Archer’s Voice Free PDF, Epub, Mobi By Mia Sheridan Book

CHAPTER 1

Archer – Seven Years Old, April

“Grab my hand! I got you,” I said real soft, the helicopter

lifting off the ground as Duke grabbed Snake Eyes’ hand. I

was trying to play as quiet as I could–my mama was banged

up again and I didn’t want to wake her where she was sleeping

up in her room. She’d told me to watch cartoons up in bed

with her and I had for a while, but when I saw she was asleep,

I’d come downstairs to play with my G.I. Joe toys.

The helicopter landed and my guys jumped out and ran

under the chair that I had put a towel over to make into part of

an underground bunker. I picked the helicopter up and lifted it

off the ground again with a whop, whop, whop sound. I wished

I could snap my fingers and make this a real helicopter. Then

I’d pull my mama onto it and we’d fly away from here–away

from him, away from the black eyes and my mama’s tears. I

didn’t care where we’d end up as long as it was far, far away.

I crawled back into my bunker and a few minutes later, I

heard the front door open and close, and then heavy footsteps

walking through our foyer and down the hall toward where I

was playing. I peeked out and saw a pair of shiny black shoes

and the cuffs of what I knew were uniform pants.

I crawled out as fast as I could saying, “Uncle Connor!”

as he kneeled down and I threw myself into his arms, making

sure to stay clear of the side where he kept his gun and police

flashlight.

“Hey, little man,” he said, hugging me to him. “How’s

my rescue hero?”

“Good. See the underground fortress I built?” I said,

leaning away and proudly pointing back over my shoulder at

the fort I had made under the table using blankets and towels.

It was pretty cool.

Uncle Connor smiled and glanced behind me. “I sure do.

You did a good job there, Archer. I’ve never seen a fortress

quite as impenetrable-looking as that one.” He winked and

smiled bigger.

I grinned. “Wanna play with me?” I asked.

He messed my hair, smiling. “Not right now, buddy.

Later, okay? Where’s your mama?”

I felt my own face fall. “Um, she’s not feeling real good.

She’s laying down.” I looked into Uncle Connor’s face and

golden brown eyes. The picture that popped into my head right

away was the sky before a storm–dark and sort of scary. I

moved back slightly, but as quick as that, Uncle Connor’s eyes

cleared and he pulled me into him again, squeezing me.

“Okay, Archer, okay,” he said. He set me back from him

and held onto my arms as his eyes moved over my face. I

smiled at him and he smiled back.