Read Last Light Falling for Free Online

Of course, government officials deny any abuse and explain that those who are punished are hardened criminals. Contrary to public opinions of our patriotic protection, I’ve seen with my own eyes a man being pounded unmercifully by clubs in a restaurant alley for taking food from the dumpster. Beaten unrelentingly for simply surviving is repulsive and absolutely unwarranted.
    I know I was taught to reserve judgment, but to witness this act of cruelty is unjust. Our government uses these types of tactics to intimidate and nothing else. To extract its own people in order to advance the nation’s image is an abomination that I will not conform to. I have no respect for our new government’s direction, nor do I put any faith into the people they chose to perpetuate it.
    The anxiety of revealing the location of these coordinates is stirring in my stomach even more. As we pull up to the library, Gabe cautiouslyplaces his hand on mine and squeezes with mild force. “I feel something unnerving,” Gabe says with a look of concern on his face.
    “Like what?” I say.
    “I don’t really know, I … I can’t see it, but feel as if someone—”
    “Someone is following us,” I quickly finish his thought.
    “Yes, how did you know?”
    “I’ve had that same feeling ever since we left the house.” I feel uneasy. The imaginary priest that Gabe didn’t see behind the tree has been gnawing at me.
    As we get out of the car, Daniel’s phone rings. He seems a bit upset and is pacing back and forth. When he hangs up the phone, he turns to us, a look of disgust written on his face. “I’ve been called in to work,” he gruffs. “There has been some kind of emergency, and apparently I’m needed. I’m truly sorry, guys; I hope you can forgive me.”
    I chime in with confidence, as if I have a brilliant solution to the quandary, “Gabe and I can take the bus back home when we are done. It’s no problem, we’ve done this before. We know our way around this place. It’s not like we’re kids anymore.” Gabe nods in agreement, and Daniel hesitates for a moment, looking at the few federal officers to our right.
    “Okay, you promise me you will be back before curfew? I’ll let Myra know just in case of an emergency,” Daniel says.
    When Daniel drives away, I smile and suddenly realize how much he respects and trusts us. With what happened to Grace, I imagine how hard it would be to allow us to be on our own. This is truly the first step we’ve taken to prove our responsibility to our overly protective but caring foster parents. I quickly turn to Gabe with my brow furrowed, “Don’t screw this up.”
    The town’s library is vast and ornately decorated. It dwarfs other buildings next to it and makes the dilapidated courthouse even less appealing. The detailed granite fixtures that protrude from the upper ledge of the library tell a story of the ancient Greek culture. Every recessed panel of stone is engraved with a depiction of a Greek god. As fascinating as it is on the outside, it’s additionally grand on the inside, where the stately halls are extensive and the ceiling towers over you majestically. Portraits of kings line the hallways, and almost every floor tile is hand painted with images representing the ages of humanity and the wars that forever changed them.
    Gabe and I quietly walk up to the second floor where the computers are located. I secretly hand the letter to Gabe so he can look up the GPS coordinates that hopefully will answer some questions.
    I’m so nervous; I get out of my chair and pace the aisle of books. I weave my way down the religion aisle and press my head against the shelf until I see a book that catches my eye—
The Book of Solomon.
I take it off the shelf, but before I can open it, I gasp. The same priest, who was standing outside our house, is pacing back and forth across the aisle.
    I quickly retreat behind the other books. Just so I know I’m not imaging this, I creep my head up to take a