Dead Harvest Read Free Page B

song were gone. I collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down my borrowed cheeks, whether from the beauty of what I'd seen or the sudden horrible absence of it, I didn't know.
      I looked around. I'd so lost myself in that light, that sound, I was unsure of where I was. The lines and angles of the hospital room seemed suddenly harsher, somehow. Colder. My heart thudded in my chest. I climbed trembling to my feet, my body drenched in a cold, acrid sweat. I knew that scent. I'd smelled it a thousand times in the moment before I tore soul from flesh.
      It was fear.
      It was fear, and it was mine.
      I approached the bed again. With shaking hands, I reached toward her. I hesitated, my fingers scant inches from her breastbone. I wasn't sure if I could do it. I knew I couldn't not. I closed my eyes, steeling myself for what was to come.
      That's when she started screaming.
      My eyes flew open. Kate was staring back at me, her eyes wide with fear. She thrashed against her restraints, cuffed wrists clanging violently against the bedrail. Her screams echoed through the tiny room, blotting out all thought.
      "My God, is she all right?"
      A nurse, in the doorway. I forced myself to focus. "She's seizing!" I replied. "Give her something to calm her down."
      The nurse hurried to Kate's bedside, snatching a needle from the cart beside the bed. "Pushing four of Ativan." Kate's thrashing slowed, and her cries died down to little more than a whimper. Her eyes met mine. Terrified, pleading. Then the spark within them guttered and died, and her lids came crashing down. Kate MacNeil was once again asleep.
      I, unfortunately, had no such luxury. My mind was reeling. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, urging me to flee. I knew I had a job to do. But that light, that song – in all my years, I'd never seen anything like that. Something wasn't right here.
      "Her wrists," I said, embarrassed by the sudden quaver in my voice. "They've been abraded by the cuffs. I'd like to have a look at them. Do you have a key?"
      "I'm not supposed to unlock her," the nurse replied.
      I nodded toward Kate's sleeping form. "You think she's going anywhere?"
      She hesitated a moment, and then fished a small set of keys from her pocket, unlocking first one set of cuffs, and then the other. "The police should really be here when she wakes up," the nurse said. "They're going to want to talk to her."
      I nodded my agreement. "The officer that was stationed at her door was asleep when I arrived. When I woke him, he said he was gonna head down to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. If I had to guess, I'd say they're not going to be too happy with him if they find out he was gone when she came to. You could catch him if you hurry. Tell him to call in, let them know that she's been stirring."
      "And her?"
      "I'll keep an eye on her until you get back."
      She gave me a curt nod, and took off at a jog. A good kid, I thought – the trusting sort. It almost made me feel bad for what I was about to do.
      Beside the bed was a wheelchair, folded and propped against the wall. I yanked it open. Then, with a glance over my shoulder to ensure I wasn't being watched, I slid the IV from Kate's arm. Blood welled red in its wake. I blotted it with the bed sheet, and replaced the tape that had held the IV in place. Then I lifted her into the wheelchair. Her eyes fluttered, but she didn't stir.
      Outside Kate's room, the hall bustled with activity. The nurse had headed left, so I went right. No one gave me a second glance as I wheeled her down the hall, her head lolling to one side.
      What the hell was I supposed to do now? It would only be a matter of minutes before they discovered she was missing, and this girl was a hot commodity. I knew what I should do was make the collection and be on my way. I also knew that wasn't going to happen – not until I figured out what the hell was going on.
      "Hey! Hey, you!"
      The call