect time for her to see his intentions weren’t misguided. Now was the time to show her why he did what he did. Why he fought for peace in a world that had all but absolved such an idea.  
    “I don’t have much of a choice, Ruby. I have to create the platelet.” He swallowed and glanced up, unable to hide the sadness in his eyes. “It’s what my mother asked of me before she died. Before I killed her.” 
    ***
    He helped his mother upstairs to her room, then went back downstairs and cleaned the blood up. He put Brownie’s corpse inside a trash bag, grabbed a shovel, trudged up the cellar stairs and out into the back yard. Nobody was around to see him dig the shallow grave.  
    He didn’t see his mother again that night nor had he wanted to. He kept replaying the scene of her gnawing on the entrails of Keith’s puppy, becoming more appalled each time he thought about it. He went to bed that night, unable to sleep. Did his mother need a doctor? Was she becoming demented? Was she going to be okay?   
    What would he tell Keith about his dog?  
    The following morning, they ate breakfast in silence, avoiding eye contact or the usual small talk. She left for her day job as a cashier at Gas ‘N’ Go and Brian headed to school. He hoped it was behind them, that perhaps it had just been one of those strange, surreal instances.   
    During weight training, Keith asked him if he’d seen Brownie. Brian lied and stated he hadn’t. He felt horrible, but what could he say? For the remainder of the class, he pushed his body to the limits, pumping and running and exhausting himself to keep his mind preoccupied and avoid speaking to his best friend. Keith didn’t press the issue.  
    When he returned home that afternoon, Brian called out for his mom. Silence answered. He ran down the basement stairs to ensure her absence, then bolted back up. The events of the previous day lingered in his mind and still chilled him. She had gone to work at the meat plant, then.  
    He went to bed early that night, worn out from his exertion in the weight room. He fell asleep instantly, mind still preoccupied with school and other matters that required less stress than trying to figure out what was going on with his mom.  
    When he awoke, his body was sore. He hadn’t heard his mom come in but he might not have heard a tornado had it been right on top of him, the way he slept that night. He crept to her room and opened the door.  
    She was sobbing on the bed. Her white cotton sheets were stained crimson. Blood was splattered all over the walls and carpet. Chunks of what could’ve been ground beef were strewn everywhere.  
    “They fired me last night.”  
    His lip quivered. He wanted to rush over and hug her but the blood kept him at bay.  
    “I blacked out. Then I came to, here, in bed. Like this.” She sat up, eyes turning black again.  
    Brian stepped backward, ready to