Read Online All Things Eternal (Book 2) by Alex Villavasso - Free Book Online

her smiling at him with the widest smile she could possibly manage. Omari never understood how she managed to smile despite their situation. Perhaps it was because it was all that she knew. It could be Hell on Earth, but as long as she had him, her smile would shine brighter than any star, and thus he would smile too. He had to because her smile was the only thing that kept him going.
    “Worthless, piece of shit!” the old man slurred as he gave wind to his final kick against Omari’s torso. Omari laid still, crumpled in the fetal position as the man spat on him again before hobbling off.
    He was alone, even with the people that cracked their doors and watched from afar. Brute force thrived in the slums and was used by both the people and the law.
    Slowly, Omari stood to his feet and stared back at the single door that remained open. A woman hid between the crack with peering eyes and nothing more. Just like the rest of them, he knew she wasn’t going to intervene. To her, he was just another lost soul. As his eyes met hers, a bolt of lightning gave an unholy light to Omari’s dark face. Unsure of what to do, the lady slammed her door shut, leaving any connection that they’d had outside with the elements.
    “ Tch,”Omari grunted as he brushed the mud and debris from his clothing. “I’m not worthless,” he mumbled. “I’m anything but.” Omari barreled his injured side as he began to search for his hiding sister. As he walked, Omari thought to call out for her but realized that his call would defeat the purpose of her hiding. The night was dangerous. It was better for him to find her well hidden and safe rather than leave it to chance.
    Instead, Omari walked through the alleys of the slums accompanied only by the unique silence that came with the falling rain. She couldn’t have gone far, Omari thought as he sluggishly walked the streets. He knew Skye was nearby. It was better for her to remain close in times like these. Close but out of sight.
    High and low Omari searched for her until he finally found her underneath the fallen metal plating a malformed house. At least she found shelter for the night, Omari thought as he smiled at the sight of her. Skye was sitting with her knees to her chest beneath the roofing. Under her, there was an old cloth she had spread out so where they sat, they’d be dry. It wasn’t much, but it’d have to do. Skye looked back at her brother with an expecting smile, happy to see him safe, the bread nestled between her arms. “Yo,” Omari said as he ducked down and slipped underneath the rusted crawl space.
    “I ate the dirty part, because I was the one who fell,” Skye said sheepishly as she handed Omari his half of the soggy bread. Omari resentfully grabbed at it and took his seat beside her.
    “You didn’t have to.”
    “I know,” Skye said with a smile. “I wanted to.”
    “Thanks.” Omari smiled at his sister again, but this time the light of the moon hit his cheek. The gash he tried to conceal on his face was fully visible now, crusted over with dried mud and flaked blood.
    “You’re hurt!” The light in Skye’s eyes sharpened at the sight of her brother’s injury. Skye raised her hand to Omari’s cheek but he gently grabbed her wrist before she could touch his face.
    “Don’t. Save your strength. You know it takes a lot out of you. You’ll burn through what you just ate…I’ll be fine by morning, I promise.” The tension from holding his right hand parallel to his head made Omari’s ribs scream in pain, causing him to wince as he held his position. Skye retracted her hand as her smile dissipated and replaced it with a soberness far beyond her years.
    “Did you…hurt him?” she asked as she directed her gaze at the falling rain outside of their makeshift tent. Omari looked to her, distraught by the question of his younger sister. For a second he forgot that Skye had a unique view of the world; an unparalleled sense of empathy. Through her eyes,