Sunscorched by Jen Crane

Author:Jen Crane
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996575676
Publisher: Carpe Noctem Publishing, LLC

28

A Bad Break

Armed with her pocketknife and loaded with all the water and Vitabars she could carry, Nori closed the door to her room as she left. She regretted not being able to say goodbye to Kade, but he’d admitted he would never let her leave. After a final glance in the direction of her friend’s room, she headed toward the Pit and the Subterranean beyond it.

Her temporary home wasn’t just quiet as she left, but a vacuum of sound. Her steps and nervous breaths, though she aimed for silence, ricocheted down the hall. Luckily, she’d planned her escape when everyone was asleep, tiptoeing past the cavernous Pit. Sixty yards to freedom.

If she could just get through Trogtown unnoticed, she could hurry down those steps and escape into the tunnel the same way she’d come in. There were twenty-two turns. She’d kept track, despite speeding through tunnels on the back of Cooper’s motorcycle. Scribbling down notes at the first opportunity, she had noted turns and infrequent landmarks, sure the information would be useful sooner or later. As she snuck away from the Pit, she was thankful she’d had the foresight to tuck the notes away for just such an occasion.

Breaking into Dave’s store for more supplies before leaving town was another risk. Was it worth it? She had food—such as it was—water, and a weapon. That would have to do. She had no need of lanterns or lights, after all, which would give her one advantage over anyone who pursued her.

Would Hank send Kade when he discovered her missing? Diesel and Bron? Would he hunt her himself? Nori shuddered at the thought of being hunted, but pushed her fears down deep. She had to do this. Had to know. Her parents had not died in the sunscorch, she knew it. She knew it. She hoped. Oh, God, she hoped they were safe.

Halfway across the Pit. Thirty yards to freedom. She ran a hand across the weight bar Kade had been lifting when she first met him. She would miss having a friend. It had been nice while it lasted. But when she found her parents and they made a new home—somewhere—she would make new friends.

Fifteen yards to freedom. Nori’s pace ticked up as she neared the doorway, and she worked to slow her breathing, to calm down and escape as quietly as possible. The double doors were locked, but she’d taken the key from Hank’s office days ago. She shrugged. It was his own fault. He’d been foolish to trust her, to think she wouldn’t try to escape. In the nineteen days she’d been there, she’d secretly planned for this day. How could she not? That Hank considered her his property made no difference to her.

She’d promised to meet her parents after the sunscorch, and that was what she intended to do. But it had been eleven days since the scorch. She’d never thought it would take Cooper so long. Had she missed the window to reach them? Had they moved on? No.

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