Feral Read Online Free Page A

to know they disemboweled you first.  The thought was less than appealing if I do say so myself.

Chapter 2
    I woke to the sound of voices, but my first half-conscious thought was, I should be in a world of pain.  But I wasn’t.  I mean, sure, my head ached, but it was tolerable.  My throat felt thick with sleep.  My mouth was dry.  And my neck itched terribly.  Absently, I lifted my hand, discovering a large square of gauze taped gratuitously from my neck to shoulder.
    “I wouldn’t do that,” a voice warned.
    “JesusMaryandJoseph!” I gasped, holding my heart in my chest.  My pulse raced beneath my palm, wrenching me mercilessly into full consciousness.  From the corner of the room, emerged a trifle girl with long brown hair.  She wore it in loose curls, held back only by a blue satin ribbon.  She had large, brown eyes and an odd smile that she meant to look timid, but looked wooden and unnatural.
    “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
    “Where am I?” I asked, struggling to sit up right.  Flitting toward me in a movement that left me reeling, she nudged me back down into the mattress with more ease than I would’ve thought possible.  She couldn’t have weighed more than eighty pounds, give or take.
    “You really shouldn’t move yet.  Not until Icarus checks your injuries.”
    “Who’s Icarus?”
    Pondering the question, the girl bit the inside of her cheek.  “He’s right.  It might be best if he answers your questions.  I’m afraid I couldn’t answer them with the same discretion.”  Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared blatantly, neglecting to speak any further.  She made me feel like a spider under glass, or a puddle of vomit.  Neither depiction was savory.
    “Maybe you should get Icarus,” I suggested.
    “No need,” she purred, unwilling to leave my side.  Cocking her head to the side, she stared expectantly at the bedroom door.  In the hall beyond, I heard a booming voice above the susurration of others, ordering them to disperse at once.  They promptly dispersed.  I could hear their rambunctious footfalls thudding up and down the hall, accompanied by a medley of raucous laughs and hoots and the occasional sound of protest.  Something tickled the back of my skull, leaving me with the niggling urge to disperse, too.
    “I think I should go,” I told the girl, trying again to stand.   “I’m late anyhow.”
    “Icarus!” she shouted unhappily, wrestling with me.  It was a futile effort on my part.  Either she was unusually strong or I was very weak.  Maybe both, I dithered.  The girl was eerie.
    The door clicked open and through it emerged a tall, dark haired man that appeared to be around thirtyish.  He was tall and lean, but not over-muscled, wearing a pair of faded khakis and a white tee.  His eyes flashed to the bed where I sat struggling under the girl’s hand.  “Rest, he said simply.  I rested, the back of my skull tickling again.  The small exertion left me feverish and exhausted, a battle lost.  And why was I trying to leave anyway?  Resting was a much better idea.  Resting was good.  I closed my eyes briefly, allowing the spinning in my head to abate.
    Lord was I hung over.
    “They keep opening the door and peeking in,” the girl complained in a tone that said she didn’t share their interest. “And they woke her up.”
    “ Hailey, why don’t you run to the bathroom and find some fresh dressings while I speak to…”
    “ Thaleia,” I said, when his eyes set on me.  Nice eyes they were too.  Stunning actually.  They were a pale white-blue, striking against his stark black hair.
    Disgusted with myself, I quickly shook off my stupor.  I had no idea where I was, or how I got there.  I wasn’t in a hospital, and judging by the male oriented décor I wasn’t even in a clinic and there I was ogling men.
    “ Thaleia,” he repeated, testing the sound of it.  “Do you have a nickname, Thaleia, or a last name?”
    “ Thale.