The smoke hadn’t cleared from the remnants of the camp, but Colton dashed towards it. Stunned silence. There were so many things I wanted to say to him, all at once, most of them just asking how stupid he could be. Then it hit me that he’d seen what the camp looked like, so had … Read moreGale Rising (Part 54)
Colton’s boots on the ground let out an awful noise with each step until I slid after him, muffling the sound with my grip on the air. He was right. He’d never make it without me. But he was certainly extorting me to get there. I stayed behind him, cautiously looking around. Just like before, … Read moreGale Rising (Part 53)
Moving through the empty trees, the scars and shrapnel ebbed away to the perpetual rot. Every foot step was awkward, dangerous; ground wasn’t as solid as I wanted it to be. Colton watched behind us, his hand clutched into mine. “Alright, alright,” he said, flicking his gaze back and forth. “What’re we watching for?” “Anything … Read moreGale Rising (Part 52)
The boat flipped as Excelsior. Hands and I hit the bottom at the same time. For a brief moment, we teetered on the side, eyes wide, and then the entire thing dumped the lot of us, including Colton, into the brackish water below. Then the boat came down on top of us, hot and dark. … Read moreGale Rising (Part 51)
Dusty conference room at the convention center. It certainly wasn’t the base we’d spent months in, but it was the only place dignified enough to hold the full military contingent. Excelsior and I sat next to each other, the sole representatives of the Mobilian faction. Command Rutherford sat across from us. Outside, the city center … Read moreGale Rising (Part 50)
In the dark of my dusty office the light was out. I’d’ve replaced it but it meant sitting up and doing it instead of staring at the chain of emails littering my page. Reports in from around the gulf area of things in the dark, of people disappearing. I didn’t need the coffee to wake … Read moreGale Rising (Part 49)
Mary was taking visitors in her room when I arrived. Two children sat at the foot on the bed, flicking through tablets. Mary peered over their shoulders inquisitively, only looking up when I made a noise. “Gale,” Mary said, evenly. “Glad you could visit again.” I coughed, turning my head to the side. I hadn’t … Read moreGale Rising (Part 48)
Rebecca sat in a dusty room. Some large attempt had been undertaken to clear it out, but it still looked dingy and dirty. The medical equipment wrapped around it like a snake, leaving very little room for anything other than the doctor and a single examination table. Her eyes flicked over the readouts on a … Read moreGale Rising (Part 47)
The sword flicked up in his arms as he pointed it thoroughly at the door. “Report,” he barked. Excelsior tore his sword out of the elevator door frame and it slid shut with an agonizing echo. Hot and heavy breathing as I clutched at my leg, squeezing it, tears running down the inside of my … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 46)
The moment was interrupted by the passage of a number of large blades where the wall had been bare minutes ago, with only the return of Colton’s knives to stop them from sinking into the side of my head. Breath in, breath out, turn to face the things in the night. Barely lit by reflections, … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 45)