Planet Urth: The Savage Lands (Book 2) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci
Authors: Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci
Ads: Link
spear or stick.”
I scan the shelves and see that knives and blud geons of every size and shape are arranged neatly on the top shelves. Daggers, spears and swords occupy the lower shelves.
“Come on, Avery,” Will’s hot breath fans across my neck when he leans in to whisper to me. “I’m not happy about it either, but think about June and Riley, about Oliver and me, about you,” he tries to convince me.
Reluctantly, I pull my dagger from the case on my thigh, and with a hesitant hand, I turn it over to Ross. A grin stretches across his face and crinkles the skin around his eyes. Next, I surrender my spear then last, my sword. I feel naked, stripped of any means of protecting June and I.
“Excellent,” Ross says as Tal places our armaments in the cabinet then locks it. He twists and faces the children then says, “Now that all that boring grown-up stuff is over, we can finally eat and meet the rest of the people here.” He uses a silly voice as he continues to speak to them and lead s them inside. Tal and Jay follow.
We continue down a long, narrow corridor and follow the scent of burning brush and cooking meat. I remember that the main area that was used as a dining hall had a fire pit. It is surreal that I have returned to where I spent so many years as a child, to a place where I once felt safe and happy. I feel neither now.
“What do you think?” Will asks and moves so close to me his lips almost brush my earlobe.
I do not know how to express the leeriness I feel. It is unjustified. Yet I can’t shake it. Perhaps it is the fact that my mother and so many others were butchered here not long ago. Perhaps it is the three days of sleep deprivation finally catching up to me. Perhaps it is both. Perhaps it is neither. All I know is that my nerves feel frayed.
“ I’m thinking I just made a huge mistake handing over my weapons,” I say bluntly in a quiet voice.
“Why? They’re humans, like us. They have no reason to hurt us. They’re on our side,” he replies.
A few moments pass as I consider what he’s said. After all, he has come across more humans than I have. He and his family were the first in recent years.
“I guess,” I say and hear the exasperation in my tone.
We continue to walk until we reach a room set with a makeshift table composed of long wooden slats aligned side by side. My heart leaps to my throat as the arrangement brings to mind flashbacks that echo through my mind with aching clarity. I remember eating here as a child, the setup is nearly identical.
June, Riley and Oliver marvel at what they see, at all the people in front of them. Even Will’s jaw drops. I wish I felt as they do. I wish I could look on in wide-eyed wonder. But I can’ t. I do not feel excited in the least. All I see is the bloodshed of persons past, my people, and strangers. We are grossly outnumbered, and without my weapons, I worry I have made a mistake that will cost us our lives.
Chapter 3
Ross ushers us deeper into the dining area. With every step I take, my unease grows. I do not understand it fully. I can’t explain it. I just feel anxiety swelling inside of me. When Ross finally stops in front of a table filled with five men, all caked in filth and disheveled in appearance, a tremor passes through me that cause my stomach to roll. The men spring to their feet. I flinch instinctively and take note of their appearances. I notice one of them looks as if he isn’t much older than Oliver. The rest are older and rougher looking.
“Guys, this is Will, Oliver, Riley, June, and Avery,” Tal introduces us.
A series of pleasantries volley around the table and Tal begins naming the men before us. But I’m unable to concentrate on names. A penetrating pair of bloodshot, heavily creased eyes is on me. The gaze belongs to the oldest, mangiest looking man among those at the table.
“Well,
I scan the shelves and see that knives and blud geons of every size and shape are arranged neatly on the top shelves. Daggers, spears and swords occupy the lower shelves.
“Come on, Avery,” Will’s hot breath fans across my neck when he leans in to whisper to me. “I’m not happy about it either, but think about June and Riley, about Oliver and me, about you,” he tries to convince me.
Reluctantly, I pull my dagger from the case on my thigh, and with a hesitant hand, I turn it over to Ross. A grin stretches across his face and crinkles the skin around his eyes. Next, I surrender my spear then last, my sword. I feel naked, stripped of any means of protecting June and I.
“Excellent,” Ross says as Tal places our armaments in the cabinet then locks it. He twists and faces the children then says, “Now that all that boring grown-up stuff is over, we can finally eat and meet the rest of the people here.” He uses a silly voice as he continues to speak to them and lead s them inside. Tal and Jay follow.
We continue down a long, narrow corridor and follow the scent of burning brush and cooking meat. I remember that the main area that was used as a dining hall had a fire pit. It is surreal that I have returned to where I spent so many years as a child, to a place where I once felt safe and happy. I feel neither now.
“What do you think?” Will asks and moves so close to me his lips almost brush my earlobe.
I do not know how to express the leeriness I feel. It is unjustified. Yet I can’t shake it. Perhaps it is the fact that my mother and so many others were butchered here not long ago. Perhaps it is the three days of sleep deprivation finally catching up to me. Perhaps it is both. Perhaps it is neither. All I know is that my nerves feel frayed.
“ I’m thinking I just made a huge mistake handing over my weapons,” I say bluntly in a quiet voice.
“Why? They’re humans, like us. They have no reason to hurt us. They’re on our side,” he replies.
A few moments pass as I consider what he’s said. After all, he has come across more humans than I have. He and his family were the first in recent years.
“I guess,” I say and hear the exasperation in my tone.
We continue to walk until we reach a room set with a makeshift table composed of long wooden slats aligned side by side. My heart leaps to my throat as the arrangement brings to mind flashbacks that echo through my mind with aching clarity. I remember eating here as a child, the setup is nearly identical.
June, Riley and Oliver marvel at what they see, at all the people in front of them. Even Will’s jaw drops. I wish I felt as they do. I wish I could look on in wide-eyed wonder. But I can’ t. I do not feel excited in the least. All I see is the bloodshed of persons past, my people, and strangers. We are grossly outnumbered, and without my weapons, I worry I have made a mistake that will cost us our lives.
Chapter 3
Ross ushers us deeper into the dining area. With every step I take, my unease grows. I do not understand it fully. I can’t explain it. I just feel anxiety swelling inside of me. When Ross finally stops in front of a table filled with five men, all caked in filth and disheveled in appearance, a tremor passes through me that cause my stomach to roll. The men spring to their feet. I flinch instinctively and take note of their appearances. I notice one of them looks as if he isn’t much older than Oliver. The rest are older and rougher looking.
“Guys, this is Will, Oliver, Riley, June, and Avery,” Tal introduces us.
A series of pleasantries volley around the table and Tal begins naming the men before us. But I’m unable to concentrate on names. A penetrating pair of bloodshot, heavily creased eyes is on me. The gaze belongs to the oldest, mangiest looking man among those at the table.
“Well,
Similar Books
