Branded (The Branded Series) Read Free Page A

The angel’s smile
quickly faded and she began screaming a heart-wrenching cry for me to help her.
I fought with all of my strength to get to her, but I couldn’t. Then, a figure
of black darkness galloped across the field toward her. Silence fell over the
angel and her face mirrored horrific fear. As I stood helpless, the black
darkness absorbed her.
    “NOOO!” I
screamed, breaking loose from the invisible hold. My eyes adjusted to the
darkness and I found myself standing in the middle of my bed, dripping with
sweat and gasping for air. It was another nightmare. My blankets were thrown
across the room, in the same way I usually found them after having this
recurring dream.
    I checked the
time and cringed when I saw that it was only three o’clock in the morning. I
still had more dark hours, and possibly more horrible dreams, to endure.
    Why was I
having these horrible dreams? I knew if I told my mother, the self-proclaimed
“dream reader,” she wouldn’t hesitate to offer her interpretations of them, but
something told me I wouldn’t want to know anyway. I laid my head back down and
closed my eyes, trying hard to rid my mind of the awful images.
     
    My curtains were closed all
but an inch where the sun shone in and splashed a beam of warmth onto my face.
I forced one eye open and then another as the fog in my head slowly cleared.
Mom and Abby were scurrying around getting Abby ready for school. I flipped
over and checked the time—seven thirty-eight. Crap! I forgot to set my alarm. I
hopped out of bed, jumped into the shower and got ready for school.
    “You’re
running late,” Mom noticed as I rushed into the kitchen and threw a bagel into
the toaster.
    “Uh-huh,” I
agreed.
    “How was
Anna’s flight? You got her home okay?” Mom poured a glass of orange juice and
set it down on the table in front of me as she planted a quick kiss on my head.
    “Flight was
good. She’s home safe and sound.”
    “How is she?”
    “Fanificent,”
I answered without thinking.
    “Fan what?”
Mom asked.
    “She’s great.”
I smiled.
    “I’d love to
hear about her trip and see pictures, so make sure she comes over soon, okay?”
My bagel popped and Mom told me to sit while she buttered it for me.
    “Do you think
you could drop Abby off at school for me today?” Mom asked as she placed the
bagel down in front of me.
    “Why? Did she
miss her bus?”
    “No.” Mom
leaned in and lowered her voice. “I think she’s a little nervous to take the
bus today for some reason. She suddenly has a tummy ache and is trying to
convince me that the bus ride will make her sick.”
    “Are you
serious?” Although Abby was usually no trouble, and I knew she’d do anything for
me if I asked, I was really looking forward to the drive to school alone with
Anna today.
    “Please?” Mom
begged, which she hardly ever did. “I’d take her myself, but I’m not even
dressed yet and I have a doctor’s appointment in an hour.”
    As nice as it
was that Dad’s job took him away each week from Monday to Thursday, it had its
drawbacks too. I was now the man of the house and felt the weight of having to
take care of Mom and Abby while he was gone. It was only Wednesday, so Dad was
still not scheduled to be home until the following evening.
    I sighed.
“Fine,” I agreed as I pulled out my phone and dialed Anna’s number.
    “Thanks,
tiger.” Mom kissed my head again and scurried out of the kitchen and up the
stairs.
    “Hi,” Anna
answered in a delightful voice that reminded me of a bird chirping.
    “Hey, you
almost ready? I’m running a bit late and we have to drop Abby off at school,
but I can be there in about ten minutes.”
    “Actually,
Lexie just showed up. She wants me to ride with her today. I figure it’ll give
us some time to catch up. Is that cool with you?”
    What? “Oh, yeah,
sure—that’s cool,” I lied. “See you at school then?” An emptiness suddenly
plagued my stomach.
    “Tell Abby
I’ll see her soon,”