Excerpt: Karma Police

“Grab your luggage and follow me.” Mr. Theyneker said briskly and pressed another small button. “We’re on a tight schedule. “

Ethan grabbed his plastic bags as directed, still grinning. He lined up behind the assistant, who was standing on the edge of the circle looking at her watch. “Pardon me, I’ve forgotten your name, I’m sorry!” He looked expectantly up at her.

“No you haven’t.” The woman continued to look at her watch.

“I’m sorry?”

“I never gave it. Hurry.”

The lightening vanished suddenly with a crack of thunder that made all five teens jump. The space it had filled between the gold and silver was replaced with a drift of fog. The assistant who had not given her name strode into the fog after Mr. Theyneker. Ethan grinned and hurried after her.

The fog lapped at his legs and chest as he walked into it. Once he was in over his head he realized how thick it was, he couldn’t see a thing. He couldn’t hear anything either, which was disconcerting. Ethan listened to his heartbeat for eight steps, and then emerged into sunlight. He blinked and stopped walking to gawk.

“Keep moving!” The assistant snapped at him from somewhere ahead. “You’ll get run over!”

Ethan kept walking as ordered. He looked back over his shoulder at the girl who had been right behind him. “Hey Nan-”

The person behind him was a man in a kilt and a leather jacket, carrying a sword. If he had claimed to be seven feet tall, no one would have disagreed with him. He raised his eyebrow at the five foot six teen in front of him. “Wot deh ye call meh?”

Ethan gulped. “Sir! Nothing sir!” He put his eye front and kept moving down the aisle between seats. He seemed to be on a train? But the view out the windows was like no train that he’d ever seen, and he had ridden on five trains in his living memory. Plus the people!

“Find a seat!” The assistant snapped as he passed her. “I’ve got your tickets.”

Ethan nodded and slid into the next seat without a person it. The seat was polished wood with brass trim. He put his bags beside him and pressed his nose to the cold window. This was so cool. He beamed.

The train dashed in a curve along another cloud over the shining city and disappeared into a tunnel.