Sydney Effect : Dystopian Sci-Fi Novel: A Chronicle of Survival, Identity, and Rebellion by Ralph K Jones

Author:Ralph K Jones [Jones, Ralph K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ralph K Jones
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10:

Rotten

* * *

As Maali and Noah hastened away, the city lay in ruin around them. Each step they took crunched against the debris-strewn ground. Over their shoulders, the parliament building, now just a charred skeleton, smouldered in the distance, its former majesty reduced to ashes. A thick veil of dust and smoke hung in the air, blurring the line between day and night, while the muted sounds of distant disorder whispered of recent horrors.

With each step away, Maali felt an inexplicable connection drawing her gaze towards the unmistakable SorrowStar van, manoeuvring its way down the historic Macquarie Street. It wasn't merely curiosity; it was an unfathomable, instinctual need, rooted deep within her soul, urging her to shadow the van's trail. She paused momentarily, eyes squeezed shut, as if trying to sever this mysterious tie. Yet, when she reopened them, the pull was not weakened but intensified, wrapping around her senses, irresistibly beckoning her closer.

The peculiar sensations engulf Maali, spinning her reality into a disorienting frolic of phantom restraints. Imaginary handcuffs seem to clasp her wrists, confining her in an unnerving grip, while an unseen entity coils around her neck, squeezing with an enigmatic force. Frustrated by the intangibility of it all, she casts her gaze downward, hoping for a tangible confirmation of this surreal experience. Her fingers instinctively reach out, searching her throat for a physical manifestation, only to grasp emptiness, leaving her bewildered and questioning the nature of her reality.

"What's wrong?" Noah's voice echoed beside her, the metallic click of his pistol magazine being ejected adding urgency to his words. Maali turned her head, her gaze fixated on his swift actions. Instead of discarding the partially spent magazine, he carefully slipped it into his pocket, swiftly retrieving a fully loaded one to replace it.

"I'm not entirely sure," she murmurs, her fingers tentatively tracing her throat, a sense of unease creeping over her. "It's as if I'm somehow connected to him, sensing the restraints on my wrists and the suffocating presence of a bag over my head."

Noah's jaw tightened, his eyes flickering between Maali and the van as he grappled with conflicting emotions. Concern for her well-being battled with his burning desire for revenge. With a stanch expression, he holstered his pistol, his fingers lingering for a moment on the weapon before shifting his attention to his pulse rifle. Swift and practised, he inspected it, checking for any signs of damage from their escape. Satisfied with its condition, he slung the rifle over his shoulder and locked eyes with Maali, "we'll deal with him later. Our priority is to ensure the safety of the kids."

He sets off in the direction of his Ex's apartment, single-mindedness propelling his steps forward. However, Maali lingers behind, torn between the urge to follow the van and the logic of sticking to their original plan. "I can't shake this feeling that we should go after them," she confesses, gesturing towards the van's disappearing form. "It's like a magnet, man."

Noah steps back and, with a

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