At last, the plot threads begin to intertwine...
Tradewinds 07: Away From Homehttp://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10533Summary: Wherein two new friends make the most of Away From Home Syndrome, while an old friend fights for his very survival…
Categories: Original Fiction
Characters: None
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Rated: R
Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds
Challenges: None
Published: 04/14/11
excerpt, from the Chapter I:
…Shades just kept accelerating, from a hustle to a brisk stride to a fast jog, dragging Max behind him. After a short way, Max got swept up in the moment, and Shades had to break into an all-out dash to keep up with him. By now they just charged down the halls, customers simply staring at them as they breezed by, so psyched they hardly noticed.
Ordinarily, Shades wouldn’t dare risk drawing so much attention to himself in this place, but the chance at escape was easily worth the risk, as far as he was concerned.
Together, they raced down one hall after another. Shades had expected Bandit to take the lead, of course, but he also found he was impressed with Max’s speed, as he could barely keep up with his new friend. Still, he was glad this stranger took him seriously, for he wanted to see Max and Bandit trapped here about as much as he enjoyed being trapped here himself.
It was a fate he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy.
“There it is!” Shades proclaimed as they came around the next corner. Ahead was a big block of exit doors, beyond which he could see daylight. Of course, he had seen a few skylights in some sectors, but all of them were placed completely out of reach. “You did it!”
In his rush of adrenaline— and hope— he even started to pull out ahead of Max, who genuinely seemed surprised Shades could keep up with him.
“Alright!” Max still wasn’t entirely sure what he was cheering for, but he was now certain an explanation awaited outside. He just hoped Justin could hang on until he could figure out how to get back to the library.
They were within about twenty yards of their goal when it happened.
Shades was going all-out, as he just couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen if they didn’t take this window of opportunity right now… Tunnel vision focused only on the exit door, so he didn’t even see it coming when someone burst out of a little-used side door with a huge hanging rack of clothes. All he heard was Max’s warning to look out, followed by the mover’s cry of alarm as he crashed into it, knocking he whole thing over and sprawling headlong across the floor tiles.
And Max, being unable to dodge in time, tripped over the rack, as well, crashing to the floor next to Shades…
And the trouble escalates...