Testing Zero: a dystopian post-apocalyptic young adult novella series (Remnants of Zone Four Chronicles Book 1) by N. G. Simsion, James Roth Read Free Book Online Page A

the room to a where a stick figure kicking a ball had been drawn. “This was the first drawing you ever did. I remember you saying one day you would be the best kickball player in the world.” He laughed. “That didn’t pan out so well, did it?”
    “Yeah. I guess I grew up. Other things became more important to me.”
    “Like crocodiles?”
    “Exactly. I’ll take playing with a croc over playing kickball any day.” Lefty took two steps to his right and traced his finger along the lines of a poorly drawn crocodile. “I’m leaving the schoolyard with one regret. I never did swim with the crocs.”
    Zero rolled his eyes.
    Lefty stomped his foot. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. What if the Elite city they send me to doesn’t have crocs? What if I never get a chance to see one again?”
    “You went swimming with them once.”
    “No. I splashed around in the water and almost drowned. I wish I’d just gone for it—risked it all. Swam all the way across and climbed the wall. Now, that would be living!”
    Zero pointed at another crudely drawn crocodile. “Check this one out. This one must have been drawn during that period of time when you were trying to learn how to write and draw with your left hand.”
    “Give me a break. Making the switch to being left-handed was harder than you’d think.” He laughed. “Besides, I think that drawing’s pretty good, considering.”
    Lefty knelt down, reached under his bed, and pulled out a backpack. It had black felt-tip marker drawings of crocodiles all over it and “Lefty” written on the front. He shook it a few times to get rid of some of the dust.
    “Are you taking that with you?” Zero asked.
    “Sure. It’s the only thing in the world that’s just mine.”
    “Why do you need anything to be just yours? You can always get a new backpack at your new place.”
    Lefty shrugged. “Call me sentimental. I just like it.” He unzipped the bag, grabbed his pillow and began stuffing it inside.
    “Good thinking.” Zero grabbed his bag from underneath his bed and copied Lefty’s idea, stuffing his pillow into it. “It always takes a while to break in a pillow just the way I like it. The feathers are too fluffy when they’re new.”
    They slipped their arms into the straps of their backpacks, stole one last glance at the dorm room that they were sure was soon to be painted white again once the new residents took it over, and walked out their door for the last time.
    They stopped by the shower room for a quick wash and a new set of clothes. Before long they were taking a stroll around the schoolyard one last time.
    The breakfast menu was the same as always. Lefty chose his usual hot stacks with syrup and sunny-side-up eggs on top. Zero grabbed a few sausages, scrambled eggs, and toast on the side. They didn’t typically eat breakfast out in the corner of the schoolyard by the fence—that was really more of a lunch and dinner thing since the grass was always so wet in the mornings—but today they made an exception. Lefty really wanted to eat one last meal next to the croc that ate his fingers, and Zero didn’t feel like arguing with him on what might be their last full day together.

***
    “I get to sit by the window,” Zero exclaimed as they climbed up into the bus.
    “Why do you get the window seat?” Lefty asked.
    “Because you’ve been for a ride in a vehicle before—when you got your fingers bit off and went to the Elite hospital.”
    “They took me in the back of a cargo truck. There were no windows. I didn’t get to see anything. Besides, you’re the one who says he can remember being three years old and what it was like on the bus ride.”
    “Still, I called it.”
    Lefty slapped him on the shoulder. “Fine. Just get on the bus.”
    Zero took his first step onto the bus and couldn’t help but smile. This bus ride was going to be the greatest thrill of his life. In no time at all they would be through the city gates, finally seeing the old world.