The Fear Trials by Lindsay Cummings Read Free Book Online

There are scanners embedded in the doors. We press our foreheads to them and head inside. There aren’t as many books as there used to be. My mother loved to come here when I was a child. This is the place where she taught me how to read.
    Initiative soldiers stand around the room, rifles in hand. I keep my head low as we pass by and only relax when my father turns and we disappear down a row of bookcases. He stops in front of a shelf that is half empty, dust covering the sign that says HISTORY.
    â€œThere’s nothing about the history outside the Shallows,” I say, running my hand over the cracked spines. “Don’t we deserve to know?”
    My father plucks a book from the shelf. The History of the Shallows. “It’s because there’s nothing for us outside the Perimeter. At least, that’s what they want us to think.”
    â€œBut why?” I ask.
    He watches me with sadness in his eyes. “Someday you’ll discover that for yourself.”
    He presses the book into my arms. It’s heavy, covered with dust, and I sneeze when I open it and flip through the pages.
    â€œTake it,” my father whispers.
    I look up. My heart does a strange dance. “But . . . it’s not allowed.”
    â€œSome rules are meant to be broken. You could teach Peri to read if you had this on the boat.” He smiles and nods. “Take it and run, Meadow. You need to learn how to escape when they are chasing you. Think of it as a game.”
    I am like a child being offered candy. I peer around the corner. There must be at least ten guards inside the library. If I screw this up and get caught, they will punish me. Shoot me, maybe.
    I look back at my father. “It’s best to remain calm,” he says, smiling. “Don’t let the pressure get to you.” He turns away to browse the shelves, as if he doesn’t know me.
    I take a deep breath, press the book to my chest, and walk towards the exit.
    The second I get close to the doors, the alarms go off.
    â€œStop right there!” a guard yells, but instead I’m running, shoving my way past the desk and through the doors to the outside. I stumble into the streets.
    I don’t know where to go. Left? Right?
    It’s a part of your test.
    I cross the street, leap over the tracks, and disappear into the crowd. I duck into an alleyway, step behind a Dumpster. Even with the crowd of citizens, I can see the guards pouring down the street, searching for me.
    I keep my head low and run. I pass by the Rations Hall, the Hospital, and the crumbling brick building with an Initiative flyer on the side. At the end of that building is an alley. This one leads to the beach.
    I sprint as fast as I can, shoving my way through the crowd. I’m almost there when a hand closes over my arm.
    â€œHand it over, citizen!” I hear the click of a bullet being chambered, and I know I’m done.
    But anything can be used as a weapon. Even a history book.
    â€œI’m sorry, please don’t shoot,” I say.
    He presses the gun to my skull. “Turn around. Slowly.”
    I almost do it. I almost turn slowly, but at the last second, I do what feels right. I whirl around, swing the book down, and hit the soldier hard. He drops the gun. Then I slam the book against the side of his head. I’m shocked when he falls to the street. I let out a crazed laugh and stumble back.
    â€œHe’s down! Wilson’s down!” a voice shouts, and I see another soldier coming.
    I sprint the rest of the way and race into the trees. I don’t stop until I reach the sand. I’m out of breath by the time I get to the dinghy, but I push it into the waves, throw the book in, and jump.
    When I’m halfway out to sea, hidden from shore by the maze of boats and wrecks, I burst into laughter. It starts to rain, and the book is getting soaked, but I don’t care. It will dry. I’ll teach Peri to read.
    I made it.
    Completely on