Read Online The Prophet's Daughter by Kilayla Pilon - Free Book Online Page A

dropped like flies. He told me how he can still see all the corpses, the millions of dead bodies lining the streets, his neighbors…” Isaac shivered, closing his eyes. “I assume you know the rest,” he finished and shook his head, eyes remaining closed as he swallowed hard, grabbing for a water bottle.
    “You remember the riots too, huh?” I broke in, grabbing a stick and poking at the dwindling fire, moving around the ashen branches.
    “Yeah, it wasn’t too bad where I grew up, but it was still there. Now we just have to worry about hunger, savage animals, bandits,
    where we’re going to sleep… Stuff like that.”
    “Raiders,” I hissed, jabbing the fire a little too hard.
    “Raiders,” echoed Isaac blinking. “I don’t think I’ve heard of them.”
    “Murderers,” I coughed as a plume of smoke rushed towards me. “The people who killed my parents, the,” I croaked, “the people who are looking for me.”
    “Oh,” Isaac said, with a brief nod of his head. Silence followed his acknowledgment of my words, drawing out for some time even after the two of us had finished eating our meal. My stomach rumbled, unsatisfied and hoping for more food. I sighed and closed my eyes, tilting my head back, listening to the dull crackle of the fire, the chirping of the crickets echoing around us.
    “I’m going to go head to bed now.” Isaac’s voice tore m e from my peaceful state, drawing me to look up at him.
    “I’ll head to bed soon, too,” I breathed, turning my gaze to the fire pit.
    “Arin,” Isaac huffed, sounding hesitant to speak as he stood up, taking a few steps away.
    “Isaac,” I didn’t take my gaze off of the dying flame in front of me.
    “Thanks for talking to me.” With those words uttered faster than a speeding bullet, he shuffled off, ducking into his tent before I had the chance to respond. I smiled – perhaps Seth was right, he just needed to get used to my presence and he would warm up to me. I hoped so; I’d enjoyed talking with him, too.
    I wonder what Mum would say if she saw me now, I thought. Traveling with two strangers to who knows where.
    I sat, staring at the fire as time seemed to evaporate before me, my eyes beginning to droop until I lay my head against my knees. The fire died down to nothing more than a few smoldering embers, and I stamped them out before heading over to the tent that Isaac had set out for me.
    A small mewl caught my attention and I turned around to see a small kitten with brown fur coming towards me. I stared at it, unsure of what to do, even after it pressed up against me, rubbing my legs – I could feel the vibrations of its purrs against my calf.
    “Hi little guy,” I murmured, glancing over at Isaac’s tent before I picked up the kitten, holding it in my arms. It didn’t protest and instead curled up in my arms, touching its nose to my chin, purring.
    I carried the kitten into the tent, crawling onto the makeshift bed Isaac had made up with my foam and the spaceship patterned blanket from the house. The kittens head shot up at the sound, ears perked and pupils round. It stretched its maw open, yawning, before bounding out of my arms and clambering over towards the blankets, pressing against fluffiest parts.
    “Come on little guy, time for bed,” I murmured, zipping the tent closed, leaving it open at the bottom. I stared at the small gap, hand hovering on the zipper. No, other animals could get in. I’ll let him out in the morning.
    Pulling the zipper so that not even a fly could squirm its way into the tent, I huffed and dragged myself over towards the blankets. The kitten squeaked at the movement, jumping up and scrambling towa rds me, burying itself against my chest. I laughed and ran my fingers through its fur, surprised at how tame the small kitten was – he must have been young, he was just about the length of my foot.
    “I’ll call you Jumper,” I sighed, laying my head against t he pillow, listening to the crickets outside