Drakon by Annette Gisby Page B

wanted to faint; she wanted to hide, to wake up from this horrible dream. “How? Why?”
    “We need her, if all our plans are to come to fruition. And you can't stop me from taking her.”
    “NO! I'll do anything, just leave her alone!”
    “It's too late for that, but maybe there is something...” And suddenly Andrea wasn't seeing the farmhouse any more; she was seeing the field where Pat and Jonathan were ploughing. Pat was driving the tractor pulling the plough, and Jonathan was following behind him planting potatoes. Suddenly there was a screech as the tractor began to move backwards.
    Andrea watched in fascinated horror, she knew what was about to happen and even tried to scream a warning to Jonathan. But it was no use. No sound escaped from her locked throat and she had to watch as Jonathan stumbled and fell, his feet slipping in the mud. There was an agonizing scream from Jonathan as the plough severed his arm at the elbow, a crimson arc of blood shooting into the sky. Andrea sank to her knees on the farmhouse floor, bile rising in her throat. She was aware of Haroldson's presence like a mouse is aware of a cat and the danger it poses.
    “What's it to be, Andrea? Jonathan's life for Kate's?”
    “I can't make that choice!” She yelled, tears flowing freely.
    “No? What about the child in your womb? His life for Kate's?” She stared at him and then Andrea did something she had never done before. She fainted.
     
    *
     
    When she came to, she was lying on the sofa, Jonathan hovering anxiously over her.
    “Jonathan!” She sat up too quickly, feeling dizzy again.
    “It's okay, Andrea. Ssh.” He held her in his arms while she just cried and cried. She didn't think she'd ever stop. Poor Kate! There would be nothing but experiments for her and she dreaded to think what would happen to her when she became childbearing age.
    “We've got to find Kate! Haroldson took her!”
    “Kate's fine. She's outside playing.”
    “But Haroldson? He was here? Or did I dream it?” The memory was just a blur now.
    “Yes, he was here.”
    “Why didn't he take Kate? I fainted, I couldn't help her!”
    “Kate helped herself. Haroldson's dead, Andrea. I shot him.”
    “But how did you know he was here?”
    “You and Kate must share a link. I heard both of your minds when I was out in the field, it was jumbled, but there was something about 'help' and 'danger'. I knew it must be something to do with Haroldson, so I rushed back. I saw you on the floor and Haroldson was just about to pick up Kate. He looked straight at me, and I swear it was like looking into the eyes of pure evil. He can't hurt anyone again.”
    “What about the police?” Asked Andrea. She didn't think the shooting of an unarmed man would just be hushed up.
    “The Gardai have been and gone. As far as they're concerned, the case is closed. Haroldson had a string of aliases, he was wanted here in Ireland, in Europe and America for countless kidnappings, all young girls. I've saved them a trial, and stopped him from taking Kate. I'm a local hero, Andrea! What does it feel like to be married to a hero?”
    She smiled weakly at him. “It feels wonderful, Jonathan. It feels wonderful. So, can we go home now?”
    “Yes, we can go home,” he kissed her forehead and left her to rest.
    “Jonathan. He said I'm pregnant. But I thought I couldn't have children after the chemotherapy. The doctors told me so.”
    “That was probably true if you were human, Andrea. But you're not. You healed yourself. So I'm going to be a dad?”
    “Yes, you are,” Andrea reached out her hand and grabbed his, placing it on her abdomen.
    “Rest now,” said Jonathan and her eyelids fluttered closed. As he walked away, she thought she heard him whistle.
     
    THE END

About the Author
     
    Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland, moving to London when she was seventeen. Being a very small town there were no bookshops and a small library. When she'd devoured every book