Read The Next Chronicle (Book 1): Next for Free Online Page B

breathing was deep and even. He was thin, clearly weakened by a long time spent in bed. IV lines sprouted from his arms, which were in turn were held by straps. Kit could see the shape of other restraints beneath the sheet covering him. But it was his face that captured her completely. Though the features were altered by a thin beard and the pointed gauntness brought on by weight loss, it was unmistakably the face of Ray Elliot.
    Who, according to every source imaginable, was a dead man.
    Archer spoke softly. “You said I had a problem with the Next. I do. But it isn't prejudice the way you think about it. Look at this man. Really look at him. He didn't know what he was doing when he killed all those people. It wasn't his fault. He had no idea what was happening to him, and no clue how to stop it.”
    Kit looked over her shoulder at Archer, but the big man's eyes were locked on the still form in front of them. Archer's face looked haunted, but there was pity in his eyes, and compassion.
    “ I don't hate him for what he is or what he did. But you're right. I worry about your people. Day and night. Because some of them—like him—have powers they don't understand, and that lack of knowledge can have consequences. People like Ray here aren't the worst of it. Our job is to go up against people who have a grasp on their powers. I don't hate the Next for what they are. I'm terrified of what they can do.”
    Archer sighed and rested his hands on the bed rails. “I fear them because they're people , agent Singh. Because when you give them power, they do what people have always done with it. They abuse it.”
    Kit shook her head. “Not all of them. Not always.”
    Archer's mouth quirked. “Not you, you mean. No, no,” he said, forestalling her response. “I'm not saying all Next will abuse their abilities, but I know damn well that there are enough to keep us busy. I respect the ones who do good things with their abilities, don't get me wrong. But if you're going to be my partner, you need to understand that the world is a much bigger place than Helix. There are things that you'll have to learn that very few people know, starting with this room. There are a lot of secrets in this job. I need to know you can handle them. Keep them.”
    Kit was silent. Being pulled from the safety of Helix had felt like a betrayal at first. She'd put everything into the unit, dedicated herself to becoming the best at what she did. But in just a few hours at the OSA, she had begun to see the outline of an entire world that had been hidden from her. Helix was secretive, set apart. The sense of family there grew from being, if not exactly clandestine, then very quiet in their activities. They were all outcasts together.
    Seeing the OSA agents in the main office, being joked with before even getting an introduction, and exposure to this place, the secrets Archer shared without hesitation, made her wonder. How much of her worldview was shaped by the choice to avoid the pitfalls that came with living in the world as what she was?
    It was like stepping off a cliff, but Kit made her choice.
    “I'm with you, Archer. For now, anyway. I don't know how deep this rabbit-hole goes, but you have my attention.”
    Archer grinned. “Good. For all his faults, I didn't think Robinson would send me anything less than his best.”
    Kit turned to face him. “But you're going to explain some things to me. Starting with how this man is alive.”
    Archer nodded. “Of course, I'll be happy to.” A tone sounded overhead, and from every phone in the room. A cool female voice echoed from around the room.
    “Director Archer, please report to dispatch at your earliest convenience. Lieutenant Snyder has reported activity and requires assistance. This is a code yellow request.”
    Archer scrubbed a hand over his face. “Well. Looks like you're going to learn by doing. I'll answer questions on the way.”
     

Chapter Five
     
    Though Kit had concerns about being thrust