The Breeding Tree by J. Andersen

Author:J. Andersen [Andersen, J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brimstone Fiction
Published: 2017-03-24T18:30:00+00:00

TWENTY TWO

UNDER THE SURFACE

BY THE TIME I get home, it’s late. Way past curfew, which can only mean one thing: my mother will be up waiting for me with a reprimand on her lips. When she sees my blood-covered shirt, she’s going to freak.

Creeping in the back door as quietly as I can, I make it to the bathroom and am taking off my shirt before I hear her.

“What happened to you? Why are you home so late? Do you realize I’ll have to report you?” The look on her face is a mixture of fear and anger, and I know there’s no lying my way out of this one. There never is. Dealing with my mother is a game of telling just enough truth not to lie, and just enough lie to still tell the truth. Her eyelids peel back revealing something close to terror when she sees my blood-stained clothing covering the bathroom floor. “Kate! Are you all right?” She rushes toward me, lightly pressing her fingers around my skin to check for cuts.

I pull away, not wanting her so close to me, afraid she can smell my deception. I wasn’t supposed to go to the Outer Lands. “Yeah, Mom, I’m fine. Micah fell and hit his head. We had to take him to the hospital for stitches.” See, it’s not a lie.

“We?”

Crap! “I ... I mean I took him. He was bleeding pretty badly, and I got it all over me.”

She calms down an inkling. “Is he okay?”

“I think so. They’re keeping him overnight in the hospital wing at The Institute. I’m going to head over there tomorrow or the next day to see how he is.” Nice save, Kate. No need to mention he was attempting to abduct you in the process.

“Get cleaned up and head to bed. Be sure to let your father know you’re home. He’s been worried sick. I’ll notify the database about your condition.”

“Sure, Mom.” I’m glad I kept my story straight. The whole ‘partial truth’ stuff is getting easier every day. Let’s just hope she continues to believe it.

The first thing I do when I have a second of privacy is cut the zip tie still dangling from my wrist and bury it deep in the garbage. After changing into my pajamas, I pick up the clothing covering the bathroom floor and carry it to the laundry room, but one look at the items, and I decide there’s no saving any of them, so instead, I shove them in the trash with the zip tie. Taking the garbage out will make my mother happy. Note to self: Find a new favorite pair of jeans soon.

Then I remember the paper. Digging through garbage isn’t my idea of a fun time, but there has to be something about that paper. The jeans rest on the top of the pile, and I find the paper still tucked into the back pocket where I left it.

Back in my bedroom, I can get some privacy. I flop down on my bed and pull my feet cross-legged to examine the paper.

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