(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

The air in the parking lot smelled like sour milk and old garbage, making Emily’s stomach twist. The bright sun lit up the outside of the convenience store, making the inside seem even darker and more foreboding. Gone were the days when a building like this seemed a welcome break during a long trip.

Up ahead, Andrew moved almost too fast, swinging the hatchet back and forth like he owned the world now. She wished he would just disappear into it.

Once they were inside, her dad swept his flashlight across shelves that were stripped nearly bare, catching dust motes that danced like tiny ghosts.

James snorted. “Gotta love a country that uses a national emergency as an excuse to shop.” He shrugged a shoulder. “But, hey, we’re here too.”

Emily nodded. This may be the last supply stop before they got home. “Can’t pass up the need to add to your prepper pantry?” she teased.

“Semi-prepper. It was supposed to be just in case. I thought maybe a layoff or another pandemic. I never figured on all this.”

“I know Mom was fed up with it, but it’s pry a good thing we have everything from bandaids to bubblegum. And it’ll last for months.”

“I did take a good chunk of her basement,” he said with a chuckle. Then, he ran a hand over his face. “Maybe she’ll forgive me now. But I’m worried it’s not enough with all this happening. What will we do next month or next year?”

“It’s okay, Dad. We’ll worry about that after we get home. I’m sure you’ll come up with a plan.”

The beam of James’s flashlight caught Andrew standing across the store. He stood in the shadows. Emily noticed her dad’s eyes narrow. She felt bad that he had one more thing to worry about.

“Check every nook and cranny,” her mom whispered from one aisle over. “Some good stuff might have gotten shoved into weird places.” It had become a habit now—to whisper—just in case.

Michael crouched near a toppled display, his small hands digging through scattered packages. “Dad! Look!” His excited whisper carried too far in the empty store. “Snickers. The wrapper’s still good.”

“Quiet,” James warned, but softened when he saw his son’s face fall. “Good find, buddy. Grab a few.”

“Dad,” Emily said. “I think I’m going to check out the pharmacy.”

“Okay. Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ll check out over-the-counter stuff, too.” On Emily’s way to the pharmacy, she passed Andrew.

“Found something back there,” he murmured, using his thumb to point over his shoulder. The door behind him opened to utter darkness. “Medical supplies, I think. Come see?”

“Um.” Emily glanced toward her family, who were preoccupied with their own finds. “I should check with Dad first.”

Andrew’s hand closed around her wrist. “It’ll just take a second.” He pulled her closer to where the shadows gathered, thick and black. “Could be important. You might know better than me.”

Emily stepped back, trying to break his grasp without seeming to panic. If she panicked, he would think he won.

Andrew’s face twitched like a smirk was trying to escape. He gave her arm a hard pull, then dropped it. It surprised her, and she stumbled forward through the grimy door into the storage room.

It was a mess. Shelves knocked over. Boxes smashed open. Two small windows let in a little light. And worst of all, it smelled like rot, like old fruit and wet cardboard.

Andrew turned into the room. “I got first dibs,” he says.

“What do you mean? We’re supposed to share everything,” she snapped back.

Andrew laughed like he thought she was joking. “You worry too much.”

He pushed ahead.

Her pulse thrummed. Something told her to leave—get out now. But she couldn’t let him win.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“There’s more back here,” he said, weaving past more boxes, these still taped up.

She followed, but stayed on the opposite side of the stuff, nearer to the door. An escape route.

“We should get Dad.”

“If we grab some stuff, we can show him.”

It sounded reasonable. And when he stopped and rifled through a box, it seemed like the medicines were right there.

But then she glanced from the box to the far wall, realizing how large the room was. Shadows shrouded the back area of the room.

“Wait up,” she said. He hesitated, but something in his stance seemed too ready. It unnerved her.

She glanced at the door—still close enough for her to make a run for it.

She glanced at Andrew. He stood there, staring at her. “C’mon, Em. It’s safe.”

“It’s okay. I’ll hang back here.”

“Suit yourself,” he said with a smirk.

A long pause hung between them. He began to move toward her, casually at first. Then, with more intention, closing the distance in long strides.

Emily’s gut told her to get out of there. Fast.

She stepped back, eyes darting to the door. Ready to make a run for it. He planted himself in her path, blocking her escape.

Her heart stuttered, skipped, then hammered in panic.

“What are you doing?” She tried to sound steady, but her voice cracked.

He grinned, but it wasn’t the same as before. It’s sharp now, unsettling. The face of someone who knew he’s in control.

“I’ve been watching you,” he said. “I always have.”

“What?” Her voice was faint, disbelieving.

“I watched you at school.” His eyes flickered in the half-light. “Thought you were too good for everyone. Too good for me.”

The room spun, and the space between them seemed to shrink.

“But now,” he added, low and satisfied. “Everything’s changed.”

“Stay away from me,” she warned him. Gearing herself up, she tried to dart past him, but he moved and blocked her again.

“You like running so much,” he said, mocking her. “But where are you gonna run now?”

Panic built in her throat. “I’m serious. Let me out.”

“You don’t get it.” His voice dripped with amusement, like she was too stupid to understand. “The EMP—this world—it’s the best thing that could’ve happened. Now there’s no one to stop us. No rules.”

Frantic, she glanced around for something to use against him. “You’re sick.”

“We can do whatever we want.”

“No,” she argued. “You can’t.” Emily shoved at him with all the strength she had.

He laughed as he grabbed her wrist. “I knew you’d get scared. But you’ll get used to it. It’ll be okay.”

Terror choked her words. “Help!” she yelled, hoping someone would hear. But her voice sounded weak even to herself.

Andrew twisted her arm, turning her so he could cover her mouth.

She screamed.

“You’re just gonna waste your breath.” His expression shifted, became more intense, darker. “Nobody can hear us in here.”

“You’re wrong!” She struggled to get away from his constraining hand so someone would hear her. She fought him. He slammed her back against the wall, leaving her breathless.

He brought his face close to hers. “No, Em. You are.”

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily’s eyes narrowed as she watched Andrew saunter away. What was his problem coming over here and asking what was wrong? If he had any sense at all, he’d have figured out by now that the problem was him.

He moved through the group like a predator, scanning everyone as if he assessed their vulnerabilities. His calculating gaze flicked her way for a moment, sending shivers down her spine.

Yet the others in the group nodded at Andrew or gave him a friendly glance.

She shook her head. No one else sees it.

Well, at least she had Dad on her side. A small smile played on her lips. He’d pretended to be asleep when Andrew strolled over here, but she knew better. Dad had been listening to every word.

Too soon, the fifteen minutes of rest were up. The group rose, some stretching after a brief nap, and gathered their things to continue their journey.

Emily kept her eye on Andrew while keeping her distance. She glanced at her mom and dad, who walked together a few yards in front of her. It was time to tell them what she knew.

After jogging up to them, she kept her voice low and said, “Hey. Umm . . . so Dad, you’re right. Andrew is . . . I don’t know. Weirder than usual.”

Liz looked surprised. “Has he always been weird? I haven’t noticed anything odd about him.”

“It’s subtle. But it’s there. And since all this happened,” she said, waving her hand around, “it’s worse.” She explained his stalking behavior yesterday in the crowd and what he had said about loving the violence of this upside-down world.

James instantly frowned and shot a glare at the boy.

“Dad! Stop being so obvious,” Emily fiercely whispered, tugging at his arm.

“I sensed something was wrong. I just didn’t realize it was that bad. We need to keep an eye on him.”

Elizabeth’s brow furrowed. “That comment is weird. I hope he would only say that because he thought it would impress you, for some reason. He has a serious crush on you, Em. Did you know that?”

Emily’s faced flamed. “I suspected, but I hardly give him the time of day. Sooo . . . I hoped he’d get over it.”

Her mother patted her on the shoulder. “I agree that his behavior is odd enough to keep an eye on him.”

After traveling a couple of miles down the road, Andrew paused several times to gaze into the forest. Turning to the group, he announced, “I’m going to scout ahead,” and departed without waiting for a reply.

Michael stared into the woods. “What did he see?”

“That’s what I’m wondering, son.” He turned to the others. “We’d better stay alert. I wish he would’ve told us what he saw.”

Andrew had been absent for quite some time. Emily assumed he had used the pretext of scouting ahead as a way to take a bathroom break. However, he had been gone far too long for that to be the case.

He reappeared as the sun dipped in the sky and the tree’s shadows began stretching across the road. She spotted him cutting across a field, moving quick. He was holding something in his hand and he swung his arm back and forth.

Her heart thumped hard and fast. She’d really hoped he wouldn’t come back. She exchanged a nervous glance with her father.

When Andrew got closer, James asked, “What took so long?”

“I got turned around.” Andrew’s gaze flitted to Emily. “It’s safe up there though, and I found something useful.” He lifted his arm, showing off his prize.

Elizabeth eyed it with apprehension. “Where’d you get it?”

“Bunch of crap left on a farm back there,” he said, grinning. He swung the long-handled hatchet back and forth a few more times. “Figured we could use it.”

James stepped forward, a deep frown covering his face. “You sure you should’ve taken it?”

“Like I said,” Andrew replied. “Nobody around. Nobody to complain.”

“Looks sharp,” James said, eyeing the hatchet.

The boy grinned. “Yeah, it is.”

“It’ll be useful to use when we need to gather firewood.”

“It will.” The kid gave the hatchet an intense glance, an eerie smile on his face. “And other things.”

Emily looked at her father. His dark eyes mirrored the alarm she felt.

Her mind raced. She’d been right to keep an eye on Andrew. This just proved it.

As the others gathered around, the unease seemed to spread. They all fell into step, the tension thick as fog around them. Michael stuck with the family. The only one blissfully unaware of the trouble brewing in the undertones of their conversations.

But all Emily could see was that long-handled hatchet swinging back and forth, back and forth, as they walked. And Andrew’s eyes watching.

At the next rest stop, Emily sat with her family and studied Andrew from under her eyelashes. Her mind raced. Suspicions clawed at her thoughts.

Her mother leaned towards her father and whispered, “Andrew ramped up to a weapon fast.”

James nodded, eyes never leaving Andrew. “Too fast.”

Emily knew they all felt it—tension twisting tighter around them like a coiled spring ready to snap. She felt more at ease about her dad’s next topic of conversation, even if it had its own uncertainties.

Raising his voice to be heard over the other’s conversations, James announced to the group, “If I estimate correctly, we only have about two hours before we get back home. I guess we’ll all be splitting up soon.”

The reality of the upcoming goodbyes seemed to settle over everyone like a gentle, melancholy cloud.

“I’m already missing Will,” Nancy said with a wistful sigh. “And he only left a few hours ago. I’ll miss all of you, too. It may have only been a couple of days, but I feel like we’re family now with everything we’ve gone through.”

“I feel the same way,” Liz added, her tone full of sincerity. Most of the others nodded their heads, a silent chorus of agreement, as they exchanged smiles over the memories they’d made during the short time they’d been together.

“I can’t believe we’ll be home tonight!” Michael giggled, his face lit with excitement.

“It’ll be different,” Emily said, not wanting him to be too disappointed. “No electric, probably no water. So don’t expect it to be a lot different from what it is here.”

“I’ll have my nice cushy bed! And there might be some juice left in my chargers for me to play a video game! That’s a lot compared to being on the road.” His eyes sparkled at the thought of his own room instead of resting on the ground.

“Well, you’ve got me there.” Emily smiled and tousled his hair. “I wouldn’t mind my cushy bed, either.”

Suddenly, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end and quickly looked at Andrew. He watched her - with a strange, intense expression. Something dark and unfathomable. Something she couldn’t place.

An icy shiver raced along her spine. She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill creeping through her. He made her skin crawl.

She wanted him gone.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

“We’ll take the first watch,” James said to Emily. “The rest can try to get some sleep. We hadn’t planned on stopping for the night, but maybe this is better, anyway.”

His daughter nodded, but trembled slightly. James understood. Just because they were inside didn’t mean they were completely safe.

He threw one last log on the fire Ian had started and tamped it down. With no blankets, the group was likely to get a little chilly through the night. Then he sat back down on the floor next to Emily and leaned against the wall.

Across the room, Liz and Micheal used two of the couch pillows for comfort. Liz had given Nancy the third one, and the others used their backpacks.

Not an especially cozy situation, but better than it could be. And they had four sturdy walls between them and whoever had been stalking them outside.

He glanced Andrew’s way. The boy had his back to them, his head on his backpack. James’ jaw tightened a bit. He’d have to keep an eye on him. Something about the boy unsettled his daughter.

James woke to Elizabeth’s lilting laugh. He rubbed his eyes and stretched, knowing he’d have to make do with the four hours of sleep he’d gotten once Ian and Andrew took over the watch. To his relief, no one outside had disturbed the group through the night.

He glanced at his wife as she stood beside Andrew. Her blue eyes sparkled as she chatted animatedly with the boy.

“So, Andrew,” Liz said, “what were your plans before all this happened? College?”

Andrew’s easy smile never faltered. “Yes, ma’am. I was hoping to study engineering. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, you know?”

Liz nodded. “That’s wonderful. Emily’s always been more into literature herself. But I’m sure you know that since you go to school together.”

Andrew’s gaze flicked briefly to Emily, then back to Elizabeth. “She’s incredibly brave, Mrs. Alden. The way she’s handled everything that’s happening . . . it’s inspiring, really.”

Elizabeth beamed, pride evident in her voice. “She is, isn’t she? We’re so proud of her.”

James frowned. Now that he was paying attention, something about Andrew’s demeanor set his teeth on edge. The boy’s charm seemed too polished, his words carefully chosen to make a mother happy.

“You’ve been a great help too, Andrew,” Elizabeth continued. “We’re lucky to have you with us.”

Andrew ducked his head, the picture of humility. “I’m the lucky one, Mrs. Alden. Your family’s been so kind to me.”

James glanced at his daughter to find her staring at her mother and Andrew, her hand on her stomach and a sick look on her face.

What wasn’t she telling them? What was really going on with Andrew?

Andrew’s voice drifted over, smooth as silk. “I’m just so grateful for your kindness, Mrs. Alden. You’ve all been like family to me.”

If anything, Emily’s posture became more rigid. James glanced from her to Andrew.

Yep. Something was off. The boy’s movements seemed too controlled, his smiles too calculated.

James moved closer to his daughter and kept his voice low. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”

She shook her head, seemingly unable to meet his gaze. “It’s nothing, Dad.”

But James saw the distaste, and perhaps fear, flickering in her eyes. He glanced back at Andrew, catching the boy’s intense gaze.

Their eyes locked for a moment before Andrew smoothly turned back to Elizabeth, laughing at something she’d said.

A surge of protective instincts rushed through James. He caught Emily’s eye, raising an eyebrow in silent question. She gave a barely perceptible nod, confirming his suspicions.

“We need to talk,” James whispered, his voice urgent. “Soon.”

A few hours later, when they were once again walking the road. James matched pace with Elizabeth. “Looks like whoever was trying to spook us yesterday is no longer here.”

“I agree,” Liz said. “I’ve been watching the woods too and haven’t seen anyone.”

“Maybe they were just passing through, like us.”

“If so, I hope they just keep moving.”

James nodded, hesitated a moment, then said, “There’s something else we need to talk about.”

Liz raised an eyebrow.

“Andrew.”

“Andrew? What’s the problem?”

James pushed a hand through his hair. “Something’s off about the kid.”

“Off? What does that mean?”

He sighed. “I don’t know. But Emily feels it too. She doesn’t seem to like him.”

Liz cast a puzzled look at her daughter as she walked ahead of them with Nancy. “I hadn’t noticed that before.”

“When has she ever mentioned the kid? They’ve supposedly been in school together for years.”

“I’m not sure,” Liz replied. “But their class is big. Perhaps they’re not in the same courses.” She shook her head. “James, honey, I don’t see it. You’re being paranoid.”

“I’m not,” he insisted. “Emily’s on edge around him. Haven’t you noticed?”

“She’s a teenager, James. Everything makes her uncomfortable.”

“This is different. I can feel it.”

“You’re just being a dad - overprotective,” Elizabeth said, patting his arm. “Andrew’s been nothing but helpful to all of us.”

After a few hours of walking, the group stumbled to a halt in a small park, exhaustion covering their expression. Even James found himself stiff and ready for a rest. What hadn’t seemed all the far when they started was becoming something they hadn’t been prepared for. Modern life had taken a bigger toll on him and, it seemed, everyone else too. They weren’t up to two such grueling days.

Picking out a big gnarled oak tree, he slid down the rough bark to the ground and slumped against its side.

“Fifteen minutes,” he called out to the others. “Rest up.”

When he heard groans, he almost added his own. James shook his head at himself. He’d better buck up. Things were going to be a lot more physical from now on. Best to get used to it.

He’d think about that later. For now, he’d just lay his head back against this here tree.

From the other side of the it, he heard a familiar gasp. Emily.

James opened his eyes and looked around. Across the small open area stood Andrew. The boy was staring at his daughter.

Taking a peek around the tree, James saw Emily huff and cross her arms, deliberately looking away from Andrew.

Good for her. Better to let him know how she feels about his attentions.

But the boy didn’t appear to get the message. Instead, he casually walked over to Emily, all easy smiles and concerned looks.

James lowered his eyelids to appear to be asleep as the boy crouched beside his daughter. “You okay, Em? You look upset.”

Emily’s voice was strained. “I’m fine.”

“You sure?” He reached out, touching her arm. “You know you can talk to me, right? About anything.”

Emily jerked away from him. “I said I’m fine.”

Andrew’s eyes narrowed for a split second before his face smoothed into a mask of understanding. “Okay, okay. Just . . . I’m here if you need me.”

As he walked away, the unease in James’s stomach grew. Em was right. Something weird was going on with that kid.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily walked a bit ahead of the group, her feet crunching the loose gravel on the road. Her mind raced, replaying Andrew’s wintry smile and predatory gaze. A chill ran down her spine despite the warm afternoon sun.

When she glanced back at her family, her stomach twisted. Her mom and dad chatted with Andrew. Emily’s little brother trailed behind, kicking stones.

“You okay up there, Em?” her dad called.

Emily forced a smile. “Yeah, just stretching my legs.”

For a moment, Andrew’s eyes met hers. He sent her that same unsettling smirk. She quickly looked away.

Should she tell her parents? Perhaps even the entire group? She bit her lip. What if they didn’t believe her?

Footsteps slapped the pavement behind her as someone caught up with her.

“Nice day for a walk”, Andrew remarked cheerfully.

Emily clenched her fists. How could he act normal after what he’d done? The memory of his rough hands, his threatening whisper, flashed through her mind.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing thoughts.

“Emily, honey, slow down a bit,” her mom yelled up to her. “We need to stick together.”

Emily nodded, realizing that in her efforts to distance herself from Andrew, she’d moved farther away from the group than she’d intended. She stopped and waited to fall back in step with the others.

Andrew flashed her a friendly smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Getting tired?” he asked innocently.

“I’m fine,” Emily muttered, skin crawling at his false concern.

She had the urge to do something, say something, at least to him. But doubt gnawed at her. What if she was overreacting? What if it was all a misunderstanding? Sure, Andrew was weird, but perhaps he’d just gotten caught up in the emotions of the crowd and hadn’t really meant what he’d said.

But that didn’t seem right either. The world itself had turned filled upside-down, and it seemed, her judgement with it. Everything was different since the crash. And while her gut told her not to trust Andrew, she also didn’t want to put more on him than he deserved. Once she accused him of something, it would be out there and she’d never be able to take it back.

She knew what she had seen. She knew what she had felt. Now she just had to make heads or tails out of it before she made a move she regretted. Was Andrew actually dangerous?

Only time would tell.

As the others caught up with her and Andrew, Emily noticed her father’s questioning stare and tense shoulders. He sensed something was off.

Emily relaxed her stiff march into something more like her usual easy stride and let the frown slid from her face.

“Hey, kiddo,” James called to her as he quickened his pace to catch up with her. “Wait up a sec.”

Emily tried to act nonchalant as she glanced over her shoulder at her father. “Oh, hey Dad.”

He matched her stride as he studied her face. “You okay? You seem a million miles away.”

Emily shrugged. “Just... thinking.”

“About what?” James probed gently, his tone a mix of concern and authority. “If anything is wrong, you know you can talk to me.”

She hesitated, chewing her lip. “It’s nothing, really. Just . . . worried about the road ahead, I guess.”

James nodded, but seemed unconvinced. “I’m aware that this is a lot for you kids. It’s a lot for me and I halfway expected it at some point in my lifetime. But you know I’m here for you, right?”

Emily smiled. “Yeah. I know, Dad.”

“So . . . nothing?” James glanced between her and Andrew.

Her father must have noticed something when she was caught in the crowd with Andrew. Emily opened her mouth, then closed it again, sure that her internal struggle played out on her face.

“I’m just . . . ” she started, then faltered. “It’s probably nothing. I don’t want to cause trouble.”

James’s frown deepened. “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”

Before Emily could respond, a twig snapped sharply somewhere in the woods behind them. They both whirled around, James’s hand instinctively reaching for his daughter’s shoulder.

Emily’s heart raced as she scanned the thick grove of trees.

“Did you see anything?” James whispered, his hand reaching for the weapon at his side.

Emily shook her head. “No, I didn’t see anything. But I heard it.”

James nodded, his eyes searching the forest of trees beside them. “We need to tell the others that there might be someone else out here with us.”

Together, father and daughter waited for the rest of the group. James kept his voice low as he explained, “We need to pick up the pace. We heard someone in the woods. I’m not sure why they are not showing themselves.”

Ian scowled. “That’s suspicious.”

His wife shook her head. “Not necessarily. With everything going on, maybe they are frightened.”

“But we won’t know that if they don’t show themselves,” Ian said. “We have to assume the worst in this situation.”

James scanned the woods again. “I agree. They have to be aware we’re suspicious of them. Let’s pick up the pace and see what happens. Perhaps they will feel better if we move out of their area.”

The others nodded in agreement and they jogged on down the road. Still, Emily couldn’t shake off the fear of being watched. From the worried glances the others gave the large group of trees, it was clear they felt it, too.

For a while, their breathing and their feet hitting the ground were the only sounds they that reached their ears, until Andrew, slightly out of breath, asked, “Do you think someone followed us from the town?”

“Anything is possible,” James replied.

Emily’s gaze tracked the thick woods on either side of them. The tall trees not only made it difficult to see around the slight curve in the road ahead of them, they were also blocking the setting sun.

Her heart pounded with each step, half expecting someone or something to jump out at them.

Finally, she had a clear view of the road and heaved a sigh of relief. And they had heard nothing else from the woods. Maybe they were in the clear.

Her relief was short-lived. Without warning, what sounded like heavy boots tromped across the forest floor, trampling twigs and dry leaves.

Emily hauled in a raggedy breath. They were back. They? Yes, it definitely sounded like more than one person.

Panic swirled through the group. Even some who had slowed now quickened their pace again.

Her heart raced. She didn’t believe Nancy’s reasoning. Someone who was frightened of them wouldn’t be following them. Thier little group did not intimate these people.

What did they want?

As their small group continued down the road, the footsteps in the woods kept pace.

Just as she was about to kick it into high gear, Andrew called out from the front of the group. “Look! A building!” he exclaimed, pointing to a structure off to the side of the road.

James glanced at the others, quickly getting their opinion by a nod or shake of their head.

The long sprint had left most of them breathless. In a secure building, they would have protection. The open road lacked it.

And if need be, a building was somewhere they could make a stand.

Without hesitation, the entire group hurried toward the building. As they drew closer, Emily examined the old, abandoned-looking cabin. It was still solid.

“It’ll do,” her father said in a low whisper. “Go!”

As a group, they increased their speed to an all-out run, hoping to make it into the building before the unknown people in the woods caught up with them.

“Once we enter, each one of us needs to secure a door or window,” James added. “Stay with it and keep watch. It’s crucial that we understand their intentions.”

James reached the front door first and yanked it open, giving a grunt of satisfaction that it was unlocked.

Emily ran through the door and let out a burst of air, then hauled in another deep breath. The cabin filled up as the others followed her.

After the bright light of day, the inside of the cabin seemed dark, cavernous. She blinked a few times, encouraging her eyes to adjust to the lower light. She could only make out vague shapes at first, but her vision quickly sharpened. Finally, she could make out one big room with a loft and a ladder leading up to it, a fireplace against the far wall with some logs beside it, and a few damaged pieces of furniture. The rest seemed bare.

James started barking orders. “Emily, here!” He pointed to the livingroom window. “Stay down and use the bottom corner to look out the window.” He patted her on the back as she rushed to her assigned spot. “I’ve got the front door. Ian, back door. Andrew, check for any other doors. Micheal, kitchen window. Liz with Micheal. Everyone else double up at any door or window.”

“We should barricade the doors,” Andrew suggested, looking around for a sturdy object to use.

James walked over to the pile of wood and pulled out an ax from behind it. Moving to a broken couch, he flipped it over and started hacking at the bottom frame. Once done, her father had two long, sturdy pieces of wood which could be used like a Doorstopper. He had also made smaller wedges to shove under the bottom of the doors.

He handed the items to Andrew. “Here, put these on both doors. It’s not much, but it’s something.”

James swept the room before saying, “Now, we wait.”

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

While everyone else was fixated on the death of the man on the stage, Emily stared into the crowd, searching.

Maybe, just maybe

Not the worst, the very worst. Not trampled to well, you know, or anything like that. Maybe if he’d just turned right when they turned left. Or saw another supposed friend from school.

One had to assume he had at least a few of those. Even creeps usually had friends.

And if need be, maybe a minor injury. Just a small one. One that would keep him wherever he was and not allow him to get up and walk straight back to them - to her.

Ugh. How could it be that the end of the world had actually come AND the slimiest boy in school, instead of being far, far away, was here - right beside her.

Exactly where she had never, ever wanted him to be?

She took a few steps forward and then a few more, slowly drawing closer to the frenzied crowd.

Was he out there? Her heart raced, pounding against her ribs with each step.

The fear of seeing Andrew again consumed her thoughts, a suffocating dread that made it hard to breathe.

As she neared the mob of people, the noise grew deafening - a cacophony of shouts, cries, and bullets. The stench of unwashed bodies and raw terror hung heavy in the air.

She gagged, covering her nose with her sleeve.

Emily glanced back over her shoulder, shocked at how far she’d come already. She should go back to her family. They would be worried about her.

But the crowd pressed in from all sides, jostling her. Elbows jabbed into her ribs, shoulders slammed against her own. She stumbled, nearly losing her footing on a patch of uneven ground. If she fell, she’d be trampled.

Panic clawed at her throat. She had to get out, had to escape before-

“Well, well. Look who it is.”

The slick, taunting voice sent ice through Emily’s veins. She spun around and there stood Andrew, just a few feet away. His cold eyes glinted with a disturbing excitement as he glanced from her to the gunfight and cries of pain just a few yards from them.

A cruel smirk twisted his lips.

Emily’s breath caught in her lungs, her body going rigid with terror.

No. Not him. She hoped. . .

He looked more evil than he ever had at school.

Her mind screamed at her to run, but her feet remained rooted to the spot, frozen with fear.

This was stupid. He was a boy, just a boy from school. Why was she so afraid of him?

Andrew closed the small amount of distance between them in an instant, his movement smooth and predatory. He towered over her slight frame.

For a moment, he stared at her.

She tried to look away, but there was something there just below the surface that she couldn’t quite identify.

Then he leaned in close, his hot breath tickling her ear as he whispered, “You want to know a secret? This is the world I’ve always wanted to live in.”

Emily’s heart seized at Andrew’s chilling words. Her mind reeled.

He’d always been a very unwelcome suiter, but now she realized he was more than that. What kind of person was he that this . . . chaos would cause him such excitement, such . . . glee?

A deep shudder ran through her, and she turned away. She stepped away from him only to have the crowd press her back, trapping her with her tormentor.

When his arm brushed hers, she yanked it away. “P-Please, just leave me alone,” she choked out, her voice barely audible above the noise of the crowd.

Andrew’s lips curled into a sneer. “Oh, but where’s the fun in that? You’re such an easy target.” He reached out, his fingers grazing the side of her face in a mock caress.

She flinched away from his touch, bile rising in her throat.

She’d known he’d try something like this. It had just a matter of when. She tightened her jaw. What she needed to do was to stop cowering like a scared little bunny and do something about it!

A surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins, fueling her determination. Using all her strength, she shoved Andrew away, catching him off guard. He stumbled backwards, causing a commotion in the crowd. His face twisted with rage.

“You little-”

But Emily didn’t wait to hear the rest. She spun on her heel and plunged into the crowd, pushing and weaving her way through the sea of bodies. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the shouts and cries around her.

She risked a glance over her shoulder, searching for any sign of Andrew. For a moment, she thought she’d lost him, but then she caught a glimpse of his dark hair moving through the crowd. His sharp blue eyes locked on her.

“Emily!” Her father’s urgent tone cut through the noise. Her heart lifted as she scanned the crowd in front of her and spotted him waving frantically from the edge of the crowd.

Emily pushed forward, desperate to reach the safety of her father’s side. Just a little further...

Looking behind, she saw Andrew closing in, his face a mask of fury as he shoved people out of his way.

Emily gasped. She was so close, almost there. But looking ahead, she couldn’t see her dad anywhere.

Suddenly, a hand clamped down on her shoulder, yanking her back. She cried out in fear and frustration. She whirled around, ready to fight.

But it wasn’t Andrew.

Her father pulled her closer, staring at her. His face etched with concern.

“Emily, I was worried sick! Are you alright?”

She collapsed against him, her hands clinging to his shirt. Emily couldn’t stop shaking. Relief ran through her, but fear was there too. This was not over. She’d be a fool to think it was.

She nodded yes to her father’s question, not trusting herself to speak.

James wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he scanned the crowd with a wary expression.

“Let’s get out of here,” he murmured, guiding her away from the chaos. Emily clung to his side, her heart still racing as they pushed through the throng.

As they reached the outskirts of the crowd, Emily couldn’t resist one last glance at the mob. Andrew stood a few feet away, his eyes boring into hers.

A chill ran down her spine. She spun away, burrowing closer to her father’s protective embrace.

“Emily, are you alright?” he asked, his gaze flicking between her and Andrew. “What’s going on here?”

Andrew’s demeanor shifted in an instant, his threatening expression vanishing like smoke in the wind.

“Mr. Alden,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “I was just making sure Emily was okay. She seemed a little lost in the crowd.”

James’ stern expression softened a bit. “I appreciate that, Andrew.”

Emily shuddered at the lie, her stomach twisting with disgust. She opened her mouth to protest, to tell her father the truth about Andrew, but the words stuck in her throat. Now wasn’t the time.

Later, as they all got ready to continue their trek, Emily spotted Andrew standing at the edge of their group. He watched her with a calculating expression, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Her blood ran cold at the thought that ran through her mind.

Andrew was their group now. He would be with them - with her - every step of the way.

She gasped and tore her gaze away from his, focusing instead on the faces of her family and drawing strength from their presence.

She would have to tell them. But she knew they would face this problem as they had everything else - together. And though she did not know what Andrew planned, she would do whatever it took to protect her family.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

James led the way. He stopped and rolled his tense shoulders as he scanned the horizon. It was strange to look out over the suburbs and see almost no one. Most people must be sheltering-in-place at home or work.

And here they were, walking down the highway - in full view of anyone passing by.

He glanced at Emily and Michael, who trudged behind him and locked eyes with his wife, who brought up the rear.

Elizabeth glanced from one side of the road to the other, then grimaced and shrugged. The silence, broken only by their footsteps on the pavement, was unnerving her too.

He hauled in a sharp breath when his wife suddenly frowned and looked around. He heard it too.

Something faint, barely in earshot. He stopped and turned to the rest of the group. “You hear that?” he asked them.

The soft whisper grew with the next breeze. It was the sound of voices - many voices.

“People?” Ian said, looking as perplexed as James felt. After so many miles of emptiness, it seemed odd.

Michael perked up, hope lighting his eyes.

Emily tapped his arm. “We don’t know if they’re friendly.”

James and Ian quickly conferred. ”Let’s check it out - but not too close,” James said.

They quickened their pace, curiosity overriding their caution. The murmur of the crowd grew louder, punctuated by occasional shouts. James made out enough to realize that the man was encouraging the crowd to wait for help from the government.

“Can you hear anything they’re saying?” Elizabeth whispered.

James shook his head. “Seems like they’re hoping for a rescue.” He eyed the kids. “You know, it might not be a bad idea to take an overnight break here if it seems okay. Maybe someone can suggest a place to stay. The kids are tired. Everyone is tired. We could use the rest.”

Liz nodded and straightened as if energized by the notion. “I agree.”

A small thicket of trees stood by the road a head of them. James waved their small group toward them. “Maybe we can see from here without being seen.”

Ian nodded his approval. Each of them hid in the shade of the trees, craning their necks to see the crowd in front of them.

Once James saw how large the group was, he couldn’t believe he’d missed it the first time he’d looked.

In front of the thicket they stood in, on the other side of the road lay a rolling lawn. Just beyond that was a large depression in the ground, like a natural amphitheater, with a tall building to one side. A sea of people overflowed the amphitheater, standing on the lawn beside it.

A man stood on the steps of the tall building, a bullhorn in one hand. His other arm was a blur, frantically waving as he spoke, his words tumbling out in a rush.

“Whoa,” Emily breathed.

Michael bounced on his toes as if he hadn’t had this much excitement in months. “Who are they?”

“Maybe we should move a little closer and try to hear what he’s saying,” Ian suggested.

James frowned. “I’d like to see what we’re dealing with first.”

Elizabeth tipped her head to the side, trying to make out what was being said. She pointed to quite a few in the crowd who nodded in agreement, hope on their faces. “They seem to like what they’re hearing.” She shook her head at her husband, letting him know she couldn’t make the man’s words out. Waving her hand, she said, “The wind. The sound comes and goes.”

“Well, whatever it is, not everyone likes it.” He gestured toward a group of red-faced men and women shouting at each other at the back of the crowd.

Ian leaned toward James. “I think if we cut down this way, we can miss that mess in the back and listen in to see if it’s something we need to know.”

Torn between protecting his family and finding out what was going on, James groaned inwardly as he scanned the crowd. ”This has got a lot of people riled up.” He heaved a sigh. “I guess I’m okay with it as long as we got the way you pointed out. But keep a sharp eye out. A situation like this can get dangerous real quick.”

The group nodded and moved out of the thicket onto the road. James leading, the wives in the middle, and Ian bringing up the rear.

A few people on this side of the large group looked their way, but no one seemed alarmed. It was a good sign.

Emily glanced at her father, then back at the throng. “Some seem... hopeful?” she said, indicating some who stared at the man on stage as if he were their salvation. “Maybe they know something we don’t.”

Once they reached the crowd, they lingered around the outside to hear the man.

“The government will send the troops to help us. They will not leave us in the lurch. This is a minor setback. A few days at best. We just have to hang on,” he said.

James caught the eye of a man beside him. “Is he the mayor?”

“No. I don’t know who he is, but he said he’s, I don’t know, someone,” the man replied.

James raised an eyebrow. Maybe that was why the guy seemed to be sweating bullets up there. He didn’t really know what was going on out there, maybe didn’t really understand this was most likely nationwide and the military had a lot to mop up in their own backyard.

Leaning toward Ian, James said, “This guy doesn’t understand what is going on. He’s frantic. Look at him. He’s trying to calm himself with this speech more than the crowd.”

His friend nodded his agreement. “Might as well move on.”

“Might not be a bad place to pass a night tho.”

As he spoke, a hard smack echoed through the amphitheater. Both men looked at the back of the crowd. The rowdy group had taken things to the next level.

A short red-faced man punched another taller, rougher looking guy. The taller one came back at him, knocking him to the ground and kicking him.

The short man grabbed his leg and yanked, pulling down the tall guy. Together, they tumbled onto the pavement behind them and kept bashing each other with all they had.

A woman, who seemed to be the girlfriend of one man, screamed in anger. She launched herself at the men as though she would stop them both.

The tall guy elbowed her in the face, most likely because she was in the way of his next swing, breaking her nose. Blood streamed out of it.

That act seemed to cascade instantly into an all-out fight in that section of the crowd - and it was growing.

James and Liz exchanged glances and pulled the children between them. “We need to go!” Liz urged her husband.

Going around meant they would head straight for those fighting. They would have to head straight through the crowd near the stage.

He pointed the way. “Through here!” Than waved the others to follow.

Slipping through the crowd became impossible as more of them joined the fight or tried to flee. They pushed through the crush as it closed in on them, holding their breath to avoid the stench of those with little opportunity to wash since the event.

Liz’s desperate yell above the surging sounds of the crowd caught his attention. Turning, he saw her being pulled along, her eyes filled with fear. He grabbed her arm, pulling her closer.

James thanked God for his height and searched for a way out. But the chaos had them trapped. He felt a sickening helplessness as the fight and the crush of the crowd threatened to overwhelm them.

Behind them, someone yelled, “I’m armed!” Two sudden shots echoed through the small valley.

He covered his family as best he could, squeezing them together as he moved one way, then another, for a way out.

Another gunshot. Something like an angry bee zipped over his head.

“James!” Liz said in horror, pulling him down.

The new threat changed the direction of the fleeing crowd. The path before them opened up.

“Run!” he said to his family, hoping the others had gotten out too.

Emily gripped Michael’s hand. “It’s okay. Just a little further.”

They fled with a flood of other terrified people. Bullets continued to sound behind them. Screams erupting. Fear thickened the air.

But their path widened the further they continued on. Eventually, they slowed as they reached a quieter area near an almost empty police station. One officer stood by the door watching the commotion from a distance.

When James glanced at him, the officer seemed to take it as an inquiry. “We already sent what we’ve got on over there, but there’s not many left. We sent a few to the other side of town, too. Takes a while when the vehicles aren’t working.”

Looking for the others in their group, he nodded absentmindedly at the officer. He made out Ian and his wife huddled together, running straight for them. Behind them was Will, his laid-back expression gone as he kept glancing over his shoulder.

As he waited for his friends to catch up, James could hear the frantic man on stage still trying to convince everyone that it was all okay.

“...help will be here soon...” “...our president will know just what to do...” “. . . be back to normal real soon . . . “

Elizabeth stared at the man on the stage. “That man is delusional. It will never be the same, will it?”

“Well, Hon,” he said. “I don’t think so. But it does warm my heart to see our friend got through that, too.”

Liz’s face broke out into a smile as Nancy reached them and the two exchanged a hug while the men thumped each other’s back.

Ian’s eyes rounded. “I’m too old for this nonsense! This was too close a call.”

“I agree. Let’s not be taken in my something like this again.”

Will turned back to the crowd. “Where’s the kid? He got swallowed by the crowd.”

They all turned to look back and waiting for Andrew to show up..

The din of the crowd and gunshots continued until the frantic voice stuttered and came to an abrupt stop. As the lifeless man fell, the bullhorn crashed to the stage floor with a heavy metallic crash.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily froze. Her heart racing. The entire group turned toward the store, and like her, braced themselves for whatever may come.

“Did you see who did that?” Will asked as he stepped forward and peered into the store.

“No, but earlier I heard someone inside,” Nancy replied, her voice trembling.

“Will and I will go check it out,” James said. “The rest of you stay here and keep watch.”

James and Will were on high alert as they entered the store. Emily was amused to find that regardless of her father’s instructions, most of the group followed him. Everyone scanned the inside of the store for potential danger. It didn’t take long for them to find the source of the noise - a shelf had collapsed near the back of the store.

She frowned. Something like that rarely happened by itself.

Something to the side of it moved. A young man stood. The sun hit her eyes and even when she shielded them, she couldn’t clearly see his face. Knowing it was safe, she turned and walked the few paces to where Ian and Nancy were keeping a lookout.

From there, Emily could still hear some of the conversation, even if it was difficult to hear the boy’s answers. And although the sun wasn’t in her eyes, the people in the store seemed as if they were in shadow.

“Who are you?” Will demanded as they approached cautiously.

The young man stood and faced Will. “Andrew. What is yours?”

James and Will exchanged a glance. “I’m Will and this is James. Do you work here?”

“Of course not. I was just trying to find some bottled water. I didn’t know what kind of people you were, so I waited to come out until you were gone.” He glanced down and shook his head. “Stupid thing got in my way.”

“Happens to everyone,” James said. “Are you by yourself?”

Andrew frowned. “How is that any of your business?”

James held up his hands. “Hey, I’m a good guy. I’m only asking because we’re headed to our home. If you want to walk along with us so you aren’t alone, you’re welcome to.”

“That might be okay. I’ll get my water first.”

James and Will walked back outside. Her dad shrugged and said to the others, “Can’t leave the boy on his own.”

All the adults nodded.

As Andrew sauntered out of the store, Emily’s heart fell. She couldn’t believe he was there, standing in front of her. In school, he had always given her a sense of unease, with his piercing eyes and smug grin. She wanted to flee from his presence, but that would only make things more awkward. So she forced a tight smile and greeted him.

“Hi, Andrew. What brings you here?”

He seemed surprised to see her too, but Emily couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had been expecting her.

“I was trying to meet some friends at that new restaurant near the airport last night. But my car stopped working, like all the others, and I’ve been stuck here ever since.” He gestured towards her dad and Will. “They kindly offered to let me hang out with them instead of being alone.”

“Yeah. Well, I wouldn’t want to be by myself either,” Emily replied, quickly walking away to join her mother, hoping to distance herself from Andrew’s unsettling presence.

Of all people, why did it have to be him they ran into? She glanced back to find him staring at her. A chill ran down her spine.

As morning wore on, the sun’s intensity grew until it beat down on the cracked pavement, creating shimmering waves of heat. Emily’s legs felt like lead, each step a monumental effort. She could hear the ragged breathing of her companions, see their slumped shoulders ahead of her.

“You okay, Michael?” Emily asked, glancing at her brother. His face was flushed, sweat beading on his forehead.

“I’m fine,” Michael mumbled, but he clearly didn’t mean it.

Emily’s heart clenched. He was trying so hard to be brave. “We’ll rest soon,” she promised, even as doubt gnawed at her. It really wasn’t up to her.

Michael stumbled, his sneaker catching on a fissure in the asphalt. Emily’s hand shot out, steadying him. “Whoa there, buddy. I’ve got you.”

“Thanks,” Michael said softly, leaning into her touch for a moment.

“Remember that time we hiked up to Miller’s Ridge?” she said, forcing cheer into her voice. “This is just like that. One foot in front of the other.”

Michael managed a weak smile. “Yeah, but that had ice cream at the end.”

Emily laughed, the sound startling in the eerie quiet. “Tell you what, when we get home, I’ll make you the biggest ice cream sundae ever.”

“Promise?” Michael’s eyes lit up, a glimpse of his old self shining through.

“Cross my heart,” Emily vowed, ruffling his hair.

As they trudged on, Emily scanned the road ahead, alert for any threat. But there was nothing - no movement, no sound. Just the relentless sun and their labored footsteps.

Just when she thought it was impossible to continue on her dad pointed out a patch of green in the distance. A park?

“Let’s take a break there,” he called out, voice gravelly from thirst. The words caught in his throat, and he coughed, trying to clear it.

Emily and Michael perked up. “Really?”

“Yeah.” James nodded, already moving towards the green oasis. “Over there.”

The group practically stumbled onto the grass, collapsing with audible sighs of relief. Emily lowered herself to the ground, muscles screaming in protest.

“Oh, man,” Michael groaned, sprawling out. “I forgot grass could feel this good.”

Emily laughed weakly. “It’s like a five-star hotel bed.”

Her Mom and Dad stopped and sat beside them. “How’re you two holding up?” James asked Emily.

She shrugged. “I’ll manage. Michael’s the one I’m worried about.”

“I’m doing fine,” Michael protested.

James tossed the hair on the top of his son’s head and Michael giggled. “I know it’s a hard hike, but we’ll all get home safe,” he promised as he grinned as his children.

Emily met his gaze and smiled back , a silent thank you passing between them. Her father’s brief words had been encouraging to Michael and her.

Her mother leaned back against a gnarled oak that stood near the children. She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. The rustle of leaves overhead whispered a lullaby, soothing everyone’s frayed nerves.

“You okay?” James’s voice cut through their momentary peace.

Elizabeth cracked one eye open. “Just resting.” She gave him a weak smile. “Don’t worry so much.”

James snorted. “Can’t help it. It’s my job.”

“Your self-appointed job,” she corrected, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

He intertwined their fingers. “Someone’s gotta do it.”

Silence fell, broken only by the wind’s soft sighs. Elizabeth dozed off.

Emily knew a lot of teenagers would hate overhearing a conversation like that between their parents, but she thought it was rather cute.

It seemed only a minute or two later when her dad’s voice jolted her awake. She hadn’t even realized she’d been dozing.

“We need to keep moving.” He was already on his feet, scanning the darkening sky. “Storm’s coming.”

Emily rose. “I really hope we don’t get caught in the rain.”

“It might be better than this sun.”

Andrew’s voice gave her a shock. She hadn’t expected him to be this close—overly close—to her.

She quickly took a step away. “That’s true. It might be.” She turned away, catching his displeasure as she did so, and hurriedly jogged up to her mom.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

James shielded his eyes from the sun as he watched smoke billow on the horizon, a dark omen that hung heavy in the air.

The remnants of a what looked like a once peaceful neighborhood burned. Given the vast area of blackened houses, it must have burned through the night.

The weight of the responsibility he carried for his family’s safety crushed down on him like a vise. He prayed his neighborhood wasn’t in the same situation.

“Come on,” he said, turning away from the sight and focusing on the road ahead. This area held a tangle of abandoned vehicles. They had tried to start a few of the more promising ones, but so far any they had gotten into hadn’t started. 

Liz and Emily followed close behind him, and his son was at his side.

“Stay together,” James said for what seemed the thousandth time, even though they were as close as possible. The phrase was becoming a mantra. He often repeated it without even realizing.

As they navigated the area, the sound of distant sirens cut through the eerie silence. James paused, at first soaking in the sound’s normalcy. Maybe they were heading to the fire. Someone there was sure to need help. But they were just as likely heading to break up some rioting or other criminal activity. 

That made him feel exposed. He and his family were out in the open without even a car door between them and the outside world. It was a risk, but a risk they had to take if they were ever going to get home.

“Watch our six, Ian,” he instructed his friend, his voice tense.

Ian nodded solemnly, his eyes darting from one place to another with practiced vigilance.

“Hey, Dad?” Mike piped up, his voice wavering. “Where do you think everyone in these cars went?”

James hesitated. “I’m not sure, buddy,” he admitted softly. “Maybe they are just trying to get home, too.”

Determined, James forged ahead, leading his family deeper into the city’s urban wasteland. Something smoldered on the pavement in front of them. When they reached it, he studied the debris, then noticed two small Cessna planes laying in ruins in a small field beside the road.

“Make sure no one is stuck in them,” Liz said.

While he agreed with his wife, James really didn’t want to take the time needed to check out the situation. But he looked at Ian and tipped his head toward the downed crafts. The two men carefully made their way through a minefield of tiny fires until they reached the first plane.

Ian leaned forward and glanced inside. “Empty.”

“Ok. Good.” James moved toward the next one. Maybe this wouldn’t take long.

Though tipped on its side, this plane showed no signs of a fire, and the door remained closed.

James climbed upon it and yanked the door open, almost falling inside. He caught himself as he landed hard on his knees by grasping the side of the door.

Inside the Cessna, he saw a sight he would never forget. A man — but almost unrecognizable as such. The crash had done damage, but the gun beside the man had finished the job.

James pushed himself off the plane and shook his head at Ian. “The guy is gone.”

As they moved on, the picture of what was inside the plane kept invading James’ mind, no matter how many times he pushed it away.

“Look!” Emily suddenly exclaimed, pointing at a convenience store tucked between a couple of two-story buildings. Someone had smashed the glass in the door and left it open. “Would it be a good idea to find some supplies in there?”

Will nodded. “I’ll need more to get where I’m going.”

“I agree,” James agreed, his eyes scanning the building for any signs of life. “Stay close and watch for others.”

Cautiously, he entered the room and gestured for them to watch their step as they navigated through the shattered glass on the floor. With each step, his heart raced in anticipation of what - or who - they might find in this unfamiliar store.

Staying in pairs, each group took a different aisle. 

“Found some canned food,” Ian called out from a couple of aisles, his voice tinged with relief. “Not much variety, but it’ll have to do.”

“Good,” James replied. “Grab what you can.”

Will joined them with a canvas tote he’d found laying on the floor. They hastily picked over the cans and then added more water to their individual stashes. 

Liz grabbed a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the cooler but steered away from the lunchmeat sandwiches since it was no longer cool. 

James heard a gasp and swung toward the sound. Nancy pointed to the back door, probably leading to a storage area. “Someone is here,” she whispered. 

He and Ian moved toward the doorway, ears straining. James couldn’t be sure, but he might have heard the light scrap of a shoe on cement.

He called out. “If anyone is in here, we aren’t stealing. I have a little cash, and I can pay. I planned on paying.”

The men waited for an answer, but there was no reply. 

“Hello?” He called out again. “Is anyone there?”

When it was still quiet, James glanced at Nancy. She shook her head multiple times. He nodded back. If the woman said she’d seen someone, he believed her. 

Ian indicated he would stay by the back door while the others made their way out of the building. Once they were outside, the older man hustled through the building to join them.

“I didn’t leave any money for our supplies,” Ian said, giving the inside of the store an uneasy glance.

“Don’t worry. I got you covered,” James replied.

Just as they turned toward the road, a loud crash came from inside the store.

As Andrew sauntered out of the store, Emily’s heart fell. She couldn’t believe he was there, standing in front of her. In school, he had always given her a sense of unease, with his piercing eyes and smug grin. She wanted to flee from his presence, but that would only make things more awkward. So she forced a tight smile and greeted him.

“Hi, Andrew. What brings you here?”

He seemed surprised to see her too, but Emily couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had been expecting her. 

“I was trying to meet some friends at that new restaurant near the airport last night. But my car died, like all the others, and I’ve been stuck here ever since.” He gestured towards her dad and Will. “They kindly offered to let me hang out with them instead of being alone.”

“Yeah. Well, I wouldn’t want to be by myself either,” Emily replied, quickly walking away to join her mother, hoping to distance herself from Andrew’s unsettling presence.

Of all people, why did it have to be him they ran into? She glanced back to find him staring at her. A chill ran down her spine.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily’s grip tightened around the strap of her backpack strap as she trailed behind her family down the dimly lit parking garage ramps and out onto the road. Her heart thudded in her chest, each ragged breath she took threatening to choke her.

She did her best to avoid looking up at the looming airport windows. She’d already made that mistake once before. It had been unsettling enough to realize everyone was watching them. But when a teen girl had started frantically waving at her, as if begging them for help, Emily had almost lost it.

Everything in her screamed for her to run back in the building and rescue the girl. 

Emily hauled in a large breath and started to turn toward her father, ready to beg him to help the girl. But before she could utter a word, a man who looked as if he could be the girl’s father walked up and put his arm around her and turned her away from the window and back inside. The girl turned to send Emily a long, sad look, as if uneasy over the decision to stay at the airport.

Emily agreed. She couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that their decision to stay put was a mistake. But then again, nothing had felt right since the plane crash.

“Weird, huh?” her brother said as he walked beside her. He tipped his head toward the airport windows. “You’d think they’d all want outta there. And he’s dragging her back in.”

“You saw that too? Yeah, it was strange. But everything seems weird right now,” she replied with a heavy sigh.

“It sure does,” Mike said, as he rubbed his back. “Including my back, especially after sleeping in the car last night.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Emily mumbled. 

“I know what ya meant,” Mike said. “Don’t worry. We’ll get used to it.”

“Oh, god. I hope not.” She only half-listened as Mike launched into a story about one of his classmates. Apparently, the boy’s family had RV’d across the United States for a couple of years. It has seemed unusual at first, but soon it was just a way of life.

“I hear you,” she offered, though she couldn’t imagine ever getting used to this world they were facing. “I just hope it never becomes so normal that I stop striving for what we had—well, what we had yesterday.”

She broke down in tears as she said it out loud. Yesterday, just yesterday, the morning had been normal. Now . . . she couldn’t even wrap her mind around all the changes that had occurred overnight. 

And every small thing seemed intertwined with so many bigger things. Like the butterfly effect. Every time she tried to imagine even the smallest change, it spiraled into something larger and more overwhelming. 

Like her stupid shampoo and conditioner — her favorite. It was now the cargo hold of a burned plane. What if she never found another bottle? Worse yet, what if there were no hair products left and even basic items like soap got all used up? 

How would they stay clean without them? Would they get sick from being dirty all the time? How ill would they get? Her heart raced. Could a person die from no soap? 

Stop it! She scolded herself with a deep sigh. 

But she soon found she could spiral over anything.

Pop-Tarts. No food. Everyone dead.

Utilities. No heat. Freezing winter. Everyone dead. 

And a big one, contaminated water. She knew for a fact people could die from that.

Emily shook her head, trying to chase away the dark thoughts. They weren’t dead yet. Far from it. 

Focus on the now. She spotted a cracked piece of asphalt with a single weed growing through it. Its small white flower brought a glimmer of joy to her heart as she walked on.

An hour later, the sun was warmer, but not much higher in the sky. The pack on Emily’s back seemed heavier than it should, and she imagined it would only seem like more of a burden as the day wore on. 

Last night, she had imagined the roads to be crowded with people desperately trying to get home if they lived close enough to attempt it.

But for as far as she could see, it was only her family, along with Ian and Nancy. 

Maybe it was just her. Or perhaps because of the trouble they’d had the last twenty-four hours, but there seemed an eeriness to the morning. 

It was dead quiet, except for a few birds calling to each other. And the slap of their feet on the pavement.

Emily was almost relieved when Mike began chattering about something else, this time to their mother. Liz nodded at his story, but her eyes scanned the road — back and forth, back and forth.

Mom felt it too.

She glanced at her father and Ian. Both men seemed tense and on high alert for any signs of danger.

But it was her mom who saw him first. Liz grabbed her husband’s arm, nodding toward the lone man emerging from behind an abandoned car.

Emily’s gaze shot from her mother and dad to the man, and she froze as they did.

Her heart raced as the tall, unsteady man stumbled toward them. 

“Dad,” she whispered urgently.

“It’s okay. I see him.” His hand drifted toward the weapon she’d seen him holster on his side.

Tension crackled as the man drew closer, his movements erratic. James exchanged a quick glance with Ian, who nodded in silent agreement, ready to act if needed.

When the stranger paused a few feet in front of them, he stopped. He eyed them all as if as uncertain of them as the group was of him.

His clothes were disheveled. There was a long tear in his jeans and stained with what looked like blood. 

There was a wild look in his eyes. And though he had empty hands, he tightly clenched them. Emily wasn’t sure if he was ready to fight or flee.

Elizabeth moved closer to Emily and Mike, placing a protective hand on each of their shoulders.

James took a few steps forward toward the man, with Ian right beside him. “Hey there,” he said to the stranger, his voice steady and non-confrontational, even if his hand rested on his waist. “You okay?”

The man eyed the group warily. After a tense moment of silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Food . . . water . . . please,” he mumbled. 

Empathy washed over Emily. Clearly, he was struggling.

Her dad slowly reached into his backpack and pulled out a bottle of water and a protein bar, offering them out to the stranger.

“Here,” James said in a kind voice. “Take these.”

After a moment of hesitation, the man reached out and gratefully accepted the supplies, gulping down the water and tearing into the protein bar with trembling fingers.

“Thank you,” he said between bites. “I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon. I know it’s not that long, but it seems like it. Name’s Will.”

The tension in the air eased a little.

“No problem,” Emily’s dad replied, a relieved expression on his face. “You need help?”

Will shrugged, swallowing the last bite of the bar. “I was on my way home from work - quite a drive for me. But then something happened to my car...and all the other cars on the road. They just stopped working. Drivers lost control and there’s a huge pileup on the highway. I got caught in it when I got slammed from behind. The crash gouged my leg pretty badly. But I’m hoping to make it home today. I pray my wife and kids made it there safely.”

“Where you headed?” Ian asked.

“Over to the Southeast side of the city. You headed that way?”

James and Ian exchanged a glance, then looked at the women, who nodded their heads in agreement.

Ian shook his head. “Not really. But we could share the road for a while, if you’d like.”

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

The sun beat down on their group through the open sides of the parking garage. James slammed the hood of his car in frustration, sweat beading on his brow. He exchanged a grim look with Ian, whose face was also etched with concern. The reality of their situation was sinking in deeper with each failed attempt to start the vehicles.

“Dang it,” James muttered under his breath, running a hand through his close-cropped hair. “We need these cars to work.”

Ian sighed heavily and shook his head. “I don’t understand what’s happening. First my car, now yours...”

James clenched his jaw as he tried to ignore the creeping sense of dread that threatened to swallow him whole. “We know. We just don’t want to believe it.”

Ian glanced at the women and children who stood at the other end of the vehicle, then whispered. “EMP. It has to be.”

James winced. Saying it out loud was worse. He glanced at Ian. At least he had the retired pilot’s steady presence. The man was resourceful. Together, they’d find a way to get through this.

“Step one. Get home,” James said. “How far away is yours?”

“It took us a couple of hours to get here.”

“We’re closer,” James said. “Driving — about 20 minutes. But walking? 8 to 10 hours with the kids. They are no hikers. But we could get there in one day. If you want to head out with us, you could stay at our house until we can figure something out. It be safer than being on the road by yourselves.”

Ian nodded and glanced at his wife. “Telling the others will be the hardest part of this day.”

James chuckled. “You got that right.”

It went better than James had hoped. It was clear that the kids wanted to bemoan the situation they were in, but they were old enough to realize that there wasn’t anything anyone could do.

Liz, as always, had his back. She put a comforting hand on Emily’s shoulder, offering her a warm, reassuring smile. “We’ll figure something out. We always do.”

“Mom’s right,” Mike chimed in, trying to sound brave despite the tremor in his voice. “We’ve faced tough times before.”

“You’ve got a point, Bud!” James added. “And we always got through it.” He plastered on his most confident smile and his family mirrored it, though apprehension showed in their wavering expressions.

“What we need now is a paper map,” Nancy said, bustling to the hood of the car as she pulled one out of her large purse. “I grabbed his out of our car. Let’s do this the old-fashioned way.” She opened the map up and slapped it onto the hood.

Just like they had in the “old days” before GPSs, they gathered around the paper covered with different colored lines and stared at it.

“I was thinking,” Liz said. “Would it be better to stay off the highways?”

Ian put a hand to his chin. “I’d hate to think things would start up already, but you do have a point.”

“Troublemakers will go where the crowds are. More people to pick on,” Nancy offered.

“I agree,” James replied. “And we may have more of a chance to find a working vehicle walking through the neighborhoods than on a highway.”

Even though it was the middle of the summer and the days were long, the sun was heading toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the parking garage. James clenched his jaw as he surveyed the immobile cars surrounding them, decision-making under these conditions frustrating him.

“We can’t stay here,” James said. “We need to keep moving, and yet the sun is going down.”

Ian nodded in agreement. “I’d hoped for the cars and it wouldn’t have mattered. But I don’t think we should walk through the night.”

“Absolutely not,” Elizabeth added, her voice resolute. “We don’t know what’s out there.”

“I guess the best thing to do is to start in the morning,” James offered. “Then we’ll have the entire day to get home.”

“Why don’t we just sleep in the cars?” Nancy suggested. “And head out as soon as the sun comes up.”

Once everyone had agreed on a plan, Ian and Nancy walked to their car at the top of the ramp. They waved before getting into their car.

James worked at getting the middle seats down in their SUV, creating a sleeping spot for the ladies. He ran a hand over his son’s head. “You’re with me, son.”

The boy giggled and ran to the front passenger seat. “It’s a camp-out!”

“Don’t get too excited,” Emily said. “We don’t have any blankets and pillows. It won’t be very cozy.”

Mike waved his hand at her. “Aww, I can sleep through anything.”

She laughed, remembering the many times she’d barely woken him up by shaking him awake. “Believe me, I know!”

The next morning as they walked down the long winding road away from the airport, James couldn’t help but look back at the deserted cars still in the parking area. He glanced upward, noticing that through the windows of the terminal, people stared out at the rising sun with no discernible emotion on their faces, as if they were already numb. 

The sight filled him with unease. He’d already spent most of the uncomfortable, sleepless night struggling with the idea that there might be something he could to do to help the people stuck at the airport. Logically, he knew that wasn’t true. He couldn’t do anything that the emergency and security teams were already doing.

No, he was doing the best thing he could do. Get his family moving before they became like some zombie at the window with no motivation to move on.

James faced forward and looked down the road. What were they in for? The thought of leading his family into unfamiliar areas for over 10 hours sent chills down his spine. How would his kids, who were more used to screens and controllers than physical activity, fare on this journey? It would be a grueling for them even if everything else went well.

It had been approximately 14 hours since the EMP had gone off, if he was calculating correctly. Society was sure to go downhill. How far had it gone so far?

He prayed the roads were clear of anyone wanting to take advantage of him or his family — and for the strength to lead his loved ones.

Whatever it took, he’d get his family home. He was the husband, the dad, their protector. It was his job to guide them safely home. He steeled himself to give every last ounce of strength he had to see them through this daunting task. 

James rolled back his shoulders as he glanced at his family. He’d give everything he had to get this done.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

The news hit Emily like a punch to the stomach. She gasped and looked around, sure that her own face was turning as pale as everyone else’s in their group.

“You always hear people talking about something like this happening and I’ve always worried just a little, but I never really thought it would,” Nancy said in little more than a whispered breath.

Emily nodded slowly. There were at least two prepper families that she knew of in her grade at school. On occasion, some of the students made fun of them. Though she never had, Emily had to admit she’d always considered it a bunch of nonsense. But the news her father had just shared got her thinking. Surely, the country’s entire electrical grid could only go down with outside help.

Whose help?

Her mind shied away from any other musings on the subject. Not having electric for the foreseeable future was bad enough without thinking about enemies.

Her dad placed a reassuring hand on her mom’s shoulder as they huddled with the Johnson family near the chaotic airport entrance.

Out the large window, Emily could still see the planes smoldering on the tarmac outside, their metallic skeletons jutting into the smoke-filled sky. And more than one panicked shout echoed through the terminal.

Emily shuddered. How could this be her life right now? What would the rest of the day have in store?

“We can’t stay here,” James said, his jaw set with determination. “It’s not safe. We need to get home.”

Liz nodded, her blue eyes wide with fear. “I agree, but how? Look at all these people. Many will start trying to flee the city. And...the cars. None of them are starting.”

James glanced around the airport. “You’re right. A lot of people are leaving, probably trying to get out of here before it gets too late in the day. But the cars, they’ll start. This is an electrical grid problem and nothing else. Right, Ian?”

The retired Air Force pilot met his gaze and shrugged. “That’s what they’re saying right now. Other than that, I’m sorry, but I don’t have any answers. We’ll just have to try the cars and see.” He glanced around to find quite a few people settling in for the long haul. “Let’s take these leftover supplies back to the manager. I’m sure he’s going to need them.”

“Maybe he will spare us a few things?” Liz asked. “We only have a few snacks and no water with us.”

“I’ll ask,” James said. “But I’m thinking that we should all stay together. Then, once we pick up what we can, we can head to the parking lot.”

As they pushed through the masses of stranded people, Emily shoved the bottle of water her dad had just given her deep into her backpack. Better to keep that hidden right now.

At a small kitchen in the back of the terminal, they found the balding manager deep in the cabinets sorting through cans and jars. “Trying to see what we can do for a meal today.”

“Well, there are these leftovers,” James said, handing a cardboard box filled with water bottles and packs of pale crackers at the man. “Figured you could use these.”

“Thanks. I...I don’t know how much longer we can hold out here.”

James nodded grimly. “If people are smart, they’ll keep heading out. That’s what we’re gonna do — try to make it back to our neighborhood.”

The manager turned back to the cabinet and rummaged through it, producing a few dented cans of beans and vegetables, a flashlight, and a Swiss army knife. “Take these. Someone left the flashlight and knife here a few weeks ago. And the food? Well, it’s not much, but it’s something. Don’t forget to grab some water bottles.”

James clasped the man’s hand briefly. “Thank you.”

Standing near a metal coat rack, Emily spied a couple of backpacks. “Do you think anyone is coming back for these?”

The manager shook his head. “Doubtful. Look through them for any I.D. or anything of importance and leave that here. But take the packs.”

While her dad thanked the manager again, Emily and the other rifled through the packs. Only one had a wallet. Another had a cellphone. And the third had nothing important. They handed over the personal stuff and kept digging.

Emily’s eyes lit up when she realized all three contained various types of granola and protein bars and at least one more bottle of water.

After saying goodbye to the manager, the group moved back through the airport lobby. Some people had divided up two quieter areas into a place people could sleep. On the other side of the lobby, an area was being set aside as a place for children to play.

A man in his thirties held the hands of his young children as he directed them toward the toys. He nodded at Liz when she smiled at the little girls. “This play space is going to be a godsend. These two have caused nothing but heartache the last few hours.” 

“It’s hard when they’re toddlers.”

“Sure is! I hope we aren’t stuck here for too long.” 

Emily glanced at her mom. It seemed the man hadn’t heard the news yet. 

“Well,” Liz said. “It seems it’s going to take a while from what my husband heard on the radio.”

The man shook his head. “It’s all fake news. That’s what the guy sitting next to me said. He said social media has been predicting something like this for days.”

Liz frowned. “Well, I don’t know about that.”

“Don’t worry,” the man said with a smile. “It’ll be just fine in a couple of days.” He glanced at his children and raised his eyebrows. “Or sooner, I hope!”

“Poor deluded man,” Liz murmured as he walked away.

The walk to the parking garage took a while and gave Emily another look at the downed planes. Were there others just like this at other airports? Would they pass other disasters on their way home? Were this her life now?

She was still wondering about what might happen in the next few days when they rounded the outside wall of the parking garage. With all the people leaving the airport, she’d expected it to be somewhat empty. It wasn’t.

Voices echoed through the concrete building, but other than that, an eerie stillness had fallen over the lot. And the garage was full. Row after row of cars filled the area. 

A few people leaned over their car engines, trying to figure out the problem. Others milled around their automobiles, just staring at them as though that would will them to life. A mother and father sat on the ground, leaning their backs against their car, blank looks on their face.

An angry scream erupted in the upper corner. A man kicked his vehicle repeatedly.

Nothing in this scenario made sense. Why would all these cars still be here? 

She leaned to her left and looked down the road that should have been clogged with cars. It wasn’t. People clogged the street.

Something was wrong—really wrong—here. 

Emily did the only thing she knew to do. Ask her father. “Dad . . . what is happening? What’s going on?”

James heaved a sigh. “Something I was hoping wasn’t happening.”

Liz brought a hand to her face. “It’s more than the grid, isn’t it?”

“I think so.” He put a hand on their shoulders. “I’m sorry. But maybe our car or Ian’s will work. A few are. We’ll check them both out.”

Mike stopped in his tracks. “Wait! What? If the cars doen’t work, we have to walk home?”

“Let’s not worry about that, son, until we have to.”

“I’m not worried about it. I’ll just live at the airport.”

“You can’t live at the airport, Mike. They’re going to run out of food,” Emily told him. She turned to her father. “What does this mean, Dad? Is it like the post-apocalyptic movies? Are people going to get all mean and stuff?”

Liz answered her daughter. “People will be people. Some will be nice and some won’t be. As for the rest of it, we’ll need to take one thing at a time. Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. We are always fine when we’re together.”

Their father put a hand on both the children’s shoulder. “We’ll make it home, one way or another. I promise.”

Mike stomped off toward the first ramp. “We better. My Switch is there.”

Emily didn’t have the heart to tell him it probably wouldn’t be working, anyway.

They climbed the manmade ramps that soon felt like mini-mountains all the way to the seventh floor. Emily breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted their SUV. 

“So, this is a good thing to pray for—that our car starting—right?”

All four adults said, “Yes,” simultaneously. Then Ian added, “Little Lady, I’ve been praying about this since the planes hit the ground.”

A small laugh escaped Emily’s lips, even though the situation wasn’t funny at all. All she wanted to do was to slide into that vehicle and rest as they drove home.

And have everything normal when they got there.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

James narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the remnants of the plane through the thick smoke and dust. The explosion had scattered debris in every direction, making it difficult to see. He sat on the hard floor of the airport hallway, straining to see any sign of the planes. His thoughts drifted to those who hadn’t escaped their doomed flight.

He forced the thought away. Sending up a prayer, he thanked God for the safety of his family and begged that he helped those still on the planes. But deep down, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease settling over him. Something wasn’t right about this entire situation, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Inside the once-bustling airport, it is now eerily quiet, with only the occasional murmur from the shocked onlookers.

James jumped up and looked out over the airport runway, taking in the devastation. 

The air was thick with the gritty remnants of the explosion, and as the dust settled, James tried to process the destruction that now lay before him. 

The outside of the once lively airport now resembled a war zone, with twisted metal and scattered belongings scattered as if a giant hand had swept through and flung them carelessly about. 

Despite the shock and horror of the scene, a few people remained, disheveled and dazed, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

The acrid smell of smoke and burning fuel began tainting even the air inside the airport.

His wife stood and moved beside him, holding on to his arm. “ James! How horrible!”

He put his arms around his wife as the calls for help reached them. 

Airport emergency personnel hurriedly bustled down the hallway, their urgent footsteps echoing off the walls. James called out, “Do you need any assistance out there?”

One woman paused and answered him, “No offense, but if you don’t have the training, you’d be more trouble than help.”

He shook his head. “I haven’t.”

“Then you’ll help us more by staying in here. Ask around though. There’ll be something you can do.”

“Okay,” James said. “Will do.”

Relief washed over him as the airport employees rushed to the first victims, offering them help.

Ian tipped his head toward James and made his way over. “Did she say where we could help out?” he asked James. 

“Not exactly. She said ask around. Someone will need help.”

Ian looked around. “Might not be a bad idea. Looks like they’ll need it. Most of these people look a little, well, shellshocked.”

James agreed. Most of the people near them stared into space or were curled into the smallest ball a person could make themselves into. Only a few seemed to have their wits about them. 

“Yeah,” he replied. “Let’s find someone in charge and see if they need help.”

With their wives’ blessings, James and Ian made their way through the crowd, searching for someone in charge. After asking a few people, they finally found a manager who was coordinating passenger assistance efforts.

“Excuse me,” James said, approaching the manager. “My friend and I were wondering if there’s anything we can do to help.”

The man looked at them skeptically before responding, “Do you have any medical or emergency training?”

“No,” James admitted.

“Well then, I’m not sure how much help you would be,” the manager replied.

“But we want to do something,” Ian piped up. “Anything.”

The manager thought for a moment before saying, “Actually, we could use some extra hands handing out water bottles and crackers to everyone. If the guests aren’t already, they’ll soon be hungry or thirsty.”

“We can definitely do that,” James said with a nod.

The manager motioned for them to follow him and led them into a medium-sized storage room filled with supplies. He flipped the light switch, but it had no effect. The room remained in the same gloomy darkness as it had been before he switched it on. 

“I keep forgetting about that,” he mumbled.

“Is the electric out in the entire airport?” James asked.

“Yep. It’s how all this happened.” He waved his arm toward the tarmac.

“What about the rest of the area? The town? Is there electric there?” Ian asked. 

The manager pulled the tape off a box containing crackers. “I’ve only heard rumors, but some people that came in after the crash said that it’s out everywhere. Musta been a big transformer that’s blown.”

Ian and James exchanged a worried look. “How far is everywhere?” James asked.

“That I didn’t hear.”

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

The manager handed them each a few cartons of water bottles and boxes filled with bags of crackers to pass out to the stranded passengers.

“Thank you so much for your help,” the manager said gratefully. “I know it may not seem like much, but every little bit counts right now.”

As they handed out refreshments to the crowd, James couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. The sheer number of people stranded at the airport was staggering. Families huddled together and elderly passengers sat alone with blank expressions on their faces. 

The airport staff hastily assembled a makeshift triage area in one corner of the lobby, near the First Aid room. The waiting area was filled to capacity with patients, their slumped bodies and pained expressions revealing their discomfort. Despite the presence of a few nurses, it was evident that they were struggling to keep up with the demands.

Ian shook his head as they walked back to the storage room for more supplies. “This is just insane. I can’t believe this happened.”

“I know,” James replied. “The shock of it all, seeing the planes crash and knowing some were trapped inside.” He ran a hand over his face. “It’s almost too much.”

Ian nodded. “Me too. It keeps replaying in my head no matter how often I try to shove it away. We’re lucky we were in the airport when it happened.”

James agreed as they filled up their carts again and made their way back into the throngs of stranded passengers.

As they went back to distributing supplies, James overheard the conversations between those around them. A couple of people were worried about missing important meetings or events, others were trying to figure out how to contact their loved ones and let them know they were safe. But the most common topic was what had caused the blackout.

“It must have been a terrorist attack,” one man exclaimed loudly.

“Or maybe it was some kind of natural disaster,” another woman suggested.

“I heard it was a massive power outage that caused all of this chaos,” a teenage girl chimed in.

James and Ian exchanged another worried glance. No one seemed to have any solid news about what had happened or how long this would last.

After handing out supplies to everyone in the immense lobby, the men took a break and sat down for a few minutes. They found an empty spot near a group of people who seemed in better spirits than most.

“What do you think caused all of this?” Ian asked as he opened a bottle of water.

“I don’t know. But I hope they’re able to fix it soon. This is a nightmare for everyone.”

As they finished their snack, a commotion erupted near the entrance of the airport. A young man frantically waved his arms, causing a group of people to gather around him. James and Ian exchanged and glance then made their way through the crowd to see what was happening.

The young man was saying, “I have a radio. There’s news . . . You know, reports coming in. They’re saying it’s not just our town, it’s widespread. The whole country is in chaos. Power grids are down everywhere!”

A knot tightened James’ stomach as a murmur swept through the crowd. This was bigger than he’d ever imagined. Worried about? Yes. But he’d hoped such a thing would never happen.

He turned to Ian. “We need to find out more.”

Pushing their way through the restless crowd, the men made their way towards the emergency radio station that the airport staff had hastily set that up. People huddled around it like moths drawn to a flickering flame, hungry for any information.

A weary-looking man with headphones on relayed updates from other airports and cities experiencing similar power out ages.

“. . . No confirmation on the cause of the blackout yet. All we know is that power grids across the nation are failing, plunging us into darkness. . .”

“. . . Shelter in place. Stay indoors and secure your homes. Emergency services are overwhelmed...”

James’ heart thudded. “We need to get back to Elizabeth and the kids.” He broke out into a sweat. Maybe he shouldn’t have left them.

His friend nodded, his face reflecting the same worry as James. Dodging panicked passengers and disoriented airport staff, they turned and hurried through the airport. 

A feeling of dread settled over James, clinging to him like a heavy blanket. Was the world as they knew it was crumbling? 

His heart beat harder than normal until he saw his family. It reassured him to see them, even if they seemed distressed. Elizabeth comforted Emily while Michael clung to his wife’s side, the boy’s eyes wide with fear.

“James, what’s happening?” Elizabeth asked, her voice trembling. “Why haven’t any other emergency personnel shown up to help everyone? Why isn’t at least the emergency lighting coming on? Some people are saying—”

James crouched down in front of Liz and put his hands on her shoulders. Somehow, he needed to sound reassuring. Like he knew what to do, even though he had no idea where to start. 

He gulped and began with telling her the truth. “There’s an emergency radio in the lobby. They announced that the blackouts—well—the blackouts are more than just the airport. Power grids everywhere are failing.”

Liz locked eyes with him, her own gaze wide with fear. She took a couple of deep breaths, then in a firm voice asked, “Everywhere?”

James swallowed. “I’m sorry, babe. I’m so sorry. But they said across the nation. The power grids across the nation are failing.”

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily’s heart pounded as she helped some children off the slide. Around her, confused and frightened passengers lingered so wrapped up in their initial problem they neglected to see the one right above their head.

Emily picked up a brown-eyed little girl who wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry over her unexpected slide to the ground and handed her to her mother.

“Go into the building. Hurry!” she told the woman as she pointed to the drifting plane in the sky. “And tell others, please!”

The mother’s eyes grew rounder, and she hugged her little girl tighter. She nodded and took off for the closest airport entrance, waving at others to follow her.

Emily turned back to the slide, her gaze flicking between the descending aircraft and the anxious passengers waiting at the top of the emergency chute. She waved the next person down.

A trembling elderly woman navigated the slide expertly, her husband right behind her. As Emily helped them onto solid ground, a deafening roar split the air.

Wind blew her hair about and plastered her clothes to her body. She looked up. The failing plane had picked up speed and was heading right for them.

Emily’s heart lurched.

Panic rippled through the crowd, cries of terror mixed with the whistling of the wind as the plane plummeted toward them.

Several people at the top of the slide jumped, tumbling into one another on the ride down. At the bottom, they hopped off, ignoring the hands that Emily and her family held out. Once their feet were on the ground, they raced for the building.

“We need to go now!” James’s voice cut through the chaos, alarm covering his face as he gestured for his family to follow him into the airport. “There’s nothing more we can do.”

“Get back! Get back!” Ian said as he ran toward James. He held the hand of a scared young boy until they met up with his mother, who whisked him away. Then, the older man and his wife, Nancy, raced for safety.

Emily’s heart ached for the few people left on their plane. They had helped most people off, but attendants ushered the remaining ones back into the plane to shelter as best they could.

She glanced over her shoulder only the see the crashing plane was close enough for its gigantic shadow to darken the tarmac below it.

Dread gripped Emily’s chest over what was about to happen. “Dad!” she said, knowing even as she called for him, there was nothing he could do.

Still running, he moved beside her. “I know, baby girl. I know.”

Emily spotted the moisture in her father’s eyes, even as she wiped the tears from her own. He grabbed her hand, holding it until they reached the relative safety of the airport.

Behind them, the faltering plane hit the ground with a deafening crash, sending shudders through the tarmac.

Passengers frantically tried to find their footing, but many stumbled, losing their balance and falling to their knees. Beside her, a woman in a business suit lost her footing and fell hard, her briefcase spilling open. It was chaos and confusion as people scrambled to safety.

Something flew past her, sounding much like an angry bee. Heart pounding, she threw her arm up to defend against any other flying debris, only to have something nick her shoulder.

The sharp scent of fuel filled the air.

Emily spun around to see the Jet, now lying in a crumpled heap on top of the one she had just been in. The wreckage seemed almost fused together, with parts of the cabin and wings tangled in a chaotic mess.

A flame licked up through the middle of the wreckage.

Her father shouted something that was drowned out by the cries of the people and the blaring sirens.

Sirens?

Flying down the tarmac, one lone fire engine flew. A line of firefighters followed it on foot. Emily felt a sense of relief wash over her. They could do more than she and her family could.

Her father grabbed her arm, pulling her into the building and pushing the glass doors closed as quickly as he could. Passengers from their plane, as well as others watching the crash, filled the lobby.

James glanced at the crowd. “Get away from the windows!” he said as he waved the people away. “Into the hallway.”

The urgency in his voice made Emily’s heart race.

A sound somewhat like a thunderclap startled Emily. Behind them, debris peppered the glass doors and windows, causing cracks in some. 

James rushed his family down the crowded corridor away from the danger. Ian waved them to a spot beside him and his wife, Nancy. “The tail blew off the crashed plane,” Ian said, shaking his head. 

Around them, hushed voices whispered their worries, reinforcing Emily’s concern over what the next twenty-four hours held for them. The immediate danger may have passed, but tension still hung heavy in the air. 

As emergency responders swarmed the crash site, their family settled in beside Ian for the time being. Her mother trembly slightly and slipped her hand into her father’s, gripping it tight. Her gaze fixed on the wreckage they could still see outside the window. Michael clung to his Emily, his eyes wide as he took in the grisly scene before him.

Emily looked up as her parents moved closer, wrapping both her and Mike in a protective embrace. Their expressions were a mixture of disbelief and gratitude that everyone had made it out unscathed. 

“It’ll be okay,” James murmured, his voice steady despite the surrounding turmoil. “We’re safe now.”

But Emily’s mind reeled with everything that had happened, and everything that made no sense. She had to wonder—were they, really? Were they really safe?

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Standing at the open door of the plane, Emily clenched a grab bar as she stared at the puffy slide.

That was supposed to save her life?

She hadn’t made a move toward it yet and her stomach was already rolling. She imagined jumping onto it. The fall. The sway.

“Look!” some said and threw an arm up, pointing at the darkening sky. A large plane circled, but even a novice like her could tell something was very wrong.

“It’s coming down,” Ian muttered.

“What do you mean?” her father asked the ex-pilot. “Isn’t there some kind of—some kind of contingency plan for an emergency like this?”

“There’s no power. The building, the tarmac, this plane. Not regular power and no back-up power either. It’s my bet that plane is as dead as this one.”

“What?” Liz exclaimed. “How is that possible?”

“There’s only one I know of, ma’am. And I’m not sure anyone wants to hear it.” Ian turned to one of the strong men. “Keep an eye on that plane up there. If it even begins to come our way, let me know.”

Ian nodded to James. “You about ready to get this show on the road?”

“Yeah,” James replied.

Ian quickly directed where flashlights should be positioned, then jumped onto the slide and went down as easily as a child at the playground. Then he turned to his wife and waved her down.

Nancy’s face paled, but she clenched her jaw and jumped. Emily counted one. . . two . . . three . . . and Nancy bounced onto the slide.

Okay, three and a half seconds. She could do this.

She glanced up at the plane still in the air. It was noticeably closer to the ground.

She had to do this.

Her dad turned to her, gently putting his hands on her arms. “Emmy, honey, are you ready?”

She forced out a pent-up breath. “Yeah.” Her voice came out rather shaky.

“I’ll be right behind you, Emmy,” her mother added.

“Not me! I’m going to pass you,” Mike teased her.

“Michael, you absolutely will do as you are told and no more or less,” Liz scolded her son.

“Aww, Mom. You’re no fun.”

Emily hauled in a large breath while she watched her dad for the signal. When his arm came down, she jumped.

Holding her legs up as high as she could, Emily mentally counted. One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand . . . four, one thousand . . . wait, she should have landed on the slide. Where was the slide? Had she somehow missed . . .

Her back-end slammed against the slide. It is softer than she’d imagined and yet of thicker material too. Fast! It was so fast! Too fast! The end was coming—was here!

Her speed gave her the momentum to stand as she reached the end of the slippery slide and the start of the not-slippery land. Nancy and Ian grabbed her, helping her to the side. 

“We’ll help your mom and brother now,” Nancy said and smiled. “You did a great job.”

Had she? She’d felt so out of control! “Thanks!” 

Nancy’s comment made her feel so much better about the entire thing.

Her mom jumped as Mike stood at the top of the ramp, barely restrained by their father.

Emily watched her clearly nervous mother zipping down the slide then coming to an abrupt stop, pretty much the same way she had.

As soon as James gave the okay to his son, Mike whooped and jumped, landing directly in the middle of the slide. He squealed with joy as he picked up speed.

Several passengers laughed along with him.

The four at the end of the ramp positioned themselves to help the boy come to a safe stop. Emily and Liz made it to him first.

“That was awesome!” he exclaimed. “Oh, I wish I could go again!”

They pulled him to the side as he glanced longingly at the top of the slide.

Emily’s dad came down next. Then together, their family, along with Ian and Nancy, helped about half the passengers off the plane before a man at the top let out a holler and pointed to the sky.

“Coming our way!”

Everyone stopped and glanced up. Emily drew in a sharp breath. 

The plane was much lower now. It drifted aimlessly, its wavering movement making it appear as delicate as a paper airplane desperately seeking its next updraft. 

It was clear the struggling aircraft wouldn’t be in the air much longer. 

Her instincts screaming danger, a shiver slipped down Emily’s spine when the slide in front of her gave a little jump and bumped her shins. Her attention shifted back to her job. She eyed the inflatable slide to find her day barreling down it. 

“Heads up!” she roared, getting everyone’s attention.

Ian rushed over to James, offering him a hand.

As soon as James came to a stop, he eyed the sky. “This is bad.” Concern covered his face, and he turned to Ian. “We need to get everyone out of there ASAP.”

Ian nodded, already waving the next person down. “Speed it up!” he shouted.

The men in the plane started sending each passenger as soon as possible.

Emily did all she could, her heart pounding as she assisted everyone on the ground to get the passengers off the slide. Tension filled the air as they rushed to empty the plane, a silent understanding that they were running out of time.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

James peered out the small window of the plane, staring through the large windows of the airport into the bustling corridor on the other side.

Beside him, Emily shuddered and then gazed wistfully at the brightly lit airport. “I wish we were still in there, enjoying on our snacks.”

James sighed, “Me too. I hope whatever this is, I hope it doesn’t last long.” He glanced at the other nervous passengers, some who remained on their feet, clearly wishing they could rush the metal doors.

Liz sent an anxious glance his way. 

“It’ll be okay,” he told his wife, though he wasn’t sure he spoke true. He was a wound up as she was.

She nodded in agreement anyway. They’d both been parents long enough to know that saying words aloud soothed others, even if there was no way to know the future.

As if in response, the plane’s engines roared to life and what seemed like a thousand lightbulb blinked on, causing most people to shield their eyes.

A rush of relief flooded James. Finally. He smiled at his wife and children. 

“Awesome!” Mike said, as the passengers cheered.

The plane immediately began moving into position to taxi down the runway. 

“Sun and surf, here we come!” Liz said, smiling.

James double-checked his seatbelt and settled back in his chair as the plane taxied further and further down the runway, picking up speed.

The children grabbed each other’s hand in anticipation of take off. 

A sharp jerk as the plane’s engines sputtered and died, ended their fun. Once again, the cabin plunged into darkness. 

His muscles tightened, and he grabbed the armrests when the aircraft violently stuttered down the runway. Was the pilot using some sort of emergency brake to stop the plane? He glanced out the window, thanking the Lord that the plane was still on the ground when it failed the second time.

“What is happening?” Liz asked as she pulled her son closer to her.

Emily squealed and clenched the armrests of her seat. 

Others screamed as the aircraft weaved from one side of its designated path to the other. A woman behind them sobbed hysterically.

The pilot’s voice crackled over the intercom. It was barely audible above the chaos.

“Attention passengers, we have lost all power and are experiencing mechanical issues. The aircraft will make an emergency stop.”

There was a loud screeching as the tires protested a hard skid. The plane bounced slightly and came back down - hard. The impact jolted everyone and reignited the passenger’s panic.

Heart thudding, James threw an arm in front of his family as seatbelts strained to hold them in place. Someone in front of them hurled to the floor, groaning on impact.

The plane started into a spin, causing him vertigo. It came to a stop with a loud thud. The compartment above them flew open. Suitcases and fabric bags rained down on everyone beneath them. 

“Ow!” Mike shouted. 

James grabbed the suitcase that had fallen on his son and held it over the boy’s head to protect him from any more bumps on the head.

With tears in his eyes, Mike rubbed the top of his forehead. 

“Are you okay?” Liz asked him. 

“Yeah. It just hurts,” he said with a sigh. 

For a few seconds after the plane came to a stop, there was complete silence on board as everyone tried to process what had just happened. Then slowly, people began unbuckling their seatbelts and standing up, some shaking and crying in shock.

The screeching of the plane’s sudden stop still ringing in his ears, James jumped up. Something was wrong with this plane. Very wrong. And he wouldn’t spend one more minute on it. He shot up out of his seat.

“Grab your carryons and follow me!” he told his family. 

Other passengers around them followed suit and the main aisle became a chaotic frenzy — some passengers trying to bolt to the exit, some digging for the carryons scattered on the floor and piled on empty seats.

A flight attendant’s shrill voice echoed through the cabin. “Sit down! Everyone stay seated! It is policy that all passengers stay seated until the exit has opened.”

An argument ensued between her and a loud-mouthed woman passenger. A male flight attendant came over to stand behind his fellow employee and started ordering people around.

Muttering to themselves and others, many passengers turned back to retake their seats.

An older man standing near James caught his attention. “You’re a sturdy fellow, and that’s what we need. I’m a pilot. Or was one. I’ve seen passengers stuck on a plane for hours. None of us wanna be a part of that. I can get us out of here. And if we are gonna make a move, it needs to be now, before the attendants regain full control.” The man raised an eyebrow. “What do you say?”

It took James all of three seconds to decide, but he glanced at Liz anyway to get her input.

His wife kept it simple. She nodded.

“Great!” the older guy said. “By the way, my name is Ian.” He put an arm around a woman about his age. “This is my wife, Nancy.”

Ian began pushing his way down the aisle and recruiting any other muscular guys he saw.

James waved his family toward him. “It’s crowded here. Stay together. Hold on to one another if you need to. We’re going to follow Ian. He can get us out.” When both the kids gave him a serious nod, he knew they would fall in line behind him.

“I’ll bring up the rear,” Liz said and pulled the kids between them, then tightening the line. 

When a man tried to break between them, she pushed him back. “Sorry,” she said, “but my family needs to stay together.”

“Oh, yeah. Of course,” the man replied. 

James gave his wife a quick smile. She was tough. Determination etched across his face and shoulders back, James created the path to the emergency door for his family. 

Ian was already there, scanning it for the release mechanism. Two other muscular guys stepped up behind them, ready to help.

Ian pulled a lever on the door and it easily moved to the side revealing the night sky. It shook James. Had so much time passed already? 

The older man pulled on an inflatable slide built into the floor. “Stubborn thing,” he mumbled. He stood and pointed to the two guys behind James. “You two okay with helping people get on the slide? Especially watch the old and the young.”

The two men agreed.

“James, you and I will go down first. Then, our families. We can all help people get off the slide in an orderly manner, so this can go quickly.”

The flight attendant with the shrill voice shouted at them. “You cannot do that! You cannot!”

Ian turned around and gave her a piercing glare. “Marilynn, it’s me. Shut up and do something constructive.”

“Oh! Oh! But Captain . . .”

“But nothing. I’m getting these people out of here and I’m doing it now. You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.”

Marilynn pursed her lips, then said, “Yes, Sir!” She turned to the first row of passengers. “Please check the area for any of your possessions and prepare to deplane.”

James looked at Emily as she leaned around him and stared at the tall, seemingly flimsy slide. She put a hand to her face as it drained of color.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily turned to her parents, who looked just as confused as she felt. But there was something else on her dad’s face. A wariness. A suspicion.

She glanced around the cabin of the plane, making out what she could in the dimmed light. Without overhead lights, the only brightness that filtered through the plane was the sunlight coming through the windows. The scene was a contrast of light and darkness as the bright light bathed certain individuals, while shadows hid others.

Mike scooted closer to Elizabeth, and she put an arm around him, giving him a tight smile. “It’s all right, dear. Just a little delay, is all.”

Emily frowned. It seemed like more that a little delay to her. Sure, she’d only flown once before. But it had been a really big deal, and she remembered all of it.

And nothing even remotely like this had happened. 

No, this wasn’t right. She knew that for sure.

Emily studied her dad’s puzzled expression. “Dad?”

Almost absentmindedly, he said, “Yeah. I don’t know,” as he inspected the surrounding scene. Then he looked at her. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart,” he reassured her.

She nodded, her nerves soothed somewhat. If Dad said it would be okay, then it would be. He’d never let her down yet.

Emily let him turn back to his perusal and started listening to the murmuring of the other passengers, but it didn’t seem like anyone had any idea what was going on.

“Do you think they just need to gas the plane up?” one lady behind her asked.

“This doesn’t seem right,” a teenage boy replied.

“How long is this going to take?” a man called out as he searched for someone in charge.

A man in the third row stood and held his hands up. “This has happened to me before. It just takes a little while for them to sort it out.” 

A few people clapped. The man bowed at the waist as if he were part of an acting troupe and sat down.

“Why don’t the captain or the flight attendants announce anything?” Mom asked. 

“They will. As soon as they can,” Dad answered, giving her a warm smile. 

He bopped Mike on the nose. “We’ll be in the air in no time.”

The lights overhead flickered on and off several times and the plane filled with gasps of excitement.

Emily shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness.

Without warning, the lights went out and stayed out. 

Around her, passengers uttered groans and disappointed sighs.

Emily blew out a sharp breath and slumped back into her seat. “Oh, come on!”

“Yeah, come on!” Mike said, imitating her.

“We sure don’t need this kind of start to our vacation, do we, Mike?”

“Nope. We sure don’t!” He crossed his arms and frowned at the fight attendant who entered the cabin and prepared to make an announcement.

After giving them a few useless facts, the flight attendant said, “We are experiencing a power outage, but I’m sure it will be sorted out soon.”

“Hmm, that didn’t give us a lot of information,” Mom said as the flight attendant walked away.

“Probably on purpose,” Dad muttered. 

Mom gave him an inquisitive look. “What are you thinking?”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I know nothing about airplanes. And I wouldn’t want to guess.” Giving her a long look, he continued, “But if I get a thought about it, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Good.” Mom nodded, giving him the warmest glance he’d gotten all morning. Which Emily felt was only a little less frosty than the others.

Dad smiled as if he’d won the biggest prize of his life.

Parents were weird.

Somewhere in the back of the plane, a baby began to cry. Emily’s heart sank. Babies cried. It happened. But it was hard to deal with in a tin can. Hours could seem like days.

They didn’t know how long they would be on this plane, waiting . . .

She’d heard news reports of boarded passengers waiting for hours before their planes took off. 

If the baby started fussy now . . . well, it wouldn’t be good for them.

The plane shook, then rolled backward, slamming to a stop. 

Cries of panic erupted around Emily and her family. People jumped from their seats, some fumbling with overhead compartments in the low light, and others rushing for the exit.

The blonde flight attendant reappeared and grabbed the PA. Almost breathless, she announced, “Folks, please sit down and remain seated and keep your seatbelts fastened.” 

“We want out!” a woman in the back yelled. 

“The doors are shut. We need to let the captain do his job and get this plane running. Please! Sit down.”

The plane jerked again. One man, who had been standing in the aisle, tumbled to the floor. 

Another helped him up. “Well, he doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job!” he said.

“We want out!” the woman yelled again.

“I’m sorry but I must repeat that the doors are shut. And for now, they are going to stay that way.” With that, the attendant ended the conversation and rushed away.

A deep hush settled over the passengers. Emily’s heart raced. The attendant’s empty words had seemed more a threat than a comfort. Emily suddenly felt trapped, like a twitching insect in a jar unable to escape. 

Ice ran down her spine, adding to her growing unease. She couldn’t shake the overwhelming worry that they might never escape this metal coffin.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

Emily’s mom forced a smile as she watched her husband, though her bright blue eyes still radiated unease. She gently squeezed Emily’s hand and whispered. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie. We’ll make it.” 

Emily nodded, though her shoulders remained tense. She glanced around nervously, her dark hair swishing around her face. “I hope we do.” She paused, hesitating before saying, “But this line was so long. And we still need to go through security before we board.”

Elizabeth straightened, her expression worried despite her words. “It’s okay. Your dad’s got this. We just need to follow him.”

It seemed to Emily that her mother was trying to reassure herself just as much as her, but she had to agree. “Yeah, you’re right. He went through the papers a hundred times to make sure they were in order.”

“Dad might have the papers,” Mike grumbled. “But I just want him to hand them over so they let us on that plane.”

“We just need to be patient,” Elizabeth told them. “We’ll get there.”

As soon as the agent handed the papers back to James, he folded them and tucked them deep inside his carry-on’s front pocket. He tipped his head toward the sign that directed them toward security. “Well, we got this far. Let’s see how fast we can get to the next step.” All smiles, the family moved to the boarding area. 

The line was shorter here, and when they sailed through the security check, Emily breathed a sigh of relief. With a quick look at her phone’s clock, she assured herself they would make this plane, even if it was by the skin of their teeth.

A quick sprint and they arrived at the gate. Breathing heavily, James handed the tickets over to a young airline rep, who looked the papers over. Even Emily could tell he was out of his depth by the beads of sweat on his forehead and the darting glances for help to a more senior agent on the telephone.

The senior agent hung up the phone and whispered to the younger one. The young man looked startled and eyed the line before his gaze drifted to Emily’s father. Another agent came and whispered to the first one. He pointed to the side of the desk. “Could you and your family wait here, sir?”

“Okay,” James said, drawing out the word. He glanced at Liz, whose worried expression deepened.

“Are we getting bumped?” Emily asked, looking from one parent to the other.

“What?” Mike said. “We better not!”

“I’m sure it’ll be okay,” Mom assured them.

The senior ticket agent disappeared and then returned. He waved them forward, pointing to the corridor leading to the plane’s door. “This way, sir.”

Overhead, an announcement told the passengers who remained in line that the plane was full. The voice droned on, directing them to various kiosks.

Sending an apologetic glance to the other passengers as she stepped into the corridor, Emily felt her spirits lift. 

“They can’t kick us off now!” she said, eyes sparkling. “Right?”

The agent in front of her flashed a smile. “That is right.”

Mike let out a whisper. “Whoop! Whoop!”

They passed an agent standing at the plane door. “Have a pleasant flight,” she said.

Hurrying onto the plane, they took their seats as the plane’s cabin door closed. Mike laughed and grabbed the barf bag from the pocket on the seatback, blowing it up like a balloon. 

Emily rolled her eyes. “Real mature, Mikey.” But she couldn’t help giving him a small smile. This was a vacation, after all.

The engines revved as she reached for both parts of her seat belt. A little thrill ran over Emily’s spine. 

She clicked the belt in place and tightened it. Then made sure Mike’s was good too. Flashing him and her parents a smile, she leaned back in her seat, ready for takeoff.

The plane shuddered. 

She squeezed the armrests in anticipation of the airplane taxiing.

Like a switch had been flipped, the plane went dark.

Continued . . .

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

Maira Dawn’s Novel News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)

(COPYRIGHT©2024 MAIRA DAWN)

James weaved between clusters of travelers, his worn leather boots pounding against the scuffed airport floor. One hand gripped the handle of Emily’s rolling suitcase, the other clutched the straps of his faded backpack. 

He turned to catch his son’s eye. “Come on up here by me, Mike.”

Michael sprinted to his father’s side to walk beside him. 

James glanced at Elizabeth, who nodded back. This way she wasn’t the only one watching out for their boy.

After herding the family through the lobby and a couple of hallways, they got close to the check-in. James’ heart fell when he noticed the line. It seemed to stretch down the endless corridor, passengers shuffling at a slug’s pace. 

“Come on, come on,” James muttered under his breath. He craned his neck, searching for an agent at one of the three kiosks. 

Somewhere baby wailed. Luggage wheels squealed, grating on his nerves. 

“Wow! Looks like a looong line,” Michael said, stating the obvious.

“Sure is,” James said as he scanned the auditorium-sized room for a second check-in area, but it seemed the line they were in was the only one.

The family stepped into the back of the line. James rand a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply.

The man in front of him turned around. “I feel the same way, buddy. I really need a vacation right now, but this isn’t a great start. I guess everyone else had the same idea we had.”

James chuckled. “Seems so. I guess I can’t hold that against them.” He glanced at the man’s children. “Ten and sixteen?”

“Yep,” the man said slinging his arm around his son who was the same age as Michael. “It’s a great age, isn’t it?”

He nodded. He hadn’t really thought about it before, but the guy was right. “It is.” James looked at his son, who beamed.

James and the man continued to chat, and they soon discovered they were both guests at the same resort. “We should have dinner together,” James said.

The other man readily agreed.

The halted line began moving again and the man and his family turned around and stepped forward.

After a tense twenty or so minutes, James and his family shuffled up to the counter. The agent greeted them with a strained smile when James provided their documents. As he waited for the agent to check them in, he scanned the crowded terminal. Most of the soon-to-be passengers were families, most with a hint at their beach vacation. One woman wore large dark sunglasses, a little girl had on bright pink flip-flops, and a dad seemed to be already wearing his swim trunks.

James smiled. The pandemic had made this year a hard one for many families, no wonder so many were eager to fly to a beautiful beach somewhere and let off some steam.

Other Maira Dawn Books

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

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James moved closer, his expression pained. “Liz, listen to me. I would never do what you’re thinking — not to you and the kids. Never.” 

“Okay,” she whispered, giving him a look that said there would be more to discuss later. She took a deep breath and looked around the room, gaze landing on the suitcases and bags strewn about the floor. Two still had contents spilling onto the floor. They had a lot to do before they left this house. 

She met her husband’s eyes. An unspoken understanding passed between them - the argument would have to wait. Right now, they had to focus on getting this family on that plane. They wouldn’t disappoint the children.

James gave her a small nod. Then he turned and loudly clapped his hands. “All right! Fifteen minutes ‘til butts are in the car.” 

Emily and Michael grinned at each other, thrilled that their parents seemed to have a sudden change of heart. They jumped up and raced to their rooms for their last piles of clothing. 

James watched his daughter sprint there and back. Man, she was fast! When his attention moved to his son, Emily snuck off to the bathroom for some more stuff. “Fourteen minutes!” he shouted. He had to keep them moving. This wouldn’t be the first time his teenage daughter had run late, not even the tenth or twentieth time. Time and Emily just never seemed to get along. 

Before he knew it, she’d rushed in and out of the kitchen, her arms filled with energy bars. She threw them into an extra backpack he’d probably end up carrying.

Liz ran the opposite way, rushing to pack a few more last-minute things. James smiled. There was no doubt that Emily’s ‘time-blindness’ came from her mother. True, it sometimes irritated him, but not today. Today, it reminded him of who he was and who they were. He couldn’t be any luckier! He shouldn’t have forgotten that. Not even for a moment.

As the rest of the family dumped their packed bags by the door, James double-checked each one, making sure they were zipped tight and tagged. Afterward, he gathered up a couple of armfuls and carried them to the car, stacking them inside. Then he returned to the front door.

In the living room, Elizabeth grabbed a couple of backpacks from the couch and brought them over to him. She glanced at him from under her eyelashes and he could see the lingering hurt. Somehow, he would need to convince her he would never have made another move toward Valerie or anyone else.

A thought whispered through his mind. He shouldn’t have taken the first one. He knew better than to flirt with other women. 

He tried to ignore it. Almost everyone at work flirted, and their marriages were fine. At least, he thought they were.

Well, at least his wife was still willing to go on this vacation with him. That was a move in the right direction, wasn’t it?

Within the allotted fifteen minutes, the car contained all of their luggage and the two kids. The parents did a last sweep of the house, then took their seats in the SUV. 

Keeping it fun, James announced, “Off to the airport. Like a herd of turtles!”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Dad, that is the lamest joke and you say it all the time.”

But she still cheered with her brother. 

In the front seat beside James, Elizabeth’s lips turned up the tiniest bit. 

He smiled. Things were looking up.

Other Maira Dawn Books

Thanks for reading this chapter!

Please remember this is a developing story and in a rawer state than what I publish. As such, it has only been self-edited and you will see some errors.

In addition, some changes may occur between now and publishing, including major storylines. I try to avoid this, but it sometimes happens.

I welcome your kindly worded feedback. :)