40

In the pursuit of connection, she’d brought someone to tears again. She loathed the theme, it felt like she was abusing their vulnerability to wiggle into their group. His tears ceased under Tessa’s words and lanes consolation. Jeremy forced a smile for the small boy.

Commiserate silence consumed the room yet she didn’t feel like an intruder. Grief it seemed was excellent medicine The children dispersed through the room, and Jessy walked to Mensha, while the others did whatever kids did in the apocalypse.

Summer strode beside Tessa, the shorter woman sat on the floor, her body limp from her efforts. She glanced up and a smile as genuine as it was forced graced her face.

Mensha’s expectations weighed on her, and how heavy was her burden. Summer sat and hesitated, “What was your plan before?” she trailed off and sat beside her.

“Um, we found a radio that said there’s somewhere safe, er.”

Summer barely noted her hesitance as hope found new fuel to burn. “Where, can you show us, can we talk to them?” she rattled. Tessa squinted and glanced away, Summer realized she was bright. midday sun hard to look at bright, and all her new traveling companions were staring.

Mensha mumbled something to Jess and the girl giggled. “Apologizes,” she muttered and reigned herself, though the heat flooding her cheeks made that harder.

Tessa chuckled and her strain eased. “We can try the radio, but it’s pretty inconsistent, and I’d be happy if you came with us. It’d be a big help,” she glanced at the kids. And Summer nodded, Mensha wouldn’t mind some unpaid child care, and he got along with the girl.

“What about our destination.”

Tessa stiffened, “I, I’m not sure.”

Summer let her frown speak. “The city’s changing, you can see it right, we got a direction days ago, but is it still there.” She whispered in a taught pleading whisper, that melted as a group of three, (name three middle children) children asked for something.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

She flashed Summer an apologetic glance and departed. The City was changing, she’d gathered that much from the shifting sky, yet the implications hadn’t reached her. The city changed and who was to say a metropolis could be layered above her or the land split as she walked?

Was there anything she could do about it, she asked the question and fuzzy silence responded. No well articulate no, or impassioned response just mild absurdity like someone asked her to punch the moon, or told her the risk of an asteroid impact.

Yet she was compelled to consider it because a nuclear bomb in her fridge was more probable than what already happened and she had every reason to suspect it might get worse.

Tessa rejoined their meeting and Summer continued staring off.

“Um Sorry if I bothered you.” She whispered and stopped her spiraling mind.

She took a moment. “No, you gave me quite the revelation.”

“How?” Tessa said somehow directing the question at both of them. How they oscillated from awkward to determined d Summer couldn’t grasp. Yet Summer greatly appreciated their humanity.

“Well, I’m wondering if the floors going to drop on us and the chance will open up.” She said trying to affect a dry tone to blunt her fear.

“Crack, do you think the floor could tear apart.” She said with mute horror and though endearing, Summer regretted bringing the fear that shone in her eyes.

“Maybe, I don’t see why not, but I was talking about the cracks the monster fell out of.”

Fear flashed to sunrise. “You know where they came from.” She said but might as well shouted for how it silenced the room. Jerico had said he was sleeping.

“Yes,” Summer said tired and once again attention’s center. “I can tell you if you’d like.” The room nodded that was possibly the dumbest question she could have asked if she wanted out. She glanced at Mensha and her eyes shone. “I’m sure Mensha can tell you all about the angel.”

Wonder and curiosity flared in their eyes. Mensha’s gaze swept the curious faces burbling with curiosity his gaze passed her and she knew she’d pay for this in some petty embarrassing way.

It was worth it though.

Mensha began the story, with tears and a ring shared atop o glowing mall on a star-lit night. How the sky broke in a kiss’s wake and glowing white wings christened a world’s change. Jess squealed beside him when he mentioned her photo in a way that made her seem both fearless and childish.

“In my defense, I was having a moment,” she defended herself, and he smiled.

“True, it was a very cute moment.” His voice though flat roiled with mirth as she lost their exchange.

“Can I see?” Jess pleaded, Her eyes shone enough to render Summer dim, and the look mirrored in the other eyes, rendered her a shadow.

She showed them, her goofy smile in the fore of an eldritch catastrophe was odd. That image crowded by small puffy cheeks was surreal. Her phone died on the second round of being passed round, but Summer didn’t mind. She looked at the smiling faces and clear eyes.

Not at all.