A Time To Survive (Verge of Extinction): A Magical & Monstrous / Supernatural Urban Fantasy. Read online

  “Stains on your jeans? That’s incredible,” Mayumi mocked as we bantered back and forth. I did want to tell Mayumi more about what Sky had told me but with her disbelieving attitude there was no way I was going to let her in on the strange vision Sky had about Jax and I in the future or I’d be lectured for days on end.

  “Oh forget it Yu, you’ll never understand, sometimes you’re just too—”

  “Too what . . . realistic?” Mayumi interrupted again as she brushed her silky black hair out of her face. She then clipped it back with an elegantly jeweled green dragonfly clip that simultaneously drew focus from her long black luxurious silky hair to her exotic almond-shaped hazel eyes. The same eyes unsuspecting boys seemed to get lost in a little too often. Although, Mayumi didn’t seem to mind that at all and it’s not that she liked the attention, she just let them gaze on as if it were a normal thing to do. Almost nothing fazed that girl.

  “No, you’re too serious,” I said, finally focusing good enough to grab the correct notebook for third period, then slammed my locker door shut with such a resounding metallic “BANG,” that Jax and the rest of the hallway looked in my direction. Instantly blushing, I had no choice but to turn back to Mayumi and her continuing pep talk.

  “Addie, it is ok to dream about Jax once in a while, I give you permission,” she joked slapping my arm.

  “Thanks Yu,” I bowed slowly in gratitude as I tried to contain my laughter.

  “Not a problem, but do it when you are not going to make us late for a final.”

  “Fine,” I grunted, “let’s go my Japanese dream crusher.” I tugged on Mayumi’s arm and we started to head to class.

  Mayumi stopped, suddenly yanking my arm back and stared mouth agape at me and I knew instantly something must have been seriously wrong.

  “What? Aren’t you coming?” I questioned knowing we were definitely rushed for time wondering exactly why she would stop me so abruptly.

  Mayumi chuckled, “Err…your brown monster Addie . . . it has been…set loose.” She whispered pointing as inconspicuously as she could at my right eye trying not to draw attention to us as kids were now scattering like scared mice in every direction to their classes so not to be late.

  “WHAT? I put my green contact in today, I’m sure of it!” I stammered a little too loudly. “And stop pointing,” I whispered back, slapping Mayumi’s hand down as she continued to snicker.

  “Which eye Addie?” Mayumi said, still cracking a smile even though she knew I was on the verge of panic.

  “Not happening,” I whispered under my breath, “I was going green eyes today. I put my contact in the wrong eye, didn’t I? . . . Holy shit! Do you think Jax saw my different colored eyes from down the hall?” I asked over self-conscious now, completely turning my back to Jax shielding the right side of my blushing face as he was still casually leaning on his locker talking to none other than Bethany Blake. Who in my opinion was definitely invading his personal space . . . I was seriously beginning to hate that girl.

  Mayumi laughed, “Well considering the angle, he probably only saw one side of you, you are safe. The love of your life does not know your secret just yet.”

  “Hey, at least I’m not a walking ad for a leather clothing magazine. Black leather jacket and matching leather skirt and boots today, what is it, the spring leather fest in Japan?” I never had been good at comebacks and it’s the best one I could think of at the moment, which as I think about it, may have come out as more of a compliment to her instead.

  “It is fashion Addie-san,” Mayumi smiled. “You really do need to get out more than you would find there are more colors than just earth tones and faded blue jeans that would look amazing on you. Maybe give leather a try? You do have the body for it.” she eyed me up and down reminding me of something a creepy guy would do. “Boys will love it too!”

  “Just stop it already . . .” I punched her in the arm before glancing down at my casual clothing. “How did we ever become best friends?” I said a little more cheerfully as grins spread across both our faces.

  Hurriedly we sprinted down the emptying hallway as body after body disappeared into the classrooms. Yanking open the giant glass doors at the end of the first floor, we flew up a flight of stairs taking two at a time racing each other to room 207 giggling like lunatics and just making it through the door before the final bell rang.

  “Nice of you to join us,” Mr. Willingham said in his normal gravelly voice. He lowered his vintage white coffee mug to his desk while staring at Mayumi and me through his rather large reading glasses that weirdly magnified his dark eyes.

  I on the other hand kept my gaze to the floor as best I could, avoiding my teacher’s stare and the rest of my classmates as I scurried by. Sliding into my desk I continued to gaze down pretending to look for my history notebook while switching my green contact from my left to right eye, hoping nobody in class noticed that I actually had two very distinctly different colored eyes. I had successfully hid this secret all my life and I wasn’t about to let it out now, not before Junior Prom. Otherwise I’d be called a freak for sure and never have a chance with Jax Morgan. EVER!

  Chapter 2 - The Showers

  Adelaide

  The last bell of the day finally rang and I practically sprinted to the exit doors, slamming the long silver handle hard with both hands heading directly into the sunlight and straight to the comfort of my Jeep. Climbing in I eagerly switched on the radio, leaning back into my warm, cracked and faded black leather driver’s seat with relief that the school day was over and the weekend at last had arrived.

  Slowly I slid down letting the warmth envelop my whole body, relaxing even more on the warm leather as I waited for my brother Arthur and my twin sisters - Caelyn and Victoria to show up for their daily chauffeur ride home. Arthur, my overly confident younger brother, who seems to annoy me on a daily basis but who I love dearly is 16 and already on the varsity football team and is only one year younger than me. My twin sisters are turning 15 soon and are finishing up their freshman year at Lyall High. They on the other hand aren’t into sports, they’re more like “mall rats” as my dad says each time he drops them off to go shopping. They have to be in fashion and have to match; after all they’re identical twins and they make sure everyone knows.

  While waiting for my siblings, I unconsciously began creating images out of the white fluffy clouds floating slowly by in the blue sky, half heartedly listening to the radio announcer on the local country music station. Living in a small town in southwestern Michigan we really didn’t have many choices when it came to station selection and country seemed to be just about everyone’s favorite for both news and music. I didn’t mind though, I do like the lyrics to most country songs, they help me escape reality at times, but right now the local news was on – again – and there’s only so much that can happen in this small chunk of the world.

  “A meteor shower, the likes of which has never been seen before entered Earth’s atmosphere almost 48 hours ago. The amazing display of shooting stars was every star gazers dream until those showers turned deadly…”

  “Meteor showers - again - old news. Just get back to the music already.” I groaned reaching out to change the station.

  “In the past hour there have been numerous sightings and reports of meteorites striking around the world. In the US, California has been hit especially hard and there’s no sign of letting up according to scientists. . .”

  “Wait,” I uttered in disbelief taking in what I’d just heard and hesitantly pulled my hand back. “Meteorites are hitting in California?” I murmured before my eyes grew wide realizing my parents were in mid-air at that exact moment, flying to California for what was supposed to be a very romantic, very kid-free, anniversary weekend.

  Chapter 3 - National Emergency

  Adelaide

  Racing home with Arthur, the twins and my youngest brother Ethan, whom we’d picked up from middle school, I broke more driving laws and probably a few cursing laws than I c
ould count before whipping into our driveway and screeching to a halt. As soon as I slammed my Jeep into park the five of us ran inside and immediately switched on the television. Dropping our school bags and instruments to loud thuds on the hardwood floor we stared at our large screen TV, listening intently to the breaking news reports.

  “NATIONAL EMERGENCY” in large red block letters floated across the top of the TV screen in a continuous loop confirming the seriousness of the situation as a reporter updated us on exactly what was happening.

  “Casualties are being called in all over the west coast, from Seattle, Washington all the way down to where we are, in what was once sunny California. Disaster and Relief Teams are attending to the worst strikes. Thousands are already dead and thousands more injured and the numbers are rising by the minute. We’re seeing scenes here that no nightmare could ever live up to.

  “To add to this terrible disaster, looting is rampant and there’s mayhem everywhere I look, except for those that are calling this the end of the world and congregating into groups and praying.

  “Otherwise, it seems everyone else in the state is racing to get out and tempers are flaring. And forget about the highways folks, they’re log jammed for miles, the only way you’re getting out of here is walking . . .”

  “Mom and Dad flew to California for their anniversary weekend, right. . .” Caelyn said turning to me and then back to the TV, her face pale.

  I slid my smart phone from my pocket and called our Dad for what seemed the thousandth time. Panic welling up inside, my heart raced and I began to sweat because just as the previous nine hundred and ninety nine times I’d called him; the phone rang and rang with no answer.

  On the news a split screen of images suddenly popped up. On the left, fireball after fireball zoomed across the once clear blue sky leaving long trails of billowy white smoke followed by intense flashes. On the right, scenes of buildings with windows blown out, raging fires, police, paramedics and injured of all ages were shown in unedited graphic detail.

  “THERE GOES ANOTHER ONE!

  “Oh my Lord! . . .”

  “It’s even bigger than the last one!”

  “LOOK AT THE IMMENSE SIZE OF THAT THING!!”

  The reporter was yelling loudly into his microphone whilst staring into the sky in what could only be described as utter shock. Less than five seconds later on the screen came the most intense roaring of noise and a blinding flash, causing all of us to gasp and turn away from the TV shielding our eyes as if the meteorite had actually hit in our own living room.

  Almost immediately following the bright flash on TV, we heard a huge explosion outside our own home causing our house to shake and pictures to fall off the walls crashing to the floors. The TV screen then fizzled a few seconds before the digital clocks blinked and went black as all the power ceremoniously went out. The five of us were stunned in silence as we tried to grasp what had just happened slowly turning back to the now blank TV waiting for it to magically turn back on.

  Finally, being the first ones to recover and shake off the confusion, Arthur and Ethan raced to the front porch punching open the screen door causing it to slam against the front of our house with a crack before slowly swinging back shut.

  “WOW! Look at all the smoke streaks in the sky.” Ethan exclaimed, standing just outside the screen door. “It’s like hundreds of planes have flown over our house,” he stared up in awe as only a child could.

  “Those aren’t from planes Ethan,” I heard Arthur cautiously say, ominously staring up into the smoke streaked sky with our younger brother. He then pulled Ethan nearer to his side; instinctively shielding him from a disaster that he somehow sensed was about to rain down upon our city.

  Chapter 4 - Last Contact

  Adelaide

  “Hello? Addie, Addie? ADELAIDE!” My dad yelled loudly into his phone, bringing my attention away from Ethan and Arthur and back to the call I’d made a minute earlier.

  “DAD - Oh my God! Dad, are you all right? Where’s Mom?” I anxiously asked, imagining my parent’s plane dodging through a maze of glowing fire balls.

  “We’re fine! We’re fine. More importantly, how’s everything at home? Is everyone all right?”

  “We’re OK so far, but there was a huge explosion in the neighborhood and we’ve just lost power. We were in the middle of watching the crazy news about California and were worried about you and mom. Thank God you’re not there yet.” I breathed with relief glancing at the blank microwave clock before leaning up against our stainless steel refrigerator relaxing for the moment letting my tense stomach go and shoulders slouch with as much relaxation as I could muster.

  “Addie, the pilot announced there was some sort of emergency and we’re being diverted to Denver.” My dad gave his usual short explanation. “Do you know what’s going on?”

  “It’s the meteorites,” I cried, surprised he didn’t already know. “They’re all over the news.”

  “Wait…did you say, meteorites? I heard something about meteorite showers the past few days on the news but didn’t pay too much attention to them. I guess they’re supposed to be really beautiful.”

  “BEAUTIFUL?” I shouted. “They’re not beautiful, they’re horrible! Meteorites are hitting all over, mostly around California I guess, at least that’s what they said on TV. Pleeeese tell me you and mom aren’t anywhere near there right now. Thousands are dead Dad, and we’re scared. Can’t you just fly home?” I pleaded as I tried to maintain calm sitting, then standing, and then fidgeting with everything in the kitchen waiting for his answer.

  “Take a breath and calm down Addie. Denver first, then we’ll try to catch the next flight back,” my Dad promised as if there wasn’t a doubt in the world they’d be home tonight. “Listen, no matter what happens, make sure you keep your brothers and sisters safe and stay together until we get there. You’re the oldest and we’re depending on you. We know you can do it honey, just stay strong and remember - family sticks together!” my Dad emphasized. “We’ll be home tonight!”

  “I won’t let you down!” I replied confidently, remembering sheepishly that only this morning I was lectured on how I should be more responsible after having overslept at my friend Sky’s house.

  “Good! Your mom and I will be fine, just keep everyone safe until —” My dad’s voice suddenly trailed off and the phone connection cut in and out.

  “Until what? Dad...Dad?” I frantically urged, “DAD!”

  “HOLD ON ELIZABETH!” I heard my dad’s muffled voice yelling to my mother through the phone speaker, “I THINK THE PLANE’S BEEN HIT—WE’RE GOING DOWN!”

  “DAD!” I shouted in desperation, my cell phone pressed tightly to my ear.

  “PULL YOUR BUCKLE TIGHT LIZZY! GOT IT? WHERE’D MY PHONE GO? THE KIDS! WHERE? I CAN’T . . .”

  “DAD! MOM!” I shouted again and again but the connection was lost for good this time and I stood paralyzed in fear imagining my parents plummeting to their death somewhere over Colorado.

  Recovering after a momentary lapse, I dropped the fruit shaped fridge magnets I was holding, scattering them across the floor. Frantically I tried to call my Dad back to no avail, and then I tried my Mom, then my best friend Mayumi. But no matter whom I called, “No Service” recordings were all I heard. It was as if the world suddenly went silent.

  “This piece of shit is worthless!” I slammed my smart phone down in frustration on the kitchen table not caring if I cracked the screen. Tears threatened to spill over my eyes as I furiously tried to blink them away. I stood scared and my body trembled in shock, my Dad’s last words echoing in my head, we’re depending on you, and I felt the weight of the world thrust onto my shoulders and this time there was no stopping the tears. What is going on! Mom and Dad, are they dead? I couldn’t keep that thought from my mind. What is with the sudden meteor showers? What’s wrong with the world? Trying my best to not think of the worst but how to stay strong and keep that promise to my dad, I took a deep breath and slowly began to
recollect myself. I cannot let my brothers and sisters know, at least not until I was sure. No need to worry them. Right? Right – Keep it together Addie, you can do this! I began willing myself to be courageous, repeating positive mantras I’d learned in my beginners’ yoga class only a week earlier at the local rec. center.

  Without warning a second even louder explosion rocked our house causing me to latch onto the kitchen table to keep steady while our house shook like we were in the middle of a massive earthquake.

  I glanced over at Ethan and Arthur who were still on the front porch but now gripping the porch railings to stay standing while scanning the area for the impact site. Their gaze followed a large cloud of smoke that stretched across the sky which aligned perfectly with our neighbor’s rooftops in the distance.

  “Did you see that Arthur?” Ethan, my youngest brother asked in a quivering voice, “Are we going to die like those people on TV?”

  Arthur stood in disbelief not sure how to answer him before yelling for all of us to come take a look. Soon all five of us stood and watched as more meteorites whistled and zipped by, followed closely by smoke streaks. Some meteorites disappeared after bright flashes and small pop-like explosions, but the larger ones hit, striking our neighborhood with thunderous explosions, causing swirls of fire and devastation in their path.

  “This is not good!” I murmured loudly, my head swiveling left and right, as smoke streaks streamed wildly throughout the sky like a fireworks display gone crazy. “The meteorites are not all burning up in the atmosphere and the storm is definitely getting worse!”

  “Why aren’t they burning up?” Ethan asked wild-eyed looking into the sky in fear, yet somehow mesmerized by the sheer wonder of it all.