The Torn, Book One of the Holding Kate Series Read Free Page B

signs in muted colors stood on our side of the fountain. The far side had Baths, Ermadean’s Diner, General Store, and Barber.
    It was as though we had stepped into the Wild West, except everyone wore regular clothes. Well mostly. Some teens were in jumpsuits with various colored stripes down the sides of their legs and making a V in the front and back of their tightly corseted jackets. They actually looked futuristic or like super heroes and very out of place in this antiquated village.
    We were herded through the door marked “Barber.” Here come the lice checks and shaved heads, I thought as I passed through the ancient looking doors. When I got inside and my eyes adjusted, my mouth fell open.
    It wasn’t a small little barber shop. It was an enormous—for lack of a better word—terminal. Gray floors, walls, and ceilings were glossier than Caitlyn’s lips. There were monitors everywhere with destination information scrolling. A mechanical voice droned and echoed through the terminal about jump sites and quantum something.
    A foreboding pulsed through me and my mouth gaped. The contrast between the outside and the inside might have been cool if it hadn’t screamed a warning of things to come. I glanced at Pinky and Caitlyn huddling together, whispering and frowning at the abrupt change.
    What was this place? I was not the adventurous type. This place was just too weird. Tension coiled in my muscles and rippled down my spine and I knew I was about to either faint or run out screaming.
    A warm hand landed on my shoulder and I looked up to see Trip standing beside me. “Steady, now,” he whispered as he scanned the place with curiously cautious eyes.
    His touch was just enough to settle me. I sighed and unclenched my fists under his calming demeanor and moved closer to him in response to the soothing effect he seemed to have.
    He glanced down at me and arched a question with his sculpted perfection. I nodded in response. I wasn’t going to lose it with this cute boy standing beside me so protectively. I took a deep breath and we moved forward with the others. His hand moved to my other shoulder and stayed there as we passed gated thresholds with colored numbers and descended an escalator.
    The female robot voice echoed through the corridors. “Jump arrival Cerulean Twelve.” A team of white coated technicians raced into the gate with a blue 12 posted above it. I threw a questioning expression at Trip and he shook his head as though he were as perplexed as I was.
    We were shunted into a large amphitheater and the doors closed behind us. There was an enormous screen at the front of the room, and we filed into cushioned stadium chairs with tiny writing desks to the right of each chair.
    Wedged between Pinky and Trip, I fingered the pencil on my desk. As soon as we were all seated, the lights dimmed and a video started. Loud pulsing music and colorful modern graphics assailed us. Caitlyn was already gnawing on her pencil. The pretty blond girl and the cute blond boy, Corey, sat in front of us. They might have been twins they were both so strikingly gorgeous.
    More teens in the charcoal and color-striped jumpsuits raced through the scenes in various actions, running, jumping, ducking. Words flashed across the screen.

    Face your fear.
    Overcome your insecurities.
    Defeat your enemies.
    Find your Center.
    Our weapons.
    Are not weak.
    They are Mighty.

    The throbbing music and blaring guitars were perfectly orchestrated to enhance the video and the actors ducked and escaped harrowing near misses, the details hidden by the close up frames of their astonished faces.
    I glanced down and saw Trip’s fingers dance across his knee in time with the music. I cut my eyes to his and he wiggled his brows and quirked the corner of his mouth. His lips stole my attention as I thought about how soft they would feel pressed… uh…no! Don’t go there!
    I jerked back to the screen as the music faded and a short round woman appeared.