From the Ashes

by Angela White

  Then come. None of us will hurt you.

  The boy whirled around, hands rising in defense. “Who’s there?” he whispered and felt the gaze of the only woman over the long distance.

  Come talk to us. We’re your way out of this hell.

  The boy was sure he was imagining things.

  Watch our vehicles.

  Conner was stunned when the lights flashed with no one inside flipping the switches. On and off. On and off.

  She’s special! She’s like me!

  “He’s coming. Tell the guards by your rig to give him room,” Angela instructed.

  Adrian did and seconds later, a shadow emerged from the wreckage–5’7” or so, and very underweight… Was this the same child he’d left in the care of his mother?

  Adrian wiped his face clean of emotions, not sure if the boy knew who he was, and he waved the Eagles off, including Kenn, as he and Angela advanced.

  Conner ignored Adrian’s attempts at eye contact, now feeling the bitterness. These men were the reason it had taken so long. If not for the woman’s powers, and the desperate medical need of some of his kids, Conner thought he might not have made contact.

  The silence told Adrian that Angela was handling things. Running on instinct (something he realized he did a lot with her) he put a hand on her wrist and was able to hear bits of their conversation.

  Good guys... Rescue...

  Proof... Many betrayals...

  Not like the rest... Protection...

  Hunted... Scared...

  It moved too fast for Adrian to keep up and he reluctantly let go, knowing it was a distraction for her and was making the Eagles wonder if she was in danger.

  A moment later, the boy grunted and Angela turned to Adrian. “They need food and water. Maybe some weapons?”

  “What else?”

  “Medical help. I’d like to go with him.”

  “Not alone, not ever. Kyle and his men will escort us.”

  Conner was frowning as she relayed the next instructions to Adrian. “Five men of your choice and he carries the weapons.”

  Before Adrian could say no, Conner spoke, “This will go a long way in making the others trust you.”

  Adrian sighed at the current of hatred. He had earned every ounce of pain this boy wanted to hand him. “You get our guns, we get the ammo, and there will be seven of us.”

  Conner agreed right away and Adrian hit his radio. “Eagles Two, Four, and Five, pick a partner and prepare for a recon mission.”

  The men snapped salutes and Adrian went to Doug while Angela waited with the shivering teenager.

  “Slip a few of those homing devices into a knapsack while they get ready and give it to Kenn. When the rain lets up, follow us. If you can’t get through on the radio, try Angie,” Adrian instructed. “She’ll hear you.”

  “We’ll be there when you need us,” Doug promised.

  “Stay alert. They may attack, may think that with a few of us gone, they’ll have a better chance.”

  Clearly unhappy, Doug grimaced. “We’ll manage, and when it happens, you’ll be in charge where you belong.”

  Angela turned to the twitchy boy. “I have to get my things. Come with me?”

  Conner hesitated, feeling all the adult attention on him. He was already fighting the urge to run that had been drilled into him during the long months he’d been hiding here.

  Angela pulled out her gun, making him flinch and then surprising him when she held it out butt first. “You’re holding our weapons, right?”

  He blushed, feeling like a teenager for an instant. “Not yours.”

  Angela gave him a smile that drew nods from the Eagles. Clearly, she was using what she’d been given.

  “Walk with me, Conner,” she instructed, ignoring his surprise at her knowing his name. “Come feel in the center again. Remember how it is to be cared for, because we will give you that above all else. Search Adrian’s Eagles and see if maybe you and the others could become his, too.”

  Conner was unable to resist her beauty, or the smell of vanilla teasing his hardened nose. “Maybe.”

  He noticed a softening in the guards watching him. Realizing it was because he hadn’t taken her weapon, Conner understood she was loved by these men.

  Adrian was pleased with the way Angela was taking over, handling things as if she did this all the time, but he was also worried by it. She’s being reckless, he thought.

  “Knows she’s coming out of it,” he muttered to himself, as she moved toward his rig. “Will I?”

  Angela got her things quickly and when she saw the teen’s attention linger on the radio, she waved a hand at it. “Is there someone listening on your end?”

  “Jason is probably on seven.”

  She handed him the mike, noting that Adrian already had one of the systems on that channel.

  “I can step away if you want,” she offered, surprising him again.

  “That’s okay. Jason, this is Conner. You on the radio?” Nothing but static and he tried again, “There’s no gun to my head. I’m on the way back, with a small group. Tell Howie not to shoot us, will ya?”

  He sounded so much like Adrian that Angela stared at him, mind racing.

  “Sorry, Conner. I’ll tell him, but he won’t like it.”

  “Then he should have come. Out.”

  Conner stared at her in desperate hope; needing that bond of human closeness with someone other than those he was responsible for.

  “Come on. Let’s not keep my Dad waiting. From what I remember, he doesn’t usually have to do much of that.”

  Angela gaped at the admission, and so did everyone else. Conner was Adrian’s son. That’s why they were here.

  Book Six

  1

  “Home...”

  Kendle rolled over, her sleep restless. She bumped into the sharp, cold corner of the seat and jerked awake.

  They were home. Except, it wasn’t, not anymore. Somehow, while she wasn’t looking, Pitcairn had become her home.

  The sound of the engines coming pulled her into alertness and sent a hopeful fear into her heart. People!

  “Luke!” she whispered urgently, a bit surprised he hadn’t stirred.

  She looked over to find him huddled against their backpacks, and even in the darkness, she could see his skin had a sheen of sweat. He was sick.

  “Shit!”

  Kendle pulled the gun from her belt and slowly inched over to the window.

  “Please be good guys. Please be good guys.”

  All she could see was headlights, at least ten of them. Five trucks circling the plane like they knew she and LJ were in here. Shit!

  Kendle sank down, racing for a solution.

  “Come on out of there.”

  Make a deal!

  Kendle slowly stood up, hoping she had the courage to get them through this alive, and longing to see a group of uniformed authority to help them.

  The sky was just beginning to lighten as she climbed down, the wind chilly and the sky ominous.

  The vehicles turned their lights off all at once, throwing them into darkness.

  Kendle stopped at the bottom of the short stairs, gun in her hand.

  “Two of us are coming over. Don’t shoot.”

  The fact that the voice was female went a long way in calming Kendle’s fears. “I won’t.”

  Gravel crunched as the vague shadows got closer. Kendle was able to make out hands holding lanterns that hadn’t been lit and guns on hips.

  Kendle stared at the wild women, eyes adjusting enough to show her men’s clothing and weapons, and a hardness she’d never seen in American women before.

  “You fly in?”

  Kendle nodded stupidly, staring as a lantern was lit.

  Carol motioned toward the train. “Guess you’ve figured out what happened.”

  Kendle forced herself to confirm it. “The whole country?”

  Marsha grunted, eyeing the plane. “Yep. We finally did what everyone joked abou
t.”

  “A few times over,” Carol muttered, studying Kendle. “What ya got in the plane that you felt the need to defend?”

  Kendle reacted the way she’d been scarred. Fight or die. “My man. Why? You thinking about taking him?”

  Both women blinked at the hostile tone.

  Carol held the lantern up, now studying Kendle and her scars, as well.

  “Where you from, Hardass?”

  Kendle slid the gun into her belt. “Maybe that information I don’t care to part with.”

  Marsha glowered. “If we wanted your man, we’d take him.”

  Kendle took a step forward and growled.

  It wasn’t a warning sound or even anger. It was a victim in the corner about to spill blood in an attempt for freedom.

  It was a noise the two caravan leaders knew well and they both took a step back. This wasn’t the easy prey they’d hoped for when they saw the slender shadow through the plane window.

  Kendle took a deep breath, pushing back the need to kill. “You should go now.”

  Carol opened her mouth, maybe to offer a little encouragement.

  “Kendle?”

  Marsha and Carol both took another quick step back.

  “He doesn’t sound good.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  Kendle was torn–clearly they could be trouble–but she had no idea what to do to help Luke.

  “I’m not sure,” she said finally, shoulders slumping. “He was fine when we landed.”

  Marsha and carol exchanged a glance. In it, they asked if they wanted to take the chance on helping a stranger. In this new world, that wasn’t a good idea.

  “What ya got to trade for medicine?”

  Kendle thought fast. Not the gun, food, or water. “Blankets, a couple packs of batteries, box of candle...”

  “What about the plane?” Carol asked, eyeing the metal. It wasn’t rusting like everything they found now and it would make a good material for increasing the strength of their caravan.

  Kendle slowly nodded. “I’ll get our gear out. No gas in it, though. We coasted in on fumes.”

  Marsha had been thinking about a plane all along. This land was dead. Staying was another bad idea, but those leading their little group had outvoted her. “Stand aside and we’ll check him out.”

  Kendle moved reluctantly, praying she wasn’t making a mistake.

  The two big women moved inside, eyeing the gear and the well-built man shaking on the floor.

  “Feverish, shocky pulse,” Marsha observed, kneeling down.

  Carol nodded, doing the same. “No puke or shit, though–not a virus.”

  She looked over to where Kendle was standing tensely in the narrow doorway. “How long you guys been here?”

  Kendle added. “A week or so.”

  “Landsickness?” Marsha asked.

  Carol shrugged. “Could be. He’s strong, still.”

  Marsha glanced at Kendle, able to see more of the bite-marks as the sun rose. “He do that to you?”

  Kendle shook her head, trying not to shudder. “No.”

  “The person dead now?”

  Kendle grinned, answer enough.

  “We’ll give him a dose of antibiotics and give you the bottle. See that he takes three of the capsules every day and don’t hide any back for the next time. If he has an infection and you don’t give him all the meds, there won’t be a next time.

  Luke struggled beneath the rough hands, hearing voices but unable to make out the words. He’d never gotten sick so fast.

  He opened his eyes to see Kendle leaning over him in concern. “Let the medicine work. You’ll feel better.”

  Luke didn’t argue. He was too tired. He also had that ticking clock in his head again.

  Kendle stayed by his side as the caravan set up a tight camp around the plane and began to settle down for a few hours sleep. As soon as Luke could be moved, she would load him into the small jeep she’d bartered for their remaining fruit–the sight of which that had sent the group of all women into fits of drooling and shouted bids. The currency of the world had changed.

  Interactive Bonus

  This book has several interactive features. Links will take you places, and allow you to interact with the world I’ve created.

  Would you like to vote in the camp meeting? Or maybe hear Safe Haven’s eerie radio call? Both are in here. It’s up to you to find the links in the text. Some are blue, indicating their presence, while others are the same color as the words and can only found by following the tidbits I’ve provided or obsessive tapping. Good luck!

  Interactive Tidbits

  These are the interactive features you’ll find in book Five... if you look hard enough. A few will be difficult, but most of the answers are either given or the clues are simple to solve.

  You’ll notice most items are based on the things you’ve learned while reading this series–such as channel switches. Have you figured out what ‘by’ means? That’s crucial.

  To figure it out, skim back through. A good chapter for this is during the final battle with the slavers. They do a lot of channel changes on the way to the rest stop.

  Ready? Here’s your first challenge–solve the clue below.

  Channel 18, by 1, minus 3=?

  If you just scowled, I suggest doing the skim or even sticking to the easier interactive features.

  If you guessed, I still think you should skim, but that’s your choice.

  If you know the answer: I challenge you! Two of the hidden scenes are in the back of the cage you’ve just entered. Find them for a pass.

  *These two are noted with PC!–personal challenge labels.

  1.) View FTA’s Route of Travel & Extras on Google Maps

  *The link to this is in the blue text of the ‘This is Safe Haven’ chapter number.

  There are 9 main stops that Safe Haven makes in From The Ashes. Click the icons on the map for tidbits, unknown facts, apocalypse extras, and more when you find the link.

  2.) Hidden Scene#1

  Clues: Black text/...a restless sleep with a grimace of pain on his face.

  3.) Hidden Scene#2

  Clues: Chapter of the slaves/mobster, by 5, minus 5.

  4.) Visit the Cutting Room

  View scenes that were cut entirely from the story, as if they never existed. It’s where what once was, but isn’t anymore, still exists. Be warned! Scenes on this floor may be dead, but they don’t rest easy.

  Clue location: Aftermath ghost/ The link is black.

  5.) Found Poetry Writing Challenge

  Take sections of the Life After war story and create a found poem; then post it here: The one with the most votes at the end of the series will be featured in the final book!

  Not sure what a found poem is? Here are some details:

  6.) Hidden scene #3

  Clues: Hole chapter/Limps/shot in Little Rock, by 5.

  7.) Hidden Scene #4

  Clues: Chapter after hole/Teenager’s friend, by six.

  8.) Listen to Safe Haven’s Radio Call

  *The link is in the text of the first radio call for survivors in the book. The text is black.

  9.) Gender Writing Challenge

  Pick a scene from LAW and rewrite it (using exact text) from the other side of the gender field.

  For example: Marc and Angie in the training tent after his test. Imagine that she was dangerous to him–that Marc was the one afraid of being hurt! Grin. Post it here:

  10.) Hidden Scene #5

  Clues: Chapter after all the heat/Rebecca’s abuse

  11.) Vote in the Monthly Camp Meeting

  You can find the ballot link, in blue, in that chapter.

  12.) Hidden Scene #6 -PC!

  Clues: The man gaining ground in Angela’s heart, hay room activity

  13.) Hidden Scene #7 -PC!

  Clues: Location opposite of drive, the condition

  14.) Place an Interactive Review

  This is my first attempt at an int
eractive book. Did you like it? Hate it? I’d love to know, and the best way to reach me is through online reviews. Please, won’t you help me make future books better?

  Free, by Angela White:

  Bone Dust and Beginnings

  Lexington, Utah

  April, 2016 AW

  1

  The lone woman limped into the border town on a sunless morning, long years after the nuclear world war that slid mankind back into the dark ages. In front of her, the last out-post within a hundred miles beckoned like a flame. Behind her, the shimmering green sky over the Wastelands rolled closer in a devious illusion.

  Large by the standards of Afterworld, Lexington consisted of two dozen rickety homes and half as many store-tents lining the unforgiving road that gouged its way through the brutally arid terrain. Of people, there were only merchants out to witness, and their faces were stunned to see a woman limping steadily toward them.

  Coming from the west, where even the hardest of men vanished, they expected only the walking dead or worse. That was the reason for the hip-high fog-like barrier around the border town, but the chemical smoke had no effect on the lone female as she stepped through it. She didn’t scream, or burst into flames… a survivor.

  The lanky blonde was filthy, covered in glowing desert dust, and her hardened face said she’d been to hell. Likely, more than once. Backing up that impression, she wore a Colt .45 slung low on each slender hip. Her torn and tacky red pant leg left little doubt she’d used the guns recently–well enough to have survived whatever horrors fate had delivered to her in the Wastelands.

  Shaking off the shock to vie for the woman’s business, the merchants watched her approach with greedy eagerness… moved toward her with more of the same as she neared them.

  Stopping, Alexa’s hands slid to the gritty Colts, and her frosted blue eyes blazed with heat.