Ballistic: Icarus Series, Book Two (46 page)
Read Ballistic: Icarus Series, Book Two Online
Authors: Aria Michaels
Tags: #teenager, #apocalypse, #friendship
“Oh, Beans, I’m so sorry,” I sobbed.
Too late. That’s what the doctor had said.
“Please, wake up,” I begged.
Thunder boomed overhead, and the ground shook. Lightning split the ground a few yards away sending clumps of dirt and molten rock spraying up into the air. Shouting. Footsteps closed in around me. The world was so loud I couldn’t hear any of it. Guilt pelted me like tiny bullets, warm against my skin.
I was too late.
I’d failed him.
Every tear I’d ever denied myself came freely, now. The world crumbled around me. I threw myself over my brother and wailed like an injured animal.
“Liv…” Thunder swallowed the meaningless words flung in my direction. “Have to…now!”
I clutched my brother tight in my arms and screamed into his shoulder. Hands grabbed at me, pulling, always pulling. Dozens of matching boots shuffled across the ground around me. Small, pink tennis shoes followed by big, brown eyes. A warm hand on my shoulder. Still, I held on. Thousands of tiny stars fell from the sky, burning my skin.
The sky lit up orange like a roadside flare. Something soft and heavy dropped to the ground nearby. It smelled like burnt matches and rotten meat. My vision swam, and my chest heaved. Every inch of my body burned. I wanted to run, or crawl, to drag my brother away from all of it, but my legs were useless. Weak and unwilling. I clung to my brother with the last of my strength.
Too late.
I was too late.
The ground shook, and someone screamed. Liquid fire poured over me. Large hands slid beneath my brother’s shoulders, lifting both of us up from the ground.
“No!” I moaned.
I felt him slipping from my grasp and locked my hands around his middle, my knees scraping across the ground. I’d die before I let anyone take him from me again.
“Liv?” a small voice croaked.
Slender fingers clutched my arm. I looked up into a pair of soft, green eyes. Green like our mother’s. Water dripped down his face, plastering his hair against it. The bloody transmitters protruding from his temples blinked a pale blue light beneath his wavy locks.
“Get them inside. Get everyone out of the damn rain!” A deep voice shouted.
Rain?
It was raining.
Acid fell from the sky in a solid curtain. Angry, pink welts marred my baby brother’s skin where the rust colored droplets struck him. He winced but didn’t cry out.
The pain hit me then, and my legs finally gave out. I collapsed into the mud, still clutching at my brother’s hand. The foul moisture rolled down my face, burning tracks across my skin, and stinging my eyes and nose. It tasted like electricity and decay.
Soldiers surrounded my brother and me. Their rough hands scraped at us and dragged us toward the building.
Neither of us was willing to let go.
Our arms stretched out between us as the men in strangely colored fatigues carried our battered bodies into the building. I squeezed his hand, my tears mingling with the odd smelling moisture that burned my face.
“I knew you’d come for me, Liv,” my brother croaked, his slender fingers still locked with mine.
“Even if the sky is falling,” I croaked.
THE END
…for now.
Killshot (Icaruse Series, Book One)
Before the Sky Fell (An Icarus Series Novella)
Ballistic (Icarus Series, Book Two)
All Things Zombie: Chronology of the Apocalypse
For all the latest news and updates, release schedules, and live events visit
Acknowledgments
On February 13, 2014, I died. I died and it changed my life. On that day, I decided to take the wheel, rather than being a passenger. I climbed out of the six-by-six beige box of financial security that had been my world for eight years, and stumbled out into the writing world. I have never been so terrified in my life. Writing is not just a thing I do. It is part of who I am. Writing is the air I breathe and the ground beneath my feet.
My words are my heart, and you are holding it in your hands.
That
, my friends, is the ultimate power and I am sharing it with each of you. Why, you ask? Because if you are here, if you are reading this, then you are part of my tribe…and I owe my tribe everything.
Mom, you are quite simply the most amazing person I have ever known, and I’m not just saying that because you gave me life (though, that is pretty damn impressive). You taught me to embrace my flaws and appreciate the beauty in those imperfections. You gave me the courage to be weird, creative, and bold. For that, I can never thank you enough.
For my boys: Alex, Jacob, Noah, Lucas, Elijah, and Evan, you are my world. No matter where life takes you, I know it will be epic. No distance will ever be great enough to keep me from your hearts. You are my babies and you have all taught me patience, humility, and flexibility. I want you all on my apocalypse team, ALWAYS.
Mark, I kept my training wheels for so long. You pushed me to take them off and see how far I could get. I begged you not to let go until I was ready. I didn’t think I could do it. The thought of crashing scared the hell out of me. I didn’t know that I was strong enough to stay up until I didn’t have a choice. When I looked back, you were smiling. You were proud. Thank you for letting go.
Jordan, you are my best friend. You are the Brutus to my Caesar, and my favorite brand of crazy. There’s no one I’d rather discuss cupcakes and murder with than you. It’d be awesome if you didn’t live in Narnia, though. Let’s work on that.
To my Braintrust, Cheer, Christina, Katy, Casey, Caroline, you girls have kept me as close to sane as anyone ever could. Your encouragement and support makes it easier to breathe when I feel like I’m under water.
To my editor, Claire Allmendinger, I apologize, extensively, for my chronic, and sometimes annoying, overuse of the comma. You are the most patient person I have ever met. For real. I am honored to drag you along on this journey with me, and even more so to call you friend. (You too, Wendy!)
To my awesome cover designer (who also happens to be one hell of a talented author), L.J. Stock, I owe you a debt of gratitude that cannot be measured. I came to you with a pile of insane sketches that fifteen other artists ran screaming from, and you hugged them and loved them as if they were your babies. Together we created something amazing. You are a true talent, and I am lucky to have you.
Kaila Eileen Turingan-Ramos, you are the most wonderful street team leader/friend a scatter-brained, poorly organized, newbie-ish author could ever ask for. To my street team allstars and all my minions at Aria Ever After, thank you, thank you, thank you! I owe you all so much. Your support is both epic and invaluable.
Jeffery, thank you for always agreeing that I am impressive and strong. Misty, Amy, and Dionne I love you all like sisters. Meredith, your success and guidance has inspired me to great heights. Someday I hope to join you at the top of Indie-Mountain.
To Nyne, Chelle, Corey, Nichole, and the rest of my family, it’s pretty freaking awesome that you guys are proud of me. Nick and Trista Foster, you are more to me than military advice and drinks by the fire. Amy Bartelloni, you give the best internet hugs. Sarah and Christina, I am so glad I stole you and claim you as my own sisters. Asbjorn, thanks for inspiring me to get off my ass. To Jim Cobb, your survivalist instincts and advice have been paramount to the success of the Icarus Series. You are an asset I plan to hold on to, and I have officially added you to my apocalypse team roster.
And, finally, to “my person”…you snuck up on me. Again. We have been crossing paths on this broken road for almost twenty years. You have taught me that there is strength in weakness and that it’s okay to not have all the answers. You have shown me that life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. You taught me that change is gravity. It cannot be controlled or manipulated. Sometimes, you just have to close your eyes and jump.
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