The First City by Joe Hart

Author:Joe Hart [Hart, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, young adult
ISBN: 9781477818084
Google: MtA6vgAACAAJ
Goodreads: 32308123
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2017-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

34

Brush slaps at her face, claws at her soaking clothes, trying desperately to hold her back.

The cramp in her leg loosens before cinching tight again, causing her strides to become a rushing hobble.

Lee pushes through the bare foliage ahead of her, hand still gripping hers. Behind them the ship’s alarm howls and distantly engines rumble to life.

After struggling through the brush for another ten seconds they burst into full view of the building she spotted earlier. They are in its parking lot, its slanted architecture rising several stories above them. Beyond the structure is a road and a row of homes.

“Hide here or run?” Lee asks between heaving breaths.

“Keep moving.”

They rush side by side to the road, crossing it with a brief glance.

Empty.

The neighborhood they enter seems to be laid out in a rough crescent, the drive in front of the homes curving away back toward the center of the city. Zoey adjusts their course, running north through several side yards before coming to a stop at another cross street. It’s vacant, so they continue to the next neighborhood. Each house becomes the same, every alley and yard identical. At a low one-story she comes to a stop, slumping against its siding before sliding down. Her legs are on fire and the warning throb of pain in her lower back has returned.

“Have to rest,” she says, stretching out her leg to banish the persistent cramp. Lee nods, bent over, elbows bracing against his knees. The sound of engines hasn’t gotten any closer but neither are they farther away.

“Maybe they didn’t see us at all,” Lee says, straightening. “Maybe they just realized we weren’t on the ship anymore.”

“Could be.” She leans into the stretch, the coiled ball of muscle straining to the point she thinks it will snap before it grudgingly begins to release. Her heart rate gradually lowers, and the frenetic anxiety running through her drops several degrees as the vehicle’s growls fade slightly.

When she’s sure the cramp has relinquished its grip, she stands, surveying the surrounding homes and yards. Nothing moves. The tepid light continues to spread, brushing back the shadows. “You know the city. Is there a way out that isn’t watched?”

“I haven’t been outside the city limits since they showed up, but I’m sure every road and bridge is covered.”

“Can we slip around them? Off the roads or through the trees?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think that’s our only chance.”

Lee looks at the shackles on his wrists. “Wish these were gone.”

“We’ll get them off somehow when we’re safe. Are you okay otherwise? Are you injured anywhere?” she asks, looking him up and down.

“Are you trying to get me to take my clothes off?” His grin is back, the one she knew so well from the ARC.

She shakes her head. “You’re terrible.”

“Maybe. No, I’m okay except for aching all over. It feels like I was beaten everywhere.” He winces, stretching his back. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have lasted much longer. Especially seeing him do that to you, I would’ve told.”

“It’s okay.

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