Page 10 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
The awful part was, in the morning, I’d still be the same. Arden Roosa, Panic Girl.
Sunlight bathed the busy city as I raced toward the designated bus stop. I’d begun running as a form of stress relief two years ago, and today my dedication paid off. I picked up the pace, my muscles and limbs submitting to my determination. A bag filled with my necessities banged into my side. I’d left the apartment with plenty of time to walk, but I’d also gotten lost in thought and ended up in the wrong location.
The current time flashed from the side of a building, mocking me: 9:58. In two minutes, the bus would drive off with or without me. I pumped my arms faster. Almost ...
Just as the side door was closing, I soared into the vehicle.
The driver motioned to the scanner. I flattened my palm against the small square surface, letting the machine read my chip. A greenlight flashed, a sign I had an acceptable social credit rating, with no restrictions and no infection.
No doubt I’d be charged half a trill, the same fee required for any other bus ride. Nothing came free in Ourland, especially in the province of Lucrea, but none of the signs stated a fare amount. It didn’t matter what I owed, I supposed. I had already paid the ultimate price—my life.
Heart thumping, I searched for a seat.Oh, wow.Full house. Lots of strangers, mostly my age. Half the occupants were sitting, the other half standing. I noticed a girl from my building and a couple of kids from my school, plus a guy named Jericho I’d foolishly dated for a short period last year.
Many in the group looked frightened, while some appeared excited and others oozed confidence. But all were wearing green or blue fatigues, except me. I wore a pink tank and matching running shorts.
I must have missed a mention of fatigues in Ms. Butler’s note. Or she’d forgotten to send it. Which sucked! I did own a pair of fatigues; I’d just been so happy to graduate from high school, I’d stuffed the hated uniform in a corner of my closet, and that’s where it had stayed.
The bus juddered, rocking me on my feet. I caught myself, rescanning the space, on the hunt for a place to sit. The gal from my school studied me, as if she recognized me but wasn’t sure where we’d met. I thought her name was Lark. Jericho, who sat next to her, leered and waved me over.
I pretended not to see him. He absolutely had not changed.
“Arden?”
My heart fluttered as a familiar voice rose above the cacophony of chatter, drawing my attention to the back. Shock kicked me. “Shiloh.” He’d passed his health exam. Otherwise, he’d be in quarantine receiving treatment right now.
He arrowed from his spot, bumping into his seatmate before shouldering his way to me. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“I didn’t. I’m a soldier at Fort Bala Royal Academy. A lady-in-training.”
“A lady-in-training,” he parroted. His brow wrinkled. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m paying bills before I attend college,” I admitted, too dazed to filter my words.
“But. You’ll be fighting the maddened. Those in Ourland as well as those in Theirland, which are a different breed entirely. Some glow in the dark, and others grow worms instead of hair.”
I gulped. It was too late to scare me off. “Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors.” I hurried on. “I’m so glad to see you’re alive and unharmed.” I ran my gaze over him. He looked strong and healthy, completely unaffected by yesterday’s ordeal.
“I went home with a few bruises, but otherwise I’m fine. I passed a full exam. No trace of—” His lips compressed. “You know.”
“I’m so glad.” My brain finally caught up with the situation. “But why are you on my bus?”
“I do my clinicals at the academy.”
Oooh. Yes. That tracked.
He searched my face until the bus took a corner a little too swiftly and we lurched to the side. I accidentally dropped my bag onto his feet.
“May I?” he asked, lifting what remained in my life.
“Will this act of chivalry unbalance our scale?” I teased.
“Very much so.” He anchored the bag over his shoulder. With a wink, he extended his fingers in my direction. “But you’ll hold my hand, and it will level again.”
I smiled and did it. I clasped his hand and held on tight.
“Come on.” He gave me a comforting squeeze. “We can finish our date on the drive.”
Our fellow passengers shifted, watching as Shiloh led me to the end of the bus. My heart thudded with renewed life, different emotions surging and crashing. Fear of the unknown. More relief. A twinge of happiness. A ray of hope. Buckets of dread and uncertainty. More fear. So, so, so much fear.
