Skeletal: a tense dystopian thriller you won't be able to put down by Emma Pullar

Author:Emma Pullar [Pullar, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Published: 2017-10-26T23:00:00+00:00

19

Glory Den

We stick to dirty walls like flies to the dead heads above the trenches, weaving along the rows of crumbling cubes in silence. The last thing we need is to attract a hungry Mutil, or more gang members. My body aches, the kind of tired that goes deep into the bone, my legs feel like they’re made of lead and my boots clomp heavily into the dark streets as if a giant owns them. Gunshots are rarely heard around the city. When a gun is fired, people scatter like birds. Tonight is no different, except unlike people, the crows perch undeterred on their favourite staring spots. Always watching, lined up on cube ledges and tree branches. The sinful secret keepers. They see Gale City as it really is and only they know everything. I wish they could tell me if Clover is still alive. I could do with some of his advice right about now.

‘Skyla!’

‘Tess?’

I turn around and Tess launches herself at me. I lift her up and her thin legs wrap tight around my waist, like a baby bear would around its mother. She places her head on my shoulder, and I stoke her brittle hair.

‘What are you doing out here?’

‘I’ve been looking for you.’ She nuzzles into my neck.

‘You shouldn’t be out here alone, it’s not safe.’

I pinch the flesh on her shoulder and then feel her bony arm.

‘Stop that,’ she says with a giggle.

‘What?’ I ask smiling.

‘I’m fine. I’m not starving!’ She holds my face in her tiny hands and looks straight into my eyes. ‘I can look after myself.’

‘I can see that.’ I lower her down gently and start re-plaiting her unravelled braid. ‘Why is it always the right one?’

Tess laughs. I reach into the pocket of her tattered dress and pull out the elastic band she should have around her hair.

‘We better keep moving, that Runner could still catch up to us,’ Cara says, eyes darting around the streets. I nod, and Tess weaves her tiny fingers between mine.

‘How’s your mum?’ I ask.

‘Worse. She’s really sick. That’s why I came to find you. You’re all I’ve got,’ she says, hugging me around the waist.

‘Where’s Clover?’

‘I haven’t seen him since our card game.’ She chews the corner of her bottom lip. ‘People say he’s dead, taken by the guards.’

‘Don’t be silly …’ I say, squeezing her hand. ‘Clover is lucky. I’m sure he’s fine.’

My words are different to my thoughts. I know what Tess says could be true. Maybe Clover’s luck did run out. I can’t tell Tess that. I can’t upset her further. Sometimes too much truth can poison a person, and children should never overdose on harsh truths.

‘Who’s Clover, friend of yours?’ Cara asks.

I shake my head.

‘Slum Lord.’

‘This little girl is an Eremite?’

I nod and Tess grins at Cara.

‘Accepted by Eremites,’ Cara says, eyes burning through me, impressed, ‘Interesting.’

Cara starts questioning Tess about the slums. I guess she is thinking of where she’ll go. Lost her job, uncle dead, the slums might be her only choice, if they agree to take her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.