Read Online Under My Skin by Shawntelle Madison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shawntelle Madison
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blue shoes until she abruptly stopped.
“We have a problem! Move faster!” She grabbed me by the arm. A series of pops came from all directions. My gaze darted to the nearby transport ship waiting for me. Through the haze of twilight, figures were closing in toward the launch pad.
In the shadows, I couldn’t see much, only strangers in dark clothes moving closer and closer to our position from across the wide expanse of the roof. How did they get up here?
Astrid dragged me behind a pile of gray storage crates. The soldiers followed us, returning fire at every opportunity.
“Why are they attacking us?” I barely had time to catch my breath before a few shots set one of the crates on fire.
She ignored me and nodded as if someone spoke in her ear. Perhaps the security detail had given her a personal comm-unit for her ear,
As the las-gun fire escalated, it was a sure sign they outnumbered us. Astrid leaned toward me. “We don’t have enough time before backup arrives. We have to make a run for it.”
My eyes widened. If what Claire told me was true, this was my chance to escape. I had to stall to give them time to come get me.
“I’m not running out there. What if I get hit?”
Astrid’s eyes burned. “Quit the stupid act,” she spat. “Seventeen donor cards! The highest bid I’ve seen in years! We both know they’re here for you.” She tugged me closer. “Do you think they’d dare hit the person they plan to abduct? They’re not that dumb.”
“Who are those people?” I asked.
She turned to the men. “On three, I’m taking her in.”
Two of the men nodded. They waited for the countdown. Each second that passed made me want to leave them and head back toward the open door of the building. What stopped me was that wasn’t the way out either.
Astrid belted out the countdown. Much faster than I expected. Before I had a chance to bolt, she tightened her grip on my arm and dragged me from behind the crates.
The soldiers opened fire, and my supposed kidnappers retreated behind their cover. Even then, a few of them tried to fire on Astrid. Instead of dragging me behind her, she jerked me around to protect the front of her body.
“Keep moving, damn it!” In the open door of the sleek transport ship, the pilot waited, gesturing madly for us to get inside.
With each step, my freedom disappeared. We only had a few more steps to the door. I twisted around and released my frustration on Astrid. I ripped at her uniform and tried to claw at her eyes, but she was too strong and it was far too late. As we closed in, I felt the sharp bite of pain on my upper back and smelled the disgusting odor of burned flesh. This time it was mine. I gasped two times. My blood rushed to my head. I fell backwards, darkness folding over me. The last thing I heard was the sound of the transport door closing with me inside.
Even though I was half asleep, I could see the dock where I loved to read after school. Only a short trip from my house, I’d venture out to sit on an abandoned pier and let the sun warm my skin. From my spot, I could see for miles along the coast. To the south, an old flag fluttered on a weathered lighthouse. It was still used in emergencies, but no one bothered to repair or paint it anymore. While to the north, some of my neighbors returned from fishing for the day. Their rusty boat made all sorts of noise and spat out blackened smoke. All of these things painted the landscape of my memories—until I spotted two figures standing on the other end of pier. With their backs turned, I couldn’t see their faces, but I caught bits of their conversation. Both of them wore unfamiliar gowns of dark red. The color of blood.
“Are you sure she’s prepared to do this?” one woman asked the other. “Her wound was severe.”
The other person, an older woman, harrumphed. “The girl should’ve thought of the consequences before she tried to escape. It doesn’t matter, though. We don’t have any more
“We have a problem! Move faster!” She grabbed me by the arm. A series of pops came from all directions. My gaze darted to the nearby transport ship waiting for me. Through the haze of twilight, figures were closing in toward the launch pad.
In the shadows, I couldn’t see much, only strangers in dark clothes moving closer and closer to our position from across the wide expanse of the roof. How did they get up here?
Astrid dragged me behind a pile of gray storage crates. The soldiers followed us, returning fire at every opportunity.
“Why are they attacking us?” I barely had time to catch my breath before a few shots set one of the crates on fire.
She ignored me and nodded as if someone spoke in her ear. Perhaps the security detail had given her a personal comm-unit for her ear,
As the las-gun fire escalated, it was a sure sign they outnumbered us. Astrid leaned toward me. “We don’t have enough time before backup arrives. We have to make a run for it.”
My eyes widened. If what Claire told me was true, this was my chance to escape. I had to stall to give them time to come get me.
“I’m not running out there. What if I get hit?”
Astrid’s eyes burned. “Quit the stupid act,” she spat. “Seventeen donor cards! The highest bid I’ve seen in years! We both know they’re here for you.” She tugged me closer. “Do you think they’d dare hit the person they plan to abduct? They’re not that dumb.”
“Who are those people?” I asked.
She turned to the men. “On three, I’m taking her in.”
Two of the men nodded. They waited for the countdown. Each second that passed made me want to leave them and head back toward the open door of the building. What stopped me was that wasn’t the way out either.
Astrid belted out the countdown. Much faster than I expected. Before I had a chance to bolt, she tightened her grip on my arm and dragged me from behind the crates.
The soldiers opened fire, and my supposed kidnappers retreated behind their cover. Even then, a few of them tried to fire on Astrid. Instead of dragging me behind her, she jerked me around to protect the front of her body.
“Keep moving, damn it!” In the open door of the sleek transport ship, the pilot waited, gesturing madly for us to get inside.
With each step, my freedom disappeared. We only had a few more steps to the door. I twisted around and released my frustration on Astrid. I ripped at her uniform and tried to claw at her eyes, but she was too strong and it was far too late. As we closed in, I felt the sharp bite of pain on my upper back and smelled the disgusting odor of burned flesh. This time it was mine. I gasped two times. My blood rushed to my head. I fell backwards, darkness folding over me. The last thing I heard was the sound of the transport door closing with me inside.
Even though I was half asleep, I could see the dock where I loved to read after school. Only a short trip from my house, I’d venture out to sit on an abandoned pier and let the sun warm my skin. From my spot, I could see for miles along the coast. To the south, an old flag fluttered on a weathered lighthouse. It was still used in emergencies, but no one bothered to repair or paint it anymore. While to the north, some of my neighbors returned from fishing for the day. Their rusty boat made all sorts of noise and spat out blackened smoke. All of these things painted the landscape of my memories—until I spotted two figures standing on the other end of pier. With their backs turned, I couldn’t see their faces, but I caught bits of their conversation. Both of them wore unfamiliar gowns of dark red. The color of blood.
“Are you sure she’s prepared to do this?” one woman asked the other. “Her wound was severe.”
The other person, an older woman, harrumphed. “The girl should’ve thought of the consequences before she tried to escape. It doesn’t matter, though. We don’t have any more
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