Dragan's Redemption Book One of the Manor at Echo Lake Trilogy Read Free

him.
    “Dr. Reynolds!”
    “What do you have?”
    “Victim ’ s age is approximately 6 years old.  He went through the windshield of his drunken father’s car – guess he decided home was close enough so he didn’t strap the boy in.  He took the corner too hard, slamming into a tree in their front yard.  Father has hardly a scratch on him. ”
    “Where is the dad now?”
    The paramedic shrugged as he hopped out of the vehicle.  “He refused treatment.  The police were more than happy to take him to the station.  The mom is hysterical though , so the cops are taking her the long way to the hospital to give us time.  We don’t think the kid is going to make it .”
    Pushing the paramedic aside, Dragan continued the chest compressions as they wheeled him into a bay in the emergenc y room.  Thinking of the father, t he familiar rage welled up inside his chest at the stupidity of some humans .  Refusing to accept the paramedic’s diagnosis , Dragan barked orders causing a flurry of activity to build around him.  This boy was not going to die without a fight.  An hour later, blood covering his clothes, he stared down at the lifeless body and conceded defeat.
    “Doctor, you need to call it.”
    He turned his head, face set as stone and devoid of emotion.  She took a step back afraid.
    “Time of death - 5:42 a . m.”  Pulling off the latex gloves, he threw them to the floor.  “I will talk to the mom as soon as I clean up. ” Stroking the boys head gently , h is voice cracked.  “Please take care of this child so the mom can come in to say goodbye.”
    “Yes , Doctor.”
    Returning to his room, Dragan quickly stripped the blood soaked clothes off his body before stepping into the shower .  The scent was in his pores.  He scrubbed his skin hard attempting to remove it from his skin.  Hearing movements from his room, he stood still listening then continued scrubbing as he recognized the sound of the nurse quietly placing his clothes in a plastic bag to throw away. Placing both hands on the wall of the shower , he leaned forward to allow the pulsating spray to wash over him as he pushed down the waves of nausea that were trying to over take him.  Unable to hold it back , he quickly stepped out of the shower to the toilet, vomiting then gagging as the acid burned his throat.  Leaning against the sink , he looked into the mirror watch ing as the beginnings of red entered the corners of his eyes.  He needed to leave the hospital but he still had one thing left to do .
    Quickly dressing , he returned to the emergency room entering the room where the little boy was.   Stepping quietly , he viewed the tiny form lying now on clean sheets. Staring at the tiny face, he wondered why dead people look ed like they were sleeping.
    Out in the hallway, he noted the mom rocking back and forth in agony waiting for news on her son as a nurse knelt by the chair rubbing her back . Steeling himself inside before approaching her , Dragan took a shaky breath as she looked up .  Feeling her eyes searching every inch of his face, h e knew the instant she realized that her son was gone .
    “I am sorry.  We did everything we could.”
    She crumbled to the floor wailing loudly as he turned away towards the exit.  The emergency doors slid open automatically allowing him to step through and then close .
    Stepping outside for the second time that morning, this time the air did not smell as sweet to him.  His hunger was raging through his system almost overpowering him.   Dragan knew he had waited too long to feed.  Picturing the police station in his mind, he willed himself into a cell with his remaining strength.  Dragan looked down at the man lying on the cot, the scent of the fathers blood stained clothes tickled at his nose.  Grimacing at the stench of alcohol, he knew he was going to regret this later.  Reaching down he grabbed the man by the neck, squeezing as he hauled him to his feet.  C ho k ing sounds