Edge of Desperation by Nat Kennedy

Author:Nat Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Lagomorph Press
Published: 2016-05-24T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

His flier that read “Need Help?” was half plastered over by someone selling their tickets to the weekend football game. The corner of the paper had been torn off. Only part of his number could be seen.

Maybe it was too obscure. But he couldn't make it any clearer.

He continued his march to the cafeteria. Inside, the seats were mostly full, the food lines packed. The mob of students had their noses in books, notebooks spread open next to trays of food as they jotted down ideas and solutions. Though nearly over, the week of tests before break took many souls. Reggie wondered if Kyle was all right. Studying for his own tests? Hanging out with his friends, safe from the cult predators? He hadn't heard from him in days.

He grabbed some rice and chicken and smiled at Zack, the regular server every day but Wednesday.

“Haven't seen you in a while,” Zack said.

Reggie forced a soft chuckle. “Family emergency.” Then adopted an 'I'm sad, but don't want to talk about it' face. “Needed to take some time.”

The food tasted like cardboard on his tongue. His phone rang. It was Bethany. He stared at her name, the ringing becoming more incessant. Finally, with an ounce of regret, or maybe a gallon, he touched the screen.

“Beth, Hi. I'm at the cafeteria right now,” he said to explain why his words might not be clear.

“Hmm, yummy. Listen, I got my assistant digging on this Scott woman. I found out some interesting things.” His sister's earlier joy at his reinstatement had been buried under her hard agent need for justice and an explanation.

“Sis, you can't solve everything for me.” It came out more harsh than he intended. So, he tried to soften it, “And it's done and over with. But, so, anyway, what did you find out?” Nobody sat near him, but still he kept his voice quiet.

She told him something he hadn't expected to hear.

“Seriously? And that's all buried, huh? But why would that matter? Why attack me? I just can't imagine that kind of viciousness.”

“You never could, Reg. You were always the softhearted one.”

He poked his fork into the cafeteria fried chicken. “Well, my world seems way more sane than the alternative.”

“It probably is,” she said. “How's the kid?”

What did he want to say? Everything, tell her all about their fight, his discovery of Reggie's Corruption? His views on Wielding? Say he was taking tests? Lie, say everything was fine?

He knew he could not lie to his sister.

“We had an argument. He left. I haven't talked to him since.”

“An argument? About what?”

“Cafeteria...” he sing-songed.

“Oh, so you broke another heart, did you? Poor guy. Didn't stand a chance against your monk-hood.”

“Wait? What! No! That's not—” But it was part of the problem, just to Reggie's mind the lesser of the whole problem. “More to do with … playing the guitar. I told him that he shouldn't play the guitar anymore, and he said why own a guitar if you never play it.”

There was

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.