Insolation

by Bradlyn Wilson

  “I wish you had never existed, it would have been so much easier.” The butt of Jeremiah’s gun hit her across the face and she clutched her bleeding and broken nose. He dragged her through the snow by her hair. Their few moments of friendship dissolving into the snow.

  They got to the complex and he threw her inside a room. He tied her roughly to a chair and left. The rope was digging into her wrists and ankles. She could feel her wrists becoming raw. She looked down and saw a drop of blood fall onto the floor. The sound of the drop rung through the empty room. All she could do was stare at the grey wall. A single light bulb hung over her head. It swung eerily back and forth in an invisible breeze.

  Behind her she heard the door click open and briefly there was bright light. She watched as Kane and Hemmer walked in. They were followed in by the old man she had seen in Hemmer’s office. He was still as frail as the last moment she had glimpsed him. He kept his head down and jumped every time Hemmer made a move.

  “What do you know?!” Hemmer yelled in her face.

  “Nothing!” Hadley spat back. She struggled against the restraints. She could feel the ropes become more soaked with blood.

  “Hold it right there,” Kane said putting a hand on Hemmer’s shoulder.

  “What Kane?”

  “She won’t tell us anything, no matter what. I can see that now.”

  Kane, for the first time ever understood Hadley. He didn’t look at her the way he always had. He saw that she was stronger than he’d thought. He finally saw her as an equal instead of a subordinate.

  Hadley looked him in the eyes with an intense fire. All she wanted to do was throttle him. Something inside her lurched and she put her whole body weight against her restraints but the chair didn’t even budge.

  “I told you we needed to get rid of her,” Hemmer said to Kane. Kane just nodded slowly. He bit his bottom lip. In that moment Hadley almost smiled at Kane; he had finally figured it out. He knew that the planet was more important to her than her own life. Human decency was more important to her. Saving those who were innocent was more important to her. Everything was more important to her. Kane had just never seen it, even after all that time.

  Hemmer took out a gun from his holster. He pointed the barrel between her eyes. Hadley inhaled, ready again to die for what she believed in. She wanted to stop running.

  Then she saw something out of the corner of her eye. The old man held a small circular device in his hand. He pressed the button and electricity went through the room. Suddenly, she knew exactly who he was.

  The barrel of the gun fell away from her face. She felt the electric shock up her spine. Every hair on her body stood straight up. She could taste the burning in her mouth. Smell it in her nose. Feel it on her cheeks.

  Pax rushed into the room, grabbing her elbow as she faded out of consciousness.

  “I’m not going to let you down this time Hadley.”

  “You’d better not Pax or I will kill you.”

  “I learn’t my lesson last time Had.”

  Everything went black again. She practically rolled her eyes as it did.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  And after a nuclear war, a worldwide plague and at the beginning of an ice age, the corrupt government still hadn’t won. The human race was on its way to multiple planets. But they were here, trying to save earth from them.

  The revolution was still standing.

  Hadley was still standing.

  About Bradlyn Wilson

  Bradlyn Wilson is a multi-media content creator, blogger, writer, environmentalist and photography lover. After completing her BSc in Earth Science at the University of Alberta, she moved across the planet to finish her Masters degree in Media and Communications at the University of Sydney in Australia. Now, she spends her time travel blogging and using media to communicate science and scientific research. She enjoys winding real science with compelling content. Travel is one of her biggest passions, and like many people, dreams of working from a beach somewhere. She caught the travel bug a few years ago, she got on a plane to Europe and has slowly been making her way across the planet since, sharing her journey online and on Instagram the entire way.

  Social Media Links

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradlyncreative/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earth2bradlyn/

  INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bradlyn_wilson/ @bradlyn_wilson

  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bradlynwilson/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradlynWilson @bradlynwilson

  Website: http://bradlynwilson.com/

  Acknowledgements

  The biggest challenge that human kind will face is Climate Change. It will be the hardest thing that people will have to overcome, and we have to do it for us. The planet will survive anything, the combination of water, rock and life will reset and start over, continuing to circulate the sun. This book explores, what could happen if we keep going how we are.

  Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to keep writing this book even when I felt that I couldn't keep putting words on the paper.

  To my family, who has dealt with my outbursts of creativity and frustration at having writers block. You helped me to pursue everything I have ever dreamt of, and have pushed me to work harder than I ever thought possible. Mom, Dad, Kenzie, Cole, you guys have made me be my best self. Your encouragement was how I was able to finish this project. You are the best family that a girl could ask for, and I appreciate everything from the moral support to tough love you have given me. Love you all to the moon and back.

  To my best friend, my person, thank you for letting me write. Thank you for always pushing me towards being the best writer I can be, even when I didn't want to hear it. You are my world, and I love you so much.

  And last, to everyone else, who has pushed me to be more than myself. To spend every day “doing good.” Thank you. Know how much you mean to me.