From THE HITAdam crept upstairs as quietly as he could and lay on the bed. He stayed still, then tried texting Lizzie."I'm sorry. Please talk to me."Nothing. "Please, Lizzie, please. I need you."He stared at the screen, texted again. The same thing.That was it. It was over. He was never going to see her again. Adam took out the bag of pills and held one in the palm of his hand. He turned on the TV. It was an old movie. A man and a woman kissed. She rested her head against his neck and sighed deeply.Some kind of scam, those pills. Not real. Could be. Maybe, maybe not. Who knew?Adam popped the pill into his mouth, but didn't swallow, just held it there. It was an answer, wasn't it? One glorious week. What else had he got to look forward to now?"We need a place of our own," said the man on the TV. The woman reached up and kissed him again. She sighed.He could sell the rest of the pills and have the time of his life. Why not? The pill was dissolving in his mouth. It tasted acrid. Adam reached over to the glass of water by his bed, took a mouthful, and swallowed.He lay there. What had he done? Not much, he thought. What had he got to lose? Not much. he glass of water by his bed, took a mouthful, and swallowed.He lay there. What had he done? Not much, he thought. What had he got to lose? Not much. he glass of water by his bed, took a mouthful, and swallowed.He lay there. What had he done? Not much, he thought. What had he got to lose? Not much. he glass of water by his bed, took a mouthful, and swallowed.He lay there. What had he done? Not much, he thought. What had he got to lose? Not much. Excerpted from The Hit by Melvin Burgess All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
