Free Tremor: If your world was falling apart, how far would you go to save it? (The Tremor Cycle) by Ryan Mark Page A

to your house, get supplies and set off.’
    Althea nodded, eyes still shaded by angry shock.
    ‘Get back inside. We have to search the streets, now!’ The fire exit slammed shut, but before the voice dissolved William heard: ‘Terrafall will have our heads if anything has been taken.’
    Terrafall will have their heads? He didn’t like where this was going. It was all one big conspiracy, but he was determined to crack it.
    ‘Let’s go,’ he told Althea.
    Creeping through the last section of the alley, they passed numerous mounds of rubbish and headed down a narrow gap between two warehouses. The noises from the archive were distant now, and William relaxed a little.
    They were almost free of the tiny alley when their path became blocked by a large, menacing figure, black clothes sucking up the light.
    Althea muffled a scream and William instinctively felt for the small slice of metal he’d picked up earlier. Where was it? Crap, he must’ve dropped it in the archive. He scanned the floor for anything he could use as a weapon. He might not have known who it was, but he had a horrible feeling he’d seen this person before.
    Looking about frantically for something to protect them, he realised there was nothing to hand, only newspapers and rotten leftovers. They’d have to use their fists.

Chapter 6
    Mysterious Encounters
    ‘Get out of the way!’ shouted Althea, holding up her fists as if she were facing someone in a boxing ring.
    ‘I want to talk,’ said the darkly dressed figure, shoulders broad and threatening. There was some force behind his voice, but William couldn’t fully read it. Something flashed from beneath the hem of his long, black coat. William’s mouth slowly fell open. The horrible feelings had been right. He’d seen this man before. It was the guy from last night, the guy who might have his mother.
    ‘It’s him, the person who was at my house last night, and I–I think he’s got a knife,’ he said, gripping Althea’s shoulder.
    Althea shrugged his hand away, stepped forward and said through cemented teeth, ‘He won’t have it for much longer…’ She swung a fist.
    William held his breath. The man easily dodged the blow, ducking to his left.
    ‘What are you doing, girl?’ the man shouted, blue eyes widening.
    ‘Defending ourselves.’ Althea swung out again, but he evaded her, pulling out the shiny object. William gasped, but when he focused on the object he realised it wasn’t a knife, but a black walking cane with a silver, orb-shaped handle.
    The man swung the cane in the air, trying to hook it around Althea’s legs, but she jumped over it and managed to kick him in the stomach. He doubled over, but before Althea could land another blow, he tried again, catching her legs this time and dropping her to the floor.
    ‘Please, stop!’ he said, holding up a hand. ‘I’m not the bad guy.’
    William ignored him and ran forward, making for the cane. He was swung around by the man and pushed into a pile of boxes. His hands scavenged beneath him for something he could use to his advantage, but all they touched were soft pieces of rotten cardboard.
    The man held out a gloved hand. ‘Please, I’m on your side,’ he said, the colour of his blue eyes intensified by his dramatic, near-white complexion. His cheekbones were angular, as if carved from pale marble.
    William looked at his hand, and then back at the severe face. Did he really mean that? If so, why was he at home last night, and why did he chase William through the streets? He ignored the man’s hand, pushed himself up and rushed over to Althea.
    ‘I don’t believe you,’ said William, helping Althea up and scowling. ‘Where’s my mum? You better not have hurt her! Who the hell do you work for?’
    ‘I promise I have nothing to do with her disappearance. I know it’s difficult, and at the moment you must feel like the whole town’s against you, but trust me, I’m on your side. Someone dear was taken from me by the