“Keep in touch. I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again before too long,” she says.
As Peterson and I walk toward the SUV, I glance back at Cassie, Max, Cecile, and Joe.
I walk Peterson to the front seat, and then say goodbye. “Thank you all. For everything.”
“You promise I can visit soon,” says Cassie.
“Definitely. Once I settle things.”
As I drive away, watching their figures fade in the rearview mirror, it feels like there's a ball wedged inside my throat. I didn't realize saying goodbye would be this hard.
I rest my hand on top of Peterson's as the dirt road turns to highway asphalt. I squeeze gently.
“It's going to be okay,” I tell him.
“Thank you,” he says.
Thirty-Six
Boulder, Colorado
I stride across the rooftop toward the figure leaning against the railing, peering down. It's been a day since I left Terranus.
And on that journey, I had time to think. To prepare what I'm about to say.
But it all flies out of my head when I actually glimpse Reed.
He doesn't notice me yet.
I stare at his profile. His perfect features. My eyes travel along his strong, warm arms. Arms that want to wrap themselves around me.
“Hey,” I say.
He turns and strides toward me, locking me in a tight embrace. “I’m so glad you're okay.” He hangs onto me, practically crushes me.
And I feel safe in his arms.
He pulls away to look at my face. “Did he hurt you?” He searches my eyes.
“No, I'm fine.”
He kisses me, and every nerve tingles. Before he pulls away, his lips linger. He tastes of salt and caramel.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he whispers, smiling. “I want to hear all about your time down there. I have a million questions. Tonight, we’ll crack a nice bottle of cabernet, I'll make you dinner, and you can tell me everything.”
He trails off, and concern creases his brow. “What's wrong? Did something happen?”
I pull away.
“Ida,” he says. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“I know you just got here. What am I thinking?” He slaps his palm against his forehead. “You must be exhausted. I've had a suite prepared for you, and everything you want is there. You should sleep, rest up. Anything you want. It's yours, just ask.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate it.”
He grips my hands in his. “I have so many ideas to tell you. When you called and told me about the people in Terranus and their abilities, my mind ran wild with ideas.”
He continues, “What you said about how they might be able to help with the colonization efforts. I completely agree.”
His eyes are bright and he sways with energy.
“And I have you to thank for that.” He raises my hands and kisses the tips of my fingers. “In fact, I carved out a new position on my executive team. You'll be my liaison with Terranus. You would start working—when you’re ready, of course—to integrate any Terranus recruits who want to live here and further our efforts. It's going to be amazing. We’ll be working side-by-side…”
I say nothing.
“And Lucas has produced larger quantities of the serum that blocks your nanotech from harming others. You’re no longer a danger to anyone if that’s been weighing on you.” He locks his gaze on mine. “You're being quiet.”
I would be so comfortable here.
“I’m moving fast, I know.” He kisses me again, and I lean into him, savoring his touch.
He is perfect. But not for me.
I break away and place my palms on his chest.
His gaze travels down to my hands. “Oh no,” he says. “The look on your face… You're going to crush me, aren't you?”
“I’m sorry, Reed.”
“What are you saying?”
“I can't stay here. My home is Spark City.”
“Is there someone else there?”
Casting my gaze down, I don't answer.
His eyes darken. “I waited for you. All these years.”
He covers my hands with his, leans his forehead against mine.
“I can wait longer,” he whispers.
He holds me for a long time.
Epilogue
Wyoming
I pull up to the ramshackle building on the side of the empty highway.
“I’ll just be a few minutes,” I tell Peterson.
He nods. “Take your time.” He puts earphones on and leans back against his seat. He listens to opera, says it relaxes him.
I approach the front door, but hesitate. The sign on the door says: Closed. But there are lights on inside.
I knock. The door is solid with no window, and I don't see any security cameras. It's a low-tech kind of place.
A woman with jet black hair answers the door. She has circles under her eyes and wears a faded gray tee-shirt. A yellow apron is tied around her.
“We’re closed,” she says. Then she starts to shut the door.
“Wait,” I say and shove my foot in the crack.
She looks at me again and then recoils. “You.” She backs away.
I hold up my hands to show I'm not dangerous. “Please, I won't hurt you. I'm the woman who hurt your husband. But it was an accident. I'm here to apologize and make things right.”
I linger in the doorway, not wanting to enter and scare her more than she already is.
She narrows her eyes. “I’ll call the cops.”
Behind her, baskets and vases of flowers cover a small table. A framed photo of Pete stands beside them. In it, he poses behind the bar.
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” My heart hangs heavy in my chest, threatening to weigh me down and root me to this spot forever.
She struggles to swallow. “He lasted two days. He was in a coma. The doctor said he could probably hear us. My boy and I stayed by his side. At least we had the comfort of saying goodbye to him.”
I lower my chin. “I know I'll never take away your pain. I'll never be able to truly repay you for the damage I caused. But I know you have a son and…I want to at least try to make things right.”
She tilts her head, her eyes brim with tears. “I’m well beyond anger. But I don't think you have anything to offer me.” She turns to close the door.
“This.” From my pocket, I pull out a rectangular silver bank card. I hold it out to her with two gloved fingers. “For your boy.”
She narrows her eyes and shakes her head. “I don’t want anything from you.”
"For your son, please.”
She wrings her hands. “Put it down there,” she says quietly, eying the table.
“Of course.” I gently place it next to a pink vase of yellow roses. I bow my head, turn, and retreat to the car.
The card is filled with nearly all of Vance Drem’s estate. She can afford any life she dreams of for her son.
Beside the car, I bend down and run my fingers through the parched rusty soil. I rise, eying the shack as the dust seeps from my hands, floating away in the wind.
I did what I could for Pete’s son. Will his future be bright or dark?
I toss my head back toward the sky. Strands of silver clouds shred the light blue haze. Storms head our way. But right now, I have hope for the future.
A new life stretches before me.
Gatz waits for me in Spark City.
I'm going home.
END OF BOOK FOUR
Dear Reader,
Thank you for following along on Ida’s journey.
I hope you enjoyed meeting the new cast of characters in Colorado, Tucson, and Terranus.
Did you like learning more about Ogre? Writing about Ida’s android companion has been so much fun.
Since Altered (Book 1), many readers have asked about Peterson and Reed. I didn’t want to leave you hanging, and I hope you enjoyed where their stories took
them.
Do you love reading about badass female characters in future worlds? Then you’ll definitely want to get signed up to my reader email list!
You’ll be the first to hear personal updates and when new books are ready.
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Cameron Coral
P.S. When you leave an honest review of this book, it means a lot. Thanks in advance :-)
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Preview:
I am fourteen when my mother leaves me in the hands of New York State because she can’t handle being a parent. Can’t blame her, I guess. Life in the late 2030s isn’t easy for anyone. Jobs are scarce and environmental disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes are the norm. Having a kid is just another burden in a crumbling mess of a world.
“Welcome to Woodlawn, Reed Reynolds,” Kilpatrick says my first day. I shake the head supervisor’s cold, moist hand while a creeping sensation rises in my throat.
My social worker, a kind lady named Maxine, assures me I’ll be in good hands. She winks goodbye. “It won't be long before a nice couple adopts you and takes you to your forever home.”
I nod despite my insides feeling like quicksand. Once Maxine lifts off in her air cruiser, Kilpatrick introduces me to the real Woodlawn. After handing me a scratchy used blanket, he leads me to my new room, bare except for two cots with worn foam mattresses that aren’t much thicker than a folded towel.
That’s when I meet my roommate, Zeke. He’s a year younger and looks like a frightened shelter puppy at first. Later, he confesses his relief I’m not a bully. We become fast friends. Bonding happens quickly when you’re both picked on by the older, bigger kids.
Zeke’s sister is Daria. She’s my age and blind, which makes life really difficult at Woodlawn. Zeke shakes his head, explaining that they’re a bonded sibling pair. According to him, they can’t be separated during the adoption process. That Daria is disabled means no one in their right mind would take them. I don’t know what to say when he mentions it; I suspect he’s right.
I am sixteen when a red-headed girl named Ida arrives. She’s different from the others, more of a loner type. But there is something about her, and I follow her around in the exercise yard, always trying to catch her attention. She keeps ignoring me until the day she stands up for me against the biggest bully at Woodlawn—Marc Mal.
The few times Ida actually meets my gaze, I see loneliness in her eyes and something else. Bitterness? She's had a rough past like a lot of kids here.
Too bad she doesn’t stay long. I’ve only known her for a few weeks when a couple adopts her. But four months later, she sends a letter, and we keep in touch. The craziest thing of all? She’s been recruited into the military and is now in basic training.
I miss Ida like anything, but her story gives me hope. Hope for a better future outside Woodlawn.
And then the Fall happens.
The Fall—the collapse, the invasion—whatever you call it, happens real slow at first.
It is early days, soon after Ida’s third letter arrives, and the adults who work here look nervous. Some of them stop showing up, which is odd because Woodlawn runs like clockwork. Even Kilpatrick, who usually enjoys taunting us, becomes distracted. He spends time alone, holed up in his office, listening to news reports. Something is happening. I don’t know what, but it seems like a big deal.
Today, after getting beaten up and sent to the nurses station, I find out…
Grab your free ebook copy now! Visit: https://cameroncoral.com/sign-up/
Also by Cameron Coral
Rogue Spark Series:
ALTERED (Book 1)
BRINK (Book 2)
DORMANT (Book 3)
SALVAGE (Book 4)
AFTER WE FALL (A Rogue Spark Novel) - get it for free on CameronCoral.com
Anthologies:
Dark Shadows 2: Voodoo and Black Magic of New Orleans (An Authors on a Train Short Story Collection)
About the Author
Cameron Coral writes sci-fi and fantasy and lives in Chicago.
She's the author of the action-packed Rogue Spark series about Ida Sarek—a soldier-medic in the year 2044 with a knack for getting into trouble, sticking up for the underdog, and kicking butt!
When she isn't writing about fierce women with troubled pasts and mad fight skills, Cameron feeds her muse by reading, binging sci-fi series, traveling, and kickboxing.
Want a free novel, exclusive advance copies of her new books, and occasional rants about why robots are awesome?
Visit her website: CameronCoral.com
Acknowledgments
I owe a debt of gratitude to you, dear reader, for taking a chance and picking up this series. I hope these pages transported you to another world for a bit and that you enjoyed the ride.
Ida Sarek is a character who’s been bouncing around in my head for many years. She’s an amalgamation of all the strong, ass-kicking sci-fi heroines I love: Ripley, Kara Thrace, Molly Millions, Katniss Everdeen, Leia, Jessica Jones, Sarah Connors, Trinity, Dana Scully, and many more I’m forgetting.
Writing can be a lonely endeavor, and I’m truly grateful for the support from fans, family, and friends who cheer me on.
Steve my husband is ever patient and supportive and lovely.
Special thanks to my tremendous editing team: James Millington, Patricia Eddy, and Matt Rott. Thank you!
Shout out to my dear friends Heather Fortier and Simon Ferns who have read the entire series and offer constant support and encouragement. Love you:-)
The amazing covers for the Rogue Spark Series are due to the fine work of Christian Bentulan at CoversbyChristian.com. You made Ida come to life and truly captured her badassery!
Finally, I dedicate this series to my stepdad, Mike Roberto, who passed away in 2014. One Christmas, he gave me a gift that changed everything—Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. Wow, how I loved that book when I was eight. I didn’t understand everything I read, but the tiny spark of an idea flowered: I want to be a writer someday.
If you enjoyed this series and would like to hear more from me, I extend a warm welcome to join my email newsletter. It takes a minute to sign up. Just visit CameronCoral.com and you’ll find a sign-up button. You’ll also get a free novel!
I send emails every week or two about fun stuff—pictures, videos, and personal updates. Often, I share flash fiction, short stories, or rants about why robots are awesome. You’ll see cosplay pics from when I attend comic conventions.
The cool thing is, I’ll never spam you. I take your email privacy very seriously, and I have a detailed privacy policy on my website. You can unsubscribe at any time.
But I hope you stick around, because I have a lot to share in the years to come.
Warmly,
Cameron Coral
P.S. When you join my newsletter list, you get a full-length novel that you can download to your computer, phone, or e-reader. Just head to my website: CameronCoral.com
P.P.S. Have you ever left a review for a book you like? If you have, I promise that writer loved you for it. Reviews are how independent authors get the word out. We don't have publishers; we depend on people like you writing reviews to let other people know we're out here and you like what we do.
Also, if you have questions about the book or Ida or just want to say “hi,” send me an email anytime at [email protected]
Copyright © 2019 Cameron Coral
All rights reserved. No part of these books may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places and dialogue
are drawn from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
For more information:
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The Rogue Spark series Box Set Page 61
