Moongazer

by Mari Mancusi

  "Neither would I," says a voice behind me.

  I whirl around, my eyes widening and my mouth dropping open in shocked joy. "Dawn!" I cry, running to him--Duske forgotten-and throwing myself into his arms. He twirls me around, squeezing me tight. "You're here! You're okay!" I bury my face in his shoulder, wanting to cry and laugh, sing and scream, all at the same time. "I thought maybe you were. .." I trail off, unable to finish.

  "I told you I'd find you again," Dawn reminds me, setting me back on the floor. "Though, maybe you don't remember."

  "I remember everything. Every last little thing," I tell him. And I'll remember it all forever. I promise."

  "I know you will, Skye Brown," Dawn says, leaning down to kiss me on the mouth. "Because I plan to remind you every day for the rest of your life."

  23

  Three mornings later I wake up in Dawn's arms back at my house. Our house. We've decided there's no reason to keep separate residences anymore. After all, we don't want to spend any time apart from one another. In fact, we've even talked about getting married. How crazy is that? And yet, at the same time, it seems very right.

  Dawn sits up in bed, glancing at his watch. "We should get moving. We have a big meeting with the Eclipsers in an hour," he reminds me.

  I yawn, stretching my hands above my head. "Let them wait a few minutes. I'm too comfortable to move."

  He kisses me softly on the forehead and lies back. "Me too."

  "Besides, I know what they're going to say," I groan. "That we need a new plan. Something to follow our glorious victory."

  "Yup. An Eclipser's work is never done."

  "I don't know," I say, snuggling against him. "Maybe a few more minutes of resting on our laurels wouldn't be such a crime. After all, we did destroy the government's number-one moneymaking program and united the Indys against them."

  "I wouldn't go as far as that," Dawn says. "The Indys rebelled against Moongazing, not the Circle of Eight. They'll only be outraged for so long, and then they'll settle back into their everyday existences. The remaining senators will find something else to lull them into their typical trancelike existence. A new drug. A new alcohol. A new soap opera on the telescreen. They'll give away hover cars. Whatever."

  I nod. "I know you're right. But it makes me so mad. Why won't they change? After they saw what the government did. .."

  "Because they're comfortable. Content," Dawn says. "And the Circle's spin-doctors are all-powerful. Look how Senator Estelle, Mariah's mother, vilified Duske and blamed the Moongazing fiasco wholly on him. And Mariah's death. As if the whole damn program was his brainchild and nothing to do with a vast government conspiracy. As if he could have done it alone. But now all the senators have to do is stage Duske's execution, dismantle the 'Gazing booths, and they're the big heroes." He shrugs. "Why would Indys rebel against a government who just saved their lives?"

  I sigh. "So then, I guess we just have to keep fighting? To show them that Moongazing was just the tip of the iceberg."

  "Yes. And we will," Dawn says resolutely And so will the Eclipsers. And the Dark Siders. And I think this

  time we've managed to sway quite a few Indys to our side as well. And more will come every day. Slowly but surely, we'll win this war. Someday we'll be a free people again."

  "And you and I will be together. No matter what," I say. Right now, that's what matters most.

  "Too true," he agrees. "And together, I truly believe we'll be a force to be reckoned with."

  "Definitely-we'll do great things, you and I. And we won't rest until every Dark Sider and every nT is free."

  There's a woof and then we're joined on the bed by Noah. The dog wags his tail, his mouth open in a lazy pant. He pushes himself between us and curls up in our arms. Laughing, we both reach over to pet him, running fingers through his soft fur.

  "I think Noah is pretty happy we moved him from the animal shelter here to your house," Dawn notes.

  "Yup." I grin. "Lots more begging opportunities up here with us suckers."

  "And lots more doggie cuddles."

  "You know," I say. "That should be our next mission. Find old Noah here a mate. Maybe we can start a whole new breed of companion animals. I think the Dark Siders would like that."

  "Definitely. What do you think, Noah, old boy?" Dawn asks, scratching the pup behind his ear. "You want a girlfriend?"

  Woof! Noah barks in affirmation, wagging his tail eagerly. He jumps on me and laps one cheek. Dawn leans over, presenting me with a far less sloppy kiss on the other. I giggle and return kisses to both of the boys.

  With this kind of paradise, who needs the moon?

  Turn the page for a sneak peek of TOMORROW LAND - another post-apocalyptic romance from Mari Mancusi.

  Afterword

  To my Readers,

  Thank you for taking the time to read Moongazer! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. As a gamer, this particular book has always been close to my heart. It was originally published by Dorchester as part of their SHOMI line which sought to introduce sci-fi elements into romance fiction, as well as younger characters to form a gateway between YA and adult romance. The line (and the publisher) have long since gone. But the stories remain. And I count myself lucky to have been one of the authors chosen to write them.

  If you enjoyed the book and have a chance, I would encourage you to take a few moments to rate and review the book on Amazon. Reviews are SO important to authors, especially those with indie releases. Doesn’t have to be long! Even a single sentence can make a huge difference in helping readers discover the book. Thank you in advance!

  AND! you’d like to read another book in the SHOMI series, you can turn the page for a sneak peek at TOMORROW LAND, which was originally published under the title Razor Girl. I like to describe it as an apocalyptic trek to Disney World - the last safe human outpost after the apocalypse. There’s also a bit of a Casablanca feel to the story - that takes place in two time periods (alternated by chapter) - just before the zombie apocalypse breaks out and four years later when our hero and heroine are reunited.

  Also by Mari Mancusi

  Tomorrow Land

  Nineteen-year-old Peyton Anderson will never forget the day she was forced to make a choice--between her family--and Chris Parker, the boy she'd given her heart.

  Now four years later, as she steps out from the fallout shelter and into a zombie-infested world, he's the only thing on her mind.

  Thanks to her father Peyton is now built to survive: with razor tipped nails, ocular implants and cybernetics that make her stronger, faster, and able to protect herself in a world filled with monsters. Yet all the weapons in the world can't protect her heart when she runs into Chris again. The once sweet boy of her childhood has now grown into a tortured man--still furious at her for breaking his heart and never telling him why.

  Now the two of them find themselves on the run, forced to fight their way down the monster strewn east coast to reach the last human outpost on Earth: Walt Disney World. Can they find a way to let go of old hurts and regain the love they lost--all while attempting to save what's left of the human race?

  Tomorrow Land is available exclusively on Kindle. Free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.

  Turn the page to read the first chapter. Or click here to download.

  Tomorrow Land Excerpt

  Prologue

  She turned on a dime, her bloodshot eyes zeroing in on Chase's hiding spot, deep in the shadows. He cringed as her bloody mouth twisted into a gruesome smile at the sight of potential prey. He could almost hear her stomach rumbling with desperate hunger as she took a slow step forward in his direction. How had she gotten so close, so fast?

  He lifted his rifle slowly, resting it on his shoulder, knowing any sudden movements would only set her off. His hands shook as he attempted to line up the gun's sight with the creature's head. The money shot. The one he'd need to take her down for good.

  The woman let out a muffled moan, her hairless, bony arm
s outstretched like something from an old George Romero movie. But Chase knew, all too well, that this was no film set. The world in 2034 had become a true horror flick, and Chase was one of its stars. The one who’d done the drugs, had sex with the girl and uttered the words, “I’ll be right back.” In other words, the one who was about to wind up dead.

  It was more than a bit tempting to run. To get as far away as possible from this pus-dripping creature of his nightmares. But she was too close to the campsite where Peyton and the children were sleeping. And while Chase had failed before—failed whenever it counted, in fact—things were different now. For the first time since the plague erupted, there was hope. And no dumb, oozing, post-apocalyptic zombie was going to take that away. Not on his watch anyway.

  He blew out a breath and steadied his gun, eyes narrowing to slits. Steady as she goes, he told himself. This was a matter of protecting his family. A matter of doing good. Shoot-’em-ups and slasher films… It was much different in reality—and much tougher to summon up the courage to fire that first shot.

  In an instant it happened. The creature lurched forward and Chase fell back a step, squeezing the trigger of his rifle. Its recoil bruised his shoulder. He watched as a gout of blood spurted from the woman’s chest—he’d missed. Only a flesh wound. And she was still coming. Not only her, but two other shadows had appeared behind her. Three…no, four? How much ammunition was left in his gun?

  He fired again, twice more, and finally hit his mark, the creature's head exploding in a mass of red and grey pulp. At the same time he reached around his neck and pulled free a whistle. Sometimes this worked, as the creatures were sensitive to high-pitched noises. He blew as hard as he could. The shadows that had risen stopped in their tracks. A cacophony of inhuman protests assaulted his ears as the creatures turned and fled.

  Chase watched them go, slumping his shoulder and allowing the rifle slide off to his side. The whistle fell from his bloodless lips. “Yeah, I thought so,” he said, shaking out his arms and trying to regain some composure. “I thought so! Run, cowards!” He nodded to himself and stepped out from the shadows.

  Only to find himself thrown backwards.

  He crashed hard onto the asphalt, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. His vision blurred and, for a moment, nothing made sense. Then he looked up and saw what had struck him. An Other towered above, clearly not scared away by his whistle. It was growling and spitting and looking as if it hadn't eaten for weeks.

  The creature lunged, hands finding Chase’s neck, encircling and squeezing tight, cutting off his breath. Desperate, Chase kicked wildly, managing to connect his foot with his attacker's groin. The monster bellowed but didn’t let go. Chase struggled harder, panic slamming through him as he used one arm to brace himself, fighting to keep away from the monster’s mouth. He reached for his boot with his free hand, feeling for the knife he always kept there for emergencies. It took what seemed like forever to wrap his fingers around the hilt. In the meantime, the creature’s grip tightened on his neck, and the blackness swam toward him with frightening speed, while pain seared his shoulder. In his final moment of consciousness, he managed to yank the knife free and drive it into the creature’s heart.

  The zombie recoiled then fell on top of him, crushing Chase with his weight. But the fingers loosened and Chase was able to breathe. He sucked in a huge breath and pushed the creature off. It rolled back onto the pavement, staring up at the sky and whimpering. The heart was always a weak spot.

  Chase surged to his feet and stared down at the monster. It looked a lot more human lying there now, vulnerable and bleeding. This was something he always hated. He wondered who it had been before the change. A doctor? A lawyer? Maybe a humanitarian who built houses for poor people.

  It didn’t matter. It was none of those things now, he reminded himself. Just a monster. A monster that needed to be put out of its misery.

  He grabbed his rifle and pressed the barrel to the zombie’s head. Closing his eyes, he pulled the trigger. The shot shook his arm and echoed in his ears. He let the sound fade away before opening his eyes again. The body was twitching, the head disintegrated.

  He forced himself to look away, but as he did, a piercing pain stabbed at his right shoulder. Startled, he glanced down, his mouth falling open as he saw where his leather jacket had come undone, the shirt below ripped and bloody. And then he saw them. The teeth marks.

  He’d been bitten. He'd been bitten!

  “Chase! Chase, are you okay?”

  He looked up. Peyton. She was running toward him, her face white, her eyes filled with panic.

  “Chase?”

  “I’m okay,” he said, shrugging his jacket back on and turning at an angle so she couldn’t see his wound. “I got him.”

  She stopped a few feet away, looking down at the remains of the two dead zombies. “God, what happened?” she asked.

  “One got the jump on me. No big deal. It’s all fine,” he lied. The pain gripped his shoulder like a vise and it was all he could do not to fall to his knees. But if he fell, she’d know. He couldn’t let her know.

  She took a step forward but he held out a hand. “I’m all slimy,” he said. “Zombie gook. You know. I’m going to go find a fountain or something to wash off.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked, peering at him, confusion and worry warring on her face.

  He felt sick to his stomach but nodded. The last thing he wanted was to lie to her. But what choice did he have? He had to think of her and the kids. She was too weak to get where she needed to go on her own now. She needed his help to find her father. To complete her pilgrimage. To save the world. And who knew how her priorities would change once she learned the truth?

  Well, he had two weeks. Two weeks before the virus could work its way fully through his system, mutating his cells, destroying his brain and turning him into one of them: a diseased, merciless monster with an appetite for human flesh. An Other. He had two weeks to get Molly where she had to go. Then he’d use his rifle one last time—to put a bullet in his own head.

  Chapter One

  a p r il 1 0 , 2 0 3 0

  “I wouldn’t go out with Chris Parker if he were the last guy on Earth!”

  Fifteen-year-old Peyton Anderson tossed her pink- streaked blond hair over her shoulder, then smoothed the pleats of her navy blue cheerleading skirt as she watched the gawky sophomore attempt to dribble the basketball down the court. He turned and caught her looking and threw her a goofy grin. She rolled her eyes and looked away.

  “How many times has he asked you out now?” Avery, Peyton’s best friend, asked. The slim, athletic brunette turned and stretched against the bleachers, tugging at her own matching skirt. When the holographic scoreboard above them blinked—someone from the opposite team had stolen the ball from Chris and scored—she effortlessly launched into a triple back ip, ending with a twist, then cheered their team on. “Six?” she asked after she was done.

  “Try sixteen. Maybe sixty, if you count first grade when he moved down the street and started stalking me.”

  “Stalking you, huh? Isn’t that overstating things a bit?”

  “I wish. What do you think he’s doing in here, playing Basketball Dayz of all sims? I mean, look at him. Does he look like a sports sim type?” She gestured to the tall, skinny beanpole stumbling down the court. “Even his avatar is geeky looking.” She made a face.

  Avery chuckled. “You’ve got a point...”

  “Face it, if it wasn’t for me, he’d be knee-deep in zombie blood right about now, rolling that whole Knights of the Living Dead VR that all the tech-heads are obsessed with,” Peyton said, feeling him staring at her again. “Geez. I should have signed in with my alt. Then, at least, he wouldn’t have recognized me.”

  “Swapping sims just for you? You gotta admit, that’s some dedication,” Avery declared. “He’s like your Jacob!” The two girls had been on an early 2000s movie kick lately, streaming films their parents had gr
own up with: old fashioned, 2D stuff that didn’t even require VR goggles to watch. The Twilight Saga was one of their favorites. The silly fashions alone were worth hours of cracking up. And they loved imitating the slang.

  “Well, then, where’s my Edward?” Peyton moaned, plopping down on the bleachers and staring up at the ceiling. “I at least deserve an Edward if I’m stuck on Team Jacob.”

  “Please. You’ve got Drew. And Drew totally trumps Edward Cullen.”

  Of course Avery would say that. She was dating his twin brother Todd and had set Peyton and Drew up to begin with. And in some ways, Peyton saw her point. Popular, hot, and ridiculously rich, Drew was the envy of every guy at school and the desire of every girl. He’d done wonders for her social status, too. No one saw her as the weird girl with the even weirder father when she was hanging on Drew’s arm.

  Still, it wasn’t an exactly a ‘Twilight-esque love affair and Drew was no brooding, romantic hero. The guy loved exactly two things: sports and his reaction in the mirror. In fact, at age seventeen he’d already undergone three plastic surgeries, while most guys his age only got the one. And while sure, the procedures had perfected his physique, no operation in the world could boost a person’s brain cells.

  It was maddening sometimes. Whenever Peyton tried to talk to Drew about things that were bothering her—real things like the current economy, the ongoing famine, the seemingly never-ending war—he refused to listen, laughing her off and changing the subject back to sports or himself. She shouldn’t worry about the rest, he told her. The government would take care of it all. They always did.

  She sighed. And maybe he was right. Maybe she’d been listening to her dad too much.

  Out of the corner of her eye she caught Chris waving to her from across the court, then tripping over his own feet and tumbling to the ground. The opposing team’s virtual audience went wild as they scored yet again. Peyton groaned.