Prologue

The prologue of my new novel

One moment, Colbie Caillat was playing on the radio, the next it was the infuriatingly loud test alarm one would hear for the ‘severe weather alert’ during a bad storm, which almost never happened in Phoenix, Arizona; the place that may as well be a desert.

Skylar Mckarthey switched the station absent-mindedly as she leaned up against the back of her seat, the air conditioning blasting out of the vents. She was on her way home from school. It was the last week before graduation and she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life or which college she was to apply. The few seconds of ‘Rock 103’ was interrupted by the same enduring distress signal. Irritated, Skylar flicked the channel once more, muttering under her breath. This time a woman’s voice broke sporadically through the ongoing static, “A disease founded 5 months ago has begun to spread. . . currently unstable in the country of . . . no current knowledge of  a cure . . . country’s airlines have been postponed . . . scientists are bewildered at the virus’ growth . . . 800,000 newly reported deaths and still rising.” Skylar turned off the radio as she pulled into the driveway, the engine groaning as she pulled out the key and stepped out of the black SUV.  She stepped inside the two-story house that would normally have been empty on any other Monday through Friday. This week their father had given up his business calls to another coworker who apparently needed the extra hours, and Jake’s friends had left for a week to go Mountain hiking.

Skylar walked into the kitchen and retrieved a granola bar from the pantry and a glass of water. The silence of the house had started to dwell on her, “Dad?” She called out. �"Nothing. “Jake �"anyone home?” She tried again, shifting her weight against the counter-top on which she leaned. She sighed in slight agitation, wasn’t this supposed to be the time they actually got to be a ‘real family’ as her dad had called it?

Skylar sat up from against the granite, tossing the wrapper into the trashcan as she walked by and rounded the corner to run up the newly restored wooden stairs.

“Oh, hey Sky.” Jake said as he halted to a stop to avoid colliding into his sister. He was about to go out to wash his car, which was a chore long overdue.

Skylar looked at him, her green eyes glowing in obvious annoyance. “Didn’t you hear me call you?”

Jake nodded and stepped by her, “Yep.” He said with a curt smile, heading for the front door.

Skylar decided to forget to acknowledge the reply, “Wait, where is dad?” She asked after him.

Jake shrugged and turned to face her at the doorway, “I dunno.” He replied quickly as he turned on a heel and shut the door behind him.

Skylar puffed a piece of hair from her face and dismissed her climb up the stairs. She turned around and headed for the den, plopping down onto the leather sofa. She grabbed the remote and turned on the T.V. The FOX news was on, probably remnants of dad’s late night T.V session. She flipped through the channels, “What is wrong with the signal?” she griped as each channel turned the television’s monitor blue. A long wail erupted from the speakers.  There it was again, that alarm. Skylar finally succumbed to curiosity and changed it back to the news, which seemed to be the only station currently available.

A newswoman sat at a desk, looking through a pair of bifocals as she read from a stack of paper laid out before her. “I have never seen anything like this. It is as if the virus knows we are preparing. With each ‘cure’ we have tested, there is always a change in its DNA. It always seems to be one step ahead of our medical examinations. This virus appears to rely on physical contact and contamination from insects; that is the key to the distribution of this disease. This particular virus obviously has a very broad host range to be capable of killing off so many victims in such a little amount of time. Its structure is very complex, ranging from multiple tail structures, to spindle, teardrop, and hooked rod bodies. It is very atypical and we are still trying to decipher the DNA to give us a better idea of its morphology. Any word of a cure is unrevealed at the moment.  The only advice I can give citizens right now is to stay indoors and avoid any physical contact with strangers.” The newswoman shuffled the sheets of paper in her hands, focusing her attention to the camera. “That was from Dr. Shardiss.  More information of this disease and how to avoid contamination is coming up after a few words on the subject from Mr. Gerald E. Frankford.”

“More over-dramatic, political nonsense?” A familiar, gruff voice spoke from behind.

Skylar turned to meet her dad’s gaze as he set some bags down on the kitchen counter in the other room. She shrugged slightly, “Where have you been?”

Mark Mckarthey, father and mother of both Jake and Skylar, started to unveil the food from the bags, “Grocery shopping. You wanna sign up for the next shift?”

“Aheh, no thanks.” Skylar muttered, walking over, “What’s this whole ‘virus outbreak’ thing? Have you heard about it?”

Mark grunted, “I think just about everyone on this Earth has.  Lord knows they haven’t quit talking about it since December.” He replied. “Help me put these groceries away.”

Skylar nodded and started to help by putting a container of chocolate-covered prunes in the cupboard, one of her dad’s favorite treats.

“Where’s Jake?” He asked.

Skylar did not respond, she was too busy listening to the sound that echoed in the air, faint, like a growing heart-beat, drub, drub, drub, drub. She walked over to the dining room adjacent to the kitchen. She parted the slats of the blinds and looked up to the sky. A large helicopter was making a descent, onto their street. Helicopters flew in and out often around Phoenix, there was always something going on; this didn’t look like any ‘breaking news’ report or any usual medical transport landing on the avenue.

 A chorus of marching boots ricocheted from the smooth pavement of the street as a phalanx of soldiers strode down the road. Four men broke apart at each house they came across, each armed with heavy-duty machinery.

Skylar watched as four men strode across their lawn towards the driveway where Jake stood, a towel in hand, finishing the job on his car.

Jake took a step back as two branched off in his direction.

One of them took a step forward, “As an under-aged citizen you have not only a right but an order to remain silent. You’ll need to come with us for examination along with anyone inside the living-quarters.”

Jake backed up against his car, “What is going on?”

“Silence! It is our given direction that you come without contradiction immediately.” The other officer snapped, cocking the gun onto his shoulder.

Jake glared, “The hell I will if you don’t tell me what’s�"“

The soldier dove swiftly towards Jake, striking the butt of his gun into the side of his head while the other proceeded to take his arm and half drag him across the lawn towards the house.

Skylar backed away from the window, “Dad�"” she breathed, but he was already watching over her shoulder. A large thud from the right on the front door made her flinch.

Mark put a hand on his daughter’s shoulder, urging her back.

The door creaked in protest as another pound caused the pictures along the walls to tremor.

“Anyone inside the house comes out now or we will use force!” A voice announced.

Skylar waited for her father to answer, but he made no move towards the entrance.

A long moment went by before a large crash was heard as the front door splintered down the middle and caved inwards to the ground. Three figures darted inside, their boots clanging heavily against the wooden floors.

“Over here!” One shouted as he approached, already flanked by his squad.

Mark finally stepped forwards, “What are you doing here?” He demanded, standing defensively in front of his daughter.

“We’ve been ordered to evacuate all houses outside of Phoenix for screening.” One tall man answered without vacillation. “And that is an order.”

Mark’s jaw flexed in thought and he glanced over to Skylar, “Come over here sweetheart.” He said, his hand gesturing for her to approach.

Normally, Skylar would have protested about being called ‘sweetheart’, but seeing as there were armed men twice her mass in her own house made it seem a little less imperative.

She stepped forwards up to her father, sending a heedful glance out of the front doorframe where the fourth soldier stood holding Jake firmly.

A man stepped forwards to grab Mark’s arm but he shrugged it off. The man grimaced and lined the barrel of the gun to his back and nudged him forwards towards the door. “214 clear- Let’s move!”

Skylar followed close behind, chills running up her spine, causing the hair on the back of her neck to rise. She shared Jake’s silence as they half jogged/half ran to the helicopter, their dad keeping to himself at the front. She was scared; she didn’t know what to expect, but whatever this was, it wasn’t going to end anytime soon…

Author's Note

Still working on third person