Read Online Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1) by L. Stoddard Hancock - Free Book Online
Book: Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1) by L. Stoddard Hancock
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Authors: L. Stoddard Hancock
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know how early or late it was. She supposed it really made no difference. Whether she'd been in bed for eight minutes or eight hours, her sleep was still as restless and unfulfilling as ever.
Through a small crack in the green curtains, Deryn could at least see that it was light out.
She struggled to lift her aching body to a seated position and carefully placed both feet on the floor. With the covers torn off of her, she took a good look at the silky pajama's she was wearing and stroked the material. She didn't like it. It was very cold that morning and silk wasn't exactly forgiving when it came to weather. Something flannel really would have been more appropriate. Of course, she was in no position to complain.
Deryn stood up, needing a minute before she was capable of straightening her body entirely. All of the thrashing she had done to Xander in the shower had really been a bad idea. She hurt even more now than before.
She went over to the window and pulled the curtains aside. It was a bit gloomy outside but, overall, seemed like a fairly nice day. The president claimed the weather in the city reflected how it was in the outside world, but she had lived in that world and it was far less gray than the one currently in front of her.
Hopefully, she would be able to see the outside world soon to prove her theory that Saevus showered the entire city with dread intentionally, but she had a pretty good feeling that at least a few weeks in this apartment was not so farfetched. If she was going to get out of the city, it should have been done within an hour of her escape, and she simply didn't have the strength for that. So, for now, she would have to wait.
Getting on her knees, Deryn crossed her arms on the windowsill and continued to gaze outside. It was still her birthday, and she supposed being alive after a Guardian discovered her was a gift in itself. It was most certainly all she was going to get.
With a heavy sigh, she stood back up. Shivering from the cold, she looked around for her coat. Then she remembered she had left it in the bathroom.
With as quiet a stride as she could manage on her hurt ankle, she went to the door and carefully opened it. She poked her head into the dark living room and searched for a light switch, eventually spotting it near the front door.
Glancing around, she noticed that Xander's shoes were no longer by the door and his coat was no longer draped over the chair. But hers was. She picked it up and put it on, hugging herself in an attempt to keep warm. The pocket felt heavy and it was then that she remembered the items she carried. Her hand traveled inside of it and came out with a knife, a map of Utopia, and a chocolate bar. For the first time since she got it, Deryn had a chance to look at the knife in the light. It was silver with a spear point, and the handle was wooden with two lines spiraling around it that crossed each other. There was still some dried blood on its tip. She picked at it with her fingernail.
The lock on the door clicked and Deryn looked around in panic. As a last resort, she darted behind the couch and ducked the moment the door opened.
"Too slow," said the deep and distinct voice of Xander.
Releasing a sigh of relief, she stood up straight.
Xander noticed her coat and cocked an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?"
"I was cold," she said, fidgeting with the items in her hand.
"Did it ever cross your mind that, instead of trying to hide, maybe you should've raised that knife you're holding?"
"No," she said honestly.
"Is that the knife that did the damage?" asked Xander, walking over and putting the rucksack he was carrying on the closest armchair. He took the knife from her reluctant hands and inspected it closely. "I must admit, Leon, I was a bit shocked when I heard about what you did to Soren. I really didn't think you had it in you." He smirked somewhat proudly before slipping the knife back in her pocket. "You should make sure to keep that close." Xander picked up
Through a small crack in the green curtains, Deryn could at least see that it was light out.
She struggled to lift her aching body to a seated position and carefully placed both feet on the floor. With the covers torn off of her, she took a good look at the silky pajama's she was wearing and stroked the material. She didn't like it. It was very cold that morning and silk wasn't exactly forgiving when it came to weather. Something flannel really would have been more appropriate. Of course, she was in no position to complain.
Deryn stood up, needing a minute before she was capable of straightening her body entirely. All of the thrashing she had done to Xander in the shower had really been a bad idea. She hurt even more now than before.
She went over to the window and pulled the curtains aside. It was a bit gloomy outside but, overall, seemed like a fairly nice day. The president claimed the weather in the city reflected how it was in the outside world, but she had lived in that world and it was far less gray than the one currently in front of her.
Hopefully, she would be able to see the outside world soon to prove her theory that Saevus showered the entire city with dread intentionally, but she had a pretty good feeling that at least a few weeks in this apartment was not so farfetched. If she was going to get out of the city, it should have been done within an hour of her escape, and she simply didn't have the strength for that. So, for now, she would have to wait.
Getting on her knees, Deryn crossed her arms on the windowsill and continued to gaze outside. It was still her birthday, and she supposed being alive after a Guardian discovered her was a gift in itself. It was most certainly all she was going to get.
With a heavy sigh, she stood back up. Shivering from the cold, she looked around for her coat. Then she remembered she had left it in the bathroom.
With as quiet a stride as she could manage on her hurt ankle, she went to the door and carefully opened it. She poked her head into the dark living room and searched for a light switch, eventually spotting it near the front door.
Glancing around, she noticed that Xander's shoes were no longer by the door and his coat was no longer draped over the chair. But hers was. She picked it up and put it on, hugging herself in an attempt to keep warm. The pocket felt heavy and it was then that she remembered the items she carried. Her hand traveled inside of it and came out with a knife, a map of Utopia, and a chocolate bar. For the first time since she got it, Deryn had a chance to look at the knife in the light. It was silver with a spear point, and the handle was wooden with two lines spiraling around it that crossed each other. There was still some dried blood on its tip. She picked at it with her fingernail.
The lock on the door clicked and Deryn looked around in panic. As a last resort, she darted behind the couch and ducked the moment the door opened.
"Too slow," said the deep and distinct voice of Xander.
Releasing a sigh of relief, she stood up straight.
Xander noticed her coat and cocked an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?"
"I was cold," she said, fidgeting with the items in her hand.
"Did it ever cross your mind that, instead of trying to hide, maybe you should've raised that knife you're holding?"
"No," she said honestly.
"Is that the knife that did the damage?" asked Xander, walking over and putting the rucksack he was carrying on the closest armchair. He took the knife from her reluctant hands and inspected it closely. "I must admit, Leon, I was a bit shocked when I heard about what you did to Soren. I really didn't think you had it in you." He smirked somewhat proudly before slipping the knife back in her pocket. "You should make sure to keep that close." Xander picked up
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