Read Ballistic: Icarus Series, Book Two Online
Authors: Aria Michaels
Tags: #teenager, #apocalypse, #friendship
Ballistic: Icarus Series, Book Two
Ballistic
(Icarus Series, Book Two)
By Aria Michaels
Copyright
2016 Aria Michaels
Copyright
This book is an original publication of Aria Michaels.
Ballistic
is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or have been adapted fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, alive or dead, as well as businesses, locations, groups, or organizations is purely coincidental. The publisher and author do not accept responsibility for any third-party website, social media personality or groups, or their content.
Copyright
2016 Aria Michaels
Edited by Claire Allmendinger of BNW Author Services
Cover Design: L.J. Stock
Rights
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic format without expressed written consent of the author and/or publisher. Please do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials. It is not only a violation of the author’s rights, but of copyright law. Purchase only authorized editions.
Printed proudly in the United States of America
CONTENTS
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Dedication
For my tribe.
You know who you are and you have my love.
Prologue
Rescue
(Lucas)
“We have to go, Lucas,” Layla said, peeking her head through the door. Her eyes were swollen and tired, betraying the fake smile she had kept plastered on her face for the last few hours. “The convoy is leaving for the refugee camp in two minutes, and we have to be on it. You want me to send Bo down to help you with your bag?”
“No, I got it,” Lucas said. “I just have to grab my meds and find my inhaler quick. I’ll be right out.”
“Alright, but you need to hurry,” Layla said, her brows knitting with worry as she looked over her shoulder down the hallway. She whispered when she turned back. “Please, Lucas. You know how they are.”
“Come on, Skywalker,” Jazz peeked her head beneath her mother’s arm and smiled over at him. Her trademark braids dangled on either side of her angelic face.
“Sixty seconds, Lucas,” Layla urged covering Jazz’s ears. “Remember what happened last time?”
“Right behind you, Layla.” Lucas crossed his fingers and smiled at his foster mother reassuringly. “Promise.”
He hoped she hadn’t seen the giant magic marker he was hiding behind his back or the multi-tool in his front pocket that he had stolen from Brian’s toolbox. Layla seemed satisfied, but Jazz narrowed her eyes at him.
“Luke.” She shook her finger at him. She was only six years old and had Down’s Syndrome, but Jazz had a knack for seeing things others didn’t. “The storm troopers are mad.”
“I know, Jazz.” Lucas met his foster sister’s stare with grim determination.
Jazz cocked her head to the side, measuring him. She nodded slightly and dragged her mother away. “Come on, mommy. I forgot to get Chewy, and I can’t sleep without him.”
“Okay, baby,” Layla said following cautiously in her daughter’s wake, “but we have to hurry.”
The second Layla stepped out of his room Lucas jumped up onto his bed and set to work. He didn’t have much time, and he knew it was risky leaving a message for his sister. He would probably be punished, again, if Mayfield or one of the other soldiers caught him.
He didn’t care, anymore. There was no doubt in his mind that his sister would come looking for him.
She had promised.
When Lucas finished, he took a step back and surveyed his work. It was sloppy and cryptic, but he was out of time, and it would have to do. Heavy footsteps approached from down the hallway. He tossed the marker behind his headboard and quickly taped the poster in place on the wall.
Lucas spun toward the door just in time to see it swing wide and bang against his wall knocking a shelf full of action figures to the floor. His comforter twirled around his foot, but he managed to keep his balance, albeit just barely.
“What the hell are you doing up there?” the masked soldier barked at him. He grabbed Lucas by the arm with a black, gloved hand and yanked him from the bed onto the floor. “You causing trouble again?”