Read Online A Hero Rising by Aubrie Dionne - Free Book Online Page A

to Carly. “It’s called a tiger—an animal that used to live on Earth. Go ahead, touch its fur.”
    Carly reached out, cringing at the same time. “It’s soft.”
    “See? Nothing to be afraid of.”
    While they petted the stuffed tiger, James searched for a way up. “I think I see an elevator across the room.”
    His hopes rose, and he had to remind himself Thadious Legacy may have shut off the power.
    “Great! Let’s get out of here.” Skye sounded triumphant.
    James kept his own voice flat. “This tower’s three hundred levels. Let’s hope it still works.”
    They scuffled over the marble floor, leaving a trail of sludge from the sewers. James pressed the panel, and the numbers lit up. His mood brightened. Thadious Legacy had never struck him as an environmentalist. Made sense he wouldn’t think to save energy for the rest of the world.
    They stepped in and he pushed the level for the atrium that Mestasis had spoken of. His stomach grumbled, and he couldn’t imagine how Skye and Carly felt. He had promised the little girl food, and he always kept his promises.
    Elegant music played on the intercom system as the elevator rose. Sweet strings swelled in a melancholy melody accompanied by flute trills. The serene ambiance contrasted with the dire situation, making James feel as though Thadious Legacy mocked him from space.
    Skye locked eyes with his, steadying him, helping him to refocus his thoughts. “I hope there’s a hovercraft here.”
    “He has everything else: classical music, antique cars, chandeliers—you’d think he’d have at least one utility vehicle.”
    “If you look hard enough, you just may find another colony ship somewhere on one of these levels. Heck, maybe even another planet.”
    “Yeah, stashed right next to the crystal wine glasses.”
    Skye shrugged. “We might as well just stay here, invite your friends, have a party.”
    James chuckled. “I’ve never heard you use sarcasm.”
    “Just wait. You have a lot to learn about me.” Her eyes teased him.
    “Good stuff, I hope.”
    “Depends on what you’d call good.”
    Carly pulled on Skye’s shirt, interrupting. “I don’t want to stay here. The music is scary.”
    Skye smoothed her hand over the stray wisps of blond in Carly’s hair. “Don’t worry, Carls. We’re not staying long.”
    The elevator beeped, and a smooth voice announced, “Level Two-hundred and forty-three. Enjoy.”
    A wave of humid air hit them in the face like a tropical bath, smelling of sweet blossoms. Vines draped in front of them, and James pulled the greenery back for them to enter. The walls were made of glass. Sparkling stars winked at them in the velvety black sky. Even this floor rose above the city lights.
    “What is this place?” Skye’s eyes widened.
    James averted his eyes from the stars and who they reminded him of. He pulled an apple hanging from the branch of a tree, feeling the smooth peel under his fingers. “Pit stop for lunch.”
    “Smokin’ cyber beans!” Carly took off, jogging down a row of fruit trees. She stopped and grabbed a cherry, probing it with her fingers until the skin broke and juice flowed out. “Is it really real?”
    “Carls, don’t eat that. It might be poisonous.”
    “She’s fine,” James assured her, taking a bite of the apple. The sweet tartness stung his tongue. “This is Thadious Legacy’s private greenhouse, used to grow all his own food.”
    She watched him swallow the bite. He saw her calculating behind her sharp eyes, weighing the risk against her own hunger.
    “I guess if it was good enough for him, then it’s good enough for me.” She knelt down and pulled a tomato off a spindly vine.
    He threw her an apple, shining in the moonlight, bright as a new toy. “Eat as much as you can and fill your pockets. I’m not sure when we’ll have more food.”
    “Like this? Probably never,” Skye said as she bit into the tomato and juices flowed down her chin. She brought her hand up to stop it