Page 201 of Storm Caller

I stumble as he drags me toward one of the covered vehicles.

“Stop!” I scream. “Who are you? Stop!”

He ignores me as someone else opens the door.

“We got a live one,” he says as I kick and flail.

“Bag her, then,” comes a bored voice.

“No!” I shout. “Stop!”

Suddenly, my world goes dark. They’ve put something over my head. I scream, but all I get is a mouthful of fabric that smells and tastes like stale sweat. I choke as I feel someone roughly tie my hands together, and then I’m lifted and unceremoniously dropped onto another hard surface. The truck.

I can sense other people around me.

I feel a few soft touches as they shuffle to give me space.

Then a sharp kick to the ribs as I groan and curl into myself.

“No!” I cough out. “Let me go!”

The truck roars to life, and I scream louder.

Then it starts to move.

They’re taking us somewhere.

I don’t stop. I shout for Rook. I shout for my mom.

I scream and scream until finally my voice gives out.

Then there is nothing left.

The End . . . Until Later

The love doesn’t end here…