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)
“Morris, I need you to do this for me. River’s life is on the line.”
“You think anyone’s going to believe me if I tell the truth? I’m a wanted man. And a criminal.”
He’s a bad person, too. The worst, actually. “Which is why I’m questioning my decision to work with you.”
“We do make a good team, though. Right?”
No. “We are not a team.”
“That’s too bad because if we were, I’d give that interview to your friend.”
Ugh. “Fine. We’re a team. Happy now?”
“Which one of us is the sidekick?” he asks.
Huh? This guy is nuts. “I am. I’m the sidekick. Will you give the interview now?”
“I always wanted to be a sidekick,” Morris pouts.
“Okay. You’re the sidekick,” I growl.
He smiles like he’s genuinely won a prize. “So where is this friend?”
Luna shows up twenty minutes later and nearly pisses herself when she sees Morris. She’s so stoked to get the interview with the mad chemist, she doesn’t even notice what’s all over his lab coat. Thank God.
Instead, her cameraman gets rolling, and she jumps directly into questioning him about the mass poisoning being a hoax. Morris tells the world how my brother was the mastermind of a conspiracy to make an army of Huffs. When Morris tells Luna that they’re holding River and his sister hostage, Luna’s red lips part and just kind of hang open. I’m not sure if she doesn’t believe him or if she’s in shock.
“Morris, can you tell us if the other rumors are true? Are you the person behind lighting the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building on fire?”
He proudly lifts his chin. “Yep. Pretty good trick, huh? But don’t worry, the fuel only lasts for a few months. And I made sure it was only a little toxic. The first formula I came up with caused hair loss and genital warts. This one only makes your toes fall off—but just the tip.”
“Oh…that’s so, uh, great?” Luna’s face crinkles up. “And what about those kids from the university? Did you really sell them poison?”
Morris shrugs. “Well, not on purpose. I’m a chemist. Sometimes we get things wrong.” He scratches the side of his head like he’s working something out. “Oh, wait. That’s not true. I definitely knew they’d die if they stopped taking my drug.”
I’m pretty sure this moment has sealed Morris’s fate forever. The public will definitely see him as a terrorist, murderer, and psycho, even if he didn’t poison anyone’s water.
The interview wraps up, and thankfully, he leaves out the part about my sperm holding the key to how I was made.
After Morris zips away, Luna and her cameraman just stand there staring at the empty spot.
Oh! “I forgot to mention that Morris has abilities like mine now,” I say. “But don’t worry, it’s only temporary.”
Luna’s eyes go wide. “You’re telling me that crazy fucker can travel anywhere in the world in two seconds?”
I nod.
“I need a drink.”
I follow Luna and her cameraman into the event. The venue is spectacular with balconies overlooking the dance floor, gold inlay moldings on the ceiling, and lights everywhere. It’s noisy and packed, so we find a quieter corner to talk after we score some blue cocktails with unicorn straws they’re passing around.
I take a sip. Tastes like spicy bubblegum. Bleh.
“So how do you think that went?” I ask Luna, setting my drink on a small table in the corner.
“Best interview of my life. Honestly, I’m thinking I don’t need to cover this story about the party. I should be back at the newsroom, editing.”
“You’re leaving?” I ask.
“I need to get the word out that millions of people aren’t going to die.”
Good point. “You think the public will believe Morris?”
“I don’t know, but he was pretty damned honest about everything else. He’s crazy, but he seems truthful.”
She waves her camera guy over and turns back to me. “So let’s get the shot of you and me making out so I can get out of here.”
I bob my head. “Okay. Um…”
I’m about to ask her where she wants to kiss, when she throws her arms around me. Her tongue is so far down my mouth, I’m pretty sure she’s licking the blue stuff in my stomach. It’s nothing like kissing River, but okay. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
She pulls back and smiles, her red lipstick smudged all over her face. She hands me a cocktail napkin. “Red’s definitely your color. I’ll post the kiss online in a bit. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Huff.” She struts out of the club with her cameraman.
I’m left there with a wet, red mouth, wondering if any of this plan is going to work, when my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s Kyle.
He has no clue what I’m up to yet, but either way, I put on my game face. “Hey, I’m at an awesome party. Want to join me? So many hot girls.”