Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

a better look at the man, but he was still well hidden under his hood.
    "What's it to you?" asked the man with the pipe, pulling back his coat and showing the blade he had fastened to his hip.
    "You have a permit for that?" The hooded man was quick to pull back his sleeve and show all of them his guard wristband, and Saevus's crest only made it more powerful. The men went white.
    "S-sorry, sir," said the pipe man, looking nervous. "I didn't know you were -"
    "Who I am shouldn't affect your treatment of others. I believe you owe this woman an apology."
    "So sorry, madam."
    Deryn said nothing. She turned to walk away again but stopped when she saw two Guardians in their dark-blue trench coats standing outside the bar. Wenton Pace and Gordon Mackey. Both had owned her at one time or another. They seemed to be asking everyone a lot of questions, probably looking for her. Shit .
    The hooded Guardian followed her eyes. He waved at his comrades and shouted, "I'm off duty! Check their information for me, will you?" He pointed at the trio of men standing frozen beside Deryn.
    "Send 'em over!" shouted Wenton.
    The hooded Guardian looked back at the men in front of him. "You heard him. Go." He grabbed the blade out of the pipe man's holster. "I'll hold onto this. We both know you don't have a permit. You're lucky it was me and not one of those two who caught you tonight. And you better hope nothing else is wrong with your information. Gordon is an expert at catching counterfeits."
    "I-it's all good and clear, sir," said the man with the pipe he had long forgotten about. He and his friends nervously headed over to where the two Guardians were waiting.
    Not even ten seconds after they were gone, a large red tram turned onto the road, hovering above the ground and ringing its bell before stopping right in front of Deryn. She was just about to bolt when she noticed Wenton and Gordon were not just scanning the wristbands of those three men, they were scanning the wristbands of everyone.
    When she turned back to the tram, the hooded Guardian motioned and waited for her to go first. Her heart was racing. If she ran now then she would surely look suspicious, but what other option did she have? Only one.
    Taking a deep breath, Deryn stepped forward and onto the tram, the hooded Guardian following closely behind her.
    Upon entrance, the attendant sitting behind a counter stared up at her, waiting impatiently and darting his eyes between Deryn and the scanner she needed to touch her wristband to for payment. Her nonexistent wristband.
    "Get moving, lady. I ain't got all night."
    Deryn froze. Clearly, this plan was not very well thought out.
    "I've got the lady," said the Guardian behind her, reaching his arm past her and scanning his twice. "And give her a chocolate, as well. She's had a rough night."
    "You got it, sir," said the attendant, pressing a button so the tram was back in motion and driving itself. He reached under the counter and pulled out a chocolate bar. The Guardian scanned his wristband once more and the chocolate was shoved into Deryn's hand.
    She pocketed it and moved into the tram, making sure to grab a map of the area out of brochure holder before heading towards the back. She kept walking from car to car, very aware of the footsteps trailing behind her.
    She reached the last car. There weren't very many people but the few she saw were either passed out drunk or possibly fornicating. At least they had the decency to cover themselves with a blanket so she wasn't quite sure. But really she was.
    Deryn didn't stop walking until she got to the very back corner of the tram. She sat beside the window and rested her head against it, trying to ignore the sound of the seat across from her creaking as someone put their weight on it.
    Keeping her head turned away from him, Deryn opened the map. A small hologram of the tram moved around, so she could see exactly where they were and where they were going.
    She debated when and where she