The Perils Of Being Different...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's been a while since I shared an excerpt from Chessie's story, so I thought this would be a good opportunity. If you like what you read and want the rest of the story, you can find Childish Things and a bunch of other amazing short stories featuring strong women in the Gems of Strength Anthology at the link below. Happy reading!! :-)

Excerpt from Childish Things:

Settling back in her seat on the train to the transfer station, Chessie closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall beside her. It had been a long day, and it was about to get longer. But, hopefully, with the pass Nax had gotten for her, she at least wouldn't have any trouble with the guards at the transfer station.

Just before the train reached the next station, a loud noise filled the car. Once the train pulled up to the platform, Chessie discovered the source of the racket. A group of angry people swarmed the platform of the train going in the opposite direction. She stared through the window at the mob, noting the weapons they carried and the sharp gestures they were making. The words they were saying escaped her, but she could tell that their tone was angry. Were all these people here to catch Petri? She shivered.

As the tone sounded indicating the doors were about to close, two men stepped into the car. One of them stayed by the door, holding it open. The other moved through the car, peering into the faces of all the passengers. Chessie looked back at him with a calm expression, but her heart pounded in her chest.

Once they had checked the entire train, the two men left and the doors closed. Moments later, the train continued on its way towards Upworld, and Chessie learned to breathe again. A flash of anger moved through her, nothing Petri had done warranted this! Yeah, she had accidentally hurt a man, but not badly. He would live and be just fine. Worse things happened to Upworld citizens in Under City all the time, and no one freaked out like this! Her friend was being hunted simply because of what she was, not because of what she had done. And the injustice of it made Chessie furious.

Sighing, Chessie forced herself to calm down. This was far from the first evidence she'd ever found that life wasn't fair, and she'd need her wits about her. For Petri's sake, if nothing else. If anyone suspected her connection to Petri, they would follow her to find her friend. And that would mean Petri's death.