Coward (Icarus Helix #3)

By J. E. Medrick

David West is a normal, nerdy boy. His parents are never home, he is small for his age and he can't get up the courage to get a girlfriend.

But when he accidentally absorbs a shower handle, he realizes he might not be so average, after all.

High school becomes a disaster as David crosses paths with the football team, earning him the title of number one scrub.

With stress building and nowhere to turn, David's power seems his last road out of mediocrity. At the moment of truth, will he decide it's easier to be brave... or evil?

This is the third novella of the Icarus Helix series. It is approximately 20,000 words. These novellas are intended to stand alone and may be read in any order.

Other Episodes in Season 1:
(#1) Cheat
(#2) Liar

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. E. Medrick
• Release date: May 17, 2011

J. E. Medrick

J. E. Medrick currently resides in Ohio with a cat, a car, a dog and a fiancé. They are: Raven, Riley, Ajax and Andy, respectively. She has a BBA from Kent State University and spent three years in Japan, teaching English.

Book preview

Coward

by J. E. Medrick

Copyright © 2011 by J. E. Medrick

Cover art by: Jeroen ten Berge

Coward is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any and all semblance to actual events, people, or locations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, sold or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the express written consent of J. E. Medrick.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

About the Author

J. E. Medrick currently resides in Ohio with a cat, a car, a dog and a fiancé. They are: Raven, Riley, Ajax and Andy, respectively. This is her third novella. She has a BBA from Kent State University and spent three years in Japan, teaching English.

To read about the author's life, please visit her blog at: http://jemedrick.blogspot.com

If you wish for information on further releases by this author, please subscribe to: http://jemedrickbooks.blogspot.com

J. E. Medrick's fan contact e-mail is: [e-mail]

As always, thanks for reading! Reader support is tremendously appreciated!

For anyone who's

ever been bullied.

Hang in there.

After high school,

life gets better!

Table of Contents

Dedication

Copyright

About the Author

Prologue

- 1 -

- 2 -

- 3 -

- 4 -

- 5 -

- 6 -

- 7 -

- 8 -

- 9 -

- 10 -

- 11 -

- 12 -

- 13 -

- 14 -

- 15 -

- 16 -

- 17 -

- 18 -

Prologue - Close Call

He checked the assignments board on the wall. He was rotated in to Apart Time duty again. It would be his responsibility to feed and give care to a newborn. He preferred reading over other forms of human contact, so he made a mental note to grab a children's paperback off the staff's shared shelf.

His assignment was listed as West, D. - male. The boy was a preemie, premature, birth. He arrived three weeks before his scheduled birthday, smaller and weaker than hoped. The staff sighed collectively over his fate. He would likely make it through without complications, but he was the first-born of workaholic parents. The father rarely made an appearance at the hospital and the recovering mother seemed more interested in shortening her maternal leave then feeding her baby.

Marcus' purple scrubs draped loose and comfortable over his body. His right-hand pocket held the small weight of a one-use syringe. The West boy might already be in for a rough life. Marcus wondered, not for the first time, what the compound actually did to the children. What if he were harming the child? His hand brushed the encapsulated syringe in his pocket. Indecision roiled in his stomach.

Marc, called a female voice behind him. He turned to the desk. A fellow employee, Stephanie, was on desk duty for the night.

Yeah? He tried to smile.

I booked you room three.

Blue, with ducks. It was easier to smile, now.

Yup, I know it's your favorite! She gave him a bright grin. You've got the West boy, right?

Looks so, he answered, giving an unnecessary glance to the assignment board. He knew his duty - today's mark.

Read him something nice, for me, okay? Stephanie asked wistfully.

Any suggestions?

"How about Charlotte's Web?"

There's a lot of sad stuff in there, though, Marcus said with a small frown. Doesn't one of the main characters die?

Yes, but it's a learning experience. I think it's a good message, overall.

Okay. If that's what you suggest.

Thanks, Marc.

He found the recommended book easily on the shelf - they had three copies. Book in hand, he walked quickly to the nursery to pick up his charge. The baby was awake, peacefully quiet under a pastel blue blanket. No one wanted to forget the D stood for a boy's name.

The infant was in a rolling cart; Marcus unlocked the wheels and steered him out the door with a nod at the nursery attendant. He made gentle, reassuring noises as the baby was moved to an unfamiliar area. David did not cry.

In room three - blue, with ducks - he settled into a rocking chair while cradling the infant. The room was a remnant of an older style of hospital, not yet renovated to modern standards. As of yet, it had no windows or cameras. The attendant would be trusted, completely alone, with the babies. Should he do it now? Should he wait? Would it be better to skip the injection today? The baby was placid in his arms, even-tempered with curious, bright eyes.

Awkwardly, Marcus slipped the injection capsule from his pocket. It was small enough to fit in his palm if he closed his fingers. He gave a small twist, separating the hood from the syringe. Opening the capsule also unlocked the injection mechanism. Marcus only need stick the boy, then thumb a small button. Many of the babies did not even cry, lessening his fear.

He was instructed to stick the babies in a variety of places - legs, feet, hands, the back of the neck, et cetera. One place he consistently avoided was the stomach. Marcus felt there was so much that could go wrong by injecting a baby near all the vital organs. But, Icarus kept up their end of the deal by giving him money - and they were leaning on him to stick a baby in the belly.

Marcus tugged open the clasp on the tummy of the baby's hospital-issued onesie. His nerves jangled on a high as he prepared to inject the compound. The handle of the door creaked before it swung softly open. He rolled his fingers quickly around the syringe, jamming his hand between his leg and the side of