The Forsaken (The Chosen Series Book 2), Patricia Bell [e textbook reader .txt] 📗

“I know. I’m sorry. I just can’t get this dream out of my head.” Luna told her mother about the recurring nightmare that haunted her each night.

“Is this the girl who was left behind?” her mother asked when Luna was finished.

Luna nodded.

“Maybe we should call Chief Collins and let her know.”

“No!” both Luna and Jonathan yelled at the same time.

Linda held her hands up. “Okay. Okay. Just trying to help. I know it was just a dream, but if you really think she is in trouble—”

“It was just a dream,” Luna said. “I’m sure she’s okay.”

She was not sure. In fact, she was anything but sure. And if Abigail was hurt, it was Luna’s fault. She’d been the one to suggest Abigail start the fire, to begin with. And Jacob had promised to go back for the girl. Jacob was gone now, but that didn’t change the fact that Abigail might still need them.

“Luna,” Her mother sat in the chair across from them. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. I know Jonathan has nowhere else to go, but, well, maybe he can stay with Todd and Hannah? I just don’t think ―”

“Mom, no! Please. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“No.” Jonathan stood. “Your mother is right. We cannot live in the same house together. It is not proper. I will go.”

Luna stood. “Where will you go?” She turned to her mother. “Mom, this is not fair!”

“You are only seventeen, Luna. We tried to make this work, but I don’t feel comfortable with you two together when I am not here. And even when I am here.” She looked at Jonathan. “I’m sorry. You are welcome to spend the day here but―”

“You don’t trust me?” Luna cried.

Her mother lowered her head in a stare. “I was you, Luna. How do you think you got here?”

“Okay, but ―” What could she say to that. “Fine. I’ll call Hannah and see if he can stay there.”

“Thank you, Luna. It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s―”

“I get it, Mom. I’m gonna grab some breakfast.” Luna stretched. “You want some?” She patted Jonathan’s leg.

He nodded.

“Mom?”

“No, thank you. I’ve got to pack for my trip. Be sure and call Hannah. I’m sure they would be happy to have him.”

“I hope you are sleeping on the couch,” Luna chided playfully.

“I have my own bed in a hotel. I won’t be staying at their house.”

“Sounds fun,” Luna said as she got up to go into the kitchen.

“I’ll help.” Jonathan got up. “Right after I use the outhouse.”

Some things never change. Luna shook her head.

As Luna grabbed the egg carton and a slab of bacon, Jonathan came strolling into the room.

“Wash your hands, please.” Luna turned around to see Jonathan staring out the sliding glass door that led to the back yard, his face as white as the snow. “Jonathan? What’s wrong?”

He didn’t say a word. He moved closer to the door and looked in all directions outside.

“Jonathan?”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

“Someone was out there,” Jonathan said. “And it looked like . . .”

“Like who?”

Jonathan turned to Luna, his mouth wide open. “The Chosen.”

Chapter 13 ― Daniel

Daniel whirled around in the underground room several times before the realization hit him. He was surrounded by money. Stacks and stacks of money. Loaded from the floor to the ceiling, and all around him. Piles and stacks of green. He’d never seen real money before, but he’d watched enough gangster movies to know it when he saw it. What was his father doing with so much cash?

Daniel touched a stack carefully as if it might come to life and bite him. Then he picked it up and shuffled it through his hands. A full stack of one-hundred-dollar bills. Crisp and new.

Why?

As he set the stack back down, he noticed a closed door off in the corner and headed that way. He tried the handle, and it opened easily. As he went inside, thinking nothing could shock him more than a room full of money, he was wrong. His mouth opened wide as he stared.

A small dark room stared back at him. He searched the walls, but there was no light switch. The only illumination came from a small vent that led to the outside. A long, thick, wooden post that spanned from the floor to the ceiling stood in the middle of the room. A pile of chains sat on the floor next to it. At the end was a thick metal shackle.

Was it a dungeon of some sort? Who had been held down here? Were there some deep, dark secrets held in this room? On the other side of the room was another door. Did it lead to the outside?

Daniel walked over to the door and turned the handle. It squeaked open. Light flooded his face as he looked out to see another set of stairs that led up to the outdoors. How had he never noticed it before? He went outside all the time. He was not allowed to leave his backyard, but he had free reign of it. He climbed up the stairs.

As soon as he reached the top, he understood why he’d never seen it before. It was on the other side of the block wall that surrounded their house. He’d never been out of the blocked-in area.

A longing overcame Daniel to venture outside the confines of his home. To find out what was on the other side of the wall. To see the community where the people, one day his people, lived. But not today.

He went back down the stairs, closed the door, and back into the dungeon room.

What in the world could this place have been used for?

Not sure he wanted to know, he rushed back out of the room and closed the door behind him. He walked back through the money room, turned off the light and went back up the stairs and into the dark, narrow