Glimmer Read Online Free Page A

explain everything to them and have them agree to help me get Lukas, Basil, and Hana to freedom ... free from The Light.
    But this isn't like that fairy-tale in my head at all. This is gun-in-my-face-scary.
    "I'm so cold, Lucy." Timid cries, clinging to my body. She must be overwhelmed by all these strange people carrying guns and I am too, but I'm trying not to let that show. I'm guessing she's never seen a gun before. It's clear she's terrified of them anyways. There are some things that scare us, even if we don't know why. I want to minimize her fear.
    The man speaks again and I listen to his words, anxious for answers. "You'll come with me, but I won't promise anything besides shelter. Not until we've assessed you both. Jax, run ahead and let the kitchen know we need some food. And find some coats for them, too." A young man separates from the group and runs into the dark night. "This way, and stay close to me," he says, butting his gun against my back. I pull Timid closer, still. "Patrolmen, go to our borders, call in the Reserves and make sure no one is following these two." His orders scatter the people surrounding us and he starts moving down the path, his headlamp guiding the way.
    After we've walked a short distance I see what must be the Safe House , but it doesn't look like a house at all . It's a sprawling structure as far as I can tell. Much of it is hidden by the night sky. Morning will give me a better view.
    Timid and I follow him to a door he flings open, revealing a small house-like room. There seems to have been a kitchen along the wall at one time, but it looks mostly removed, leaving only a stovetop. There's a bunk bed and a table with a bench lining one side. It's empty except for curtains hanging on the wall, covering the windows. We entered through a door, but I see there's another exit opposite of us, but that door seems more makeshift, as if someone literally sliced a door through a wall. The man's headlamp fills the space with light.
    "You both take a bunk, Jax will be bringing more blankets. And some food. I'll officially question you in the morning. Until then, I suggest you sleep. Until I know otherwise, you're pawns of the enemy. I don't care that you're girls." He stands with arms folded watching as Timid and I lay down on the beds, cautiously.
    I climb to the top, hoping it's what Timid prefers, knowing she's used to sleeping on the floor. The man burps loudly, then starts coughing. I pull my head away, disgusted by his crude behavior. I don't know what I expected, but not a greeting like this.
    "Is Charlie here? Can you tell him Lucy's here?" I ask, feebly. I just want to have a chance to see him; somehow it would make this seem less like a mistake.
    "I have no reason to trust you. So I don't. My name is Reagan and this is my Safe House . I decide who stays and who goes. Charlie had to go. His ideas didn't exactly gel with mine."
    His words are cold and calculated and I shouldn't be surprised.  I remember how rough those men were with Mom on the trek to The Light, how Charlie shot down four men in the blink of an eye. I've been sheltered from the world's cruelty while at The Light. They offered a completely different sort of cruelty.
    He pulls a flask out of his jacket and takes a few long gulps. It makes me realize how parched I am, but I know he's not drinking water. It smells something awful.
    Jax walks in through the cutout door with a pile of blankets and sitting on top is a loaf of bread. He sets the blankets on the table and then tosses the bread in the air for me to catch. I do.
    "Nice," he says, offering a smile. I pull the chunk in two, leaning down to hand Timid her share. We inhale the loaf, even though it's cold and hard, while Reagan and Jax watch us in an uncomfortable silence.
    I get under the blanket Jax doles out, pulling the heavy wool to my chin, and then take a look at the two of them. They study us with arms crossed in consideration, as though deciding how much of a