Lucent - Darren Lewis

A Young Adult Fantasy Book Series

Lucent by Darren Lewis

Series Excerpt

Mary leapt from the highest step of the coach and was instantly assaulted by an intense barrage before touching the ground. She yelped in something akin to pain at the cold onslaught. Wind and rain acted in unity, driving against her entire body, pushing her into the open door of the coach and causing her light raincoat to meld instantly with the contours of her body. Squinting and grimacing into the sharp deluge Mary heard laughing as some of her more well-dressed classmates grinned and chuckled smugly, comforted in the knowledge that even though their coats were more suited for an ascent of Everest, they were warm and if not completely dry, then close enough.

“Come on, Mary.” Mary's arm was snatched and she was pulled away from the coach's door as others descended into winter's savage attack. Shrieks accompanied by yet more laughter told Mary she was not the only one dressed inappropriately for the day. The wind and rain lessened somewhat as Mary was pulled close into the minimal shelter offered by the coach's side. Wiping the water from her sour face Mary squinted and saw the smiling face of her friend Gabby.

“Bloody hell, Mary. This is fun isn't it?” Gabby smiled tighter and Mary sighed inwardly, not wishing to upset her friend. Gabby, as she promised she would, had successfully reigned in her excitement on the coach for today's journey under pain of a Chinese burn from Mary herself. Now however Gabby's exuberance had returned tenfold from, it seemed, being cooped up for far too long. Mary sniffed her agreement and displeasure and caught the sharp tang of salt in the air. Above the sound of the swirling wind and complaining students, Mary fancied she could hear the roll of the sea. Gabby caught her friend's look and she pointed towards a large building standing fifty metres away.

“The sea's that way, behind the main building. We're still quite a way inland as the site is massive.”

Mary nodded absently and hunched her shoulders, not really caring what direction the sea was in or the size of what they were here to see. Her only concern was getting out of this ridiculous weather as soon as possible and into a warm room.

“Okay everyone pay attention!” A new voice intruded upon Mary's misery. “Please make your way to the main entrance. Remember we're still in a car park so no running. I said 'NO RUNNING!' ” Mary snorted a laugh as nearly the entire class, as one entity, made a break from the coach to the safe harbour offered ahead. With a laugh, Mary grabbed Gabby's arm and propelled her forward. Gabby attempted to shake her friend's grip away.

“No, Mary! I can disobey our teacher perfectly well thank you.” She protested. Mary grinned into the buffeting wind and kept pushing Gabby forward as they both giggled. Behind them, she could still hear the exasperated shouts of their science teacher attempting, with little success, to coral his students who had all become temporarily hard of hearing.

“It had better be warm in there!” Mary screamed into the rain.

* * *

Mary yawned and instantly jerked upright as an elbow connected sharply with her ribs.

“Hey!” She whispered fiercely to her attacker but Gabby was already facing the front of the room again and simply held a finger to her lips. Mary raised a finger of her own at her friend and tried without success to watch the 'Welcome!' with an exclamation mark, video, playing for them.

The promise of a warm, dry haven was short-lived. On entering the building, warm air instantly banished the ills of the winter weather. Even the harsh remonstrations over safety by Mr. Harris felt far away, as Mary bathed in the blasts of the heating system. The warmth was stolen away quickly however as all the class were herded into a dismal conference room. Its walls matched the grey of the outside world and without functioning heating either it seemed to be doing its best to match the conditions, with the added punishment of uncomfortable plastic chairs. After finding a seat, Mary quickly began shivering, her clothes still wet and hair hanging limply from her forehead. Misery descended upon the room as the door closed while they waited for their teacher to return and the windows rapidly misted blocking the dreary view. Gabby seemed to be the only student taking the room in, her classmates were holding whispered conversations as if talking at any volume would invite more problems. Though it did not seem possible at the time the video started, misery sank to new levels as nearly all realised the dull information doled out on screen by a fake tanned soap opera star would go on for a while. Mary shivered once more and rubbed her thighs.

“Remember, your safety is paramount. Elm-sea B operates a no tolerance rule on running, jumping and no…” Mary screwed her eyes and looked at the screen, “chewing gum!” The soap opera actor on the screen grinned inanely and Mary wondered how many teeth the man had in his mouth and if they were his. She heard a snicker of a laugh and raised her eyebrows at Gabby.

“Seriously?” She asked, nudging her friend with her shoulder. Gabby shrugged as the class groaned and cursed at the awful attempt at humour. Gabby leaned in close to Mary and without taking her eyes from the screen whispered into her friend's ear.

“His crap-eating grin just reminded me of that episode where he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant by another man but that's for the best as she might be his twin and the other man is wanted by the police for stealing cows and selling them on the black market.” Despite her discomfort Mary snorted a laugh at Gabby's ridiculous breakdown of soap opera drama. Before Mary could add her own over the top storyline the video clicked to a stop which was met by a chorus of ironic cheers. The door to the conference room opened and Mr Harris and another man wearing a hi-vis jacket entered.

“Thank you for taking the time to watch our safety video.” The man announced sardonically. “Now if you'll follow me the tour will begin.”

Gabby squirmed on her chair and squeaked with excitement.

Books In This Series

Sisters of Ruin (Lucent Book 1)