Breathless (The Breathe Series Book 1) Read online

  “The prophecy said that the ultimate chosen would gain all of her powers once the bane of sacrifice is dead. The bane of sacrifice is me—because she loves me more than anything. I am her motivation and her pain. Pain is motivation. She had to break.”

  Stephanie raises her brow, “Well, let’s hope someone can piece her back together.”

  “Yea—let’s hope.”

  24 Unconscious

  NORA

  Devin will be gone for three weeks with his father. It had only been a week, and I missed him already. I get up from his bed and walk over to the bathroom mirror trying to smooth out the bags under my eyes but the more I touch them, the bigger they seemed to get, so I just stopped trying to push them down. I am scheduled to see Dr. Grant Roberts today for my cycle checkup.

  I stand in the mirror for at least 30 more minutes gliding the minty string back and forth between each tooth. I tie my hair up, spraying a little perfume on my wrists and neck. I slip into something comfortable—white shirt and black loose fitting pants. I grab my bag and head out of the door.

  *****

  ONE WEEK AGO – DEVIN

  Devin meets Luke in his office of Unit 7. He places his hand onto the palm reader next to the door. The scanner shines blue, streaking down his hand, reading his print. The light flashes green when approved and the door glides open. He walks into the office to face his father. “I had to compel her, dad. It was the only way. She saw what happened with Mason on Vaurus.” Devin cries out without a greeting first.

  “And did she resist?” Luke is calm, facing the window to look down on the people scurrying in and out of the Care Station.

  “At first, she did, but she was nothing like the others. Somehow, I got to her. She was different.” He lowers his eyes.

  “She must have been broken from that boy you were telling me about.” He turns to face Devin.

  “Riley.” He sneers.

  “Yes, him.”

  “Well, she said something about him hurting her but her love for him still grows strong. How was I able to succeed with her?” Devin’s face portrays confusion.

  “You made her vulnerable to you.” Luke says, not looking at his son but his smirk displays proudness of him. Devin catches the small twinge of hope his father shows on his face and smiles briefly.

  “Good work, son. Now let us go. We have other things to discuss with the Creator.” Devin waits for his father to meet him at the door and they stride to the very top of the building to meet their private Taadroplane. The smooth sound of the plane getting ready for take-off was soothing. The small plane seats four people. The windows tinted black, the outer edges of it are smooth and white. It’s shaped almost like a saucer, round and efficient. No protruding wings are on it, making it a smoother flight. Luke gleams at his prized possession and smirks at his son as they are walking side by side to get onto it.

  “Are you ready to see this new territory?” Luke asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Watch.” Luke lifts his hands, then lowers them slowly, magically appearing land in the middle of the ocean. Devin’s eyes widen with surprise.

  “I thought there was no other land, other than Tribal Country.” He turns to his father for answers.

  He chuckles, “Behold son, The Invisible Country.” The country is a blank slate. No one existed on the land, making it suitable to meet the Creator. As the plane lands, the Creator appears, waiting for Luke and Devin to exit. They both bow before him as they face him.

  “Creator.” Luke says with his head facing downward still.

  “Luke.”

  He raises his head, “We found her. The Ultimate Chosen. She is ours…” The Creator’s expression falls blank as he doesn’t speak. “… but the only problem is a boy that she still loves. He could be the one to reverse our grip.”

  “I see.” The Creator’s response vague.

  “What should we do to stop him?”

  “I will not tell you your path—you must choose your own.” Luke clenches his jaw, trying not to explode with impatience.

  “Another hint, then.” He insists.

  The Creator smirks incisively, “Your son possesses a power to end the love. Use it wisely.” He says and vanishes.

  Luke stands. “Another meeting with vague wording!” He yells at Devin.

  “What should we do, dad?”

  He turns to his son, contemptuous, “Figure out which power you have to end this. I think it’s time for Nora to visit The Broken Realm.”

  *****

  PRESENT

  NORA

  “I love you so much, baby.” He rubs his nose across her right cheek. With her eyes closed, she smooths both hands over her enlarged abdomen.

  “I love you most.” She whispers back to him. I feel my heart beat and the flutters return to the pit of my stomach and my head aches with jealousy. I wanted that.

  “Miss Jacobs?”

  “Yes?” My attention snatched away from the pregnant couple.

  “The doctor is ready for you.”

  I look away. “Okay.” I whisper, gathering up my purse. I get up to follow the caregiver to the back of the Care Station.

  “You may unclothe.” She says as soon as we are in the room, handing me a burgundy cloth gown. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

  “Thanks.” My voice soft. I change and sit down on the bed, awaiting Grant.

  Knock, knock. “Miss Jacobs?” I hear the muffled voice through the door.

  “You may enter.” I reposition my gown before he comes through the door.

  Grant opens the door, not entering right away, instead, he peeks around it to make sure I had my gown intact. I smirk at him as he enters the room.

  “Hello.” He says awkwardly while he’s turned away from me, closing the door. My exasperation rising through my skin. “What’s wrong?” He asks as he spins around to face me.

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “You seem down today and not to mention those deep bags under your eyes.” Stupid bags. He leans in closer to examine my eyes.

  “Ah yeah, I couldn’t smooth them out this morning so I just left them there. I just didn’t get enough sleep last night. That’s all.” He clears his throat and asks those deeply, personal questions like, have you had an infection in the past month? and how many sexual partners have you had in the last year?

  I grunge at his questions. He looks up at me inconspicuously. “Come on, Grant!” I say informally.

  “Nora, it’s just precaution. I know why you’re here.” He sighs, placing his folder down on the edge of the counter.

  “I need you to have this surgery.” He begs.

  “I know I need it and I want it but tell me why and I will have it.”

  “Maybe because I want you to live.” Sarcasm becomes him.

  “No, I want the real reason.”

  He breathes out deeply. “You are important, Nora. Just trust me.” His eyes darken with innocence.

  “But you don’t know me so how would know if I were important or not.”

  “I don’t have to know you. Don’t be morbid. Just have the surgery.” I turn to stare out of the window and for a moment, I was outside of these walls wondering how important I could be to a stranger.

  He snaps his fingers. “Nora?”

  “Yes.” I jump, wondering how long my mind had gone.

  “You just have to consent to this surgery, Miss Jacobs.” Hope fills his icy blue eyes.

  I sigh, “Okay.” I would have it anyway but the anticipation made this encounter better. I smirk to myself.

  “Really!?” He smiles, flashing those straight, white teeth at me.

  I roll my eyes. “Come on before I change my mind.”

  “Okay, okay.” He opens his electronic pad, finding the document for me to sign

  “Sign here.” He points to a line on the pad.

  My hand moves in circular motions, stenciling my name onto the dotted line under the words patient’s signature.

  Nora
Jeneane Jacobs

  “Now, handprint here.” He flips the next page onto the screen. I place my hand on top of the outlined hand, watching the laser scan mine. “Good, are you free now for the surgery?”

  “Wait, wh—today? I thought I was supposed to just schedule it today.” My face warps.

  “We’ve already lost so much time since our last encounter. There is no telling how big it is now. We have to get

  in there.”

  “Oh? Well, I always thought we had to schedule it based off your schedule.” Nervousness settles within me. I could die today.

  “I’m free!” He clears his throat, “I mean, we can fit you in right now. I’ll get the caregiver to transport you to the surgical wing and to get an X-ray on your abdomen one more time, okay?”

  I nod. “Okay, sure.”

  “You’ll be fine, I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” He touches my shoulder and walks out of the room. I shudder, remembering his 100% success rate. What if I become that one he couldn’t save?

  I fiddle with my gown waiting for the caregiver to return to the room with instructions but she never does. Moments later, someone knocks on the door.

  “Come–” I clear my raspy throat. “Come in.” I smooth out the cloth gown.

  Grant enters. “Hey.” He says exasperated. He looks to see if anyone had followed him to the room and scurries inside.

  “Uh, what’s going on?” I look past him before he could close the door but he shuts it behind him.

  He comes over to kneel in front of me, clasping my shoulders, “Nora, this will sound crazy but–” He pauses.

  “But what?” I say anxiously searching his eyes.

  “We can’t do this surgery here.” Emphasis put on this. “Not today. Our boss just got back into town and he does not approve of these types of surgeries.” I squint trying to make sense of it all.

  “Who’s your boss?”

  “Luke Miller.”

  “Wow.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing, I just date his son. He said they would be gone for three weeks. It’s only been one week.” I hop down to grab my wrist gadget from my bag, sliding it onto my wrist to project the screen onto the palm of my hand. Devin hadn’t gotten in touch with me yet.

  Grant doesn’t respond to anything. I look over my shoulder to see him pacing the floor.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  He whispers to himself. I can’t make out what he is saying at first but as soon as I concentrate on his mouth more, I grasp him saying, “It’s happening too soon. She’s not ready. I need more time.”

  “GRANT!” I touch his back and he jumps. “What is going on?” He turns to face me.

  “Listen to me, Nora. Listen closely. We have little time. There is something you need to know and please try not to panic.” I step away from him. “I am a healer.” His eyes scan mine for understanding.

  I chuckle. “I know, you’re a doctor.”

  “No, I mean I can heal you with my bare hands. No cuts, scrapes, bruises or recovery time. I am a healer. I have been working here—well, not working but posing as a doctor for two years just waiting for you to be here. My notch in medicine isn’t real. I was sent here to protect you.”

  “Protect me from what?” And how was he so sure he would find me here?

  “The Millers.” His face grows grim.

  I breathe in, mocking him, “You’re crazy! I think—think I should go.” I snatch my clothes up from the chair.

  “Nora, please?” His eyes begging me to stay and trust him.

  “You’re really scaring me. Can I please go?” Tears fill my eyes.

  “You cannot trust the Millers, Nora. You are in trouble and I need you to believe me.”

  “I—I can’t. I don’t even know you!” I rush over to the door, trying to leave with my clothes in hand and my gown on my body.

  He shakes his head and I touch the doorknob, ready to turn it to walk out when he grabs me. “I knew you would say that.” His voice deepens and before I could scream, his hand covers my mouth. I feel a prick in my back. Black enters my brain. I fall out unconscious into his arms.

  *****

  Everything is so hazy, unclear. My ears ringing. I breathe in and out like I was programmed to. Silly, we don’t even think about breathing. We were never taught how to do it, we just breathe. Over and over, I try to open my eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. My eyes flicker, still trying to open.

  “Hold on, Nora. Just hold on. I’m almost done.” I open my eyes to see Grant standing over me. His hands glowing bright with magic over my abdomen. His eyes are closed as he’s concentrating on healing me. The pain in my lower abdomen grows stronger. It feels like someone split open my flesh, reaching their cold hands into my body and digging around for the tumor. I feel my fallopian tube expand with imaginable fingers sliding in to pull the polyp out.

  “OH!” My eyes widen as a string of saliva shoots out from between my front teeth. I grab the sheets of the Care Station bed and plead for mercy. He was killing me.

  “Nora, please. Shh, someone will hear. I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m trying to help you. Don’t fight it.”

  “Stop it, Grant. Please.” I beg him while squirming all over the bed.

  “I’m sorry, Nora. I really am.” He covers my eyes with his right hand and all I could see were the grooves and lines that led down to his wrist that spelled out something but before I could make out what it was, I feel another prick in my shoulder this time. Sleep takes me over completely.

  *****

  DREAMING

  We’re running – running from someone but I’m not sure what or who.

  “Faster!” He says through panted breaths.

  But here, we just couldn’t run that fast.

  There’s someone in front of us, leading us. Their face, blank. This feels so real. My own head whispers.

  “This way.” The person mumbles.

  “That way.” They mumble again.

  “Which way?” I whisper. The person points to the left and we take the direction with no hesitation. The stairwell. WE should be safe here, right?

  Stairs continue to form under us as we’re running down; further into the depths of what seemed to be our own personal hell. Gunshots follow us. I scream as he plunges me down to the ground, covering me, holding me—dying for me.

  The gunshots stop. I make my way up from under his limp body. I pant and heave over and over again, hoping he was still among the living.

  “Grant?” I shake him through sobs. “Grant! Please? Please!” I shake him harder but he doesn’t move at all. Blood oozes from his rib cage. I place my hand on top of the wound trying to suppress any blood flow from coming out. “Oh please wake up!” I lie on his chest, checking him for air. He’s deflated; all tapped out. “You cannot leave me, too!” I cry out in agony. Pain.

  I clutch my stomach and yell out in anguish. Another one bites the dust.

  *****

  I open my eyes to caregivers and a short, stubby man bursting into the room but Grant is gone.

  “Grant.” I whisper in and out of consciousness. “Please don’t leave me.”

  25 secrets

  “How do you know” I hear someone whisper.

  “Son, he was out of line! Protocol did not call for him to heal her. She's marked. She is infertile. There is no way she could be a chosen with a disease like that. How can she pass on her legacy? You won’t be able to–”

  “Dad! I cannot just leave her alone. We have to finish what we started. This is our last chance to get this right. The Creator said we would find her possessed with two marks. One to be ashamed of and one to carry possessively.” He interjects.

  The other voice doesn’t respond. I peek one eye open to see Devin and the short stubby man standing in the doorway discussing my barren situation. I groan to make it seem as if I had heard nothing and to show that I am just waking from my slumber.

  “Nora.” Devin rushes over to me and sits on t
he edge of my bed.

  “Devin. You’re back?” I say sitting up slowly to hug him.

  “I’m back, babe. Are you okay?” He pulls me away from him to examine my body.

  “Yes. I—I’m fine.” I say closing my eyes and clutching my throbbing head.

  “I’m Luke. Devin’s father.” He comes into the room fully, holding his hand out to shake mine. I had never met Devin’s father in person. Devin had only talked about him often. I notice his flat nose is rounded at the edges, his eyes dark and sinister just as Devin’s were.

  He clears his throat and loosens his collar when I don’t reach out to shake his hand. “Well, I’ll just give you two some privacy.” He walks out of the room. I didn’t care too much about establishing a relationship with Devin’s father. Hearing him tell Devin it was time to abandon me because of my infertility made me cringe with disgust.

  My mind drifts off to Grant and his glowing hands. Did he really heal me and if so, how?

  Devin comes in closer to me and gently connects his forehead to mine. He pulls his head back slowly to look into my eyes that are now shut. “Hey, look at me.” He whispers. I feel the tears bombard my eyes. Frustration settles in; something wasn’t right about any of this.

  “Nora?”

  “Something is wrong, Devin.” I say, never opening my eyes.

  “Are you hurting?” He shifts on the bed concerned about me.

  “No—I mean something isn’t right about… everything.” I open my eyes.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “What are you hiding from me?” Devin’s father’s comments burned through my brain right down to my heart. “What was your father talking about and what were you talking about? Your last chance to get what right?” He lowers his eyes afraid that he could not get out of this one. I fiddle with my necklace awaiting an answer. He looks up at me almost ready to tell me the truth when he notices the necklace.

  “You’re wearing it?” He says reaching up to touch it.

  “I never take it off.” He flashes a smile. “Oh?” He stands and walks over to the door to close it. “We need privacy, don’t you think? You know, so I can tell you the information you seek.”