Radiant by Ashley Bustamante

Author:Ashley Bustamante
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9798886050455
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Published: 2023-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

“Whoo-wee!” Marabell breathes as we reach the hover-cart platform. “Looks like we have some company. They must have heard about y’all and wanted to have a look.”

The platform is a crowded mass of people, craning to see inside the carts. They really came here because of us? I feel as though we’ll be set upon the moment we step out, like a pack of wolves on an injured animal. How did the word travel that quickly?

“Dang it,” Gemma says. “If I had known we were going to have a big audience, I would have given everyone the red-carpet treatment.”

“Well, I’m going to give this crowd the ‘get-the-blast-outta-the-way’ treatment,” Blanca grumbles.

Nikki chuckles. “Well, walking out looking like survivors of a natural disaster makes a better story anyway, don’t you think?”

The crowd sends a tight feeling through my stomach. I don’t want to face all these people. What could they possibly want? To ask questions? To confront us? Just to stare? Although to be honest, we probably all would do the same in their situation.

“Nobody’s gonna bother y’all,” Marabell assures. I’m not sure how she can promise that. She’s a fairly petite woman, and there’s only one of her. I would guess Ivan never anticipated the extra attention we would receive, or he would have sent more security.

“Everyone wait until I give the all clear, all right?” Marabell pushes her way through the crowd in order to carve out a space for herself and steps onto the platform. She takes a deep breath, and in a booming voice that’s a far cry from the belle-like hospitality we heard a moment ago, she bellows out, “Everyone off the platform! Ivan’s orders!”

Is she an Augmentor, then? I can’t imagine her pulling that kind of power into her voice otherwise. The crowd certainly responds, and a path clears for us, though a low murmur fills the air. In spite of curiosity that’s almost tangible, the crowd allows us room to pass.

We arrive at a simple but tidy apartment complex. The smell of fresh paint tickles my nose. The walls are a clean and calming shade of pastel blue.

“These buildings are new,” Marabell explains. “Ivan had them built as a place of refuge. Now that we discovered how to go back and forth through the barrier at will, Ivan suspected some folks might end up coming here. He wanted to make sure there was a place for them when they came. Looks like the timing was right.” She waves at a woman sitting at a desk in the reception area. “Evening, Shayla!” She glances back at us. “First floor is currently being used as rentals. So y’all are on the second floor.”

“We are grateful for any accommodations,” says Elm.

I nod. At this point, I would take almost anything. My eyelids are weighted, and the thought that we’re just moments from a bed seems to make the exhaustion grow. We climb the stairs, and I’m grateful it’s only one level up.

“Y’all look like you’re about to fall asleep standing up,” Marabell says, eyes full of compassion.

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