Alice by J.M. Sullivan

Author:J.M. Sullivan [Sullivan, J.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-948583-03-9
Publisher: Owl Hollow Press

19

Alice woke the next morning to sunlight streaming through the small mesh screen in the roof of her tent. She lay flat on the bed staring at the sky, ignoring the soreness in her arms and legs. Two days. I've already been here two days, she thought. Though it felt much longer. It seemed she’d been stuck in Wanderland for weeks. She didn’t have weeks, though. She didn’t even have days. She needed to hurry.

That meant she had to get out of bed.

Groaning, she willed her sore muscles to stand from the relative comfort of the cot. She looked down at the sad state of her tattered clothes and was thankful she had thought to pack a spare set. Soon, she was freshly clad in a dark tee and a worn pair of black skinny jeans. She shrugged into her light, military-style fitted jacket and tugged on her boots. Once they were laced, she opened the flap of the tent and ran her fingers through her hair to pull out any tangles worked in overnight. She didn't have anyone to impress. She was busy teasing a stubborn snarl as she hurried outside, and didn’t notice Nate until she almost barreled into him.

“Whoa!” He held her shoulders to steady her when she bounced off him. He was more solid than he looked, and holding onto her with his arms flexed tight against a dark gray T-shirt, he looked pretty darn solid. Suddenly, Alice wished she had done more with her hair. She flipped it behind her shoulders to hide the mess and blushed furiously. She was completely out of her element. She had never had to deal with anything like this before. In the Sector, the closest thing she even had to a romantic option was Lewis, and he was, well, Lewis.

Not the time to lose it, she scolded. Focus, you idiot.

“Sorry!” she exclaimed. Her cheeks burned as she chased away her inner monologue. “I didn't see you.”

“Don't worry about it. I should have announced myself. Are you hungry?” he asked. An easy smile played on his lips. It lit up his whole face and brought out the bright blue in his eyes. With his chiseled features and halo of golden hair, he could have been a Renaissance angel.

Alice nodded, thankful for the topic change. And truth be told, she was starving. She’d packed some food in her bag, but had rationed it strictly. Breakfast sounded wonderful.

“Great, follow me,” he said. He walked quickly, and soon, they were in a large common area set with dozens of wooden picnic tables. Wrapped around the seating area, canopy-covered rectangular tables arranged in a large U formed an assembly line of sorts. A team of workers stood behind them, prepping and serving food to the people of Tulgey. Alice’s mouth watered at the heavenly smell. She was glad the commotion of people laughing and eating masked her rumbling stomach. Eagerly, she followed Nate to the buffet line. While they waited, he pointed out the different parts of Tulgey and explained how it ran.

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