Tremor: If your world was falling apart, how far would you go to save it? (The Tremor Cycle) Read Online Free

up in a T-blast though. From what I’ve heard it turned the ground beneath you into a mouth, the very rocks becoming knife-edged teeth. Then, as if that weren’t enough, the crust would blow upwards and smash down on anything that remained in one last explosion.’ The second held up his hand and brought it down on the other, the clap making William flinch. ‘And don’t you forget what those T-bombs have left us with. It might not be radiation, but it sure as hell isn’t anything less destructive!’
    ‘Yeah, but Terrafall will stop the tremors. I’m sure,’ said the first, patting his partner’s back. ‘That’s why I think us doing this is pointless. We ought to be helping with the tremors.’
    ‘Yeah, yeah, but who are we to argue?’ said the second, heading off with his partner. ‘Have you heard about the abduct…’ Their voices trailed off, gradually turning into inaudible murmurs.
    William slunk out of his hiding place and walked on again, shaking his head. As if Terrafall would be able to stop the tremors now. Terrafall had lost his father, its best geologist, so it had no chance as far as he was concerned. But his mother wouldn’t agree, she was blinded by Terrafall’s promises, even though it had failed to prevent his father’s death.
    Terrafall might’ve brought the survivors together and given them some small comforts, but his mother couldn’t see what the mysterious organisation was truly like, see that it was using the crappy stuff it gave away as a means to sustain power. He spat out the sour taste that had built up from thinking about the huge, faceless controller.
    ‘It’s gross to spit, Will,’ came a voice from behind.
    ‘Althea.’ He turned, his lips slowly curving into a smile.
    Althea walked straight towards him, hair the colour of late autumn leaves, a halo of red framing her pretty face. ‘Why didn’t you meet me?’ she said, shoving his shoulder, her green eyes locked in a narrow glare.
    ‘Sorry, I’ve a lot on my mind, must’ve forgotten.’ He shrugged, meeting her intense gaze before blushing and quickly looking down.
    Her expression softened. ‘You’ve been up all night again, haven’t you? Working on that tremor stuff, I bet.’ Althea sighed. ‘I know how hard it is. I’ve really struggled without either of my parents, but you can’t let it eat you up. Try and get on with life, otherwise you’ll find you have no life left.’
    ‘You call this living?’ he whispered, not looking at her. ‘You sound like my Mum. If you’re going to be like that, just leave me alone!’ He turned away, but something stopped him from walking off.
    ‘Will.’ She placed a hand on his back. ‘I’ve been your best friend forever. I’m not going to leave you. How could I leave the only friend I have who remembers what it used to be like?’
    William didn’t say a word. When Terrafall brought all the survivors together after the war, he’d found out that most of his friends, his schoolmates had vanished.
    ‘I know it’s hard, and two months is such a short time to get over what happended to your dad. But look at the world we live in. You have to be strong,’ said Althea, gripping his shoulder. ‘Remember when we found that injured rabbit and your dad said there was nothing we could do? He said the best thing we could do was to put it to sleep? You were stronger than me back then, you agreed. I couldn’t. You need to find that strength again. For me, for your mum.’
    Reluctant to argue, William nodded.
    ‘Why didn’t you wait for me, anyway? We’re not supposed to walk alone.’
    William didn’t answer. He’d walked alone lots of times, when he needed to clear his head, or just forget, but he didn’t tell Althea or his mother that. Althea liked to take care of him, which suited him fine, most of the time.
    ‘You forgot me, didn’t you?’ she said, shaking her head and playfully punching him.
    William scowled and rubbed his arm. ‘Crap, Alfie, that