Epilogue

A new journey has just begun:

“What are you doing?” Dust asked in exasperation.

“What does it look like?” Sammy said, dropping her duffle bag to the floor and adjusting the bow and full quiver of arrows on her shoulder.

“Dust, Josie says I’m getting better! I can start helping you more,” Todd said, snapping his fingers.

Dust’s lips twitched when he saw the sparks that flashed—for an instant. Todd was better alright, new and improved! The green crystals had not only healed him, they had Changed him as well. Margery and a group of scientists were hoping to study the properties contained in the fragments that he had in his pocket.

“You still have a ways to go before you become a master marshmallow roaster,” Josie said with a grin, dropping her duffle bag next to Sammy’s.

“I thought we had agreed that all of you were going to stay here,” Dust mumbled.

Josie raised an eyebrow and looked at Sammy with a questioning expression. “I don’t remember ever agreeing to that, do you?” she asked.

Sammy shook her head. “Nope, I don’t remember saying we were staying,” she agreed.

Dust looked at both of the girls with a frown. “It’s going to be dangerous,” he tried to reason with them.

Josie wiggled her flaming fingers. “Fire girl here. I’m like a pyromaniac’s dream date,” she said with a sardonic smile.

Sammy lifted her bow up. “I make Hawkeye look like a rookie,” she replied.

Dust gave Sammy a look that said ‘Really?! A superhero put-down?’ Sammy and Josie snickered at his disbelieving expression. He decided to focus on how dangerous it would be for Todd.

“Todd…,” Dust began again.

“I’m on fire just like Josie!” Todd announced, waving his hand.

Unfortunately, a tiny fireball launched from his hand, flew across the room, and landed in the trash can next to the door. In seconds, flames leaped up when the contents inside caught fire. Dust started toward the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall, but his uncle beat him to it. Dan put out the fire and set the extinguisher down on the floor next to the trash can and its smoking contents.

“I see your aim is getting better,” Dan chuckled.

“Uncle Dan, they won’t listen to me,” Dust mumbled in defeat.

“Daciana is part of our family. We have just as much right to make sure she is alright as you do,” Sammy pointed out.

Dan nodded. “I wish all of you would stay, but I know that you won’t. You will always have a home here with us,” he agreed.

“We’ve outfitted one of the Humvees for you. It will be able to handle the difficult terrain you’ll encounter. I’ve also given you enough supplies to help you until you can find more,” Margery added, stepping into the room and wiggling her nose.

Dust saw her glance at the trash can, then at Todd. She winked at the young boy. Todd beamed in response. Dust didn’t know if the world was going to be able to handle Josie and her new mini-me.

“Did you add marshmallows?” Josie inquired with a hopeful expression.

Margery chuckled. “Of course,” she answered with another wink.

“Oh, boy. Can I try to make them this time, Josie?” Todd begged.

Dust listened as Margery ushered the two women, Todd, and their baggage out of the room. He sensed that his uncle wanted to talk to him again before they left.

In the three weeks since they had merged the residents of Asylum with those who lived outside, there had been a lot of work to do. The first was to build trust between the brainwashed residents and those who were different. Next, would be the horrific task of identifying, saying goodbye, and burying those who had been in the morgue.

Many of the men remembered Dust’s uncle from his years of military service. Their cooperation was making the transition between the two groups a little easier. Troyfield’s wife and daughter had not been as accepting. They had transferred to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. While not completely isolated from those who were different, they felt safer there than they did remaining in Asylum.

“Do you have any idea where to start your search?” Dan asked.

Dust looked out of the window. Over the mountains, he could see the green fog rolling in. He had found a satchel that Daciana left behind, and he’d read through the documents inside. There were several research complexes mentioned in them with a map showing their location. One was in New Mexico. They would work their way south. If they were lucky, they would find clues to where Daciana had gone.

“Yes, south,” he replied.

He could feel his uncle studying him. Dust shifted self-consciously from one foot to the other. He hated goodbyes. He had planned to get up early and leave before anyone knew what he was doing. Instead, he found his aunt organizing a vehicle for him, Josie stuffing items in the back, and Sammy and Todd teasing Josie to stay away from the canisters of diesel several men were strapping to the roof of the Humvee.

“Your parents would have been proud of you, Dust,” Dan said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Your aunt and I sure certainly are.”

Dust looked up at his uncle and realized that this was just as hard on the other man as it was on him. He reached out and embraced his uncle. For a moment, he closed his eyes and imagined it was his dad.

I love you, Dad. I know you are here with me. I know you always will be, he silently shared.

He opened his eyes and pulled back. His uncle wiped at the corner of his eye. Dust didn’t bother to hide the tears in his own eyes. His dad had always told him that real men do cry, and they are never ashamed when they do because there is always a good reason. His uncle chuckled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders when they heard Todd’s excited exclamation, Josie’s laughter, and Sammy threatening to carry a fire extinguisher with her at all times.

“Something tells me you are going to have a lively adventure,” Dan remarked.

“Yes, I think you are right,” Dust sighed.

“I claim the driver’s seat,” Josie chortled. “I’ve always wanted to drive one of these bad boys. The Fast and Furious has nothing on me behind the wheel.”

Dust quickly gave his aunt a hug before climbing onto the backseat next to Sammy. Todd was riding shotgun. He half-suspected that Josie had started the Humvee knowing that he didn’t want a long, drawn-out goodbye. With a wave to his aunt and uncle, Josie pressed on the clutch, pressed the gas pedal, and ground the gears, causing everyone to wince.

“I got this. It isn’t much different than driving the old school bus,” Josie announced with a quick wave out the window. “Clutch and shift. Clutch and shift.”

“The Fast and the Furious, huh, Josie?” Sammy teased.

Dust cleared his throat. “Ah, Josie, I think this is an automatic. You pressed the parking brake and put it in low gear,” Dust informed her.

“I knew that,” Josie said with a shake of her head as she released the brake and put the Humvee into drive.

Dust grinned and sat back as the Humvee rolled out of the compound. His grin grew when Sammy reach across the seat and cupped his hand in hers. He threaded his fingers through hers.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Dust turned and looked at her with a questioning expression. “For what?”

“For keeping your promise,” she replied in a soft voice.

Dust squeezed her fingers. “We’re family. A mixed up, unusual one, but… still family,” he promised.

His eyes met Josie’s in the rearview mirror. She gave him a rueful smile. Todd chatted up a storm, excited about all the things he was going to be able to do on the trip, the things that Josie was going to teach him, and, how they were going to find Daciana and make her understand that family doesn’t leave family, and well…

Lots of really cool things including having the time to think about what really fell from the sky—and who sent it, Dust thought as he turned and looked out of the window toward the rolling green fog that appeared to be following them.

To be continued:

Dust Storms

The storms are growing—and so is Dust’s determination to uncover more details about the green crystals that are growing inside his mind. They aren’t the only mystery in this world, though. Daciana’s search has led her to a dangerous area where only the chosen are allowed to live.

When the answers to all of their questions intersect, Dust’s unique family once again refuses to back down from the storm that is building.

Coming Soon!

In the meantime, there are other worlds to explore!

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About the Author

S.E. Smith is an internationally acclaimed, New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away.