VANISH - Preview #2

Vanish begins on Wattpad June 5th

[Note: Below is part of the first chapter of my upcoming serialized story Vanish, titled “Episode 1: The Day the Sky Caught Fire.” Please note some elements of this chapter are subject to change before publication. Thank you!]

A preview of my upcoming serialized, post-apocalyptic story Vanish.

Description

June 5th, 2023: The Day the Sky Caught Fire

Alex Wright awakens to a crashing sound and the smell of smoke. The 14-year-old peeks out his bedroom window, discovering an explosion has disrupted the quiet of his small Massachusetts town. His little brother, Miles, is afraid, but not just because of the ever-spreading fire. Airplanes are dipping low in the sky. More blasts are erupting in the distance. Their parents are nowhere to be found.

It doesn't take long for Alex to realize an unexplainable event has befallen the world. Everyone under the age of 5 and over the age of 16 has disappeared, leaving only their clothing behind. Panic rocks the town as alliances are formed, tyrants take power, and children young and old are forced to adapt to a world that grows more unforgiving with each passing day.

Then: A fireball. A helicopter wreckage. An injured stranger who speaks of a secret bunker in Washington, D.C. that could sustain hundreds of people for decades. Most in Alex's community think it's a pipe dream. But if it means keeping his little brother safe and alive, Alex is willing to risk everything.

A group of 14 survivors, including Alex, leave the comfort of their community. All are willing to bet their lives on the words of a dying man who fell from the sky. Will they find sanctuary in the unknown of the capital? Or will the horrors of the world beyond their town destroy their dream of a better life?

***

From “Episode 1: The Day the Sky Caught Fire”

Bang bang bang!

Alex jumped. His phone fell to his bedroom floor, hitting the rug with a thud. He dashed out of his room, rushing down the staircase as he yelled for his little brother. “Miles!? Everything okay!?”

“Someone’s at the door!” Miles ran by the bottom of the staircase. He was making a dash for the front door.

Alex couldn’t keep his panic from bursting out in one loud, angry shout: “Don’t answer it!”

Miles gasped and paused. His head twisted like an owl’s, his eyes big and brown as he watched Alex run down the stairs. For the first time this morning, Miles looked worried. Alex felt a pang in his chest for scaring him. But it was better that he was scared than he open the door to face the unknown.

Bang bang bang!

The loud knocking again. At the bottom of the staircase, Alex paused. Turning left, there was the open space of the living room, right between him and the front door. He crept over with slow, cautious steps. A cycle of possibilities began playing in his head. He could try and peek out from the living room windows on his right, but they were big, wide panes of glass. If he looked out there, then he’d be giving himself away. But if he answered the door, he’d still reveal he was in the house. And if he didn’t answer the door, whoever was on the other side of it might break in.

“Why’d you stop?” Miles’ whisper from behind him.

Alex shook his head. He had to keep it together. Crouching a bit, he took a few more cautious steps toward the door. Fine. He would look out the living room window. If someone was really trying to break in, then they’d need time to do so. Time Alex and Miles could take to run out into the backyard, open up the gate to the driveway, and skedaddle. The plan made sense in Alex’s mind. So, he took a few more steps toward the living room windows—

“Is someone there!?”

The muffled shout from behind the door made Alex stand up. There was a familiar tinge to the voice, even if it sounded less calm now than the first time he’d heard it. He strode over to the door. Miles whispered something, maybe a question about who was at the door, maybe echoing a warning not to open it. Alex wasn’t paying attention. He needed answers. And maybe, just maybe, their new neighbor could provide some.

Alex opened the door.

***

Thank you for reading part of “Episode 1: The Day the Sky Caught Fire.”

Vanish will begin on Wattpad on June 5th, 2023. New chapters will be released Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings.

You can find my Wattpad profile by clicking here. Follow to be notified when new chapters of Vanish are posted.