Read Online The Keepers (The Alchemy Series) by Donna Augustine - Free Book Online

confident. I’d meant to shut him down. I knew there were no paper trails of where I’d come from, but when the words came out, they rang of defensiveness.
    “You’re right. I don’t know any of the facts, but I do know things. I know that whatever happened to you, it damaged you so much you ’re afraid you’ll never be normal. That you can’t stand to be touched; so much so that you throw off a repellent you aren’t even aware of. That you are still trying to…”
    “Get out!”
    “Josephine, I’m sorry, I was just trying to…”
    I didn’t give him a chance to finish, as I abandoned my own home. My hands had begun to shake again, and I sprinted away with every ounce of energy I possessed. I’d been holding it together for my entire adult life and most of my childhood. I refused to have a second breakdown less than twenty-four hours from the first.
    Winded, my legs burned with built up lactic acid, and I paused, looking behind me. My trailer park was nothing but a glittering spot on the horizon, ahead of me, nothing but the desert dunes as the sun started to make its final decent of the day. I felt alone. It was what I needed. It was what I knew. Alone was how I would pull the pieces back together.

Chapter Eight
     
    It was the first time I was going back to the casino for work since the infamous night of my de ath, or as it turned out, deathlike experience. I’d packed and unpacked my bags at least ten times in the last day, but I had too much at stake to start over, again. If I picked up and left now, I would need another new identity. I would have to redo years of schooling just when I was so close to being finished. I had to hang in there for a little longer.
    Another part of me, the one who had started to calm down and think logically, realized I had finally found a source of answers and wanted to stay. If I ran now, I might never know. The whole reason I had even wanted to become a doctor was now within my grasp. Only problem was the same logical part of me knew that although Hawking might have the answers, he’d also tried to kill me. Who knew when he might think it was a good idea to do it again. In his world, I was dispensable.
    Even now, I knew I was being tailed everywhere I went. I felt it, even if I couldn’t always spot it. A new work uniform was waiting by my door when I got up this morning. They all knew my address, which was not the one listed on my application or my college record. All my mail went to a post office box. Perhaps it was time to find a new residence. I’d have to check into that online after work tonight.
    I dreaded going in tonight, but it seemed strangely normal once I started. I had made it halfway through my shift, and had psyched myself up enough that I started to believe I was going to be able to do this. The fact that no one seemed to know anything had happened helped me fool myself into the thought that this would turn out okay.
    I saw Hawking in passing , a few times. Other than a look that seemed to linger longer than it should have, he didn’t even acknowledge me. That didn’t get me the information I wanted, but I didn’t feel like I’d have to run for my life anytime soon, either.
    “Hey , Jo, since we’re slow, do you want to cut out early? If you want to stay, I’ll ask Vicky,” Arnold said to me a while later, as I hung around the service bar.
    “I’ll go. Thanks.” I was relieved to get off the floor. I’d waited for something to happen all night . Even when everything had gone smoothly, I was exhausted from the anticipation of waiting for something that had never materialized. I’d go home and relax on my couch, and read up for my finals.
    I quickly changed and went to wait for the bus that would take me home. I felt the tingling sensation of being watched again as I stood at the stop. This time I had the feeling it was Hawking. I’d slipped out the back entrance that only a casino person would’ve been able to see me leave. He was probably