by N. W. Harris
“Will you be a puppet to this species who refuses to show its face to us?” the general asked.
“You’d rather I was a puppet to you?” Shane replied, balling his fists.
Shane hated the Anunnaki, despised what they’d done.
The general stepped back with his right foot, turning his body sideways and raising his fists.
“Let’s get on with it,” he said with no animosity in his voice.
Shane had dropped his rifle; otherwise, he would’ve struck the alien down with a single blow. Instead of bending over to pick it up, he raised his fists as well.
He glanced at the tiny pile of ash where Kelly had been, and it ignited his anger into an inferno. None of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for the Anunnaki.
Pressing the ball of his right foot into the ground, Shane used his entire body to create a knockout blow. Although it happened in an instant, the punch started from the arena floor, traveling up his leg and through his core. Jones had taught them that punches could kill, and Shane wanted this one to crush the Anunnaki’s skull.
Jones’ brother didn’t move, his stoic expression unchanged, until Shane’s fist came an inch from his face. He leaned left, and Shane’s punch grazed his ear. The Anunnaki soldier brought his right leg around and hooked it so his heel slammed into Shane’s exposed lower ribs. Something snapped, and pain erupted through his side.
Shane buckled and tried to back away. The alien used his hand like a knife and struck him in the back of the neck, hammering him to the ground. Struggling to push the pain aside, Shane came to his feet and swung his fists up, expecting the Anunnaki to hit him again.
Ash fell from his shoulders, and it horrified him that he’d rolled through his burnt friends. Each breath hurt, and he felt stupid for underestimating the alien. He’d lost everything, everyone. He didn’t care if he lived or died, but he wouldn’t let the slave mongers win. He couldn’t be killed by Jones’ brother.
“I am Athos. I gather because you are still alive, you were the leader of these humans,” the alien said, his voice as emotionless as his expression. “What is your name?”
Shane didn’t answer, studying his opponent and planning his next attack with more care than his first.
“No matter,” Athos said. “It is a shame you weren’t allowed to become one of my slave soldiers. We would have crushed everything in our path.”
Athos was trying to get into Shane’s head, make him angry so he’d compromise himself again. He played along, furrowing his brow and closing in with his right fist leading. Athos wore the same stoic expression as the first time. Not allowing his emotion to blind him, Shane noticed the Anunnaki shift his weight, preparing for the punch.
Shane jabbed his right fist and pulled it short. Then he swung forward with his left. He saw Athos shift like it was what he expected, and Shane knew he had the advantage. When he pulled his left fist short, he already had his left leg swung around and raised into the chambered position. He thrust his heel into Athos’ knee, kicking with enough force to break a human’s leg. The alien’s fragile leg broke at the knee, and his femur snapped in half.
Athos let out a yelp and dropped onto his back. With the same toughness Jones had possessed, the Anunnaki didn’t allow the pain to overwhelm him. He rolled to his good side and locked his eyes on Shane, his hands up and ready to defend.
The alien defeated, Shane backed away.
“He must be punished,” Greenie said with the soft, female voice. “He is a murderer.”
Shane looked up at the bright blue sky through the opening at the top of the ten-foot-tall green wall of fire that surrounded him and Athos.
“Who will punish you?” Shane shouted. He raised a fist. “You’ve killed everyone.”
“Sometimes a few must die so others can live in peace,” Greenie replied. “The Anunnaki could not be allowed to continue. They were evil. Now kill him so that you can live.”
“Live for what?” Shane asked incredulously. “You’ve taken everything from me.”
“If you kill him, we will give her back,” Greenie said.
“What?” Shane gazed at Athos, stunned by the promise.
Athos lay on his side, still watching Shane. The alien was helpless, and Shane could kill him with one kick to the head.
“He would kill you without a second thought if your roles were reversed,” Greenie said with the gentlest voice, excusing Shane from any remorse over murdering the helpless alien.
“I won’t do it,” Shane said, expecting it would be his last words.
“Why?” Greenie asked. “You’ve killed so many since the Anunnaki killed your father. What is just one more? The last.”
“I only did that to save my people,” Shane said. “I didn’t murder anyone. This…” He paused, looking at Athos. “This alien can no longer hurt me or any of my friends. Killing him would be murder.”
“Yes, but for her…” Greenie tempted him.
Hating himself for what he said, he wished he could just kill the Anunnaki in cold blood and get Kelly back. He looked at the sky and down at Athos again, imagining himself doing it and getting Kelly. It was wrong.
“I just can’t,” he said, dropping his head.
“Because you are no murderer,” Greenie replied. Her voice sounded familiar this time, and closer to him. It sounded like it came from behind him.
Shane turned and saw a glowing green replica of his mother.
Chapter Forty-One
His heart burned at seeing the likeness of his mother.
“How dare you?” Shane hissed. “You’ll do anything to manipulate us.”
“You are wrong,” she said, smiling sweetly at him. “We want you to live. We want everyone to live, and live in peace. We only get involved in extreme circumstances. The Anunnaki warranted our involvement.”
Jones’ brother cried out in pain. Shane looked back and saw the green fire flow over him, turning him to ash. He expected it would be his turn in a couple of moments. He was ready to go, ready to join Kelly and the rest.
“Be done with it,” he said, stepping closer to the transparent, glowing version of his mother.
“You don’t understand,” Greenie said. “We are not going to kill you.”
“But what do I have to live for?” Shane replied, narrowing his eyes. He waved his hands at the ash around him. “Killing me is a mercy at this point.”
“You and your friends have proven that humans deserve to live,” Greenie said.
“You’re a sick creature,” Shane growled. “You’re more evil than the Anunnaki.”
“You will be cleansed and healed so you can join the rest,” Greenie said.
Shane raised his fists to fight her off. Hesitating, he found it hard to throw a punch at the exact replica of his mother’s face.
“You’re not her,” he growled.
He threw a desperate right hook, knowing his hand would be incinerated. Instead, his attack passed right through Greenie.
“Do not resist, Shane,” she said with a soothing voice. “The discomfort is fleeting.”
She stepped closer and embraced him. Although she looked ethereal, her arms were solid and immovable. Heat flashed through Shane’s body, like every cell burned from the inside out. He tried to scream, but he was paralyzed. A green flash blinded him, and then he stood blinking at the warm sunlight.
His vision came into focus, the transparent, green version of his mother standing in front of him. Her kind eyes captivated him, conveying that everything would be all right. The pain in his ribs and neck was gone, as was the green wall of fire.
“Shane?” Kelly said.
Tears flooded his eyes as he turned. Kelly stood behind him. She wore fresh jeans and a yellow T-shirt with a pink flower on it, one he remembered her wearing to school. Steve stood next to her in his football jersey with Tracy on the other side.
“Look,” Laura said, holding up her arms. Something had regenerated her amputated limb.
“Is this
heaven?” Shane asked. “Are we dead?”
He looked back at the likeness of his mother, uncertain he could trust anything Greenie said to him.
“No,” Greenie replied, smiling at him like his mother did when he’d said something silly as a child. “Your species is far too precious to let die.”
“And them?” Shane asked.
The coliseum was intact again, and thousands of Anunnaki stood with confusion on their faces.
“They are the last survivors of their wicked species,” Greenie said with a cold tone. “We have spared them to help you.”
“How are they going to do that?” Tracy asked, stepping next to Shane. Jules was holding her hand, apparently rescued from under the platform along with the other Russians and Jones’ clones.
“We removed the slave gene from the humans and inserted it into their DNA,” Greenie answered. “The passengers of this sole-surviving Anunnaki ship will live out their days serving you. They will help you rebuild your world.”
Shane glanced around at his friends again. They were all alive, including Captain Jones. Jones’ brother and Pelros stood nearby as well, their eyes cast down in submission.
“The power’s back on,” Anfisa observed, pointing up at the golden skin of the Anunnaki spaceship.
“So wait…” Maurice said. “We control them,” he pointed at the Anunnaki, “so we control the ship?”
“Yes,” Greenie replied. “Your species will take a leap forward technologically. Be forewarned—do not abuse this gift. Embrace your humanity as you evolve and know that there is a dark side to your DNA, the portion that came from them.”
The shock faded, and Shane began to comprehend what had happened.
“It’s over,” he whispered. “Our parents?”
“It’s over, but we could not bring back any who died before we arrived,” his mother’s likeness said with a sorrowful tone. She looked at Kelly. “Everyone you’ve lost since this trial started is safe, including your sister.” She smiled.
“Thank you,” Kelly said, tears of joy in her eyes.
“It is up to you and your friends now, Shane,” Greenie continued. “Use the Anunnaki wisely and guide your people into the future.”
She reached out and cradled his face. Shane started to recoil, but knew by looking into the glowing, green eyes that she wouldn’t hurt him. Her hands felt just like his mom’s, and he could smell the lavender-scented lotion his mother used.
“Be good, Shane,” she said quietly. It was his mom’s voice.
His heart filled with joy. For an instant, he was certain it was her standing there, comforting him, assuring him everything would be all right.
His vision blurred, and she faded. He blinked to clear his eyes, and she was gone.
Also by N.W. Harris
The Last Orphans Series
Book 1: The Last Orphans
Book 2: The Harvest
Book 3: Enslaved
Book 4: Darkest Days
About the Author
Born at the end of the Vietnam war and raised on a horse farm near small town north Georgia, his imagination evolved under the swaying pines surrounding his family’s log home. On summer days that were too hot, winter days that were too cold, and every night into the wee morning hours, he read books. He lives in sunny southern California with his beautiful wife and two perfect children.
AuthorN.W.Harris
https://nwharrisbooks.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my wife Amanda, who reads everything I write and cheers me on through the joys and tribulations of being a writer. Thanks to Emily and Logan, my beautiful children, who constantly remind me that we are born with imagination abound, that we just have to remember to listen to our inner child and creativity will come naturally.
Thanks to the amazing Clean Teen Publishing team. Thanks Rebecca Gober, Melanie Newton, and Courtney Nuckels. And thanks to Cynthia Shepp, my editor. A special thanks to Clean Teen Publishing’s Marya Heiman for reading my rough drafts and helping me polish my story.
Thanks to Jennifer Anne Davis, my writing partner from the beginning and my friend of many years. And thanks to Celso who continues to review my rough drafts and offer enthusiastic encouragement. Also thanks to the beta readers at Clean Teen Publishing and Melanie Newton and the Clean Teen Publishing Street Team for reading and promoting my book—you are integral to the success of all CTP writers.
The Last Orphans Series was amazing! Are you at a loss for what to read next? Check out CATALYST by Kristin Smith. This first book in THE DECEPTION GAMES series, will keep you reading late into the night. Enjoy an exclusive excerpt here.
In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose genetic modification for their children, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn't fit in. As the only "normal" girl, everyone around her is a little too pretty, a little too smart, and a little too perfect. But when her father dies suddenly, her world changes in an instant.
Once I’ve made it past the gun-toting guard in the courtyard—with the aid of a few well-thrown, barrel-rattling rocks—I sprint soundlessly until I reach the keyless entry, the exact door I saw in the hologram. As I dial Chaz, I insert a tiny earbud into my right ear and wait until his face pops up on the screen.
“I’m here,” I say, trying to catch my breath. “What do you have for me?”
The clack, clack, clack of his fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard is his only response. I glance around.
What if there’s another guard I’m not aware of?
“Got it,” he declares in triumph.
A lock clicks, and the door falls open. A good thing considering there isn’t a handle on this side.
“Thanks, Chaz. You’re the best.”
I ease through and leave a small card in the doorjamb to keep it from completely closing. Before I take a step, I eye my surroundings.
“Do you see any lasers?” Chaz asks.
“Shh. I need to concentrate.”
I don’t see any lasers, but that’s what makes them so dangerous. You don’t see them. Not until it’s too late.
I pull a container of baby powder from my backpack and dump some into my hand. When I fling it out onto the floor in front of me, I see them then.
Intersecting lines of lasers positioned every foot or so.
I exhale in a slow rush. I can do this. I can beat this.
And as long as I don’t think about what these lasers can do to my skin—to my body—I can make it past.
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