After Dawn (Book 3 of the Into the Shadows Trilogy) by Karly Kirkpatrick Page A
Book: After Dawn (Book 3 of the Into the Shadows Trilogy) by Karly Kirkpatrick
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Authors: Karly Kirkpatrick
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energy hanging over the silent table.
"It's time to act, people. We've got to save America before he destroys it. I said nothing while the ATC overran this country. Now we're on the brink of war and on the verge of nuking one of our own major cities. Those of you not working with Susan to draft the letter, get on the phone." David waved his phone at them. "We need to start calling members of Congress and make sure enough of them are on the same page. We cannot fail, or we fail this country, and possibly this world."
"What am I supposed to tell the military? They have a situation in Las Vegas. Are they supposed to do nothing with those people? They killed soldiers!" General Kobayashi face melted into a frown. "We're completely stuck in the middle here."
"His orders were to engage." Susan Morgan looked like she might be sick. Her face was the color of pea soup. "He's still president until Chuck and Lorraine get over here. I'm sorry to say that Michael still answers to him."
"But the nuclear bomb?" General Kobayashi asked.
"Tell them to have it on standby, but not to use it until we give the okay," said Susan. "We've got to make this happen. The clock is ticking."
Chapter 16
Paivi's stomach was tied up in knots as she led the convoy into the city of Las Vegas. She knew that couldn't be all the ATC had.
There would be more.
And they'd be coming soon.
The city posed a problem for many reasons. The road they traveled led right through downtown. And while at least they had roads to travel on, there was also something they hadn't come across on the journey from the camp. People.
She had no idea how they would react. Were they going to have to defend themselves from the military and from the civilians? Her last contact with Americans, back in St. Andrew, didn't leave pleasant memories. And she’d had visions since then, which indicated that it had only gotten worse.
The city was quiet in the morning, although cars were creeping out onto roadways. Paivi could see the confused looks on drivers’ faces as they observed the column of raggedy people in dusty trucks making their way into the city. She could still hear the sirens and knew it was a matter of minutes before they were stopped.
She was right. Up ahead flashing lights appeared on the opposite side of the road. A dozen police cars and two SWAT team trucks pulled up to the median. Local drivers scattered, attempting to get out of the way, but staying close enough to watch what was happening.
On the roadway in front of them an additional five police cars raced toward them. They screeched to a stop, pulling the cars sideways to block any way forward.
Paivi chuckled in the backseat as Dennis slowed the truck to a stop.
"What's so funny, Paivi?" her mom demanded, her face pressed into a frown.
"This, Mom, all of this." She waved at the commotion in front of them. "If people would have just left us all alone, it wouldn't be this way. We wouldn't need to be fighting our way out of a country that doesn't want us anyway. And these guys are the least of our problems. The friends of the guys who tried to stop us before will be coming soon. This? Forget it."
Paivi pulled the lever on the door. It swung open and she hopped out onto the roadway.
Xavier, I need you. She pushed the words into the truck behind them, where she knew Xavier was.
In a moment he was by her side.
"Ready to have a little fun?" He flipped open both palms to reveal dancing balls of fire.
"Oh yes, but this time I'd like to try not to kill anyone. Let's just ruin their day."
They walked to the front of the truck together, hand in hand.
Xavier's energy raced through her. Her veins felt like they were on fire, channeling the heat of the flames he carried in his hands.
"Put your hands in the air where we can see them!" a police officer shouted from the other side of the road on a megaphone.
"God, I am so sick of those megaphones." Paivi raised a hand in the air and flicked her wrist. The
"It's time to act, people. We've got to save America before he destroys it. I said nothing while the ATC overran this country. Now we're on the brink of war and on the verge of nuking one of our own major cities. Those of you not working with Susan to draft the letter, get on the phone." David waved his phone at them. "We need to start calling members of Congress and make sure enough of them are on the same page. We cannot fail, or we fail this country, and possibly this world."
"What am I supposed to tell the military? They have a situation in Las Vegas. Are they supposed to do nothing with those people? They killed soldiers!" General Kobayashi face melted into a frown. "We're completely stuck in the middle here."
"His orders were to engage." Susan Morgan looked like she might be sick. Her face was the color of pea soup. "He's still president until Chuck and Lorraine get over here. I'm sorry to say that Michael still answers to him."
"But the nuclear bomb?" General Kobayashi asked.
"Tell them to have it on standby, but not to use it until we give the okay," said Susan. "We've got to make this happen. The clock is ticking."
Chapter 16
Paivi's stomach was tied up in knots as she led the convoy into the city of Las Vegas. She knew that couldn't be all the ATC had.
There would be more.
And they'd be coming soon.
The city posed a problem for many reasons. The road they traveled led right through downtown. And while at least they had roads to travel on, there was also something they hadn't come across on the journey from the camp. People.
She had no idea how they would react. Were they going to have to defend themselves from the military and from the civilians? Her last contact with Americans, back in St. Andrew, didn't leave pleasant memories. And she’d had visions since then, which indicated that it had only gotten worse.
The city was quiet in the morning, although cars were creeping out onto roadways. Paivi could see the confused looks on drivers’ faces as they observed the column of raggedy people in dusty trucks making their way into the city. She could still hear the sirens and knew it was a matter of minutes before they were stopped.
She was right. Up ahead flashing lights appeared on the opposite side of the road. A dozen police cars and two SWAT team trucks pulled up to the median. Local drivers scattered, attempting to get out of the way, but staying close enough to watch what was happening.
On the roadway in front of them an additional five police cars raced toward them. They screeched to a stop, pulling the cars sideways to block any way forward.
Paivi chuckled in the backseat as Dennis slowed the truck to a stop.
"What's so funny, Paivi?" her mom demanded, her face pressed into a frown.
"This, Mom, all of this." She waved at the commotion in front of them. "If people would have just left us all alone, it wouldn't be this way. We wouldn't need to be fighting our way out of a country that doesn't want us anyway. And these guys are the least of our problems. The friends of the guys who tried to stop us before will be coming soon. This? Forget it."
Paivi pulled the lever on the door. It swung open and she hopped out onto the roadway.
Xavier, I need you. She pushed the words into the truck behind them, where she knew Xavier was.
In a moment he was by her side.
"Ready to have a little fun?" He flipped open both palms to reveal dancing balls of fire.
"Oh yes, but this time I'd like to try not to kill anyone. Let's just ruin their day."
They walked to the front of the truck together, hand in hand.
Xavier's energy raced through her. Her veins felt like they were on fire, channeling the heat of the flames he carried in his hands.
"Put your hands in the air where we can see them!" a police officer shouted from the other side of the road on a megaphone.
"God, I am so sick of those megaphones." Paivi raised a hand in the air and flicked her wrist. The
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