World on Fire: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series (Stone World Saga Book 2) by Cassiopeia Fletcher

Author:Cassiopeia Fletcher [Fletcher, Cassiopeia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2021-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

11

Nothing but the Waves

Punamano, Hawaii

July 24, xxx6

02:15

Rick sat on a half-sawed log just outside the council hut and strained his ears to catch the low murmurs coming from inside. The last of his adrenaline pounded dully in his ears as his heart came down from the physical and emotional high of beating his father and brother at their own game. Now, Dad and Jason were finalizing the details of his second task, though he’d finished the first over an hour ago.

The wait was agonizing as every second that ticked away was one more second Rick had to force himself to stay awake. With the adrenaline finally fading, the exhaustion it left behind was nearly impossible to ignore, and his insomnia before the Assessment had begun at exactly midnight only made things worse. Of course, part of the Assessment was to test how well the testee did under pressure and in stressful situations, but knowing that didn’t make it any easier to deal with his drooping eyes and sluggish thoughts. When Brandon turned thirteen, Rick would knock the boy out for those precious few hours before the first task began.

The door opened, and Rick snapped upright, his head turning with an uncomfortable pop as he stared up at the grinning, bearded face of his older brother. Jason quirked an eyebrow.

“The way you’re acting, someone would think you’re about to be executed.”

Rick tried to laugh, but his voice came out high-pitched and nervous. His weak chuckle died quickly, and he swallowed hard. “I’m okay. Just tired.”

“Good!” Jason held out a hand. “That’s the point.”

A real smile touched Rick’s lips but was muted by the fluttering in his guts. What he wouldn’t give for another physical or stealth test like the one he’d just finished. Darting through the darkened huts, evading capture, hadn’t been anywhere near as terrifying as going head-to-head with his genius brother in a strategy session. Especially not a timed strategy session. Still, Rick recognized the hand for what it was—silent encouragement—and took it. Jason pulled him to his feet, and Rick’s knees wobbled a bit. After all that running in his first task, he’d sat down too soon and for too long.

The interior of the council hut was dark, not unexpected seeing as it was after 2:00 a.m., but tied-reed shades now covered the three windows, and the heavy wood storm shutters remained closed. The shutters stopped even the barest slivers of moonlight from getting through, though the moon was largely hidden by the roiling storm clouds only just blowing over after a heavy evening rain; a rain that had pounded the village until about half-way through Rick’s first task.

The rain had been both a blessing and a curse. It disguised him as he slipped his way between huts and rolled behind the rows of rain barrels set out to collect the clean, falling water. Unfortunately, once rain stopped falling in sheets, the missing patter of droplets against leaves and rooftops made his squelching footsteps three times louder than they would otherwise have been.

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