Fault & Fracture: Season One, Episode Two of The Sunset Chronicles by Paul Stephenson

Author:Paul Stephenson [Stephenson, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hollow Stone Press
Published: 2021-04-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

He should have put the uniform on. If sneaking around a secret facility filled with people who could crawl into his brain to find out secrets was the plan, blending in would be a good start. But Judd was already in the corridor; going back seemed like giving up.

Adopting the most nonchalant walk he could, he walked back toward the front entrance. He’d seen the canteen, and there hadn’t been much along that corridor. People passed him without a care, and he tried to keep his thoughts ordered, calm. He still had no idea how this teep bullshit worked and didn’t want to go round broadcasting his intention to every bluecoat he passed.

He turned the corner into the atrium, coming face to face with around twenty uniformed men and women, each of whom looked up in unison. He gave a little grimace he hoped would translate into a normal facial expression and walked toward them. As one, they looked away, going back about their business. They looked to be heading through a series of barriers leading deeper into the building, so he fell in behind them, hoping they’d sweep him up in their number and propel him deeper inside.

As a plan, it worked brilliantly—right until they came to the scanners. Those at the front of the group waved their palms at the gates, and they swooshed open long enough for one individual to go through, before closing behind them. Shit. There was no way he’d be able to follow one of them out. He doubted waving his own hand would do the job, either.

He could jump the barrier. Sure, the three burly guards on the far side would probably beat him to death before he hit the ground, but he’d be on the other side.

The crowd moved through, and he was out of ideas. Maybe…

‘Judd?’

He whirled round to see Lan, her face confused.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Um...’

‘I said you were free to go. Next glide isn’t until tomorrow morning. What were you going to do? Run across the moors?’

He shrugged. Did she think he was escaping? Better that than his actual intentions, he supposed.

‘I could take you outside now. Forecast is about minus four tonight, so you’re going to die of hypothermia out there, but if you’re that desperate to go I could get my coat? You’re heading the wrong direction though, FYI.’

Judd looked at his shoes. Was this going to end up with him walking the moors on his own? His loafers weren’t ideal hill walking equipment. ‘No, I’ll stay.’

‘Good. As long as you’re here, I could show you a bit more of what we do here?’

‘Sure,’ he said. Heart pounding, he gave her as sincere a smile as he could muster. He’d gotten away with it. Or had he? Lan could almost certainly read his mind, see his true intent. Was she protecting him from the beating he’d catch for spying?

Others around him had taken in their conversation. Judd’s cheeks went red. He wanted to go back to his room and wait for the ground to swallow him whole, but playing it cool seemed the better option.

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