Stormwalker by Mike Revell

Author:Mike Revell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JNF053050 Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Issues / Emotions & Feelings
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2016-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

20

We met with the other Stormwalkers at the edge of camp. They weren’t all following our timetable—some of them had come from other classes—but I guessed that the pocket of daylight meant they had to drop what they were doing and make the most of it.

“How long does it last?” I whispered to Iris, indicating the gray sky.

“It’s different every time. Could be minutes, could be hours. Be ready.”

I didn’t need to ask her what for. The memory of that first jump still haunted me, the way the Darkness made me feel when it got so close. All those memories of Mum.

Dillon nodded at me like Danny did when he spotted me across the courtyard at school. There was a large group of us here, all kids around my age, all in the same grubby rags.

“It’s a good day for Hunting,” he said, eyeing us as we got closer. “I hope you’re ready. One hour, max. I don’t want anyone to get caught out.”

He looked at me as he said it, and my cheeks burned. Something told me he was referring to my trip to Cleansing on that first night. I tried to hold his gaze because it wasn’t like I could have helped it. I just woke up here—I didn’t know what was going on.

When he started talking again, my eyes drifted past him to the distant road and buildings. We were actually going out there. Into the wasteland. I held my breath, wondering how far we would be expected to go. When Quinn picked us up in his truck, we were quite a ways out . . .

I didn’t fancy another mad sprint if the Darkness reemerged earlier than expected. Especially without our illuminators.

“Carter and Dillon, you take the north side,” Seth said. “Jack, Iris, I’d like you to take the hill to the south. Yvonne, we can go this way. Remember, keep an eye out for gasoline. You’ve got a hose in your pack if you need to use it.” He handed each of us a small bag attached to a belt. “Stay sharp. Stay safe.”

And with that, he ran off, dust trailing behind him and pebbles pinging up with every step.

Iris grinned at me, then dashed toward the hill. I blinked in surprise, and my heart kicked up a gear. I felt as if I’d got a bad start in a race.

“Hold up!” I called after her, my feet scuffing on the crumbled earth until we reached the road, where it evened out underfoot.

“You’ve got to stay on your toes,” Iris said. “There could be Dreamless out here.”

I thought back to that creature we saw when we went Stormwalking: its pasty skin, the wild, frothing mouth. “Iris—what, er, what are the Dreamless?”

She hesitated, her jaw set, and her expression made me grow cold.

“I don’t know what they are. I only know what they were. Family. Friends. People who got exposed to the Darkness for too long and had everything ripped out of their minds. Don’t worry about them.

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