Read Online The Grimm Chronicles, Vol. 2 by Ken Brosky, Isabella Fontaine, Dagny Holt, Chris Smith, Lioudmila Perry - Free Book Online
Tags: Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Teen & Young Adult, Paranormal & Urban, Dystopian, Mythology & Folk Tales, Fairy Tales
Ads: Link
from this world.”
I woke with a start, surprised that it was still dark outside. I checked my clock. 6:18 a.m. Saturday. The rabbit was still sound asleep, snoring softly. The house was quiet.
I went downstairs and made myself a cup of tea. Fran had given me the tea. Earlier in the week, she’d been humming an old tune at the checkout desk in the library; I started humming it now as I sipped my tea. What did it feel like to lose music? What would the world be like if this Corrupted actually succeeded? The thought mortified me.
I went back upstairs, quietly dressing in a pair of shorts and a tank top. I grabbed my mp3 player and headphones and went outside, cranking up an ancient Tom Petty tune. Briar’s pick. I don’t know why, but the rabbit was a huge fan of Tom Petty and REO Speedwagon. I could imagine him sneaking into the attic at night, sifting through my parents’ old records and getting all excited.
I made my way north, jogging down the sidewalk and losing myself in the music. I know, I know … what if a Corrupted was hunting me? But I needed to hear music for a little while. To be honest, the dream I’d just had scared me to death. A world without music … and for what? Just so some Corrupted fiddler could get back at an old girlfriend? Didn’t he realize what he was doing?
Maybe that was the problem. Maybe Corrupted didn’t know what they were doing. Maybe the Brothers Grimm hadn’t written that into their stories.
When I reached the park, I pulled off my headphones, picking up speed as I hit the gravel trail that snaked between tall maple trees. Something small scurried into one of the thick bushes running along the right side of the path. Far off to my left was an open clearing and beyond that a small pond. There were only a few lights inside the park, old streetlamps that lit up the path with dull orange bulbs. The world was quiet. Peaceful.
Silent.
Back home, I showered and dressed, then lay back on bed. Humming that same tune Fran had hummed.
I woke again to the sound of my phone ringing. I hadn’t dreamed at all, which was a welcome reprieve. Briar sat up, blinking hard at the sunlight coming in through the dark brown window shades.
“Hello,” I mumbled before my finger even found the green “Talk” button on my phone.
“Hey,” came Seth’s voice. “You up or what? It’s ten o’clock, for crying out loud.”
“I’m up.” I ran my tongue along my teeth. “My mouth tastes bad. I need to brush my teeth.”
“OK, totally gross. Thanks for that. Anywho, the reason I’m calling is because when I checked my email this morning, there was mention that The Peasants are putting on a farewell show tonight. They’re going to broadcast it on a website.”
“The Peasants …” I shook my head, forcing my brain to reboot. “The Peasants! Wait, what do you mean they’re doing a farewell show?”
“They’re done,” Seth said simply. “I dunno. Probably some fighting in the band or something stupid like that. So anywho, have a good Saturday.”
“Wait!” I said. It couldn’t be a coincidence. I knew. Something from my dream that I couldn’t quite remember convinced me there was a connection. “What are you doing today?”
He sighed. “Well, I was planning on sitting in my room and programming. Because I’m a nerd.”
“I have a better idea.”
“What?”
I smiled. “How about we save the world?”
Two hours later, we were in Seth’s car, driving northwest toward Minneapolis. Briar sat in the backseat beside a big cooler filled with sandwiches, canned orange juice, carrots, and cookies. There was also a bag of sweet potato chips and a bag of marshmallows sitting in the empty back seat. Briar had quickly discovered the marshmallows and declared them his new favorite food.
“OK, so your mom thinks you’re spending the night at my house,” Seth said. “Right?”
“Right.” I adjusted my bra under my top. I was wearing a sports bra and a faded brown Rolling
I woke with a start, surprised that it was still dark outside. I checked my clock. 6:18 a.m. Saturday. The rabbit was still sound asleep, snoring softly. The house was quiet.
I went downstairs and made myself a cup of tea. Fran had given me the tea. Earlier in the week, she’d been humming an old tune at the checkout desk in the library; I started humming it now as I sipped my tea. What did it feel like to lose music? What would the world be like if this Corrupted actually succeeded? The thought mortified me.
I went back upstairs, quietly dressing in a pair of shorts and a tank top. I grabbed my mp3 player and headphones and went outside, cranking up an ancient Tom Petty tune. Briar’s pick. I don’t know why, but the rabbit was a huge fan of Tom Petty and REO Speedwagon. I could imagine him sneaking into the attic at night, sifting through my parents’ old records and getting all excited.
I made my way north, jogging down the sidewalk and losing myself in the music. I know, I know … what if a Corrupted was hunting me? But I needed to hear music for a little while. To be honest, the dream I’d just had scared me to death. A world without music … and for what? Just so some Corrupted fiddler could get back at an old girlfriend? Didn’t he realize what he was doing?
Maybe that was the problem. Maybe Corrupted didn’t know what they were doing. Maybe the Brothers Grimm hadn’t written that into their stories.
When I reached the park, I pulled off my headphones, picking up speed as I hit the gravel trail that snaked between tall maple trees. Something small scurried into one of the thick bushes running along the right side of the path. Far off to my left was an open clearing and beyond that a small pond. There were only a few lights inside the park, old streetlamps that lit up the path with dull orange bulbs. The world was quiet. Peaceful.
Silent.
Back home, I showered and dressed, then lay back on bed. Humming that same tune Fran had hummed.
I woke again to the sound of my phone ringing. I hadn’t dreamed at all, which was a welcome reprieve. Briar sat up, blinking hard at the sunlight coming in through the dark brown window shades.
“Hello,” I mumbled before my finger even found the green “Talk” button on my phone.
“Hey,” came Seth’s voice. “You up or what? It’s ten o’clock, for crying out loud.”
“I’m up.” I ran my tongue along my teeth. “My mouth tastes bad. I need to brush my teeth.”
“OK, totally gross. Thanks for that. Anywho, the reason I’m calling is because when I checked my email this morning, there was mention that The Peasants are putting on a farewell show tonight. They’re going to broadcast it on a website.”
“The Peasants …” I shook my head, forcing my brain to reboot. “The Peasants! Wait, what do you mean they’re doing a farewell show?”
“They’re done,” Seth said simply. “I dunno. Probably some fighting in the band or something stupid like that. So anywho, have a good Saturday.”
“Wait!” I said. It couldn’t be a coincidence. I knew. Something from my dream that I couldn’t quite remember convinced me there was a connection. “What are you doing today?”
He sighed. “Well, I was planning on sitting in my room and programming. Because I’m a nerd.”
“I have a better idea.”
“What?”
I smiled. “How about we save the world?”
Two hours later, we were in Seth’s car, driving northwest toward Minneapolis. Briar sat in the backseat beside a big cooler filled with sandwiches, canned orange juice, carrots, and cookies. There was also a bag of sweet potato chips and a bag of marshmallows sitting in the empty back seat. Briar had quickly discovered the marshmallows and declared them his new favorite food.
“OK, so your mom thinks you’re spending the night at my house,” Seth said. “Right?”
“Right.” I adjusted my bra under my top. I was wearing a sports bra and a faded brown Rolling
Similar Books
