Read Online Unison (The Spheral) by Eleni Papanou - Free Book Online Page A

pointed at you, and you were talking to him as if you were one of his proteges.”
    “He was harmless.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    “Don’t see an arrow in your chest.” Wade laughed.
    Still agitated from our encounter with the Outsider, I went to punch Wade. He jerked sideways, scarcely escaping my fist.
    “You’re slocking crazy!” I yelled. “We could’ve gotten killed!” A blast of pain ripped through my head, and I winced.
    ““Thought they were going to remove the stun alarm,” Wade said.
    “They kept it in for newly formed emotions.” It was another lie. Kai told me the stun would be disabled with the upgrade, but on the first day of transmission, the Overseer announced it wouldn’t be removed until every Unitian received Harmony’s signal.
    Wade shook his head. “I didn’t notice it while we were out on the bay, but it’s all so obvious now. You can’t see beyond the dome.” He walked in the opposite direction.
    “I can see way beyond your limited imagination!” I ran towards him. “And my vision of your death will become reality if you continue these crazy stunts.”
    “That Outsider was friendly.”
    “He’s got the scourge.”
    “How do you know?” Wade asked.
    “He thinks he’s God. Delusional thinking shows up in the late stage.”
    “He said he felt like God.”
    “Same difference.” I can’t recall why I was so angry. Maybe Wade was right and the Outsider wasn’t a threat, but I never witnessed anyone take such pleasure in killing.
    Our debate continued while we set up camp, and it carried on throughout dinner. When the sky darkened, we extinguished the campfire to get a clear view of the meteor shower.
    “It’s good to be out of Dome Dungeon and connected to a true intelligence,” Wade said.
    “Are you referring to the trees, wild boars, or the psychotic Outsider with the rotting teeth?”
    “Don’t you ever wonder what’s up there?” Wade pointed to the heavens.
    “I sometimes have these vivid dreams about traveling in space. It’s so real that when I wake up, I’m disappointed that I’m still on Earth.” I sipped my drink.
    “And confining. We’re stuck here, and there’s no escape. It’s as though we’re trapped inside a room…even though the door is open.”
    “Is this about Nasia?”
    While I waited for Wade’s typical response, he picked up his portable telescope and pointed it to the sky. “I want to forget about life on Earth for a while.”
    “Me too.” I lay with my hands crossed behind my head and gazed at the night sky, wishing I could be a part of it, as I was in my dreams.

 

    OLD WOMAN
    W ade and I hiked along the bank to the top of the high ridge where we came upon a waterfall that spilled into a river. On the eastern side was a small cabin with solar panels on the roof.
    “I had no idea Outsiders had access to modern technology,” I said.
    “I’m heading down,” Wade said.
    “What if the Outsider who lives there is dangerous?”
    “After facing that boar hunter’s arrow, I’m feeling brave.”
    “Better rethink your assertion. Stupidity can sometimes be confused for bravery.”
    “Loosen your sleeves. Once we make it down, there won’t be a ridge for me to fall off of.” Wade smiled and walked ahead.
    We made it to the valley two hours later. Wade knocked on the door, and an old woman answered with the barrel of her plazer pointed at us. Her long gray hair was held back by a scarf wrapped around her forehead.
    “Passenger or loyalist?” she asked.
    I clasped the grip of my plazer, and Old Woman shifted her aim towards me.
    “Answer the question or go back. I want no trouble.”
    “We mean you no harm,” Wade said. He lifted his hands up slowly. “Put down your plazer,” Wade said to me.
    “Are you out of your—”
    “We’ll be out here all day because I’m not leaving.”
    Old Woman smiled at Wade and sneered at me.
    I clutched the grip of my plazer and took it out of my holster.
    “Slowly,” said Old