Read an excerpt
Holding tight to his wife’s hand, Kane pulled her along. She
stumbled behind him, tripping on rubble, debris and concrete. He cast his eyes
toward the large metallic spacecraft sitting low in the sky above New York
City, blocking out the sun and moon, bathing everyone in perpetual darkness. He
glanced at the watch on his wrist. It was three twenty-one p.m.
Anna’s pace slowed before stopping altogether. Leaning over,
she took gulping breaths.
“Come on, baby,” he coaxed gently. “I know you’re tired but
we have to keep moving.”
“I’m trying to.” Anna’s chest heaved in and out.
Her dirty-blonde bangs clung to her flushed forehead. The
maternity jeans she had thrown on when they were forced to leave their
brownstone were now torn and covered in dirt. Her too-small maternity shirt
stretched over her pregnant abdomen. And after all this time, his clothes
weren’t any better.
His gaze lingered on her fragile form. His heart lurched in
his chest. The dark freckles dotting her face leaped out in contrast to her
pale skin. She needed food, water and rest. Now.
He blew out a heavy sigh. That’s not
going to happen anytime soon, he thought, taking in his surroundings.
Through the darkness, he caught a glimpse of his companions.
The group of seventeen men, women and children continued forward on their
pursuit across the city without even a backward glance to where he and Anna
lagged behind, again. The group of survivors should’ve been able to cover more
ground than they had. But their pace slowed considerably to account for Anna
being eight-and-a-half-months pregnant. Thanks to the in vitro fertilization,
she was pregnant with twins.
The delirious thought almost made him laugh out loud. They
had spent nearly thirty thousand dollars to get pregnant and a few months
later, hostile aliens had invaded Earth.
He tore his gaze away from the group and studied Anna. She
propped herself against a broken street sign. She coughed as she breathed in
the contaminants of the air.
A high pitched wheezing sound came from her lungs with every
labored breath that she took. Sweat dripped from her forehead to her brow. One
hand held the side of her head and the other rested on the side of her belly.
Although she hadn't said anything, he could tell she was more swollen today
than yesterday.
He placed a hand over her extended belly. “How are the
babies?”
He didn’t know much but he did know the babies should have
been moving under their touch. The lack of movement confirmed Anna couldn’t
continue any longer. It was too risky.
“They’re fine,” she said between pants.
Not believing her, he shook his head. “We have to st—”
Anna cradled his chin, bringing his face to look at her.
“Kane, I can do this.”
Although determination was written across her features, he
didn’t think she could go on for a few more minutes let alone hours. Breaking
eye contact, he worked the knapsack off her back. He slung it over his shoulder
along with his and scooped her up into his arms, ignoring her protests. Her
pregnant weight made his muscles flex tighter around her.
She stroked the side of his cheek. “Kane.”
He looked down into worried hazel eyes. “What?”
“You can't carry me forever.”
“Only for a little while. We need to keep moving, baby.”
She buried her head onto his chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too, always.”
She brought her head up to him again. A slight smile played
on her lips. “Even though I’m chunky and fat?”
“You’re pregnant and healthy.” He followed the trail of the
survivors. Their backs came in and out of view as the group traversed up and
around large slabs of concrete that had once been paved city streets.
She gave his biceps a light pat. “Nice save, counselor,” she
teased weakly.
“That’s me, Kane Epps, esquire. I can talk my way out of the
hairiest of situations.”
Her playfulness slowly disappeared as she scanned the
horizon. “I wish you could’ve negotiated us out of this one.”
Kane’s gaze followed hers, catching sight of the Statue of
Liberty in the distant horizon, toppled on its side.
In less than a week of their arrival, the aliens had wreaked
havoc on Earth. Crumbled buildings lay in heaps all around them. Alien weapons
uprooted city streets. Alien bombs leveled countries. Alien technology
disrupted communication, television, phones and radios. U.S. military forces
were swatted down as though they were flies.
Now, three months later, humans scavenged for basic
necessities.
“We’re going to be fine.” His voice came out tight and hard.
Anna rubbed his chest. “I know.” Her reassurance and faith
in him sent waves of tenderness through his heart. “You’ll take care of me.”
Right. He would take care of her.
Two hours later, he began to stumble. When his knee dropped
to the ground, he got up and gathered a protesting Anna back into his arms. His
jeans no longer offered a buffer between his knees and the concrete, as
evidenced by a bloody smear left as he’d stumbled to his feet. Each time he
fell he had a harder time getting up and continuing.
His knee hit the ground again, landing on broken concrete.
He let his head fall forward as he bit back a gasp of pain. A bead of sweat ran
from his short, white-blond hair down the bridge of his nose, where it lingered
before finally dripping to the ground. Closing his eyes, he willed the pain
away, clasping Anna tight to him. With renewed energy, Anna worked to pry his
hands from her arms and legs in an effort to free herself.
When he wouldn’t release her, she pleaded, “Honey. Let me
go. I can walk now.”
“No. I can do this.” He fought the urge to look at her,
fearing if he did she would see the pain that shone in in his eyes.
“Kane. Look at me,” Anna pleaded softly. Reluctantly, he
obeyed. “You need to let me walk.”
“You can't.”
“I have to.” She shook her head in determination. “I can't
let you kill yourself. Let me go.”
“Never. I love you.”
Anna let out an irritated sigh. “I love you too, but so help
me God, if you break a leg trying to carry me, I will kill you.”
His feisty pixie was back. Kane let her slide from his weary
arms to her steady feet. He wanted to stay with the group. Safety in numbers
sat better with him. But he also needed to rest and couldn’t risk losing his
wife or babies. The pace the group had set was grueling.
It’s not as if the group would miss them or anything. The
survivors would probably welcome losing the dead weight. It was Anna he feared
wouldn’t take the news too lightly.
Prepared for a fight, he fixed his stare on her. “Baby, I
think we need to find a place to hide for the night.”
Her gaze went from him to the retreating group. “But…but
what about them?”
“We’re going to go on our own.”
“Oh Kane.” Her lips began to tremble. Tears fell as he
squeezed her hand in his. “We can’t get separated from another group. Let me at
least try to walk.”
He kissed her dirty, pale cheeks. “No, baby. I won't risk
it. You and the babies mean more to me than they do. We can hide in one of the
abandoned houses.”
He pulled her in a tight embrace. He would do anything for
her. Keeping her safe had become his number-one priority.
She shook her head almost hysterically. “That group we saw a
week ago said the aliens are hunting humans and taking them away. I don’t want
to get caught. What’ll happen to us? What if the aliens are using humans as sex
slaves?” She inhaled sharply. “Or worse… What if they’re going to eat us? What
if—”
“Don’t start that. Those people don’t know what’s going on
any more than we do. We’ll stay hidden. Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.” He
ran his hand across her brow, wiping the long bangs away from her red-rimmed
eyes.
“What about the others?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Do you think
we’ll be able to catch up with them tomorrow?” She grimaced and rubbed her
belly again.
“Yeah, we can do that.” He had to make her believe the lie.
Whatever the case, they would never see them again.
It took more than an hour but they finally found a house
safe enough to enter without the fear it would crumble around them. Although
the modest brownstone leaned precariously on its side, it would do for the
night.
Kane entered, kicking the debris out of his way, Anna’s limp
hand planted firmly in his. The smell of mildew and decay overrode his senses.
The dirt that caked the furniture told of its abandonment. Dust wafted through
the air, stirring with each step they took. Her dainty hand that covered her
nose and mouth did nothing to keep it from settling in her lungs. Anna coughed
as he led her through to the living room.
“Here, sit down. I’m going to check the kitchen for food and
bottled water.” He let her go, settling her in front of a loveseat, the only
piece of furniture in the room that didn’t look as if it would break apart
under her pregnant weight. “Don’t go anywhere.” He didn’t want her exploring
before he could make sure the structure was safe.
He propped the two knapsacks next to her. His jangled and
clanked as he set it down. Hers made a soft rustling noise. As alien bombs had
rained from the sky and life as they knew was no more, he had grabbed supplies
and tools needed for survival, while she had wasted precious time taking
pictures out of frames and photo albums.
Anna’s warm smile was meant only for him as she eased onto
the dirty loveseat, pulling the knapsacks closer to her. “You can't get rid of
me that easily.”
He couldn’t help but return her smile. This was why he loved
her. Even in this, she still had her sense of humor.
He strode purposely through the double swinging kitchen
doors and headed straight to the cabinets. He wanted to let out a frustrated
scream as he flung open each one. Empty. Every cabinet he opened, empty. He
frantically scanned the room, locking on what he sought.
The pantry.
He made it to the door and swung it open. Empty.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
His knees buckled underneath his weight. He grabbed the
doorframe with a shaky grip. Anna needed to eat. She was already too weak to go
on.
His mind raced as perspiration formed across his brow.
Calm the fuck down.
He needed to stay in control or they were sure to die.
How long since she
last ate? Last night? What about water? This morning? Or was it yesterday
morning? Shit.
He gripped the doorframe harder. There was something about
the rule of three. What was it? Humans can live for three weeks without food,
three days without water and three minutes without air. Past three and you’re
dead. What about pregnant women?
Whiz, boom! A
high-pitched screeching cut through the air outside.
The house shook and rumbled as it was hit. Kane watched in
slow motion as the appliances on the countertop jostled and fell over. Seconds
slowly ticked by as a glass coffeepot hit the floor, shattering into a million
pieces on impact. A large mixer bowl fell to its side and rolled across the
countertop. Kane’s heart stopped.
They’re here.
“Kane! What’s happening?” Anna shrieked from the other room.
Snapping back to reality, he jerked upright. “Anna! We have
to get out of here now! The house is falling apart.” He bolted into the
kitchen, pushing a dinette table out of the way and jumping over the chairs.
“I’m afraid.”
He found Anna curled against the cushions, as if sinking
into them would save her from the attack.
Whiz, boom! A loud
noise slammed across his brain. His hands flew to his ears and his jaw tensed
shut. The house splintered and creaked around them. It could fall at any
moment.
A cloud of dust crept ominously through the air, emerging
from the back rooms, heading straight to them. Anna’s coughing racked her body
as the heavy cloud billowed through the hall to the living room.
“Come on, baby. We have to get moving. Now!” Dust mixed with
something acidic burned his throat with each breath he took.
He tried pulling her from the couch. She stayed planted in
her seat. Her dazed eyes darted from side to side. She wouldn’t budge.
“We have to hurry before the house collapses!” He tried to
get through to her.
After one blink, then two, she finally focused on him, put
her feet on the floor and leaned forward. He pulled both of her hands, lifting
her off the couch. Anna stumbled to stand.
“Our bags.” Tugging away from his grasp, she reached for
them.
“Leave them!”
With a shake of her head, she scrambled to retrieve the
bags. Kane snatched them out of her grasp and pulled her behind him. No more
wasting time, they needed to get out of this death trap.
He stopped short at the door. His hand froze on the doorknob.
This is exactly what
these bastards want.
Ignoring the heavy beating of his heart, the heavy pants
from his lungs…he listened. Anna’s breaths were harder and heavier than his.
Beside that…silence. He strained his ears to listen for any whizzing sounds,
the telltale sign of a spacecraft above.
“Did they leave?” Anna asked in a hope-filled whisper from
behind his shoulder.
“I’m not certain.”
He dared not move. They could still be out there, waiting.
“I think they’re gone. I don’t hear anything.” Relief was
apparent in her voice as she stepped away from him. He watched her ease onto
one of the broken stairs. “My stomach is hurting.” She lay back on her elbows,
rubbing her oversized belly.
“Stay put. Try to stay calm. Once I know for sure that
they’re gone, I’ll go out and find you some food and water.” He peered through
the peephole of the door.
Where are those
bastards?
“I don’t want you to leave me here alone. What if they come
back?”
“You need water.” He gave her a reassuring half-smile before
turning to the peephole. “Plus, you’re not getting rid of me that ea—”
A roar deafened his ears. Wood, metal and plaster erupted
through the air. Direct hit.
Pain shot through him as debris rained down. His hands flew
up to protect his face. He dropped to the floor, rolling to a fetal position.
The house creaked and rocked around him.
He strained to open his eyes. Dust settled in them and
burned. He snapped them shut.
“Anna!”
No answer. A dull ache thrummed in his ears.
Inhaling a lung full of dust, Kane coughed. “Anna! Come to
me.” He threw out his hand, grasping at air. “We have to get out of here!”
Nothing.
He forced his eyes open. A cloud of dust obstructed his
vision. The outline of the caved-in roof was the first thing he saw. He willed
himself to a standing position and stumbled forward with outstretched arms. If
he found the stairs he would find Anna.
“Anna! Anna! Answer me!”
His shoe brushed against something soft. Anna? His heart
dropped to his stomach. Where would he find a doctor? What if she needed medical
help? He grabbed at it.
An arm.
Anna.
Dropping to his knees, he frantically pushed the wood planks
and shingles from her body, throwing debris in every direction.
Anna, please baby, be
okay.
He pushed a piece of drywall off of her. His gaze settled on
the broken body lying sprawled at an odd angle.
“Nooooo!” He gathered the remains of his wife’s charred,
limp body. “Please God! No!”
