I jumped, flipping my body over to land hard on my ass and falling backwards onto my elbows.
Towering over me was a large man in full military uniform, his green eyes smoldering with anger and accusation. I noticed his eyes before I saw the rifle that was aimed at my chest. Two more men were closing in behind him...
No... One was a man, but the other was a woman, her long, black hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She leaped gracefully from the top of the ridge and came to stand next to the man guarding me. Her green eyes shone as bright as his, standing out against her olive skin.
My eyes darted from her to him, from his face to the rifle and the rest of his gear. There was a name tag sewn over his right shoulder with the word Saint on it, and more stripes on his sleeve than the woman standing next to him. A walkie-talkie was clipped to his belt, and it hissed with static, broadcasting, "I have one Phoenix down and two civilians over here. Over."
A second voice blared out, quickly following the first, "One Phoenix here, too, sir. This one was armed. Over."
The man was staring at me intently, an unreadable look in his eyes as I stared back at him. The numbness was starting to spread through me again, and my thoughts turned sluggish, unable to process what was happening.
The other man had gone to Reed and flipped his body over to press two fingers against his neck. He thumbed Reed's good eye open and looked to his companion, to the man named Saint. He said, "He's the one we're looking for. He's dead, Jon."
The man stared at me for several more seconds, not seeming to acknowledge he had been addressed. Finally, he lowered the rifle and pulled the walkie-talkie from his belt to respond.
"One Phoenix down here, and one very much alive. Over."
Phoenix?
CHAPTER 10 – JOSS
My heart thundered, and sweat seeped from every pore. Stephanie's scream had ripped me away from Ali. I shouldn't have left Ali. I should never have left either one of them, but what could I do? Stephanie was unprotected.
Soldiers had swarmed down on us out of nowhere, and now I stood apart from both of them. My body shook, the adrenaline fading, and I used all my strength to stay standing. I couldn't crumble. Stephanie was terrified, lying next to Hope and Meg's body, and Ali was horribly beaten. I wasn't even sure if she could stand on her own. That left me the only one that could protect them.
And I had just killed a man. My stomach lurched, and I swallowed down the urge to vomit again.
A soldier stood next to me, guarding me. He was the same one that had taken Ali's revolver when I was surrounded, and his green eyes glowed against his dark skin. He had told me his name was Williams. He had called me a Phoenix. Now he was looking at me with a suspicious concern that creased his forehead.
"You okay, kid? Do you need to sit?"
I answered with a blank stare, unable to speak. His eyebrow rose as he watched me expectantly until I managed to shake my head. I didn't want to sit down. I wanted to go to Stephanie and Ali. I wanted us all together. I wanted Meg to be alive.
"Where's Ali?" I croaked. I could see the soldiers standing where she had fallen, but the ridge blocked my view of her. She was on the ground next to Reed's body. The images of his body jerking and falling flashed through my mind, and I grimaced.
Williams frowned at me, but pulled the walkie-talkie from his belt and spoke into it. "Saint, is a girl with you named Ali? Over."
During the pause, Williams glanced at Stephanie and Hope. More soldiers stood over them while even more were going through our meager belongings. A voice answered his call.
"Yes. She's a bit rattled. She was beat up pretty badly and needs medical attention. Over."
Williams reached out to pat my arm, and a jolt rattled through me at his touch. "Don't worry, kid. We'll take care of her."
My thought process was slow, but I figured these soldiers must be from Area 51. There was a settlement there, and it was closer than we thought. I looked at Williams, finally finding my voice and courage. "Who are you guys?"
He gave me a tolerant smile. It didn't make it to his eyes. "We're a part of the Dreamland infantry. The Sergeant should be here soon. He can answer your questions."
That didn't make me feel any better.
The hum of a vehicle approaching registered in my mind at the same time Ali appeared beyond the ridge. She captured my attention as I watched one of the soldiers help her to her feet. She looked around until she saw me, her eyes fixing on me as she was guided in my direction, limping. Terrible bruises were forming on her face, but most of the blood had been wiped away.
When Ali reached me, she grasped my hand, and I hung onto her, grateful for the small comfort her closeness brought. She whispered softly, quiet enough for me to know it was meant for my ears only. "They're from Area 51."
I squeezed her hand again in response, letting her know I heard.
The sound of the vehicle had grown loud enough for the others to hear, and I watched Ali's head snap in that direction. Then her gaze fell on Stephanie and Hope. She turned back to her guards, addressing the tall man standing behind her.
"Can we go to them?" Her voice was hoarse from the beating Reed had given her, and she winced when she forced the words out. I squeezed her hand again, wishing I could take away some of the pain.
The tall man flicked his eyes to the scene that was surrounding Meg's body, and for a moment I thought his expression softened. He looked down at Ali and gave her the slightest of nods.
As we both turned, he addressed the other soldiers behind us, "Spread out. Let's make sure we don't have any surprises here."
Three of the soldiers left us, but he stayed on our heels. It was unclear if he was guarding us, or keeping guard over us. Ali never let go of my hand, and out of the corner of my eye I could see her jaw clenched tight.
Stephanie didn't notice us as we approached. She kept her head down, buried against Hope, and her body moved with her rhythmic sobbing. Hope had her eyes closed. Her face scrunched up with sorrow as she lay against her mother. Her hands were buried in Meg's shirt, and tears dripped down her cheeks.
Then I looked at Meg. She looked calm. Peaceful. A soldier standing guard must have closed her eyes at some point, and she looked like she was sleeping, at least if you ignored the pool of blood that was seeping into the sand underneath her.
The grip Ali had on my hand grew tighter. I glanced at her through blurry eyes, thinking she might be trying to get my attention, but I realized that's not what it was. Tears were streaming down her face, and she had her eyes clenched shut. I tried to pull her to me, but she refused, turning away from the heart-wrenching scene. She laid her head against my shoulder and cried.
The closest guard, a woman not much older than Stephanie, watched us intently. Her eyes were a bright hazel that matched her short, brown hair. I saw compassion on her face and noticed her lashes were damp.
"They wouldn't leave her." She said, shrugging apologetically. That drew Stephanie's attention, and her head shot up. She looked at me. A deep despair flared in her eyes.
"I can't leave her." Stephanie sobbed, and I didn't know if she was talking about Meg or Hope. Ali backed away as I reached my hand to Stephanie. Tentatively, she took it and let me help her stand. Ali slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her a few steps away. Her sobs renewed as they embraced.
Hope remained, not seeming to notice or care that Stephanie had left her. She looked so small and frail against her mother's body. That vision would be etched into my mind forever. I ground my teeth as I joined her on the ground. My first thought was to coax her away, but as soon as I drew close, Hope turned her face away from me, her fingers twisting deeper into the fabric of Meg's shirt.
She uttered one word. "No."
Choking back tears, I forced the words out, "You have to come with me. Come with me, and Ali and Stephanie."
It was useless. She reacted with a violent shake of her head and cried, "I won't leave Mommy!"
The soldier sni
ffled behind me, but I ignored her. Brushing away tears, I reached for Hope, slipping my hands around her waist to pull her away. As soon as I began to lift her, she began to kick and struggle, screaming as she held onto Meg's shirt.
I pulled her close, as I pried her hands from the fabric. The little fingers soaked in her mother's blood slipped away easily. As soon as they were free, Hope turned on me, swinging violently while she continued to wail.
"Mommy!" Her screech hurt me more than her little fists ever could. Her body shook with the frustration and pain, and another scream was dragged out from deep within her. "Mommy!"
I staggered a few steps away, barely able to hold on to her before I collapsed to my knees. The screaming became a shrill screech, so distorted it was hard to make out the word. The brunt of the tragedy barreled into me as Hope's grief poured out. I sobbed, ignoring her punches and kicks, when Ali and Stephanie fell to their knees on either side of me.
As soon as Stephanie was beside us, Hope threw her arms around her neck in a tight embrace, clinging to her. She convulsed with sobs, hiccupping between wails as Stephanie held her tight. I watched helplessly, feeling my heart crush under the weight of her agony.
Silence fell over the soldiers, their eyes full of sympathy and compassion. One of the soldiers, maybe the girl with short brown hair, had covered Meg's body with a blanket.
During the chaos, several vehicles arrived. An older man leaned against a jeep, watching us intently. His hair was grayed at the temples, and his eyes were a cold, crisp blue. When he noticed I was alert, he started over. I didn't need to see his stripes. He was the Sergeant. When he was a few paces away, I could read his name tag. Sergeant Davis.
"You able to chat, son?" His voice was firm, but not harsh. My insides felt raw, and my brain was mush. It took me a few seconds to process his question, and he cocked his head to the side, patiently waiting for me to respond.
I began to nod, to accept the responsibility of answering for our group when Ali shifted beside me. She put a hand over mine, giving it a squeeze, and met my eyes. Although her face was swollen from her beating, her eyes were clear. They caught the fading light of the sun and glowed vibrantly, filling me with security.
Ali was going to speak for us, shelter us. I exhaled, feeling relieved and guilty at the same time. It wasn't fair that she would shoulder this burden after all she had been through, but my courage failed me. I wrapped my arms around Stephanie and Hope as Ali rose to her feet. She stepped in front of us, standing before the Sergeant and shielding us with her small body against odds that would surely overwhelm her.
No matter what, she would always be my hero.
EPILOGUE
The Phoenix stood to the side, watching the heart-wrenching events unfold in front of them, their eyes skeptical and alert. The ragged group and their odd circumstances were a curiosity, but the redhead in particular was unusually captivating.
The female Phoenix, a badge across her chest reading Cho, leaned close to her commanding officer. "Do you think she's an Ex-P?"
Saint held back his answer, and they watched as Master Sergeant Davis began to question her.
"What's your name, girl."
"Ali." Her voice cracked, and she winced. Bruises in the shape of fingers grew dark around her slim neck.
"Your full name." The Sergeant barked. Cho's eyebrows drew together briefly, a disapproval of the Sergeant’s lack of tact, but seconds later, her face was smooth again. Unreadable.
"Shepherd." Ali's chin lifted slightly as she answered, a show of pride and defiance. "Allison Shepherd."
"Alright, Allison Shepherd." The Sergeant said. His voice mellowed out, but only slightly. "Give me the short version of what happened here. I'd like to be home for dinner."
Ali's eyes narrowed, but she answered quickly, having to force out every word. "We were trying to make it to Area 51, or someplace safe for Stephanie and her baby. We were being followed by that man over there. He killed..." Her voice cut off for a moment, and her eyes slid shut, spilling tears down her cheeks.
The Sergeant shifted, glancing at the blanket-covered body behind him. By the time he turned back to Ali, she finished in a rush. "He killed Meg, and I killed him."
Saint's eyebrow shot up. That didn't match their assessment of the situation. Williams, who was standing over the group, cleared his throat and stepped forward, holding a revolver out to his Sergeant.
"The boy shot the aggressor, sir."
The Sergeant took the pistol and spent several moments examining it. While his attention was on the gun, Ali shot Williams a fiery glare that caught the man off guard. Williams shrank back a step before he found his resolve, and Saint's lip curved in a slight smile.
He whispered to Cho. "She's got spunk."
Finally, the Sergeant said, "This is a nice piece. Well cared for."
"It was my father's."
Sergeant Davis nodded as he popped the cylinder and dumped the remaining bullets into his hand. "Let's start this relationship off honestly. How did you know the attacker?"
Ali only hesitated slightly before she answered. "He captured us. We got away."
"When? Where?"
"About a month ago in Boulder City." Ali's voice cracked, and she winced. Sergeant Davis gave her a moment to recover before he asked his next question.
"Was he a friend or family member of anyone in your party? A traveling companion?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she growled her answer through gritted teeth. "No."
The Sergeant eyed her a moment longer before glancing at Williams, who gave him a slight nod. He handed the revolver back to Williams as he spoke. "Well, Ms. Shepherd, if you are looking for Area 51, you found it. However, we don't so much call it that anymore.
"If you agree to it, I'll take you into escorted custody for a few days. Show you the city proper, give you food, shelter, safety, and a place to recover until you decide what to do."
"And if we don't agree?" Ali asked suspiciously.
"Then you're free to go on your way after a short investigation."
Ali blinked. "Just like that? You'll let us go?"
Sergeant Davis cocked an eyebrow and he folded his hands in front of him. "Yes. Just like that. However, I recommend you take me up on my offer. It seems you lot are short on supplies and in need of medical attention."
Ali wasn't completely swayed. "What's in it for you?"
As the Sergeant chuckled at her response, Cho whispered to Saint. "She's going to be a handful."
Saint gave Cho a pointed look and whispered back, "Someone needs to replace Lanny."
"Ex-P?" She mouthed to him, questioning him again as the Sergeant began to speak, but Saint only shrugged.
"Tell us your story and answer a few questions. We like to get every survivor we find on record if possible. The world's not what it used to be." He tilted his head and gave Ali an appraising look. "And also to see if you're a fit for our organization. What say you, Ms. Shepherd?"
Ali's face was flat, unreadable. Several seconds of silence passed, and she turned a meaningful look to the boy. It wasn't until he nodded that she turned back to the Sergeant to agree.
Sergeant Davis waved a hand to his jeep. "Don't worry about your belongings. My team will get them back to the base for you. Weapons will be restricted, of course, but all other non-contaminated items will be returned to you shortly."
The Sergeant raised his voice as he walked to the jeep, "Cho, Williams, you're with me. Saint, have your team clean this mess up."
"Yes, sir." Saint acknowledged and began to shout orders. Cho broke away to escort the crippled party to the vehicle. Her eyes took in everything as Ali pulled the child away from the pregnant girl, and she saw the stricken look on her small face. The child's eyes opened, peering around until they landed on Cho, causing her breath to catch in her throat.
That shade of green wasn't Phoenix, but it wasn't natural either. Cho shot Saint a look, who was standing close by, and the he tilted his head slightly to indi
cate he saw the same thing. The follow-up, nearly imperceptible shake of his head translated his orders.
Cho kept silent as she followed the party to the jeep, watching as they piled in and huddled together in the backseat. Cho took her post in the back, shifting her rifle as she climbed up. Ali glanced behind them, watching the soldiers as they moved around the camp, and her eyes met Cho's briefly. Grief and fear flashed in those eyes, but there was strength in them as well. Cho nodded to her, but Ali quickly turned around, leaning against the boy as the jeep began to drive away.
Williams drove them over the familiar roads, through rock formations and the small foothills. As they crested the ridge, Cho's eyes fixed on what she could see of Ali's face. The woman gasped as the whole of the city came into view before them.
The Sergeant turned back to see the expressions on their faces before giving Cho a satisfied smile. He waved his hand in front of him, encompassing the valley and the city that lay within it.
To be heard over the rushing wind, Sergeant Davis leaned back and announced in a booming voice, "Welcome to Dreamland!"
This is the end of After,
Book one of The Phoenix Curse.
Follow D.R. Johnson for all things concerning The Phoenix Curse,
and news for the next novel in the series, Dreamland.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debra R. Johnson was born July 20th, 1976 in Oklahoma. She lived the first 30 years of her life there before moving to the Dallas Metroplex. She currently resides in Grand Prairie, Texas. Reading has been a passion of hers from a very young age, her favorite authors include Stephen King, R. A. Salvatore, Robert Jordan, and George R. R. Martin.
The Phoenix Curse (Book 3): After Page 26
