What will Evan do if I’m trapped in here? The entire place is falling apart above us, and I’m stuck in the walls. I can’t even go back to B3, which right now doesn’t seem like the worst alternative.
Something rattles overhead, and the dumbwaiter jerks back in motion. I rest my head on the steel behind me and wait for my destination. After a few seconds, the dumbwaiter stops. I slide the door open and watch as the unfamiliar floor of B1 comes into view.
Evan is nowhere to be seen. Ahead of me is a maze of pipes running from boilers twice my height. Their motors vibrate the air, whirring in a never-ending loop. Warmth makes the air heavy, but the silence makes it uncomfortable.
“I’m not going to let you hurt her again.” Evan’s voice cuts through the air from the other side of the machinery.
“That’s not why I’m here,” Jak replies.
I stumble out of the dumbwaiter. Jak’s here? But why? I run between the machinery, trying to follow their voices, but I stumble over a man, slumped on the floor. There’s a gash in his head, but he still has a pulse. He’s wearing a blue work suit, with B1 on the chest. He’s just a worker. Did Evan do this? Or was it Jak?
I step out from behind a row of boilers and see Evan pointing his gun at Jak. Even worse, Jak is pointing a gun back at Evan. Nothing good can come from this.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Jak.
His eyes flicker to me, and then snap back at Evan. “Catherine told me what happened,” Jak says. “I came to stop you from blowing up the dome. Think of all the innocent people.”
“What?”
“He’s lying,” Evan says. “We can’t trust him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Nat,” Jak pleads. “You know I’m right. I’m sorry about everything that happened between us. I don’t know why I did it. I thought the Director was acting in the best interests of the dome. He wasn’t. I saw that video. No one can deny the proof now. But all those innocent people above us, haven’t they suffered enough?”
“We aren’t going to blow up the generator,” I explain. “I killed the infected that were downstairs. Where is the Director now?”
“I told him you came to save the Outsider.” Jak looks at me again. “He’s on his way to stop you so I ran ahead.”
“The Director’s not dead?”
“Not yet. But he also told me about the plan—Evan’s plan. I came down here because I knew I could make you understand.”
“What plan? We’re just trying to get outside.”
“You can’t stop us,” Evan yells at Jak.
“What’s going on Evan?”
“Nat, don’t you understand. It’s the only way.”
My stomach does flip flops as it twists itself into knots. My mind races back to B3, back to why Evan wanted to come here.
“There isn’t an exit on B1, is there, Evan?”
“Nat, you know Alec will agree. We have to shut down this dome. You saw what they did down there. All those innocent people turned into those—things.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You can’t do this. You’ll hurt those people above. You’ll be just like the Director.”
Evan’s gaze darts between Jak and me, like a wild man trying to decide who to trust. I walk over to him, holding my hands out, not taking my eyes off his.
“Evan. I told Catherine she could trust Jak. He’s the one who told me where you were. He helped me save you.” Evan’s eyes soften, but he still shakes his head. “He can help Samson make this a better place for people to live. You and I can have a life here.”
His eyes soften as they search mine, as if he’s trying to believe me. Whatever happened to him on B3, I need to make him trust me again. I stare back and manage a smile. “I know it can be better.”
He nods, and I put my hand on his gun, lowering it. Jak does the same, as I take Evan’s gun into my hands.
That’s when I’m grabbed from behind.
“Nat!” Jak yells.
“She’s wrecked everything,” the Director hisses in my ear. “All our hard work—ruined. Can’t you see it, Manning? She’s one of them.”
His skin burns against my cheek and something sharp touches my neck. Sweat drips off his face onto mine.
“Don’t hurt her!” Evan yells.
“She took it all away from me!” the Director yells. “I won’t let her leave this floor alive.”
“No!” Evan calls out. “You’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.”
“I’m dying as we speak,” the Director growls, loosening his grip for a moment as he shakes his head. He’s fighting the virus; I can feel it. Waldorf succeeded.
“She’s immune,” Jak yells. “You can’t hurt her.”
I cry out in pain as the sharp instrument pushes against my throat.
“I beg to differ,” the Director hisses.
I’ve got nothing to lose. He’ll kill me once he stops Evan. I reach across my side with the gun in my hand and aim it behind me. I’m not sure where his body is, but he’s so close, I take a chance, place the gun tight against my side, and pull the trigger.
The Director lets go of me and I spin around to see him reel back a step. As he falls, he kicks my legs out from under me, and I collapse to the floor. His reflexes are surprisingly fast. In one quick movement, he’s on top of me, squeezing the breath from my windpipe as he raises a large knife in the air.
A gunshot rings out. The Director’s head snaps back and his body crumples on top of me. I can smell his cologne, as his neck presses against my cheek, and memories of our first encounter flood my thoughts. Screams erupt from my throat as I try to push his body off.
Jak appears and pulls the Director’s corpse away. Another set of hands grabs me under my arms, pulling me to my feet. “It’s okay, Nat,” Evan says. “You’re safe. Jak saved you.”
My body shakes, out of my control, and I struggle to catch my breath. That was close. I huddle against Evan’s body as he runs his hand down my hair.
“I’m so sorry I ever brought you to the Axis,” Jak says. “I thought you would be safe. I thought it would bring us closer.”
I let go of Evan and run over to Jak, throwing my arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around my waist and holds me tight. Jak saved my life. I wish I never had to hurt him, but I have to let him go.
“Won’t you stay?” he whispers into my ear. “Stay, and help me rebuild our home.”
“It’s not my home anymore, Jak,” I whisper back. “It hasn’t been since the dome took my parents away from me. I have to go and rebuild, so I can start a new life of my own.”
“Nat.” He leans his forehead against mine, sending a shiver down my back. “I can’t stop loving you.”
Those final words carry more truth than this dome has provided in decades. Jak kisses my cheek, then lets me go. I release my arms from his neck and realize this is it—this is our goodbye. It’s on our own terms this time. No Director, forcing us together. No Order, forcing us apart. This time it’s ours alone.
Jak nods to Evan, then walks toward the elevators and waves goodbye. I step forward, about to call out to him as the doors close. I almost ask him to wait for me. But I don’t. I hold back my feelings for the safety and security of my past, and watch as the doors close between us.
Evan takes my hand and I turn to the other set of elevators, their doors wide open, waiting for me to accept my new future. Evan squeezes my hands, flashing me his half-grin, and we step forward, together. The doors close on B1, and soon open to the lobby.
Order members run past, moving toward the exits of the Axis. Evan holds his hand up as he peers out the door. But no one is threatening; people are trying to escape. I walk out into the open, and Evan follows, as I make my way through the lobby. The large telescreens continually play the resistance’s message, over and over again.
I step out into the street, where screens continue to blast the truth for all to hear. People are carry
ing suitcases, and pulling their families behind them. Stores have been abandoned. Windows are smashed. I never realized how powerful the truth could be, until today.
As we walk through downtown, the Order detains people. How long will their charade carry on? Will they try to stop us? As the Order grabs an older woman, she cries out, drawing the attention of a group of residents. They drop their bags, picking up debris from the road, and move forward, crowding the Order. I turn away, unable to differentiate the cries between the innocent and those who hunt them. I’m afraid of the outcome, either way.
As we make our way to the Apartment District, I see a familiar face—my Uncle Alec. He spots us at the same time and runs over, hugging Evan, then mussing his hair like he used to do with mine.
“You’ve done it, kid,” he says to Evan. “Your mom will be proud. This Axis is finished.”
“We couldn’t destroy the boiler,” Evan says.
“What?” Alec’s eyes grow wide. He clenches his fists at his sides.
Before he loses it, I continue. “The infection will spread to the outside. The freezers are not accessible.”
He bites his lip, pausing before he speaks again. “I have another job to finish here, no matter what the consequences. I’m going after the Director and the Delegates.”
“No.” I grab my uncle’s sleeve. “Don’t. The Director is dead. The others will have it under control.”
“I have to, Nat. They deserve to pay for what they did. Every last one of them.”
“We need to get out of here,” I plead. “I’ve got all the information for the vaccine with me. We need to get it outside to safety.”
“Do that,” Alec says, putting a hand on my shoulder. “And take as many people out there with you. When I’m done, I’ll join you. Keep moving forward, Nat. There’s nothing left inside here for you anymore.”
I look back at the Axis. Alec is right. This place stole my life from me. It served as a vessel for my answers, and now that I’ve got them it’s time for me to move on.
Evan grabs my hand and squeezes it, as I watch Alec disappear inside. The uncle I once lost has returned. But his agenda has changed. He’s fueled by hate and vengeance. I’m too tired to care about those things anymore.
We make our way outside the dome. When I feel the open air against my face, I know I’m finally free. The night sky stretches out above me. The moon and stars light my way toward the life my mother wanted me to have. I turn and see other people flowing out of the open dome. In the distance, I can hear music in the air. People are celebrating.
I look out into the skies of the mysterious beyond. My fingers reach over and entwine with Evan’s. I whisper, just loud enough so he can hear me.
“Look, Evan. Out here, in the night, you can almost feel the stars shine against your skin.”
Evan squeezes my hand, and I never want to let go. I wish we could stay frozen in this moment forever. Under the stars. Free.
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When I submitted There Once Were Stars, I had no idea how much my life would change. There was so much I had to learn, not only about writing, but also about the publishing industry. If it wasn’t for Georgia McBride taking a chance on an unagented newbie, this book may have never seen the light of day, and I never would have continued to write the many stories I’ve completed since (and am still working on). Her belief in this novel means the world to me.
I also have to send my thanks to Kahla Dombowsky, a co-worker, who offered to read There Once Were Stars, and upon completion came into my cubicle exclaiming, “This is so good!” That short burst of excitement gave me the confidence I needed to take this novel to the next level. From there I connected with an old friend, Bridget Spicer, who has been an invaluable beta reader, alongside Kahla and my mother Faithe, all helping to make my novel the best it can be. These three make up my team, and I couldn’t do what I love without them.
Since the day I signed with Month9Books, nearly two years prior to publication, I have met a world of wonderful writers and learned how to become better at this craft. A sincere thank you to everyone I’ve connected with, including my first editor, Sarita Amorim who taught me much more than any class could, on how to improve my manuscript. Amy McNulty, Jennifer Bardsley, Jessica Gunn, Suzanne van Rooyen, Pat Esden, Julia Ember, Louise Gornall, Vicki L. Weavil, Bethany Morrow, Stacey Mosteller, and the rest of the #WO2016 crew have been invaluable in teaching me how to help promote my book, before and after publication. Dorothy Dreyer and Beck Nicholas, both part of the Month9Books family, have pulled me into their inner circles of friendship and experience, showing how one can balance family life with the writer’s life. Booktuber Shala (Shaegeeksout) was the first to agree to a beta read without knowing anything about me; I reached out to her through Instagram, and her support since has been amazing.
For a girl who grew up in the middle of the Canadian prairies, this is beyond a dream come true. Thank you to my father and his made-up bedtime stories, and my mother who always pushed me to read.
All of you have helped to make my dream come true.
MELANIE MCFARLANE
Melanie McFarlane is a passionate writer of other-worldly adventures, a little excitable, and a little quirky. Whether it’s uncovering the corruption of the future, or traveling to other worlds to save the universe, she jumps in with both hands on her keyboard. Though she can be found obsessing over zombies and orcs from time to time, Melanie has focused her powers on her YA debut There Once Were Stars, and her YA urban fantasy Summoner Rising.
She lives with her husband and two daughters in the Land of Living Skies.
Connect with Melanie:
Website: www.melaniemcfarlane.com
Twitter: @McFarlaneBooks www.twitter.com/mcfarlanebooks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcfarlanebooks
Goodreads Author Page: www.goodreads.com/melaniemcfarlane
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mcfarlanebooks
Wattpad: www.wattpad.com/mcfarlanebooks
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Acknowledgements
About the Author
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There Once Were Stars Page 22