Extinction Read Online Free Page A

I didn’t understand why he was letting me go. He could have killed
me or used me as ransom. I could just as well admit it – I didn’t want to go
back. A very big part of me wanted to stay with him. I should’ve been thankful
that he didn’t hurt me or worse. He even let me keep the medicine. But deep
inside me, I knew the prospect of returning to Palasium and to my father,
sapped the life from me. I turned. Chai still stood where I left him, watching
me. I wanted to run back to him.
    “Thank you.” I said hastily and pivoted on my heels.
    I quickly reached the edge of the jungle and headed
west across the desert. The setting sun set the barren landscape ablaze,
painting it in vibrant variations of red, buttery yellows and fiery oranges.
For these few minutes, before the darkness cloaked this never-ending desolate
world, the sun managed to turn something so barren and bleak into a spectacular
dreamlike place.
    The abandoned shed jutted out between the sand
dunes. It seemed out of place and daily the sun and sand tried to destroy it,
flatten it to fit in with the rest of the surrounding landscape. I didn’t know
what the original purpose of this structure was or why it was built out here and
not within the city walls. All I knew that my way in and out of Palasium was
inside the shed. I took the small key from the back pocket of my shorts and
unlocked the padlock protecting it from unwanted and curious visitors. Inside
was a door to the underground tunnels zigzagging Palasium and one of them led
straight to my house. A few years ago I found these tunnels by accident and I
spent every free minute since mapping them. It was exhilarating, like finding a
hidden treasure no one knew about. The Vandelrizi must know of them, they had
to have some reason for building them, but they never used them. Maybe they
even forgot they were there and I have never mentioned the tunnels to Robert. For
now it was my secret.
    I took one last glance at the jungle and cupped a hand
over my eyes and squinted. I swore I saw Chai standing at the edge of the
jungle, shadowed by the broad leaves of a tree. I could hear his words echoing
in my mind.
    “I’ll be seeing you soon, little one.

Chapter 3
     
          Lazily I pried my
eyes open and stifled a yawn with the back of my hand. The rising
sun was casting alternating patterns of light and dark on the hickory hardwood
floor through the open bay window. A slight breeze lifted and twirled the sheer
white curtains. It was another cloudless day.  I rolled onto my stomach and peeked
over the edge of the bed. My backpack, with its precious contents was safely
tucked under my bed. I pushed myself upright and sat cross-legged on the bed. A
very sexy boy haunted my dreams last night and I must admit they weren’t
nightmares, but glorious sinfully, mushy dreams. I covered my burning cheeks
with the palms of my hand. The chances were slim that I would ever see Chai
again. He was a rebel fighter and I was…I was here in Palasium. Our worlds were
not destined to collide.
    Last night I made it just in time for dinner. Maria,
our housekeeper shot me a quick glance and ushered me upstairs to tidy up and
change. She didn’t ask any questions, only raised her silver eyebrows and shook
her head at my filthy clothes and disheveled hair. She was originally from
somewhere in Mexico before the invasion and her English wasn’t very good, but
her eyes missed nothing. She was our housekeeper since Mom died and I was
positive she must be nearing ninety years of age. Her parchment thin skin was
covered in wrinkles and she wore her thinning winter-grey hair permanently in a
tight bun on her head. When I was younger I firmly believed she was a witch –
not a wicked witch, children eating kind, but one of the good ones sent to
protect me, more like a fairy godmother. She was one of the few people I
trusted completely to keep my secrets.
    Robert was, as always, quiet through dinner and I
was relieved. It felt like