Read Online Testing Zero: a dystopian post-apocalyptic young adult novella series (Remnants of Zone Four Chronicles Book 1) by N. G. Simsion, James Roth - Free Book Online
Authors: N. G. Simsion, James Roth
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at Exile Prison must prove his skills inside the cage—first against one of your peers, and next against a very… special… opponent.” He grinned with menace when he said the word “special.”
Zero turned to look at Lefty, but he had already dropped his backpack at their feet and disappeared. He was pushing his way through the crowd, stopping only to smack Flea on the back of the head as he passed him.
Chapter 8
Zero cringed at the thought of Lefty fighting inside the cage, but since he also failed to come up with a better plan to appease the Elites and city officials, he knew he should do his best to support him. He was still worried that Flea wouldn’t accept the challenge. The entire plan hinged on whether or not Flea would step into the cage with him.
Lefty was the first to emerge from the crowd, excited to scribble his name on the fighting signup list. Zero crept toward the front of the crowd but stood off to the side in case the situation got more uncomfortable than it already was. When he turned and saw Flea following close behind, he felt relieved, but only slightly. There was something about the look on Flea’s face that worried him—something unsettling in the air about him as he and a few of his cronies stepped forward.
Whatever it was, Lefty did have a point when he said he had one thing going for him that Flea didn’t. Sure, he rarely got the best of Flea when they scuffled, but this fight had purpose. It had meaning. All the times Lefty had punched Flea in the mouth before were just because he wanted him to shut it. This time, he was fighting for his future. He was fighting against the fate of those who couldn’t get drafted. A win would pave the way to being an Elite.
His life depended on it. He hoped that fire would be enough. Losing wasn’t an option.
“I’m glad to see you’re going to join me.” Lefty gestured to the sign-up table as if he were inviting Flea to a fancy meal together.
“There’s been a change of plans,” Flea said.
Zero really didn’t like the sound of that.
“Why? You scared?” Lefty asked.
“No, I’m not scared, but I’m not stupid either. You get my foot torn apart by a crocodile and then challenge me to fight in front of thousands of people? It’s obvious you planned this whole thing out.”
Zero didn’t think Lefty would ever regret attacking Flea with a crocodile, but he was sure he did now.
“You’re walking fine, you coward. Step up and sign.” Lefty said.
“Caiman—” Flea looked at one of the goons standing nearby, snapped his fingers, and pointed toward the sign-up sheet.
Caiman stepped up to the table and scribbled his signature.
“You’ve got a choice,” Flea said. “You can fight Caiman in the cage, or you can fight me outside the cage. What will it be?”
“And by that, I’m sure you mean I’d be fighting all of you. You and all these shadows who tag along behind you.”
Flea shrugged. “You deserve whatever you get after that crocodile stunt you pulled. Besides, you’ve always got Zero. He can fight with you.” Flea and his gang laughed. They all turned to look at Zero, who ducked into the crowd at the sound of his name.
Lefty became serious. “True to form. I don’t know why I expected you to fight your own fight.” He rammed his shoulder into Flea’s as he walked past, and Flea gave him the expected shove in the back.
Lefty’s pace intensified as he stormed toward the back of the crowd. Zero followed after. He stood awkwardly at Lefty’s side not knowing what to say. His odds of winning the fight had just worsened dramatically. There was no denying that, but he needed to keep his chin up. This was his only hope. “I’m still going to win,” he said.
“You will,” Zero said. He knew there was no conviction in his tone, but he knew the words served their purpose when Lefty smiled.
They stood in awkward silence as the other students talked amongst themselves and a few more people approached the signup
Zero turned to look at Lefty, but he had already dropped his backpack at their feet and disappeared. He was pushing his way through the crowd, stopping only to smack Flea on the back of the head as he passed him.
Chapter 8
Zero cringed at the thought of Lefty fighting inside the cage, but since he also failed to come up with a better plan to appease the Elites and city officials, he knew he should do his best to support him. He was still worried that Flea wouldn’t accept the challenge. The entire plan hinged on whether or not Flea would step into the cage with him.
Lefty was the first to emerge from the crowd, excited to scribble his name on the fighting signup list. Zero crept toward the front of the crowd but stood off to the side in case the situation got more uncomfortable than it already was. When he turned and saw Flea following close behind, he felt relieved, but only slightly. There was something about the look on Flea’s face that worried him—something unsettling in the air about him as he and a few of his cronies stepped forward.
Whatever it was, Lefty did have a point when he said he had one thing going for him that Flea didn’t. Sure, he rarely got the best of Flea when they scuffled, but this fight had purpose. It had meaning. All the times Lefty had punched Flea in the mouth before were just because he wanted him to shut it. This time, he was fighting for his future. He was fighting against the fate of those who couldn’t get drafted. A win would pave the way to being an Elite.
His life depended on it. He hoped that fire would be enough. Losing wasn’t an option.
“I’m glad to see you’re going to join me.” Lefty gestured to the sign-up table as if he were inviting Flea to a fancy meal together.
“There’s been a change of plans,” Flea said.
Zero really didn’t like the sound of that.
“Why? You scared?” Lefty asked.
“No, I’m not scared, but I’m not stupid either. You get my foot torn apart by a crocodile and then challenge me to fight in front of thousands of people? It’s obvious you planned this whole thing out.”
Zero didn’t think Lefty would ever regret attacking Flea with a crocodile, but he was sure he did now.
“You’re walking fine, you coward. Step up and sign.” Lefty said.
“Caiman—” Flea looked at one of the goons standing nearby, snapped his fingers, and pointed toward the sign-up sheet.
Caiman stepped up to the table and scribbled his signature.
“You’ve got a choice,” Flea said. “You can fight Caiman in the cage, or you can fight me outside the cage. What will it be?”
“And by that, I’m sure you mean I’d be fighting all of you. You and all these shadows who tag along behind you.”
Flea shrugged. “You deserve whatever you get after that crocodile stunt you pulled. Besides, you’ve always got Zero. He can fight with you.” Flea and his gang laughed. They all turned to look at Zero, who ducked into the crowd at the sound of his name.
Lefty became serious. “True to form. I don’t know why I expected you to fight your own fight.” He rammed his shoulder into Flea’s as he walked past, and Flea gave him the expected shove in the back.
Lefty’s pace intensified as he stormed toward the back of the crowd. Zero followed after. He stood awkwardly at Lefty’s side not knowing what to say. His odds of winning the fight had just worsened dramatically. There was no denying that, but he needed to keep his chin up. This was his only hope. “I’m still going to win,” he said.
“You will,” Zero said. He knew there was no conviction in his tone, but he knew the words served their purpose when Lefty smiled.
They stood in awkward silence as the other students talked amongst themselves and a few more people approached the signup
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