The Mutopians Book One by SJ Whitby

Author:SJ Whitby [Whitby, SJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SJ Whitby

I’m still counting seconds in my head, but they’re screaming. There are seventy remaining and by now I can see Pear lying face down in the shallow water. Their coat is spread out behind them, dark wings like a bird descending to feed. My feet splash through water, spraying everywhere. The salt stings, but I only run faster.

Around Pear, the surf froths like pink foam.

I’m not counting anymore.

I collapse beside them, dragging them up out of the water, turning them in my arms. Their chest is a ruin, scored with a gaping, ragged wound. The imprints of sucker marks are seared into their flesh.

“No.” I scream. “Time, time, time.”

Doc appears, only metres away. She’s straining, lunging forward, but her expression isn’t fully visible through the greasy shimmer in the air. When the hell did this appear? This can’t be happening. Hadylan is gone, leaving me with Pear inside the forcefield, another glass jar over the top of us like we’re insects squirming inside it.

“Hey,” I croon. “We’ll figure it out. Rescue’s coming.”

A gurgling sound comes from Pear’s throat. They clutch at me with wet fingers. I think they’re saying my name.

“I’m here. I’ve got you.” I’m soaked through with salt water. Inside the bubble, the waves no longer crash, so we’re sitting in this small pool of bloody ocean. There are two tarot cards tucked into the inside pocket of their coat. The Hanged Man and the Fool. The second one feels perfectly clear at this moment.

An oblivious figure heading towards oblivion.

Outside the bubble, Keepaway hurls themself into the forcefield over and over. Dani’s there too, legs planted in the sand, trying to dig us free. Violet is an impossible maze of blades, frantically scrabbling at the surface of the bubble, trying to cut us free. There are doors everywhere, One Thorn opening every passageway, spilling more mutants onto the beach.

Inside the bubble, it’s only Pear and me.

I plant a kiss on their forehead, running my hand over their scalp. “This isn’t happening. It’s not, I’m sorry. I’m dreaming. That’s all. Someone’s feeding me a nightmare. We’ll wake up soon, and everything’s going to be okay.”

My brain’s rebelling, showing me all the times I’ve worried about Pear. Like they were all foreshadowing this moment. My parent, lost in despair. Me, unable to save them. As a child, I was helpless and lost among the maze of them, and even now that I’m grown and superpowered, I’ve got nothing to ward against this dark future that was always coming for us.

“Fuh.” They spit up blood. “Fucked.”

“Yeah, I think it is. Who’d dream like this?” I’m shivering so violently my skin can’t take it, cracking open fissures to let the salt water pour into me until I’m covered in kelp and rough grasses.

I try to wrap some of myself around them, bind them back together, seal the wound until the others can get inside and heal them properly.

“Duh-duh.” They swallow convulsively. “Dilly.”

“Don’t talk. Please. Save your strength.”

Outside the bubble, there’s a frantic hive of activity, but I’m only dimly aware of it.

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