The Amber Project by JN Chaney

Author:JN Chaney [Chaney, JN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2015-04-11T23:00:00+00:00

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The group packed and left not long after Mei proposed her plan. Roland was able to contact Central, receiving permission to follow the new course. He didn’t tell them who came up with the idea, but it hardly mattered. Everyone knew it was Mei.

Terry walked behind John on the road as the group headed west. After a short while, they all fell silent, and Terry’s eyes dropped to the ground ahead of him. He watched as John’s boots slammed into the mud, one after the other. John took such wide steps, but there was no clumsiness to them. His boot didn’t waver or shake, nor did his feet curl or shuffle. He walked with the confidence of a soldier, of a man. He walked with absolute control.

I could never be like that, thought Terry. Even before, when he felt the surge of adrenaline and energy, when he threw John in the air like a stone, when he had known absolute strength. Even then, he was afraid.

Afraid of what? He wondered. Afraid of himself, perhaps, or afraid what he could do. And in that moment, when he actually did have that strength, what did he do with it? He freaked, panicked, but above all, he hurt his friend. And what would happen next time? What if the next person couldn’t take the hit? What if he really did end up hurting them?

Terry trembled, afraid of his own thoughts. Stop it, he told himself, squeezing his fists. Panicking wouldn’t solve anything. Hadn’t John told him as much before? Just breathe for a second, he told him. But it was easier said than done.

Terry lifted his eyes from the mud, meeting the clouded light of the distant firmament. Beyond that, the sun lay hovering like a drop of yellow sweat on the backside of the purple sky. He had dreamed for years of what this place might look like, never imagining how beautiful it could actually be. Yet, despite himself, all he could do now was focus on his feeble little problems, his faults and petty weaknesses.

“It’s not far now,” said Mei, running beside him. Her skinny legs were having a hard time with the mud, but she didn’t seem to care.

“What does your map tell you?” asked Terry.

“A few more miles,” she said. “We’ve been walking for four hours, and we’re making decent time.”

“Great,” he said.

“Oh, come on. Don’t act like you aren’t excited to see Alex’s smiling, pretty face. I bet he’ll give you a big bear hug as soon as he sees you. Won’t that be nice?” she asked, teasing.

“Apparently you know a different Alex than I do.”

Mei laughed. “Nope, he’s the same one. I can’t imagine why you’d think otherwise. Maybe you’re just a pessimist, Terry. Ever think of that?”

“You’re really laying the sarcasm on thick today,” he said.

“He’ll be even happier when we tell him why we’re here. I’m sure he won’t resist us at all.” She giggled.

“Can I ask you something?”

The look on her face shifted from a smile to a concerned frown almost instantaneously.

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