Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
My heart drops. I used to have a crush on his sister, Keni. Red hair. Big green eyes. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen besides River. Keni turned out to be a psycho bitch because she took Morris’s street-drug concoction. Still, she was hot, and what red-blooded guy doesn’t mourn the loss of a beautiful woman? Even the crazy ones.
“She’s really dead?” I ask.
Morris nods solemnly. “Just last week. I can’t bring myself to leave the city. She loved it so much. It’s why we came here to live after everything happened.”
So there’s no way he’d burn it down. “Then I guess you should stay here. Cherishing her memory and all.”
“I would, but I made a promise. On her deathbed, she asked me to find a cure.”
“Cure?” I ask.
“For you.”
“Me?”
“Despite what you thought of Keni, she really liked you. She never forgave herself for how she treated you or that my drug ruined so many lives.”
Keni played the part of drug dealer, so I could see why.
He goes on, “Everyone who survived is successfully off the drug, but you. You’re forever changed. She asked me to give you your life back.”
Give me back my weak, wimpy body? Or take away my powers? I’m not sure which he’s referring to, but I’ve never once discussed, pondered, or hoped I’d ever go back to my old self. The truth is, I’m not sure I’d want to. It’s a question for another day. In the meantime, something about this situation smells rotten.
“What about you, Morris? Why do you look like that?”
He glances at his chest. “Oh, well, I was trying to crack the code—you know, be strong like you, but that was before.”
“Before what?”
“Before Keni got sick.”
“And how exactly did she get sick?” I ask.
Morris stares, and I can tell his mind is churning.
“This is all a bunch of bullshit, isn’t it?” I say. “You’re just trying to get me to feel sorry for you so I’ll give you my blood. Keni’s probably somewhere safe and sound right now, drinking a latte and eating a Croissan’wich or le Big Mac.”
“Fine.” He throws his hands in the air. “You caught me. Keni always said I couldn’t lie my way through a bobsled.”
Huh?
He continues, “But think of it, Huff. If I could crack the code and become like you, you and I could change the world.”
“You mean change your world by selling the formula to the highest bidder.” Morris was always after money. So why else would he want the Huff recipe?
“If I can stabilize the formula and prevent the whole heart-exploding stuff, then yeah. What’s wrong with benefitting from our discovery?”
Our? “As far as I’m concerned, I’m just a happy accident. Unless you ask my parents.” I pause. “That came out wrong. They definitely wanted me. I was just born really small and wasn’t expected to survive.”
Why the hell am I telling him this?
I straighten my back so he knows I mean business. “You’ve caused enough damage to all the families who lost their kids. I can’t understand how you even live with yourself.” He knew exactly what he was peddling to those people. Strength and endurance in exchange for money. The fact that they became his pharma-hostages was a beneficial side effect in his mind.
Suddenly, I realize I’ve said too much. He needs to think I’m on his side so I can get close enough to kill him. “But there is one thing I want. One thing only you can give me in exchange for my blood.”
“Name your price.”
It has to sound believable. It has to be something I’d really want and only he can provide. I need him to let his guard down for two seconds so I can crack his neck. “I want the formula—the complete formula.”
“Deal breaker. You might sell it on your own.”
I already said I wasn’t in it for the money, so if I insist, he won’t bite. “Okay. Then I want enough for my friend. But only after it’s been thoroughly tested and proven safe. No repeat injections. No exploding heart.”
His eyes light up, and he shakes a finger at me. “You want a sidekick.”
“My reasons aren’t your business.”
“You’re right; they’re not. But who doesn’t enjoy juicy drama?”
Me. That’s who. “Can we get on with this? Do we have a deal or not?”
“Yes. We have a deal.” He points to the chair. “I promise you’ll only be out for a few minutes.”
“Morris, I’m not letting you knock me out.”
“Where’s the trust, Huff?”
“Would you let me make you unconscious and take your blood?”
“Fair point.” He pulls a square packet and an empty syringe from his back pocket. “You can take your own blood. Use the pad to disinfect the area first. Don’t want to contaminate the sample.”
This plan also sucks. Maybe I’ll draw my blood and then pounce on him at the handoff.