The Beneath by S. C. Ransom Read Free Book Online Page A

putting them on again.
    “Really, if you thought it was bright earlier, standing in full sunshine is going to be a bit shocking,” I said, handing the glasses back to her. “Your eyes are going to take some time to adjust and you don’t want to hurt them.”
    “But it feels so odd,” she complained, fiddling with them again.
    “Believe me, you’ll want them when we get out there.”
    I kept close to Aria as we left the flat, holding her arm. Moving out from the shadow of the building she gasped and pushed the glasses more firmly on to her nose.
    “You were right,” she said in a small voice, shielding her face from the sun with her hair. “I’d never imagined anything like this. I can even feel it heating my skin.”
    She held her hand out in the sun for a moment before tugging her sleeve down over her knuckles.
    We walked along the side streets to get to the library, avoiding as many of the busy roads as possible, but eventually we had to cross over.
    “It’s not much further,” I cajoled, reaching for Aria’s arm to reassure her when she stopped dead.
    The guy behind us swore and stepped out in the road to get round us. Aria was staring down the road, her mouth hanging open.
    “We have to go – now!” she hissed, before turning and running.
    She was surprisingly swift, dodging people as she ranalong the street, long dark hair flying behind her. I finally caught up with her and dragged her into a shoe shop entrance. A woman who was leaving tutted at us for being in her way.
    “Hang on, Aria,” I gasped. “What exactly are we running from?”
    “It’s one of the Listeners,” she replied, backing up against the door. “He saw me, I’m sure. We need to get away!”
    “Why? Who are they? You never did tell me yesterday.”
    “They are the only ones allowed Above. They bring information and food, and make sure that no one knows about us. They listen. And they see everything .” Her voice rose, quivering slightly.
    From where we were in the shop entrance I could peer through the window display and back down the street towards the crowds of people.
    “Is he still coming?”
    “I think so. It’s hard to be sure from here – I can’t really see.”
    She craned her neck to try and see past the display of stilettos.
    “Yes, there he is. We have to run, Lily. If he finds me I’m in real trouble. If only it were Dane then maybe I could talk to him, but this one will show me no mercy!”
    “OK, don’t panic. If we’re calm we can get away.” I had seen a way out – a few steps away was a bus stop, and the bus was just a little bit further down the High Street.“Wait there,” I told her as I nipped across the pavement to the ticket machine next to the stop. I rummaged in my jeans pocket for some change that I’d found earlier and shoved in the right amount for her ticket. The bus had stopped at some lights so we had another minute or two. I shot back to Aria.
    She had shut her eyes tightly and I saw her clench her fists.
    “I’m back. Are you OK?”
    “All right,” she said. “I’m calm. Can we go now?”
    “Just a few seconds. We’re getting on a bus, so do exactly as I say, all right?”
    I saw fresh panic on her face as she realised what I meant.
    “It won’t hurt you,” I added quickly. “Keep the glasses on; they help to disguise you.”
    I was watching the road as I was talking, and I could see the bus approaching. A young woman was standing at the stop just a few short steps from our hiding place.
    “He’s getting closer,” she said, her nose pressed against the window.
    “Which one is he?”
    “There, that one in the grey top.”
    I glanced down the pavement but couldn’t be sure which man she was talking about.
    “Look, we only have to go over there,” I said, grabbing her arm and pointing at the woman at the bus stop. “Where that woman in the stripy top is, OK? Just keepcalm. You look really different in sunglasses. Here, put this on too.”
    I stripped off my