Eight — Micro Chapter 3

Since I posted Mondays chapter, I’ve now completed Part 1. Today, I start on chapter 42, that’s 12,300 words so far. Only 23,700 to go!

Eight

Part 1. Micro Chp. 3

I hadn’t moved quickly enough. The static charge sent me flying and I landed hard on my backpack, the sudden impact thumping the air from my lungs, my legs splayed over my head as if I‘d attempted a backward roll and failed.

Sucking in ragged bursts of breath, I patted my body, searching for any signs of injury. Everything appeared intact. Arms working. Legs where they should be. Well, attached to my body that is. No apparent gaping holes or charred clothing, either. Good, at least I wouldn‘t have to try explaining that to my mum. Then for some stupid reason, I laughed.

“J. Are you all right?” Craig said, groaning.

“Couldn’t be better, Sully.”

Under the circumstances, it seemed the right thing to say. I looked at the sky and smiled, grateful I hadn‘t ended up in pieces.

“Great. I’m glad. But do you think you could give me a hand.”

I kicked my legs up and rolled to a sitting position. Just to the left of me amongst the hawthorn bushes, laid Craig. Well, more tangled than laid. At least I hadn’t ended up there, thankfully.

It took a great deal of effort and a few broken branches to release him. One branch in particular refused to give back his hat, which Craig ended up ripping because he tugged at it until it came free.

“Brilliant. Mum’s gonna kill me. She only bought it last week,” he said, shoving the torn hat on his head and sighing.

“I bet she’ll understand when you tell her,” I said, trying my hardest not to laugh at the clump of black hair poking through the hole.

“Yeah right. My mum’s all about understanding.”

He grabbed his bag and flung it over his shoulder. Then shook his head and glared at me.

Copyright © by Sarah Neeve

Eight, may not be copied, shared or unlawfully used without the prior consent of the author.