Part 2: Chapter 2

Part 2

Chapter 2

“I’m getting out of here this morning, Lora.” S.Z said.

A loud breeze whistled by. The clocks struck 3 AM, and Lora could feel the dreariness within her spreading throughout her body and infecting everything with a lethargic virus, making her sluggish and weak. S.Z and Lora were standing in the cold, and S.Z wore a perturbed look on his face.

“So much death I have seen, Lora. Hundreds killed before my very eyes. Um, I’ve hidden Tammy in the Reck Box--you know, the place we hid out the past couple years to avoid the horrors above.” Lora and S.Z had always called their hideout the Reck Box, even though it wasn’t shaped like a box in any way.

Lora projected a misty, sad look deep within her eyes. “Tammy! I want to see her.”

“Well, I’m sure she’ll be glad to have some company other than Al and the rats.” S.Z said.

Lora jumped. “Who’s Al, S.Z!? Can you really trust him with Tammy!?”

“Of course! He’s my old friend. Al is short for Alysdare, by the way. Tall fellow, real nice. Came over here to America from England to be with me today. Can’t believe he’s starting his trip in LA! Of everywhere he could’ve gone, he chose the worst of them all! Ridiculous. But anyway, he’s a good guy and will likely put every American citizen to shame with his manners and friendliness. In fact, he’s pretty appalled by the path America is taking, himself. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

“Oh, alright!” Lora said with a laugh. It was something she hadn’t done in a long time. “How’s he liking Tammy?”

S.Z grinned. “She’s got him on his toes, that’s for sure. First thing she did--oh wait, I’ll tell you that later--but this is hilarious--we were down there in the Reck Box, okay? Tammy was laying on the ground, just staring at Al. Like seriously staring at him. It looked like she was trying to dig her gaze deep into his eyes. I don’t know. Anyway, randomly after a couple minutes of this, she says ‘Eel, why do you got hair on your face!’ She calls him eel--I don’t know why, so don’t ask---obviously got something to do with her pronunciation skills.”

Lora smiled. “Tammy...she’s such a cutie.” She paused. “You should grow a mustache too, S.Z. It’d look nice.”

S.Z smiled. And then it was quiet.

Suddenly an explosion of red-orange flames burst behind them. Lora jumped to the moon and back, and S.Z followed suite. Through the smoke that came from the explosion, the Pinches entered. Lora looked deep into Trutt’s eyes. His glowering pupil’s atrociously flickered on and off with brilliant flames, and they seemed to ignite with excitement.

“Go, Lora! Go!--GO!” S.Z grabbed her shoulder and twisted her around. “Run!” Bullets blazed after them as they ran. When Trutt laughed it sounded like death itself, and Lora could feel it ring and burn within her whole body.

S.Z and Lora rounded a street corner, panting.

“Let’s go, Lora! We gotta get to the Reck Box!” S.Z said through baited breaths. “We’re not safe anywhere else! We should know that by now!” He pumped his arms beside Lora, and simultaneously they looked behind their shoulders for the Pinches. Lora could hear menacing laughter and she could smell the vile smoke, but Trutt and the rest of them had fallen behind. Nonetheless, Lora and S.Z kept sprinting, through long corridors, beside rusty brick walls, and over mucky, black asphalt. The ground felt rubbery as Lora ran, and ash flew into the air behind her with the wind.

Finally, they reached their destination. S.Z needed Lora’s help to lift lift the heavy, black, burnt piece of wood from above the hole S.Z had dug. They jumped down into it, then covered the hole once more. It was a circular, cramped corridor, and they had to crawl through it before arriving at the larger room. Lora finally dumped herself out of the claustrophobic space and gasped, looking up from the dust. The small, oddly shaped room was all dirt, besides a few chairs and a little cardboard box for non-refrigerated food and water. It wasn’t much, but it was safe.

The man called Al stared at Lora, a frightened look on his face at first. He looked like he didn’t know what to do and didn’t want to make any sudden movements. That was when S.Z tumbled out into the room, and Lora saw Al relax and brighten. Tammy, who had been wearing a fearful expression as well, became naturally sanguine and joyful. She ran to S.Z and jumped into his arms.

“Daddy!” she yelled, laughing wildly. S.Z looked at Lora, carrying Tammy in his arms. He grinned sheepishly.

Lora was appalled. She mouthed “She’s your daughter??,” looking directly into his moist eyes. He mouthed back. “No--I’ll tell you later…” Lora compressed a breath she discovered she had been holding in. She turned to Al. He had light brown hair, and he looked to be about in his mid-50s. Probably somewhere around the same age as S.Z. His skin was pale, and Lora couldn’t help but notice how thin and sun-deprived he looked.

“So, Al, you’re from England? How is it there? Are you finding America to be anything more or less than you expected?”

“Yes, thank you. You’re Lora, I presume?” He started. He spoke in a neat accent, and his words came out in a crisp, cool way. He sighed. “England is alright. You’ll have to go sometime for yourself in order to truly understand. It probably isn’t what you think--you know, beautiful and lively, with cheery people who are kind and friendly to one another--no. You would likely find my country to be not so much unlike to yours. We have a government, yes...but government or no government, its country can be corrupt either way. You understand this, yes?”

Lora paused. She was surprised in a way, at the way Al was talking. What did he mean??

“Yeah, well, I bet you don’t have MassDeath Day.” she said.

“That we don’t, Lora. But what does one day mean for an entire country? England is--well, you’ll just have to see for yourself, Lora.” Al looked at her with soft, kind eyes. “Oh! Here, have a seat, please.” He pulled up a chair and they both sat down. S.Z and Tammy, who had been chatting quietly, sat down as well.

“So, S.Z...how do you plan to leave, and where are you going? I’m sure Lora would like to know as well, seeing as you two are friends.” Al said, looking from S.Z to Lora.

S.Z nodded. “Yes, I’m going to Africa. I’m leaving this morning--I, um, I have some amends to fix there. I’ll inform you more in detail later...it’s hard to explain.”

Lora stood quickly from her chair. “Africa! What do you have business doing there?! You’re leaving America for Africa?! Are you out of your mind?! You don’t even know how life is in Africa right now! What if the country is a total joke?!” Lora stared him down, deep into his glazed eyes. Hers were filled with anger. “Don’t expect me to go with you, S.Z! I’m staying down here, and I’m going to go on with my life without any stupid trips to Africa!”

“The girl’s right. You’re not going nowhere.” The metallic, grinding voice came from behind them. It came unrecognizable to Lora. She whipped her head around, and S.Z, with Al, did the same.

It spoke again. “What do you think you’re doing down here?” The voice sounded like iron. The creature’s entire body was metallic and wirey. It had black curves around its deep red eyes. The metal looked starry and space-like, and the creature carried a tall staff with an enormous, sharp tip. Electricity burst throughout its body like blood through veins. The staff was red in color, and the menacing creature looked ready to rip, and to tear, and to shred.

Lora, S.Z, and Al stared at it in horror. The creature narrowed its dark eyes.

“I am Sharpe. You will do as I say or the penalty will involve death, blood, and pain. I will shred you to the ground like a piece of paper.’

Oh, yes. Yes. Sharpe was definitely ready to rip, tear, and shred. Oh yes.

Lora’s eyes bugged out as she saw another creature behind Sharpe: this one was more human-like, apart from the two bronze-colored prosthetic legs below its waist. His face was wrinkled, and he wore a reddish-black hood over his head. He carried a large, black gun in both of his sharply pointed hands.

Within seconds S.Z, Lora, and Al had their arms and legs practically tied in a knot, a weapon pointed at each of their heads. But where was Tammy? Lora scanned the room as Sharpe pushed her back through the tunnel from whence they came. She bit her lip as she saw Tammy’s dark black hair shimmering from behind the box containing all of their rationed food.

Reviews

[SoberBunny]

I agree with Alondra, thought she was hurt and too busy hating S.Z. to care about Tammy and the nice folk from England? I was a bit shocked when I came to this chapter, thought I missed a few. So maybe putting a makeup scene in there would help along with adding the suspense of her injury and such. :) Other than that I love the addition of Al the man from England and Sharpe the creepy thing ready to slice and dice, haha. A great surprise and an interesting take on a futuristic world where no one really seems to know anything other than violence. Great work as always!

[Stars and Whales]

Thanks. i'm working on this right now! :)

[Tomoe Tellez]

I have some things to point out, first "Sharpe!", is this part of your plan of connecting some of your novels? Second, this sentence: "Lora’s help to lift lift the heavy, black, burnt piece of wood" you could change it to= Lora’s help to lift the heavy black-burnt piece of wood
And, um didn't Lora have a knife wound on her leg, shouldn't it be very hard or her to outrun someone, I think you could use her wound in that scene to make it better, to add suspense or something like that. And it seems a little weird for me that the last time they talked Lora told S.Z. that she hated him, and right after this chapter begins they talk like it hadn't happened, I'd love to know how they got together again.

Besides that, I really love the new characters, Al seems great and I love the appearance of Sharpe and his companion, it reminded me that this was placed in the future and that there is highly advanced technology. Another great chapter! Hope this helped.

[Stars and Whales]

Lol no I know I used Sharpe in the other thing but that's just cause I liked the name and I'm not writing the other one right now and want to use the best names for my best stories :) Yes, I do need to explain that transition. That's a problem...I guess I forgot about that. Thanks a lot!

[Tomoe Tellez]

Um, well, you're right, I know what it feels like when you like a name so much you wish you hadn't used it before so you could use it in another story. And you're welcome.

[Bear]

This is to inform you I have read this and will review it with the next two chapters :~)

[wordman]

this is a good chapter,leaving the next chapter wanting to be read
coming together

[Stars and Whales]

thanks wordman! I appreciate you always reviewing :) Means a lot to me

[Cris Roley]

Do you have anything published?

[Stars and Whales]

I do not. This would be my first novel. :) That is my dream thought. I am young, and I know I can make it happen.