I've had a crush on X for years.
He doesn't know I exist. Until we are thrown together to find my missing sister... |
Soul Jumper Series - Book 2
Resurrection Two Sisters. A race to save humanity. And finding love, against all odds.
The Year is 2050... ...Melanie has gone missing, and it is up to her sister Nora, to evade the enemy and find her.But that proves more difficult than it seems… NORA… “He’d never look at me in a million years…” Nora has a secret crush, that can never be realized…but who has time for boyfriends? Nora is on the run, for her life. Who can she trust? She’s already regretted giving her heart to a bad boy, not once, but twice! In order to find her sister, she must pretend to be something she is not. And the only one Nora can turn to, is the enemy. But her foolish heart threatens to be her downfall, in a fight for her life. MELANIE… What began as an innocent crush, has led to a wild journey with Zach, the love of her life, and the decision to do whatever it takes, to save each other and her family. Not everything, is as it appears, though…as the fight for humanity’s survival, has only just begun. Book 2 of the exciting Soul Jumper Series! What other readers are saying: “I’m swooning for these characters! I’m halfway through Book 2, and if Nora doesn’t end up with who I want her to be with, I’m going to start throwing things! Looks like I might have to wait for Book 3!” “Once the action picks up you won’t want to put this thrilling series down. It grips you on a roller coaster ride, as you root for these two sisters, cry and hold out for love to save the day! Biting my nails, for book three, to see where this is going!!!” This is Twilight meets Battle Star Galactica meets Divurgent. You will love Resurrection, with two heroes worth cheering for, and an enemy that could really be true love. Buy Resurrection today, and join these sisters as they find love, heartache and ultimately triumph! |
Soul Jumper Series - Book 1
Death A forbidden love. An alien invasion. And a girl who has to make the ultimate sacrifice for true love…
…the year is 2050 …and reality is not what is seems. Melanie is an ordinary high school student, whose life is about to change… MELANIE... “The good, the bad and the crazy…The good news is, I am popular at school. Of course, they see who they want to see. The bad news is, Cami determines whether I continue to have any friends. The crazy is, I am in love with a robot. There is no hope for us, as alien A.I. forces seek to capture my ability to live forever!” Book 1 of the Soul Jumper Series: A Novella: Melanie may be popular, and date the quarterback - every girl’s dream - but she only has eyes for the one who is out of her reach. Until alien forces show up. And it’s a fight for her very soul. Melanie and her boyfriend, Zach, an A.I. Bio-Borg are on the run. She must make a choice, to not only save herself, but the future of humankind. Can Melanie be the hero that humanity needs, and what will she have to sacrifice?This is Twilight meets Battle Star Galactica. You will love Death, a Romeo and Juliet ending with a twist. Buy Death today, and find out if true love really does conquer all! |
For a FREE love story and Epilogue to the Soul Jumper Series...click here
BOOK 2 : "Resurrection" Excerpt: |
Chapter One
Nora
“You are such a jerk-…what is going on?”
“Come on, Nora you know you love me.”
“No seriously, Ned, I mean what is going on?”
He pulled his AV – Air Vehicle - up to the curb, in front of my house.
My pitch dark house.
I pointed to the blackened windows. “Why are all the lights out?” I asked. “It’s only nine o’clock.”
“Maybe your sister went out for the night.”
“Then why is the AV still here?” I nodded in the direction of our AV, parked in the driveway.
“I don’t know. Maybe Melanie decided to go to bed early.”
I glared at him.
Even though he was my best friend, he could be really annoying.
“Ned, she and I have an agreement from...you know…from when Cue left.” Cue was my dad, nicknamed because he liked to play pool. It was a play on “Q” – his real name – Quinn Freeman.
I could feel my face turning red. “It’s stupid, but we…or rather she…always turns the porch light on, as soon as it gets dark. Like, leaving it on, in case Cue ever comes back. It makes her feel some kind of false hope, but I don’t fight her on it. And it became dark, over an hour ago.”
I reasoned with myself, that if someone had picked Melanie up, she would have turned the light on when she left.
I thought about my sister. Between us, she had gotten all the looks. Tall and willowy, with a beautiful oval face, blue eyes and perfect features.
I was shorter, with large brown eyes, and not nearly as kind-hearted. My skin was darker. Not sure of our genealogy, as everyone was a mix, these days. You had a baby, it was a lottery on what they would look like…black, white, yellow, red…a blending of many. The good thing was, that racism had become a thing of the past.
“Well she forgot the light, for once,” Ned suggested.
“Okay, then what about Zach? He is a house robot. They never go to bed, and he knows I haven’t come home, yet.”
“Chill, Nora. I will go in with you, and check it out.”
“Wow! I feel so much safer!”
“Would you rather I leave?”
I knew he wouldn’t. “If you leave, I’ll tell Melanie all the sick thoughts you have about her.”
“She already knows all my sick thoughts.”
Ned Beckett had been nursing a crush for my sister, Melanie, since we were in pre-school. He wasn’t half-bad looking, with an average build, although a bit on the skinny side. He usually wore glasses and studied a lot, hence, his nickname “Nerd” at school. But Ned’s romantic dreams would never be realized. Mel was popular, and Ned was part of a different crowd. He played chess…in fact was a little too good at chess…and most importantly was not a jock. My sister only dated jocks and Ned was a year behind her, so basically his chances were next to nil. And just in case he was holding out for that “nil”, I made it crystal clear, that I would kill him if he ever made a move on my sister. Of course I described what would happen to him in far more graphic detail, just to make sure he understood. But we were like family, so it would be the same thing as incest - Ned and Melanie together. Besides, no one was really good enough for my sister anyway, in my opinion.
And as far as Ned and I were concerned, we were just buds. Nora and Ned. Melanie called us “N squared”. We were always together.
“Okay, never mind. Let’s just go in, already.” I pressed the button and climbed out of his AV. Ned was already halfway to the front door. I raced to catch up, grabbing his forearm.
“Wait, let’s go in slowly. And for God’s sake, try to be quiet for once. We don’t know what is waiting for us in there.”
He opened the door very carefully and entered.
And like a thief breaking into my own house, I slipped past the entryway following close behind.
Sucking in a breath, I grasped his arm again.
“Calm down!” he snapped, shaking me off, “you about made my heart abrogate.”
“I swear I heard something shuffling around. And you have to have a heart first, for it to abri-whatever.”
“Well, I didn’t hear anything, so relax. You’re making me jumpy.”
“I can’t help it. I feel like bugs are crawling on the back of my neck,” I whispered.
“They probably are,” he fired back.
I rubbed my neck, to rid myself of the feeling.
We left the lights off, moving silently through the house. Checking in closets, under beds and behind doors.
Nothing.
No one here.
I started flicking on lights heading upstairs. Everything looked normal up here.
“Nora, you need to get down here!” Ned yelled.
Oh God. What did he find? Is it Melanie’s body?
I took the stairs two at a time, and bounded into the kitchen.
Ned was standing by the center island, a piece of paper in his hand. His face stressed, eyes wide.
“Did you find Melanie?” I screeched. And then I pointed to what he was holding.
“What is that?”
“Read it.”
He shoved the paper toward me, and I immediately recognized Melanie’s handwriting.
I looked up at him.
“I’m getting a bad feeling about this.”
“Read it!” he barked, again.
My eyes dropped to the page. It was addressed to me.
Nora,
I don’t know when I will see you. By the time you read this, I will be long gone.
I am on the run. Zach is with me.
They are after us.
Zach is part of an A.I. alien race, and I am something called a “soul jumper”.
They want my DNA, and plan to take over humanity.
No, this is not part of a movie, or a joke. THIS IS REAL!
Burn this note as soon as you read it!
They may be after you too. I don’t know enough yet, to give you more information than this, but if you suspect anything, make a run for it.
I have to go…I’m sorry to have to tell you in a note! I don’t know what to do about Mom. I guess, don’t tell her anything.
I love you!
Melanie
Burn this!!!
The paper started to flap so much I could no longer read the words. My hands were shaking bad and I could feel a pounding in my chest.
“Ned, what does this mean? Is this for real?”
“I don’t know, Nora. It would elucidate why no one is home. That, or it’s a really cruel joke.”
“Elucidate? Just speak English.” I said, getting pissed. This was not the time for Ned to word drop. My sister’s life was in danger…and possibly my own.
“Melanie said it’s not a joke.” My sister was very non-confrontational, maintaining the peace at all costs. And prone to keeping things to herself. Internalizing. She wouldn’t make something like this up.
I looked around to see if there were any clues that could help me understand what in heck was going on. Everything appeared normal. Nice and neat. Like Zach had just finished cleaning.
Zach – the supposed alien?
“Ned, what is a Soul Jumper? Why would aliens want my sister? Why would they want me, for that matter? My soul has always stayed put right here in my body, as far as I know.”
“Let me read it again.” Ned walked over and took the paper from me. I watched him pouring over the words, a second time.
Feeling on edge, I walked over to the window that looked out onto the street. Maybe there were answers out there, that weren’t in here. Maybe Mel was still close by. Like, where the heck had she gone? On the run…to where?
“Nora, this really doesn’t sound good. She is definitely warning you. Maybe you shouldn’t stay here.”
“Ned…”
“Maybe you should pack a bag. You know, like a “getaway” bag. We need to…”
“Ned…”
“This basically says you are in danger. We need to find you a weapon of some sort…like…”
“Ned!” I repeated, my voice urgent.
“What?” He looked up from the paper.
“Sshh!” I frowned, shushing him.
I hid behind the curtain, and frantically motioned for him to come over.
“Was that AV there, earlier, when we pulled up?”
I could see a vehicle, sitting under the street lights, outside.
He started walking toward me, but I stopped him with my voice. “Get down!” I rasped, flapping my hand like a seal.
Ned dove so quickly to the floor, that it was like shots had been fired. He got on his hands and knees, crawling to the window. Staying well below the ledge, he cautiously peered out.
“No, it wasn’t,” he confirmed. “And there is a man in the driver’s seat. Doesn’t appear to be getting out, either. He’s staring at your house. Not a good sign, Nora.”
“Oh God, Melanie was right! They are coming after me. What do I do?”
“Okay, stay calm, and let me think.”
Ned inched backward on his hands and knees, away from the window ledge, making sure to get out of the line of vision of the stranger, in the vehicle. When he got to the center of the living room, he stood up, ran to the back of the house, and called out, “I don’t see anyone out back. Just the lone guy out front. We need to get you out of here. Act normal - casual – like we are unaware of being watched.”
Ned tapped his forehead, thinking. “You pack some things, and leave. I will stay here for a while, and stand near the window, where he can see. I will pretend to be engaged in conversation with you. Meanwhile, you make your escape.”
“Where do I go, and how will you know where to find me?” I said, nearly hysterical.
“You need to go to the Casbah. It will be empty on a Monday night. Maybe your sister is hiding there.” The Casbah was a dilapidated old dance hall, that had been abandoned, years ago. The back lot was an overgrown field, but beyond that, I knew very little. It was unofficially designated to seniors, only. Entry was strictly forbidden, to underclassmen – unless you wanted to get your ass beat. Many of Melanie’s friends hung out there on the weekends, as it was a great place to avoid parents, party, make out or whatever it was, seniors did there.
“I will follow your whereabouts, with a homing beacon, in case you have to change locations.” He showed me his S-Pod, the supercomputer on his wrist.
I moved away from the window, and went to hug Ned. I held on for dear life, not wanting to let go.
I pulled away to look at him. “Ned, you can really be a pain in my ass sometimes, but right now, I couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
“No problem, Nora. You can pay me back later, by setting me up on a date with your sister.”
My face fell.
“Sorry, dumb thing to say. Melanie is fine. We will find her, and figure this out! Let’s just get you out of here, first.”
While he connected the location settings on my S-Pod, to his own, my mind was busy going in fifty directions at once. I couldn’t seem to focus. What do I need? What should I take? What if I never come back home? What if this guy kills me?
A random thought hit me. What if I never get that house with the picket fence, kids and a dog? I desperately wanted that sappy vision of a future for myself, I just didn’t admit it to anyone. In that moment, it was like my life was flashing before my eyes. Only in reverse. A life I hadn’t lived, yet.
“Ok, you are all set. I can see your location, as long as you wear the S-Pod.”
I was barely listening to him. Racing upstairs, I started grabbing things. Not knowing how long I would be gone, I figured I better take provisions. Toothpaste, check. Toothbrush, shampoo, hair products. Oh…and several pairs of underwear and socks! A couple t-shirts rolled up. Protein bars. Mace. And finally, the little bit of money I had managed to save, from waiting tables, and had shoved into a piggy bank.
Hurry, Nora!
I urged myself to move faster. I was taking too much time. “Is the guy still out there?” I called down to Ned.
“Still in the same place. Maybe waiting on me to leave, so he can get you alone?”
“Great. Thanks for adding yet another level of paranoia, to the situation.”
“Sorry. Try not to worry. I’m not leaving. At least, not until you have gotten a good head start.”
I stopped, midway down the stairs. “Wait. What are we going to tell my mother? School?”
“I will type your mom a note, saying that you are both spending a week at Karla’s house, doing research for an upcoming assignment.” Karla Dubois was one of Melanie’s friends.
“Okay, that sounds super fake – not believable.”
“Nora, she doesn’t pay attention to anything you two do, anymore. She doesn’t even know if you are actually attending school.”
“True.” My mother, Sheila Freeman, was definitely “not present”- even when she was at home, which wasn’t often. And then, she drank in her room to forget.
“Another fake note will be ‘signed by your mom’, letting the school admins know, you and Melanie have the Hive Virus.” This was something, no one wanted to be around. I mean, no one. Especially in its contagious stage. Your face and body became covered in swelling lumps, that turned into oozing sores.
“That should give you both a good two-week window, to figure this out.” He added. “As soon as anyone hears about the Hive Virus, the rest is history. No one will be checking on you.”
“The Hive Virus. Gee, thanks. We will be treated like lepers, when we go back.”
I grabbed my school bag, and dumped out the books into a dark corner of the coat closet. Then, I shoved my stash of provisions, into the now empty backpack.
“What about Zach?” I asked.
“As far as your mom is concerned, he will have been sent in, for servicing.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.”
I hid Melanie’s school bag, with my books. No sense leaving evidence lying around, that we were obviously, not at school.
Water.
I need to pack some water. And I think that was about everything. Wow. It’s amazing how few things you really need, when it all comes down to it.
I was ready.
Gingerly picking up Melanie’s note - she had ordered me to burn it – I folded and shoved the paper into my jean pocket. I was never really one to follow instructions.
And I wasn’t about to destroy what may very well be, my sister’s last words to me.
Determined to crush any more negative thoughts, I grabbed on to my courage. I will figure this out. I am finding my sister.
No one threatens my sister.
Nora
“You are such a jerk-…what is going on?”
“Come on, Nora you know you love me.”
“No seriously, Ned, I mean what is going on?”
He pulled his AV – Air Vehicle - up to the curb, in front of my house.
My pitch dark house.
I pointed to the blackened windows. “Why are all the lights out?” I asked. “It’s only nine o’clock.”
“Maybe your sister went out for the night.”
“Then why is the AV still here?” I nodded in the direction of our AV, parked in the driveway.
“I don’t know. Maybe Melanie decided to go to bed early.”
I glared at him.
Even though he was my best friend, he could be really annoying.
“Ned, she and I have an agreement from...you know…from when Cue left.” Cue was my dad, nicknamed because he liked to play pool. It was a play on “Q” – his real name – Quinn Freeman.
I could feel my face turning red. “It’s stupid, but we…or rather she…always turns the porch light on, as soon as it gets dark. Like, leaving it on, in case Cue ever comes back. It makes her feel some kind of false hope, but I don’t fight her on it. And it became dark, over an hour ago.”
I reasoned with myself, that if someone had picked Melanie up, she would have turned the light on when she left.
I thought about my sister. Between us, she had gotten all the looks. Tall and willowy, with a beautiful oval face, blue eyes and perfect features.
I was shorter, with large brown eyes, and not nearly as kind-hearted. My skin was darker. Not sure of our genealogy, as everyone was a mix, these days. You had a baby, it was a lottery on what they would look like…black, white, yellow, red…a blending of many. The good thing was, that racism had become a thing of the past.
“Well she forgot the light, for once,” Ned suggested.
“Okay, then what about Zach? He is a house robot. They never go to bed, and he knows I haven’t come home, yet.”
“Chill, Nora. I will go in with you, and check it out.”
“Wow! I feel so much safer!”
“Would you rather I leave?”
I knew he wouldn’t. “If you leave, I’ll tell Melanie all the sick thoughts you have about her.”
“She already knows all my sick thoughts.”
Ned Beckett had been nursing a crush for my sister, Melanie, since we were in pre-school. He wasn’t half-bad looking, with an average build, although a bit on the skinny side. He usually wore glasses and studied a lot, hence, his nickname “Nerd” at school. But Ned’s romantic dreams would never be realized. Mel was popular, and Ned was part of a different crowd. He played chess…in fact was a little too good at chess…and most importantly was not a jock. My sister only dated jocks and Ned was a year behind her, so basically his chances were next to nil. And just in case he was holding out for that “nil”, I made it crystal clear, that I would kill him if he ever made a move on my sister. Of course I described what would happen to him in far more graphic detail, just to make sure he understood. But we were like family, so it would be the same thing as incest - Ned and Melanie together. Besides, no one was really good enough for my sister anyway, in my opinion.
And as far as Ned and I were concerned, we were just buds. Nora and Ned. Melanie called us “N squared”. We were always together.
“Okay, never mind. Let’s just go in, already.” I pressed the button and climbed out of his AV. Ned was already halfway to the front door. I raced to catch up, grabbing his forearm.
“Wait, let’s go in slowly. And for God’s sake, try to be quiet for once. We don’t know what is waiting for us in there.”
He opened the door very carefully and entered.
And like a thief breaking into my own house, I slipped past the entryway following close behind.
Sucking in a breath, I grasped his arm again.
“Calm down!” he snapped, shaking me off, “you about made my heart abrogate.”
“I swear I heard something shuffling around. And you have to have a heart first, for it to abri-whatever.”
“Well, I didn’t hear anything, so relax. You’re making me jumpy.”
“I can’t help it. I feel like bugs are crawling on the back of my neck,” I whispered.
“They probably are,” he fired back.
I rubbed my neck, to rid myself of the feeling.
We left the lights off, moving silently through the house. Checking in closets, under beds and behind doors.
Nothing.
No one here.
I started flicking on lights heading upstairs. Everything looked normal up here.
“Nora, you need to get down here!” Ned yelled.
Oh God. What did he find? Is it Melanie’s body?
I took the stairs two at a time, and bounded into the kitchen.
Ned was standing by the center island, a piece of paper in his hand. His face stressed, eyes wide.
“Did you find Melanie?” I screeched. And then I pointed to what he was holding.
“What is that?”
“Read it.”
He shoved the paper toward me, and I immediately recognized Melanie’s handwriting.
I looked up at him.
“I’m getting a bad feeling about this.”
“Read it!” he barked, again.
My eyes dropped to the page. It was addressed to me.
Nora,
I don’t know when I will see you. By the time you read this, I will be long gone.
I am on the run. Zach is with me.
They are after us.
Zach is part of an A.I. alien race, and I am something called a “soul jumper”.
They want my DNA, and plan to take over humanity.
No, this is not part of a movie, or a joke. THIS IS REAL!
Burn this note as soon as you read it!
They may be after you too. I don’t know enough yet, to give you more information than this, but if you suspect anything, make a run for it.
I have to go…I’m sorry to have to tell you in a note! I don’t know what to do about Mom. I guess, don’t tell her anything.
I love you!
Melanie
Burn this!!!
The paper started to flap so much I could no longer read the words. My hands were shaking bad and I could feel a pounding in my chest.
“Ned, what does this mean? Is this for real?”
“I don’t know, Nora. It would elucidate why no one is home. That, or it’s a really cruel joke.”
“Elucidate? Just speak English.” I said, getting pissed. This was not the time for Ned to word drop. My sister’s life was in danger…and possibly my own.
“Melanie said it’s not a joke.” My sister was very non-confrontational, maintaining the peace at all costs. And prone to keeping things to herself. Internalizing. She wouldn’t make something like this up.
I looked around to see if there were any clues that could help me understand what in heck was going on. Everything appeared normal. Nice and neat. Like Zach had just finished cleaning.
Zach – the supposed alien?
“Ned, what is a Soul Jumper? Why would aliens want my sister? Why would they want me, for that matter? My soul has always stayed put right here in my body, as far as I know.”
“Let me read it again.” Ned walked over and took the paper from me. I watched him pouring over the words, a second time.
Feeling on edge, I walked over to the window that looked out onto the street. Maybe there were answers out there, that weren’t in here. Maybe Mel was still close by. Like, where the heck had she gone? On the run…to where?
“Nora, this really doesn’t sound good. She is definitely warning you. Maybe you shouldn’t stay here.”
“Ned…”
“Maybe you should pack a bag. You know, like a “getaway” bag. We need to…”
“Ned…”
“This basically says you are in danger. We need to find you a weapon of some sort…like…”
“Ned!” I repeated, my voice urgent.
“What?” He looked up from the paper.
“Sshh!” I frowned, shushing him.
I hid behind the curtain, and frantically motioned for him to come over.
“Was that AV there, earlier, when we pulled up?”
I could see a vehicle, sitting under the street lights, outside.
He started walking toward me, but I stopped him with my voice. “Get down!” I rasped, flapping my hand like a seal.
Ned dove so quickly to the floor, that it was like shots had been fired. He got on his hands and knees, crawling to the window. Staying well below the ledge, he cautiously peered out.
“No, it wasn’t,” he confirmed. “And there is a man in the driver’s seat. Doesn’t appear to be getting out, either. He’s staring at your house. Not a good sign, Nora.”
“Oh God, Melanie was right! They are coming after me. What do I do?”
“Okay, stay calm, and let me think.”
Ned inched backward on his hands and knees, away from the window ledge, making sure to get out of the line of vision of the stranger, in the vehicle. When he got to the center of the living room, he stood up, ran to the back of the house, and called out, “I don’t see anyone out back. Just the lone guy out front. We need to get you out of here. Act normal - casual – like we are unaware of being watched.”
Ned tapped his forehead, thinking. “You pack some things, and leave. I will stay here for a while, and stand near the window, where he can see. I will pretend to be engaged in conversation with you. Meanwhile, you make your escape.”
“Where do I go, and how will you know where to find me?” I said, nearly hysterical.
“You need to go to the Casbah. It will be empty on a Monday night. Maybe your sister is hiding there.” The Casbah was a dilapidated old dance hall, that had been abandoned, years ago. The back lot was an overgrown field, but beyond that, I knew very little. It was unofficially designated to seniors, only. Entry was strictly forbidden, to underclassmen – unless you wanted to get your ass beat. Many of Melanie’s friends hung out there on the weekends, as it was a great place to avoid parents, party, make out or whatever it was, seniors did there.
“I will follow your whereabouts, with a homing beacon, in case you have to change locations.” He showed me his S-Pod, the supercomputer on his wrist.
I moved away from the window, and went to hug Ned. I held on for dear life, not wanting to let go.
I pulled away to look at him. “Ned, you can really be a pain in my ass sometimes, but right now, I couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
“No problem, Nora. You can pay me back later, by setting me up on a date with your sister.”
My face fell.
“Sorry, dumb thing to say. Melanie is fine. We will find her, and figure this out! Let’s just get you out of here, first.”
While he connected the location settings on my S-Pod, to his own, my mind was busy going in fifty directions at once. I couldn’t seem to focus. What do I need? What should I take? What if I never come back home? What if this guy kills me?
A random thought hit me. What if I never get that house with the picket fence, kids and a dog? I desperately wanted that sappy vision of a future for myself, I just didn’t admit it to anyone. In that moment, it was like my life was flashing before my eyes. Only in reverse. A life I hadn’t lived, yet.
“Ok, you are all set. I can see your location, as long as you wear the S-Pod.”
I was barely listening to him. Racing upstairs, I started grabbing things. Not knowing how long I would be gone, I figured I better take provisions. Toothpaste, check. Toothbrush, shampoo, hair products. Oh…and several pairs of underwear and socks! A couple t-shirts rolled up. Protein bars. Mace. And finally, the little bit of money I had managed to save, from waiting tables, and had shoved into a piggy bank.
Hurry, Nora!
I urged myself to move faster. I was taking too much time. “Is the guy still out there?” I called down to Ned.
“Still in the same place. Maybe waiting on me to leave, so he can get you alone?”
“Great. Thanks for adding yet another level of paranoia, to the situation.”
“Sorry. Try not to worry. I’m not leaving. At least, not until you have gotten a good head start.”
I stopped, midway down the stairs. “Wait. What are we going to tell my mother? School?”
“I will type your mom a note, saying that you are both spending a week at Karla’s house, doing research for an upcoming assignment.” Karla Dubois was one of Melanie’s friends.
“Okay, that sounds super fake – not believable.”
“Nora, she doesn’t pay attention to anything you two do, anymore. She doesn’t even know if you are actually attending school.”
“True.” My mother, Sheila Freeman, was definitely “not present”- even when she was at home, which wasn’t often. And then, she drank in her room to forget.
“Another fake note will be ‘signed by your mom’, letting the school admins know, you and Melanie have the Hive Virus.” This was something, no one wanted to be around. I mean, no one. Especially in its contagious stage. Your face and body became covered in swelling lumps, that turned into oozing sores.
“That should give you both a good two-week window, to figure this out.” He added. “As soon as anyone hears about the Hive Virus, the rest is history. No one will be checking on you.”
“The Hive Virus. Gee, thanks. We will be treated like lepers, when we go back.”
I grabbed my school bag, and dumped out the books into a dark corner of the coat closet. Then, I shoved my stash of provisions, into the now empty backpack.
“What about Zach?” I asked.
“As far as your mom is concerned, he will have been sent in, for servicing.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.”
I hid Melanie’s school bag, with my books. No sense leaving evidence lying around, that we were obviously, not at school.
Water.
I need to pack some water. And I think that was about everything. Wow. It’s amazing how few things you really need, when it all comes down to it.
I was ready.
Gingerly picking up Melanie’s note - she had ordered me to burn it – I folded and shoved the paper into my jean pocket. I was never really one to follow instructions.
And I wasn’t about to destroy what may very well be, my sister’s last words to me.
Determined to crush any more negative thoughts, I grabbed on to my courage. I will figure this out. I am finding my sister.
No one threatens my sister.