by Unknown
“I apologize. I don’t mean to stare. You’re right, you just caught me off guard a little. But hey, if I can become an assassin, then you being a pilot is not as farfetched as it may sound.”
She smiles. “You know, I think we’re going to become great friends.”
“I agree.”
“Your father also said that I should come out here and wait with you. He’s worried about you.”
“He thinks there’s a chance that either my mother or Jackson might not make it here today.”
“And what do you think?”
“I think he’s full of it.”
“Well, here’s your chance to find out.”
I look in the direction she’s pointing, and I see a black suburban speeding toward us. My heart starts beating fast. My father joins us on the tarmac. Mer turns to walk toward the plane, but my father stops her.
“Mer, please wait here a minute with us.”
I can tell my father is hiding something else. I realize what that is when I see Colonel Donavan exit the suburban, and watch as Mer’s face goes white.
“It can’t be.”
I see my father smile. Somehow Mer and Colonel Donavan know one another, and my father knows about it.
I see the disbelief on Colonel Donavan’s face. He takes a step toward her, but stops himself. Mer doesn’t say a word. She turns away from me and boards the plane. I don’t know the history between the two of them, but it’s obvious that it’s not good.
Colonel Donavan now heads in my direction, and by the look on his face, I know it’s not good. I look toward the suburban again. I watch Sgt. Shade, Sgt. Jensen, Major Phoenix, Captain Adrian, and Sgt. Nyx climb out. I have yet to see my mother, or Jackson.
Colonel Donavan is now by my side.
“Clara, I need you to board the plane now.”
“Where is he?”
“Clara I…”
I see someone climbing out of the back of the suburban. A sob escapes my lips when I see that it’s my mother.
“Where is he Donavan?”
I see tears start to form in his eyes. I don’t want to hear this, not now.
I try to hold back my own tears, but I’m not strong enough.
“No. No, he’s not gone. Where is he damn you?”
I start to hit Donavan hard in the chest, and he doesn’t stop me.
“I’m so sorry. He didn’t make it out before the capital exploded. I couldn’t save him.”
I fall to my knees. I don’t hear another word, just the sound of my own screams inside my head. I don’t even notice when he lifts me off the ground, and carries me onto the plane. I can’t go through this again.
I’m placed gently in a seat, and Donavan buckles me in. I look up to see him standing over me. He knows what I’m feeling. He’s just lost his best friend. Because of the lose we share, I don’t want anyone else near me, but him.
I put my hand out for him. He takes it, and sits next to me. I curl up next to him, and then as the tears fall nonstop down my face, I beg him to end the pain. I see him give a nod toward Captain Adrian, and then within a few seconds, I feel a needle go into my arm. It doesn’t take long before I start to feel drowsy.
I feel the plane start to take off, and through a haze, I watch out the window, as the ground below us is getting further away.
My last thought before giving in to the darkness, is how I will burn every last one of the American Leaders to the ground. The retribution I so desperately sought for Jonathan is over. This rebellion has now become my rebellion. I will do whatever it takes to make sure nobody else suffers at the hands of the men running this country. I will make it whole again. I won’t let Jackson’s death be in vain. I will have a restored America, or I will die trying.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I dedicate this one to my fans. I have been overwhelmed by your support. Thank you!
I want to thank my husband Jeff and my son for allowing me to have the time to work on this project. I also want to thank my husband for helping me with last minute edits and changes. I couldn’t have pulled this one off without you.
Thank you to Melissa Van Natta for the first edits of my book You gave me sound advice about changes to make this story better. It wouldn’t have taken on the life it did without you.
Thank you to my readers and good friends Andrea Faublas and Heidi Boone. Andrea, I love your enthusiasm for this book and your sound advice. Heidi, thank you for always being willing to jump in and read the crazy stuff I write. I love you both!
I really want to thank Renee Ericson for the amazing cover. She truly has a gift for putting beautiful covers together, as well as being a talented author herself.
To all my friends and family, thank you for being there for me when I immerse myself in a project. You guys rock! I couldn’t ask for a better support system.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Virginia Michaels Photography
T.L. Coulter is the author of the young adult series, The Arcadian Series. When T.L. Coulter is not writing, she holds down a full time job, enjoys spending time with her eight year old son, and husband of sixteen years. She enjoys living in a small mountain town in Northern Utah. She has traveled the world with some of her favorite places being Norway, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and too many others to mention. She highly encourages everyone to get out there and explore.
T.L. Coulter loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to contact her at: [email protected]
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The Arcadian Series