Inhabitable (Invasion Survivor Book 2)

by Hayley Lawson

  Paige jumped a little, wrinkling her nose as if she just got an idea.

  She looked really cute doing that, AJ thought. But unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one who noticed. Why is this Dave character around so much?

  “Paige is yours!” Francis said, voicing his own opinion, but AJ brushed him off. Now that he could do that, he welcomed the opportunity.

  “Not now, buddy. I’m enjoying my moment of jealousy. But you really think she’s mine?”

  “She is your Seedling,” the alien replied.

  “Ok, you ruined this moment for me. Go back to your corner, baby.”

  “As I see it,” Paige said, snapping him from his reverie. “The only ones that can move around freely are the guards.”

  “So?” Dave prompted.

  “So, we get one,” she said flatly.

  “Excuse me?” AJ and Dave said almost simultaneously. They both frowned at each other.

  Paige continued, unaware of the moment of awkwardness between AJ and Dave. “We get ourselves a guard’s uniform. That would allow us to walk out of here.”

  AJ had to admit, it sounded simple enough, but that plan had more holes than Swiss cheese.

  “Ok, so, let’s just go to the Army R Us and get ourselves a couple threads,” Dave said.

  AJ really wished he could dislike the guy, but he was hilarious.

  Paige glared at him. “I don’t see you coming up with anything.”

  Looking around the room, inspiration struck AJ. “What about her?” AJ gestured with his head.

  “Yes!” Paige exclaimed quietly, but then forced herself to calm down. “I noticed earlier. She’s close to my mom’s height and body type.”

  “And since your mom is the only true adult in our little group, who better to impersonate a guard?” Dave finished.

  “Exactly,” Paige said with a smile.

  They all nodded, pleased with that idea.

  AJ, you are a genius. Well, thank you very much, AJ.

  Embracing his two new friends, he steered them in the right direction. “So, how are we going to take what we need?” he asked.

  Dave smiled. “We would need a distraction.”

  “Oh, I think I can make that happen,” Paige chimed in, looking at her mother.

  Paige and Dave both turned toward him again. Glancing at the guard, AJ was relieved the guard was still looking at Paige’s mother, exclusively.

  So, Francis isn’t the only one who was wary of the woman, AJ mused. Good to know.

  “So, the plan is simple,” Paige started. She sounded like a football coach. “Dave, AJ, I want you to be ready to jump on the guard when I give you the signal.”

  “Which will be what exactly?” Dave inquired.

  “Oh, you’ll know it when you see it,” she replied with a grin. “Ready?” Paige asked.

  Dave nodded, and AJ started to, but he thought of something else. “Wait up.” Paige looked at him questioningly. “Do we really need to take a bus to Maryland?”

  Paige and Dave both frowned at him, so he rushed to explain. “Look, based on your appearances—” he waved in front of them, pointing at their bloody, dirty, shredded clothes “—I will assume that the outside world is not so safe at the moment.”

  They both shrugged. “It’s like a walk through the park,” Dave replied. “If the park was inside Hellraiser and all other horror movie characters came out to play as well.”

  Lovely. AJ really didn’t need to hear that. Dave really knew how to paint a picture for him.

  “But what other choice do we have?” Paige countered.

  AJ grinned. “How do you feel about a plane hijack?”

  * * *

  Paige must have heard that wrong because AJ couldn’t possibly mean what he just said. How could they possibly hijack a plane? She felt ridiculous for even thinking something like that.

  “A what?” she asked.

  “Didn’t you hear all those planes landing?” AJ said.

  “Yes, but what about it, man?” Dave interjected. “You want us to waltz into one of those big airbuses and take it? Are you a pilot by chance? Because neither one of us are.”

  “No, don’t be ridiculous. I was thinking more along the lines of taking Air Force One and making the pilot take us to Maryland,” he delivered with utmost confidence.

  Paige waited for the punchline, but he was dead serious.

  “The president is here?” Dave asked in wonder.

  AJ shook his head. “Nope, but Tilley is,” AJ explained. “I saw her speaking with Willow.”

  Paige’s eyes widened in surprise. “As in the president’s only daughter?”

  AJ nodded. “Yeah.”

  Paige then repeated AJ’s words inside her head.

  “Willow has some classes with her. They’re friends.” Paige told AJ.

  Well, as much as you can be friends with someone who was constantly monitored and a daughter of the most powerful man in the world.

  “Perfect,” AJ said grinning.

  Paige somehow doubted that she was just going to let them do as they pleased. No one was that cool.

  “I don’t think it’s called Air Force One if the president isn’t on board,” Dave said, making a face.

  “Semantics,” AJ countered. “This is the better choice.”

  For whatever reason, Paige agreed. “Do you think we could convince her to come with us?” Paige asked.

  AJ shrugged. “Maybe, if Willow convinces her to talk with us.”

  “There’s a lot of maybes in this plan,” Dave grumbled.

  “But it’s still the only one we have,” Paige countered.

  “Screw it. Let’s do it,” Dave said with a sigh, and AJ nodded in response.

  Paige felt nervous as hell, but she nodded. “Ok. Fan out and wait for the distraction.”

  AJ went to sit at his previous place, and Dave went to his brother, Peter. Once Paige was alone, she took out her cell phone instead of setting things in motion. Paige felt the sudden urge to call her dad. He probably won’t be able to pick up. Just as she thought that, her father answered.

  “Paige?” he said in a hushed voice. “Where are you?”

  “We’re at Fort Hamilton, trying to board a plane to get to you.”

  “Good,” he sounded relieved. “Please hurry. The first spacecraft will be launched soon, heading to the mothership.”

  A mothership? she thought.

  “Is that where we’ll be?” Just on a spacecraft, drifting through space as our planet is destroyed. That was one depressing thought.

  “No, we’ll be going to Mars, actually,” her father replied. For some reason, that made her smile.

  “Dad, I love you.” Paige felt compelled to tell him.

  “You too, honey. Take care of your mother and sister.”

  “Will do.” And the rest of the people I invited to come with us, she added mentally.

  “Hurry, we don’t have a lot of time,” he said, and the phone went dead.

  Someone must have been onto him, Paige thought, returning the phone to her pocket.

  Knowing her father was still alive and well gave her the necessary strength to move. And just like that, it was game on.

  Chapter Eight

  Slowly, Paige made her way toward Willow and Angela, trying to find the best way to get her on board with their crazy plan.

  That’s it, Paige thought to herself. A direct approach would be the best.

  Angela looked at her disapprovingly, clearly not liking that she’d spent all this time with AJ, but Paige ignored that. She trusted AJ, she trusted her mom, and that was it.

  “Mom… listen to me. I need you to go crazy,” Paige told her in a hushed voice.

  “Huh? Right now?” Angela replied, looking at her questioningly.

  “Trust me,” Paige insisted with a nod. “Just go nuts,” she added with a wink.

  Angela shrugged and nodded without another thought. “I guess I can do that.”

  Immediately, she started scr
eaming at AJ, cursing him, quickly attracting the full attention of the guard.

  “You don’t belong here!” Angela screamed at the top of her lungs. “You’re with them, spying for the Shadow Men!”

  AJ and Dave were taken by surprise by this ruckus but recovered quickly, realizing that was the moment they were waiting for.

  “I want you to stay away from my daughters!”

  Paige felt awful for AJ, for having to hear all those hurtful things. Angela then started to advance, as if wanting to attack AJ, but the guard rushed past Paige. She seemed pissed she had to intervene again, and Paige casually put her foot out to trip the guard. Not paying attention to the floor, the guard tripped and went down hard. As the guard laid there, motionless, Paige really hoped she hadn’t harmed her too badly.

  “Help me; she fainted,” Paige called out.

  Naturally, Dave and AJ rushed to help. The other kids in the room let out a cry of shock.

  “She’ll be ok,” Paige said, trying to reassure them with a smile.

  “Put her on that bed over there,” Paige said, pointing to the corner of the room.

  Dave and AJ easily completed the task, and Paige started to meticulously relieve her from her uniform while her mother still ran around the room, talking crazy and creating a distraction. Paige started to worry she would attract other guards to come, which would crap all over their plan. “Mom, you can stop now,” Paige said, and just like that, her mother calmed down and grinned.

  “How was that?” Angela asked.

  “Perfect. Come,” Paige said.

  Once they were beside the bed with the unconscious guard, Paige grabbed all the clothes and handed them to Angela.

  “Mom, put these on, please,” Paige instructed. She took the guard’s gun and shoved it in the back of her jeans. She then took the guard’s blue ID bracelet and gave it to her mother.

  Angela wasted no time with the unnecessary questions and started stripping right in front of the guys.

  Oh, for crying out loud, Paige cringed inwardly.

  “Mom! Not here. Over there,” she said, pointing to the corner of the room that had a little drape.

  Angela rolled her eyes. “Paige, really? It’s just the human body,” she said, continuing to strip. Paige sighed.

  The guys turned their heads and pretended not to see, busying themselves with other tasks.

  “We need red bracelets,” Paige realized, showing her blue one. AJ sprinted to some kids and after convincing them took theirs.

  * * *

  AJ felt a massive adrenaline rush after that little scene Paige orchestrated. It was crazy, but in a good way. They needed a couple of red bracelets, so he volunteered to get some. He could see Paige felt slightly guilty, not only for taking advantage of her mother and her animosity toward him, but for AJ as well. But he didn’t take it to heart, at least he tried not to.

  “That woman is dangerous and not who you think she is,” Francis said, eavesdropping on his private thoughts like always.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” AJ demanded.

  “She is different,” Francis replied critically.

  AJ sighed. “Whatever, man. If you don’t have something helpful to say, shut the hell up. I’m busy.”

  AJ approached some teenagers. “Hey, guys,” he said, greeting them.

  “Is that lady alright? Should we call someone?” The only girl in a group of kids who were probably Willow’s age was the one to reply.

  “She’s fine, just fainted,” he added, sensing they wanted to know if she had the virus as well. “Look, I need your help.” AJ decided to jump right in.

  They all looked at him with curiosity.

  “These red bracelets,” he said, holding up his wrist. “Could you lend me a couple?”

  A teenage boy looked at him suspiciously. “And why do you need them?” he demanded in a cocky tone.

  AJ had to work really hard not to laugh, because once upon a time, he was that kid. His parents would argue that he still was. “I need them, so my friends and I can hijack an airplane,” AJ said flatly.

  He decided not to lie to them, and their eyes widened in surprise. It was a bit of a gamble but... It paid off.

  “Wicked,” that same boy said, his tone turning to something a bit more complimentary. He took off his bracelet and handing it over.

  AJ nodded. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

  “Here, take mine as well,” the girl said, surprising him. She looked proper in her school uniform. He imagined she probably had all the good grades and followed rules, but he was glad there was a rebellious side in her as well.

  Glancing at Paige, he realized he kind of liked that in a girl. “Thank you,” he said to her, and without further delay, returned to his group.

  * * *

  Paige grinned once AJ returned, holding two red bracelets. She and Dave quickly swapped their blue ones for the new ones. They needed to blend in, so they could move around freely.

  I hope this plan works, Paige thought.

  “How did you convince them?” Dave asked.

  AJ shrugged. “I told them the truth.” Paige could only stare at him, which made him grin in return. “Come on, no rest for the wicked,” AJ said.

  Paige shook her head, bringing herself back to the present. “Right,” she said as she snapped into action, going to help her mother.

  It took a few minutes for Angela to dress, and with each layer, Paige witnessed a transformation that was beyond scary.

  Angela could actually pass for a guard, and with flying colors at that.

  “Where are we going now?” Angela asked.

  “You have to get us to the planes,” Paige replied.

  They figured Tilley would already be there, so Willow would be able to speak with her. Paige briefed her as much as she could in the small amount of time they had.

  “But what if she refuses?” Willow asked.

  “We’ll deal with that possibility if it happens,” Paige replied, but she really hoped they wouldn’t have to.

  “Straighten up!” Angela ordered. All of them immediately straightened, even though she winked afterward. Checking her out from head to toe, from the clothing to the difference in her expression, Paige thought her Mom looked like she’d been training for this her entire life.

  Well, looking back… In a way, she did. And all those years of my life, Paige thought, we all thought that she was crazy.

  “All ready to go?” Paige asked. Everyone in the group nodded and went to collect their bags. “Great, let’s go.”

  Just as Paige spoke, her mother shook her head. “One minute,” she said, moving away from them as she looked for something.

  “Seriously?” Paige grumbled when her mother returned with a teddy bear.

  Angela smiled as she pulled a gun from inside the teddy bear.

  “Nice,” Dave said with a smile, and Paige couldn’t help but agree.

  Angela gestured to her pile of bags with her newly acquired gun. “Be a dear and carry those for me,” she said to AJ, surprising everyone—AJ included.

  “Yes, Mrs. Moon,” he mumbled, rushing to comply.

  Since her mother had no trouble getting right into character, she led them all out of the room and into the corridor without a fuss. They all followed Angela’s instructions and walked in a straight line as if they were in elementary school again.

  “Mom, you know the way, right?” Paige asked, though it would have been a bit too late had she not.

  Honestly, it was a miracle they’d survived this far since they clearly didn’t know what they were doing, and every plan was made up on a whim. But her mother nodded, making Paige breathe out a sigh of relief.

  “I memorized the layout. It was on the wall when we first came in,” she said like it was no big deal.

  Paige’s eyes bulged, but she was grateful.

  Turning this way and that, Angela led them to the other kids who were lined up with red bracelets. They were all standing in front of huge gra
y planes. They were definitely military, but Paige could spot a smaller one as well. That one stood out against the others.

  That’s the one, Paige guessed. The president’s plane.

  She turned her gaze back toward the other planes, checking out the procedure involved with getting aboard. She watched as each kid approached the guard at the door of the plane, gave his name, that the guard checked the info on his tablet.

  But not everyone got on board.

  Paige noticed at least five kids who gave their names and were turned away. They had to get out of the line.

  They’re being escorted back to the rooms, Paige guessed, which saddened her.

  Luckily for them, they weren’t trying to board one of those planes. Their suicide mission involved an Air Force One aircraft.

  Paige nudged the guys, nodding toward their destination. That particular plane was heavily guarded, which made them royally screwed if they didn’t come up with a plan.

  “We’ll never get through that,” Paige said what she was certain was on everyone’s minds.

  “Not necessarily,” AJ said, grinning.

  Paige turned around to see what he meant. That was when she noticed Tilley, the president’s daughter. She was being escorted by two secret service agents toward the plane.

  This is our only chance, Paige thought, still not knowing what to do.

  “Ok, that’s your cue, Willow,” Paige prompted.

  “Ok,” Willow replied a bit nervously before she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

  “Tilley!” Willow called out, jogging toward her.

  The secret service agents became visibly tense, but Tilley calmed them once she saw who it was. She smiled. “Willow,” she said, greeting her friend with a smile.

  Paige couldn’t hear the whole conversation, but they were both smiling, so she hoped everything was fine. While they spoke, Paige noticed Willow taking her phone out. Twenty seconds later, Paige got a text.

  Confused, she saw it was from her. <>

  Willow turned toward Tilley, and she laughed even harder as if Tilley had said the most hilarious thing ever.

  What the hell? Paige reread it a couple of times, but she still didn’t understand what they wanted from her—even though the text was pretty explicit. Both girls looked relaxed, like they were glad to be chatting with one another though the world was ending. Willow waved at them, gesturing with her hand for the others to join them, and her mother escorted them over. The secret service agents stopped them at a certain point, but Willow whispered something in Tilley’s ear, and she nodded.