“I am scared to see what is in the rest of the crates now,” Mia said, her voice trembling.
“I think we have to now. This is too serious to ignore,” Shane replied.
I bent my head in dismay, knowing Shane was right. No matter how much I dreaded what was in those crates, we had an obligation to find out, for our safety. I nodded to Noah and he and Shane went to pick up another crate. There was only three in total so one would be left after we opened this one.
After they managed to pry this one opened, we wasted no time staring down into the contents. I frowned when I saw what was in this one. The box was completely full of folded up maps.
“They are maps. Why would there be a box full of maps? Do they read something special?” Nessa asked.
“I don’t know, but there is only one way to find out. Here goes nothing,” Liam said as he pulled a map out and unfolded it.
We all stared down at the map, stunned. After looking at the map, it was clear and we could read it alright. The map had a numbering system in the order of the states that have and haven’t been decimated. Despair settled over the room as we realized what that meant. These people planned to decimate all of North America.
“We better hold on to one of these,” Noah said after grabbing one out of the box and placing it in his back pocket.
“According to the map, what state is due to be decimated next?” Nessa inquired.
“It looks like either Missouri or Arkansas, I can’t remember which number we are on,” Noah replied.
“Okay, what is going to be in crate number three?” I asked, switching the conversation. “After these two crates, there is no telling. The more we find, the more I want to get the heck out of here.”
Nodding to each other, Noah and Shane once again lifted the final crate. They placed it in the center of the room next to the others. Prying it open, they tossed the lid aside so we could see what was inside. As with the other two crates, it was not what any of us were expecting. The box was full of old fashioned barrel keys with a blue ribbon tied around each key loop.
“Keys, really?” Mia asked.
“Maybe this key leads us out of here,” I suggested hopefully.
“That would be good, because I really don’t want to have to possess anybody after this. It gives me the willies,” Liam said.
“Well, there is no time like the present, let’s find a door and give it a try,” Noah said imploring.
We all turned, scouring the room for any way out. It was still hard to see in the tint of red light. I squinted, but couldn’t see any way out. It was nearly five minutes before anyone managed to find anything.
“Over here, there is a door in the ceiling just above the table. We just have to figure out how to get it opened,” Shane said.
“I can stand on Nessa’s shoulders and try the key,” Mia suggested. “I used to be a cheerleader in high school.”
“Nessa, is that alright with you?” Shane asked.
“It is as good of a plan as any,” Nessa replied.
Nessa walked over to the table and placed her hands on her leg, for Mia to pop up on. Mia was fast and efficient. She popped up and onto Nessa’s shoulders like a professional. Mia pushed at the door, but it didn’t budge. She searched for a keyhole and hollered when she found it. She slid the key into the lock and it opened with a snick. She pushed it open with all her force, letting the sunlight shine in on us.
Relieved, I moved toward Nessa as we watched Mia lift herself out and into the warm summer day. Nessa gave me a smile and gestured for me to follow Mia. I was hesitant, but need for freedom gave way and I gave it a try. I was slightly wobbly on Nessa’s shoulders, but managed to grab onto the edges of the door and Mia helped pull me up the rest of the way as Noah pushed from below. I sank to the grassy ground and sighed in relief.
Next, the guys had pushed Nessa up and we helped her out and too her feet. Vienna came next without trouble. Now we just had to get the guys out. All three of us had to pull as Liam came up. He looked relieved to be back into the sunshine once again. He helped Shane up and out of the basement hole next. Then Noah stood on the table and raised his hands. Liam and Shane reached down and grasped him under his armpits and up.
Once we all made it out of the hole, I sighed in relief. Now we just had to find out where the heck we were. I turned, hand covering my eyes from the sun and looked around. Instantly I froze as a pair of eyes matched mine and a man began to stride forward. Somehow, I knew this wasn’t a good thing.
And so, I was correct. The man with dark brown hair wearing aviator sunglasses flashed a badge before approaching us. I winced; knowing I was probably still in troubled for Tom’s murder. There didn’t seem like a way out of this. My heart beat faster as I tried to separate my jumbled thoughts, though it was futile.
“FBI, I have some questions for you. I am afraid that I have to take you all in for questioning.”
“What did we do officer?” Noah asked, sparing me a reply.
“I am an FBI agent, not a police officer,” he said, clearly irritated by the remark. “My name is agent Harris and you are breaching state boundaries from a decimated state. We are taking these terrorist attacks very seriously.”
“We were just driving through,” Shane attempted.
“If that is so, then where is your car?”
He turned his sharp gaze on mine and I shrunk back under his scrutiny. “We were looking for some gas, and we fell in a trap of some sort,” I tried.
“I don’t buy that, I am a trained professional of the law. I know bullshit when I hear it. I am taking you in for questioning and that is not negotiable,” he said as another man approached. This man was blonde and his blue eyes squinted against the bright sun.
“This is my partner, agent Shanti. He will be helping me bring you all in and back up is on the way. You won’t get very far,” he added with the tone of a poorly veiled threat.
Sweat began to perforate just above my brow, though I didn’t know if it was from the warm summer day or the intensity of the situation. Either way, it stung as it rolled down and slipped into my eyes. I blinked, trying to stop the burning and swiped at them with my forearm.
I knew that I could dissolve and leave them standing there in a cloud of dirt, but I also knew that I couldn’t leave the others behind to hold the blame. My eyes fell on Nessa’s and I noticed for the first time the tears that had begun to stream down her glistening cheeks. My heart skipped a beat at the thought of Nessa going down for any crime I incurred.
“I will go with you willingly as long as you let the rest go. They are innocent. I am the one you want,” I said as I came forward with false bravado.
“Nice try miss, but I am taking you all in, that is not a compromise I am willing to succumb to,” he said as he grasped my hands behind me and snapped on the cool metal cuffs.
I mentally crumpled in defeat and my head hung now. Agent Shanti ushered me forward, towards the nondescript black car and placed me carefully in the back seat. He shut the door, and turned back towards his partner.
I looked up to see Noah stepping forward, his eyes trained on me with determination. “I will gladly go with you, as long as you keep me with her,” he said as he pointed towards me.
“Why not, let’s go,” agent Harris said as he cuffed Noah and guided him towards the car I was seated in. I slid over and was relieved when the door opened and Noah slipped in.
Agent Harris shut the car door and headed back towards the others. He was approaching Nessa and I winced in guilt for getting her involved in this mess in the first place. Then, Noah leaned in, discretely.
“Remain silent, and don’t give them anything. These terrorists will not let us rot in prison with their plans. I bet the state is decimated by nightfall. You just need to bide your time until that happens. Stay strong Cora, I promise everything will be ok,” he said as his eyes met mine.
“This is the scariest thing I have ever had to go through. I hope I don’t break under the pressu
re. They do think I murdered my fiancé and there is no telling what they will do to me and Nessa. We are sitting ducks now, so much for running.”
Just then, agent Shanti opened the door and slid a cuffed Nessa into the last seat. He shut the door and locked the doors with his key fab, no doubt with the child locks safely in place to prevent escape.
Noah was suddenly very close to me and I shivered at his proximity. The fire that was spreading through me was overwhelming and caused a temporary distraction until Nessa spoke up.
“We need to stonewall them for as long as we can. I am sure we will make it out of this. We have come too far for this to be our demise. We are too valuable to these terrorists. They went through all the trouble to alter our genetic structure, they wouldn’t want to dismiss us so easily now.”
“I agree with Nessa. We are way too important. It was probably pure coincidence that they happened upon us at the moment we purged ourselves from that underground room,” Noah said with a little nudge and a soft smile.
I just simply nodded as I turned my attention back to the others. Backup had arrived and another non-descript car was being filled with Liam, Vienna, Shane and a very terrified Mia. I wondered for a second what would happen from here, and whether they would at least keep us together.
Agents Harris and Shanti returned their attention on us and then climbed into their respective seats in front. Harris started the engine up and we pulled forward, on our way to the unknown. Frightened and defeated, tears rolled down my cheeks without regard as the whole experience flashed through my mind in rapid succession. I melted into Noah and waited for whatever was coming next.
Coming soon!
**Dreamwalker (A Persephone’s League of Immortals Book) out 06/10/2012
**Also being released in 2012- Dancing with Death (A YA Paranormal Romance) out 08/10/2012
**Divine Destiny-sequel for Dreamwalker (A Persephone’s League of Immortals Book) out in 2013
**Detour-sequel to Dissolve, out in 2013
**Dancing with a Demon-sequel for Dancing with Death will be out in 2013
Coming summer 2012
Dreamwalker (A Persephone’s League of Immortals Book)
Noel Kennedy lost her boyfriend, her job and he dignity all in one week. Then something happened and she began to dream of this stranger she had never met. She couldn’t resist the man of her dreams named Jared especially when she met him in real life. Entranced, she slowly unraveled a world she was meant to stay out of. Her life was not what she thought it was once a sexy Boone stepped into the mix and shook things up. Can she escape a life of servitude or immortality for a chance at love?
My eyes fluttered open and I saw something magical. I was lying on the ground next to Jared, my legs folded up, boots resting flat on the ground. I turned my head to the side, looked into his eyes and he smiled.
All around us, the tall green grass was mixed with red tulips tinged with silver and the field was whispering in the wind. A large white moon hung in the deep purple sky. I turned to peer into those smoky eyes that had me at hello.
“What is this place? It’s truly amazing. I have never seen anything like it.”
He smiled and just answered with a simple reply, “our wonderland.”
Then I gasped as Jared entwined his hand with mine and a shooting star came into view. The star seemed so close it appeared three-dimensional and was emitting a shower of stardust in its wake. Shimmering embers and sparkling bits surround us as I stared in awe.
Road Trip Playlist for Dissolve
Codes and Keys- Death Cab for Cutie
Dark Blue- Jack’s Mannequin
The Creationist- Kerli
Secrets- One Republic
Just Tonight- The Pretty Wreckless
Drown- Carolina Liar
AM/FM Sound- Matt & Kim
Fixed at Zero- Versa Emerge
This is For Real- Motion City Soundtrack
Done- Charlotte Sometimes
What You Want- Evanescence
Saying Sorry- Hawthorne Heights
Northern Downpour- Panic! At The Disco
Firefight- Jimmy Eat World
Make a Run for It- Hit the Lights
This is War- Thirty Seconds to Mars
Dissolve Product Description
Everything seemed to be going right for Cora. She had a wonderful fiancé, a great best friend and a fulfilling life. One day, a tragic event causes that life to crumble around her. She turns to her best friend in her time of need. They embark on a search for answers, delving deeper into a web of magic and destruction. The closer they get to the truth, the more questions they have. To Cora, magic was the stuff of fairytales. Immersed into a very different kind of world, the storm was just beginning to take hold.
“It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved to drift on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.”
“Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths trying to relax myself. I pictured the dandelion in the park today and took a deep breath as to blow the fluffy seeds in all directions. I pretended I was light and fluffy and started to feel a tingling in my body. I began to feel as light as the dandelion seeds and soon I felt like mist floating. This time, I tried to keep myself in the room, swirling in a humid block.”
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