Earth

Chapter 1





Inside Voices





Alex and I stood outside the gated fence, trying to figure out how to break into the Cold War-era underground bunker. Buried 720 feet into the hillside of White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, it would not be easy. Each of the four entrances were protected by large steel and concrete doors designed to withstand a nuclear blast.

"The west and east entrances are vehicular tunnels," said Alex, handing me his binoculars. "That one there is the west entrance."

I focused the binoculars in on a large "high voltage" warning sign on the door.

"Do you think Akasha can burn through that baby?" Alex asked.

"Maybe," I sighed, handing back the binoculars. "But do we really want to risk a high-profile entrance?"

Footsteps in the woods to our backs caused us both to duck down. I peered under a thick, prickly bush. Susan's feet came into view. I stood, unsuccessfully avoiding the sharp thorns.

"Ow!"

Susan jumped at my outburst.

Bee squealed with delight, "Mommy!" She ran straight for me, and the thorns.

"Oh, honey – watch out!" I scooped her up before she suffered the same fate.

She squealed again.

"More!" she demanded as soon as I set her down.

Alex cleared his throat, "Um, excuse me everyone – we are in surveillance mode here. We need to use our inside voices."

"Tell that to the two-year-old," I said.

In a perfect world, Bee wouldn't have been there. But this world was far from perfect, and leaving Bee behind wasn't exactly an option.

Bee took the hint and ran to Alex. "More Unka Alek, more!"

He smiled down at her. "I can't refuse my best lady. But can you be quiet when I lift you up?"

She nodded her head as fast as she could, practically hopping in anticipation. Alex lifted her so quickly her feet flew in the air above her head, then came down again.

To Bee’s credit, not one sound escaped her lips. She could be quiet if she wanted; she just had to be properly motivated.

"What did you find out?" I asked Susan.

"Hotel is operational. Well, as far as hotels can be, these days. But the tours have been cancelled since Daybreak. Electricity is too unreliable to lead tourists underground."

"Either that, or the facilities are actually in use," Alex said. "All the perimeter alarms are deactivated – could be they’re conserving energy for ventilation systems inside."

"More!" Bee automatically demanded at his sudden shift in focus.

I dug around in my backpack for the stash of honeysuckle I’d found the day before. "Here," I handed her the entire bag. "Let the grownups plan their break in."

"Bake in, bake in," chanted Bee, plopping down on the ground, already diving into her new treat.

I smiled, then turned back to the west entrance and frowned. "Let's camp out for a night – see if there’s any activity in or out."

"What about the other entrances?" Alex asked.

"We could split up," I suggested.

Susan groaned. "I hate spending the night alone, outside."

"You won't be outside. You can go back to the hotel; find out more," Alex said.

"And you won't be alone, you'll have Bee," I said.

The three of us looked down at her, still sitting at our feet. Several white flowers already sat crumpled by her side, having been deprived of all their sweet nectar.

In a world with only intermittent power, traditional packaged goods – including candy – were scarce. Honeysuckle had long become a treat of choice.

"Let's meet back here an hour after dawn tomorrow," Alex said.

Susan stuck out her lip.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Ok, two hours after dawn. Put that lip back in before I bite it."

Susan smiled, raising one eyebrow. "Bite me and I'll bite you back." She moved a step closer to him.

"Is that a promise?" he asked, closing the distance between them.

I turned my back just in time to hear kissing sounds. The open romance between Alex and Susan was a long time coming, and I was happy for both of them, but with every passing day it made me long for Micah more and more. He'd been missing since a few weeks before Daybreak.

The kissing noises were still coming. I sighed and squatted down by Bee. "It's rude to stare, sweetie."

The few honeysuckle that remained were forgotten. She shifted her gaze to me, stuck out her lips and said, "Kiss, kiss!"

I laughed and obliged, then gathered her in my arms. "You're going to stay with Aunt Susan tonight. Be good, okay?"

"Otay!"

I kissed her again.

"Enough with the smooching you two," Susan interrupted. "We're going to be late for girls' night out."