Veracity (The Seven Cities Book 1) Read Free Page B

absence more frightening, more surreal. The young man's face is close to mine, his breath hot against my ear as he whispers to me.
    "I will always keep you safe Katherine. Always."
    My eyes fly open. Where am I? Why is it so dark? What's going on . . . and what just touched my leg? Freezing in place as fear rolls up and down my spine, I listen for any sign of the intruder. A scaly body moves against my thigh and pure, raw panic sets in.
    I scream as I fly out the tent, knocking the entire thing down in the process. Grabbing my suitcase, I slam it over and over onto the tent, still screaming at the top of my lungs. It's at that moment, wild eyed and hyperventilating, that I realize that the calming effect of the pill might have worn off.
    Falling to the ground, I tuck my head firmly between my knees and take several therapeutic breaths. Letting the cool air move in and out of my constricted lungs, I imagine that I'm releasing my fear and regaining control with each exhale. My hands shake as the adrenaline courses through my veins. I almost welcome the rush, even though the panic makes my heart want to explode. My body is drowning in the fear and I ride the wave as it ties my insides into knots.
    Slowly, I bring myself back under control. My pulse slows to a normal pace, and my breathing regulates as the last traces of terror leave me.
    Just to be sure that the snake is good and dead, I cautiously walk to the tent, pulling back the mangled flap to reveal the body underneath. I poke it a few times with a deformed tent pole, and when it doesn't move, I pick the snake up by the tail and throw it into the woods.
    The battered snake left an abhorrent mess in the broken tent, so I abandon it, mentally kicking myself for destroying my only shelter. Back on the road, my newfound sense of worry and panic fuel my progress and by the time the sun begins its ascent, filling the world with optimistic pinks and yellows, I am far from the campsite. I stop then, sitting on an old stump to dig through my bag to see what damage I may have caused. Suitcases are, after all, not designed for use as a weapon. I am relieved to see that although thoroughly smashed, the berries remain in their bags. My toiletries are similarly locked safely away, however, the bag is now full of what smells like shampoo. Relieved my attack didn't cause more damage, I repack my things and start doing what I do best. Walking. 

4 – Town
     
    Around mid-morning I discover a little town, or what is left of one. Buildings, charred and gutted, line the cracked streets and the ground is a maze glass and refuse. What happened here? Where are all the people?
    What must have been a pretty town is now destroyed. Every building has at least some form of damage and most are nothing more than soot stained bricks. As I maneuver the pitted sidewalks, I pass crumbled bakeries, cafés, and office buildings. The sight of the small, overgrown park with its rusted swings brings tears to my eyes. My heart breaks at the thought of the people who built this town; all of their lives and homes ripped away with such violence, for surely, destruction this vast could only be the result of war.
    A breeze kicks up, sending dust and debris swirling in the air. The chalky smell of crushed concrete fills my nose and a chill runs through me, knowing that I am inhaling the remains of buildings, sidewalks, and who knows what else.
    Down the street I see a faded sign advertising a discount grocery. Pushing open the door, I step into a different world. Outside, the town is made up of broken bricks and burned wood, but in here I find a world of green. I stand dumbfounded, taking in the scene around me.
    Tattered green paper is everywhere, filling drawers, counters, and spilling onto the floor. The wind blows through the open door behind me, sending the paper dancing in the air like autumn leaves. I pull my own green paper out of my suitcase, and it's the same as the thousands scattered across the store.
    I