by S. E. Smith
Dust rose to his feet, and stepped in front of Sammy and Todd. Troyfield’s gun rose to center on his chest.
“We are not monsters. We are the future. If our world is going to survive, we all need to work together,” Dust quietly insisted.
“The only world there will be is the one where people like you are hunted down and eliminated,” General Troyfield vowed.
Dust looked at the General. “We’ve all lost someone, General. More killing will not bring back the ones you have lost, my parents, Josie’s, Sammy and Todd’s, or the rest of your families,” he replied in a louder voice, looking at the soldiers. “This is a new world. We are all a part of it.”
He became quiet on the last sentence. His hand rose when he sensed the General’s finger tightening on the trigger. The gun dissolved to dust, raining down all over the General’s shiny black boots.
“You are no longer in charge, General Troyfield,” Dust said.
“You can’t relieve me. I am this compound. I am Asylum. I will do my duty to protect the human race from those who have been changed,” Troyfield insisted, backing away from Dust and looking at the soldiers around him. “We will kill every one of these monsters. I will….”
Troyfield’s voice gurgled and faded. Dust started forward, but it was too late. He watched as a cloud of emotion flashed through Daciana’s eyes before they turned hard. She lifted her chin and stared back at him from behind the General’s body. Protruding from Troyfield’s chest was the harpoon he had ordered a soldier to fire at her. Her eyes once again reflected her pain, grief, and resolve.
“I agree with the General. I think the monsters need to be eliminated. I’ve started with this one,” Daciana stated before pushing the man’s body away from her. She swayed for a moment before her attention moved to Todd. She smiled at the little boy. “Take better care of him, Dust, or I promise I will come after you,” she ordered, locking eyes with him.
Dust returned Daciana’s intense gaze and nodded. “I will. You don’t have to go,” he said.
Daciana’s expression softened. “I have questions of my own that need answers. This new world is full of monsters, Dust. Someone needs to make sure they know their place,” she murmured before she faded out.
“You aren’t one of them now, Daciana,” Dust replied, knowing that she couldn’t hear him.
He looked up at the sky. In the distance, he could see the green fog rising up over the mountains and could hear the crack of lightning. As much as he would have liked to stay, Daciana was right. This was a new world and there were a lot of lost people out there who needed help. Perhaps that was why he’d been given these powers. He didn’t know. There was still a lot that he had to learn.
He turned when he heard vehicles approaching. His aunt, uncle, and the others from the outer city had arrived. A new world order would be created—one city at a time.
Epilogue
A new journey has just begun:
“What are you doing?” Dust asked in exasperation.
“What does it look like?” Sammy said, dropping her duffle bag to the floor and adjusting the bow and full quiver of arrows on her shoulder.
“Dust, Josie says I’m getting better! I can start helping you more,” Todd said, snapping his fingers.
Dust’s lips twitched when he saw the sparks that flashed—for an instant. Todd was better alright, new and improved! The green crystals had not only healed him, they had Changed him as well. Margery and a group of scientists were hoping to study the properties contained in the fragments that he had in his pocket.
“You still have a ways to go before you become a master marshmallow roaster,” Josie said with a grin, dropping her duffle bag next to Sammy’s.
“I thought we had agreed that all of you were going to stay here,” Dust mumbled.
Josie raised an eyebrow and looked at Sammy with a questioning expression. “I don’t remember ever agreeing to that, do you?” she asked.
Sammy shook her head. “Nope, I don’t remember saying we were staying,” she agreed.
Dust looked at both of the girls with a frown. “It’s going to be dangerous,” he tried to reason with them.
Josie wiggled her flaming fingers. “Fire girl here. I’m like a pyromaniac’s dream date,” she said with a sardonic smile.
Sammy lifted her bow up. “I make Hawkeye look like a rookie,” she replied.
Dust gave Sammy a look that said ‘Really?! A superhero put-down?’ Sammy and Josie snickered at his disbelieving expression. He decided to focus on how dangerous it would be for Todd.
“Todd…,” Dust began again.
“I’m on fire just like Josie!” Todd announced, waving his hand.
Unfortunately, a tiny fireball launched from his hand, flew across the room, and landed in the trash can next to the door. In seconds, flames leaped up when the contents inside caught fire. Dust started toward the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall, but his uncle beat him to it. Dan put out the fire and set the extinguisher down on the floor next to the trash can and its smoking contents.
“I see your aim is getting better,” Dan chuckled.
“Uncle Dan, they won’t listen to me,” Dust mumbled in defeat.
“Daciana is part of our family. We have just as much right to make sure she is alright as you do,” Sammy pointed out.
Dan nodded. “I wish all of you would stay, but I know that you won’t. You will always have a home here with us,” he agreed.
“We’ve outfitted one of the Humvees for you. It will be able to handle the difficult terrain you’ll encounter. I’ve also given you enough supplies to help you until you can find more,” Margery added, stepping into the room and wiggling her nose.
Dust saw her glance at the trash can, then at Todd. She winked at the young boy. Todd beamed in response. Dust didn’t know if the world was going to be able to handle Josie and her new mini-me.
“Did you add marshmallows?” Josie inquired with a hopeful expression.
Margery chuckled. “Of course,” she answered with another wink.
“Oh, boy. Can I try to make them this time, Josie?” Todd begged.
Dust listened as Margery ushered the two women, Todd, and their baggage out of the room. He sensed that his uncle wanted to talk to him again before they left.
In the three weeks since they had merged the residents of Asylum with those who lived outside, there had been a lot of work to do. The first was to build trust between the brainwashed residents and those who were different. Next, would be the horrific task of identifying, saying goodbye, and burying those who had been in the morgue.
Many of the men remembered Dust’s uncle from his years of military service. Their cooperation was making the transition between the two groups a little easier. Troyfield’s wife and daughter had not been as accepting. They had transferred to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. While not completely isolated from those who were different, they felt safer there than they did remaining in Asylum.
“Do you have any idea where to start your search?” Dan asked.
Dust looked out of the window. Over the mountains, he could see the green fog rolling in. He had found a satchel that Daciana left behind, and he’d read through the documents inside. There were several research complexes mentioned in them with a map showing their location. One was in New Mexico. They would work their way south. If they were lucky, they would find clues to where Daciana had gone.
“Yes, south,” he replied.
He could feel his uncle studying him. Dust shifted self-consciously from one foot to the other. He hated goodbyes. He had planned to get up early and leave before anyone knew what he was doing. Instead, he found his aunt organizing a vehicle for him, Josie stuffing items in the back, and Sammy and Todd teasing Josie to stay away from the canisters of diesel several men were strapping to the roof of the Humvee.
“Your parents would have been proud of you, Dust,” Dan said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Your aunt and I sure certainly are.”
&nb
sp; Dust looked up at his uncle and realized that this was just as hard on the other man as it was on him. He reached out and embraced his uncle. For a moment, he closed his eyes and imagined it was his dad.
I love you, Dad. I know you are here with me. I know you always will be, he silently shared.
He opened his eyes and pulled back. His uncle wiped at the corner of his eye. Dust didn’t bother to hide the tears in his own eyes. His dad had always told him that real men do cry, and they are never ashamed when they do because there is always a good reason. His uncle chuckled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders when they heard Todd’s excited exclamation, Josie’s laughter, and Sammy threatening to carry a fire extinguisher with her at all times.
“Something tells me you are going to have a lively adventure,” Dan remarked.
“Yes, I think you are right,” Dust sighed.
“I claim the driver’s seat,” Josie chortled. “I’ve always wanted to drive one of these bad boys. The Fast and Furious has nothing on me behind the wheel.”
Dust quickly gave his aunt a hug before climbing onto the backseat next to Sammy. Todd was riding shotgun. He half-suspected that Josie had started the Humvee knowing that he didn’t want a long, drawn-out goodbye. With a wave to his aunt and uncle, Josie pressed on the clutch, pressed the gas pedal, and ground the gears, causing everyone to wince.
“I got this. It isn’t much different than driving the old school bus,” Josie announced with a quick wave out the window. “Clutch and shift. Clutch and shift.”
“The Fast and the Furious, huh, Josie?” Sammy teased.
Dust cleared his throat. “Ah, Josie, I think this is an automatic. You pressed the parking brake and put it in low gear,” Dust informed her.
“I knew that,” Josie said with a shake of her head as she released the brake and put the Humvee into drive.
Dust grinned and sat back as the Humvee rolled out of the compound. His grin grew when Sammy reach across the seat and cupped his hand in hers. He threaded his fingers through hers.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Dust turned and looked at her with a questioning expression. “For what?”
“For keeping your promise,” she replied in a soft voice.
Dust squeezed her fingers. “We’re family. A mixed up, unusual one, but… still family,” he promised.
His eyes met Josie’s in the rearview mirror. She gave him a rueful smile. Todd chatted up a storm, excited about all the things he was going to be able to do on the trip, the things that Josie was going to teach him, and, how they were going to find Daciana and make her understand that family doesn’t leave family, and well…
Lots of really cool things including having the time to think about what really fell from the sky—and who sent it, Dust thought as he turned and looked out of the window toward the rolling green fog that appeared to be following them.
To be continued: Dust Storms…
The storms are growing—and so is Dust’s determination to uncover more details about the green crystals that are growing inside his mind. They aren’t the only mystery in this world, though. Daciana’s search has led her to a dangerous area where only the chosen are allowed to live.
When the answers to all of their questions intersect, Dust’s unique family once again refuses to back down from the storm that is building.
Coming Soon!
In the meantime, there are other series!
You might like The Breaking Free Series
Check out Capture of the Defiance
A Breaking Free Novel
Espionage, clues, and a race to find the missing information before it is too late.
When Makayla Summerlin travels to Hong Kong to join her grandfather Henry in his voyage around the world on the Defiance, the reunion goes well until Henry is kidnapped and the Defiance disappears! Unsure of what to do, Makayla reaches out to an old friend for help.
When Brian Jacobs receives a frantic call from a friend, he drops everything to go her. His work in Hong Kong has been carefully optimized for long-term success, but his professional and personal life become entangled when Makayla is almost kidnapped in front of him. Seeing her again has awakened old feelings, and he is committed to helping her, no matter the cost.
Their team of allies grows as they slowly unravel the reason Henry and Makayla have been targeted, but will they discover the truth before time runs out for Henry?
You can find the full book here: books2read.com/Capture-of-the-Defiance or read on for three full chapters of Capture of the Defiance!
Sample of Capture of the Defiance
Chapter 1
Hong Kong
The figure of a man pushed through the crowds gathered along the Graham Street Market, uncaring of the curses he was drawing. Sweat beaded on his brow despite the cool breeze and temperate weather. His gaze swept the collage of faces. Almost immediately, his eyes locked with the intense, dark gaze of a man searching the crowd – for him.
Gabriel Harrington swallowed and backed away. He stumbled when he ran into an older woman who turned and began admonishing him. Pushing past her, he ignored her tirade when she continued to yell after him. His frantic flight that had started earlier that morning was now one that meant life or death.
Turning sharply, he cut between two of the merchants’ booths, pushing the colorful material hanging down on display out of his field of vision as he rushed through. He had already passed the irritated merchants before the men could say anything. He made another sharp turn along the sidewalk toward the busy intersection, urgently glancing behind him. If he could just get across it, he could lose himself in the crowd of pedestrians.
The skin on the back of his neck tingled and he could feel the sweat sliding down between his shoulder blades under his shirt. He slipped his hand into his pocket for the small box. It was still there.
He breathed a sigh of relief and glanced over his shoulder again. Slowing to a fast walk, he relaxed a little. He didn’t see the man who had been following him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed the number he had memorized.
“Do you have it?” The voice on the other end asked in a terse tone.
“Yes, but I’m being followed,” Gabriel muttered, glancing both ways before entering the intersection.
“Where are you?” The voice on the other end demanded in a brisk tone. “I’ll send backup.”
“I’m leaving the market near Shelter Cove. I’ll… Shit!” Gabriel hissed, pausing about three-quarters of the way across the intersection.
“What is it?”
“There are two of them,” Gabriel said hoarsely. “I’ll try to get the package to you.”
“I have a team en route,” the man said.
“It’s too late,” Gabriel replied with resignation, turning and seeing the other man he thought he’d lost standing not more than fifty feet from him. “I’ll hide the package and notify you of the location as soon as I can.”
“Negative,” the man hissed, but Gabriel was already turning to cross the intersection at a diagonal angle.
He had only taken a few steps when he saw a third man appear on the corner in the direction he had been about to go. Twisting, he bumped into an older man carrying several canvas shopping bags. Gabriel muttered an automatic apology under his breath, even as his hand slipped the package from his pocket and into one of the bags. His gaze swept over the old man’s face, trying to memorize it before he backed away.
He darted across the intersection. He was almost to the curb when a van, trying to beat the red light, turned the corner. Gabriel registered the impending impact just seconds before his body hit the windshield. He rolled several feet before coming to a stop. In the distance, he could barely make out the old man turning to see what had happened before everything went black.
Makayla looked around the Customs area of the airport from her place in line. There was a sea of people arriving from all over the world. Her lips curved upward when she sa
w a harried mother trying to grab a wayward toddler in front of her. The smile turned to a sympathetic grimace when the little boy started crying when his mother picked him up. Several people standing behind her gave the woman an annoyed glance.
Makayla started to turn away when she noticed that the woman had dropped her passport on the ground when she had bent to pick up the little boy. With a murmur, she motioned for the two people behind her to go ahead. With a tired sigh, she waited until they had passed her before she stooped to retrieve the fallen documents.
“You dropped this,” she murmured, glancing at the woman’s name on the open passport. “Would you like some help, Hsu?”
“Oh, yes, please,” the woman stuttered, startled, before she breathed out a tired sigh. “It has been a long trip.”
“Where are you traveling from?” Makayla asked politely, adjusting the diaper bag that had fallen off the handle of the stroller before she pushed the baby carriage forward along with her own carry-on.
“Seattle,” Hsu replied with a grateful smile. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“You’re welcome,” Makayla replied with a sympathetic grin. “My name is Makayla, by the way.”
“That is a beautiful name,” Hsu responded, moving forward with the line. She gave a relieved groan when she saw they were next and awkwardly adjusted the little boy who had finally fallen asleep on her shoulder. “I think I can put him in the stroller now.”
“Oh, yes,” Makayla said, quickly moving the diaper bag so that Hsu could carefully place the sleeping boy in the stroller.
“Where are you from, Makayla?” Hsu asked politely, straightening and placing a hand on her lower back before she took the diaper bag Makayla was holding. “He is getting heavy.”
