Read Online The Night Sweeper: Assassin: A Zombie Conspiracy Novel (The Sweeper Chronicles Book 2) by J. Steven Butler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J. Steven Butler
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drowning
in.
A smile creases his lips and he leans forward, his
voice barely more than a whisper.
“Oh yes. I can do much better than that.”
I look at him, this creator of The Virus, this man that
the whole world has always considered a monster, this person who faked his
death. Is he genuine? Could there be more to him than I've believed? I mean, he
did find a cure. Could there be more to the story?
I almost choke on the words. “Okay.” My voice sounds
defeated to me. “Please help her. I can't lose her.”
He leans back, and all of my apprehension resurfaces at
the look on his face. He looks down for a moment, toying with one of his
fingernails before looking back up at me, his smile gone.
“I will fix Mira and save her life, but in return for
something from you.”
He's bargaining with Mira's life! Any temporary doubt I
had about his level of evil is squashed. I'm too stunned to respond, and I sit
dazed, too much bad news in too short a time. Heaven only knows what he wants
from me, and I almost don't want to know.
He continues quietly. “I know how this will seem to
you, Cray. I'm sure you think my actions savage. Perhaps they are, but I
find myself in a unique position, and there is something that simply must be
dealt with. You are the best chance I have of accomplishing this. In fact, you
may be the only chance given your particular skill set.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do, but make no
mistake, using her for extortion is absolutely savage.” Memories
flood my mind of Mira collapsing in the snow, the violent seizure.
What if there was something I could do? What if I
didn’t need Damian? Is there some way I can figure out the workings of
what Damian does? Could I fix Mira? But the hopelessness of
my situation crashes around me.
The recording on the island explained many things about
Damian’s work, but not in the level of detail I would need to understand it
all. Not even close. Besides, Damian isn’t going to let me have
free reign here. And even if I could find out what he does, it
would take time. Time Mira may not have. I think of losing her and
my nausea returns, but for a completely different reason.
“Extortion is such an ugly word. Think of it more
as…incentive. As long as you keep your end of the bargain, Mira will be
fine.” He pauses, giving me a chance to respond, but I don’t, and after a
moment he continues. “For much too long now, Cedric Archer has been a
thorn in my side. Worse, he's been the cause of great trouble both for me and
mankind. He poses a serious threat to my plans, and it's time for his power to
end.”
“What plans?” I say.
“For now, I think that is better left in the dark. Most
importantly, I don't think you would believe me. I don't deserve it, but I'm
asking you to trust me. This is a necessary evil.”
The pieces slide into place.
“You want me to kill him,” I say.
“I need you to kill him, yes. In return, I'll
save Mira for you.”
I mull over the implications, shock and sickness
slowing the process.
“I have no love for Archer, and I almost killed him
once, but you're asking me to become an assassin, to kill him in cold blood.”
“Yes,” he says, “though I'm sure even you would agree
that it would be justice for all that he's done.”
“Most people would say the same thing about you,” I
bite out, tasting bile rising in my throat.
He simply looks at me. “I’m sure. I know this is not
something you're accustomed to, Cray, but with your abilities, I'm sure you are
the best possible chance of it being accomplished. According to Mira, he tried
to kill both of you without mercy. Look at it as a way to make things even.”
I feel like my wits are returning, and I begin to turn
over scenarios in my mind at rapid speed. Cold-blooded murder. Can I live with
that? To save Mira?
My hatred for Archer is only surpassed by my hatred for
Damian. Isn't it true that Archer's a traitor, and that he's killed people in
cold blood?
in.
A smile creases his lips and he leans forward, his
voice barely more than a whisper.
“Oh yes. I can do much better than that.”
I look at him, this creator of The Virus, this man that
the whole world has always considered a monster, this person who faked his
death. Is he genuine? Could there be more to him than I've believed? I mean, he
did find a cure. Could there be more to the story?
I almost choke on the words. “Okay.” My voice sounds
defeated to me. “Please help her. I can't lose her.”
He leans back, and all of my apprehension resurfaces at
the look on his face. He looks down for a moment, toying with one of his
fingernails before looking back up at me, his smile gone.
“I will fix Mira and save her life, but in return for
something from you.”
He's bargaining with Mira's life! Any temporary doubt I
had about his level of evil is squashed. I'm too stunned to respond, and I sit
dazed, too much bad news in too short a time. Heaven only knows what he wants
from me, and I almost don't want to know.
He continues quietly. “I know how this will seem to
you, Cray. I'm sure you think my actions savage. Perhaps they are, but I
find myself in a unique position, and there is something that simply must be
dealt with. You are the best chance I have of accomplishing this. In fact, you
may be the only chance given your particular skill set.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do, but make no
mistake, using her for extortion is absolutely savage.” Memories
flood my mind of Mira collapsing in the snow, the violent seizure.
What if there was something I could do? What if I
didn’t need Damian? Is there some way I can figure out the workings of
what Damian does? Could I fix Mira? But the hopelessness of
my situation crashes around me.
The recording on the island explained many things about
Damian’s work, but not in the level of detail I would need to understand it
all. Not even close. Besides, Damian isn’t going to let me have
free reign here. And even if I could find out what he does, it
would take time. Time Mira may not have. I think of losing her and
my nausea returns, but for a completely different reason.
“Extortion is such an ugly word. Think of it more
as…incentive. As long as you keep your end of the bargain, Mira will be
fine.” He pauses, giving me a chance to respond, but I don’t, and after a
moment he continues. “For much too long now, Cedric Archer has been a
thorn in my side. Worse, he's been the cause of great trouble both for me and
mankind. He poses a serious threat to my plans, and it's time for his power to
end.”
“What plans?” I say.
“For now, I think that is better left in the dark. Most
importantly, I don't think you would believe me. I don't deserve it, but I'm
asking you to trust me. This is a necessary evil.”
The pieces slide into place.
“You want me to kill him,” I say.
“I need you to kill him, yes. In return, I'll
save Mira for you.”
I mull over the implications, shock and sickness
slowing the process.
“I have no love for Archer, and I almost killed him
once, but you're asking me to become an assassin, to kill him in cold blood.”
“Yes,” he says, “though I'm sure even you would agree
that it would be justice for all that he's done.”
“Most people would say the same thing about you,” I
bite out, tasting bile rising in my throat.
He simply looks at me. “I’m sure. I know this is not
something you're accustomed to, Cray, but with your abilities, I'm sure you are
the best possible chance of it being accomplished. According to Mira, he tried
to kill both of you without mercy. Look at it as a way to make things even.”
I feel like my wits are returning, and I begin to turn
over scenarios in my mind at rapid speed. Cold-blooded murder. Can I live with
that? To save Mira?
My hatred for Archer is only surpassed by my hatred for
Damian. Isn't it true that Archer's a traitor, and that he's killed people in
cold blood?
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