Touch of Evil: Part 1- The Twins, Road to Pripyat

By Nathan Johnson

Touch of Evil, Part 1 is about twin girls who have special powers, due to the Chernobyl accident, battling one another for world dominance. Which will prevail, good or evil? You'll have to read to find out! :)

• Language: English
• Publisher: createspace.com
• Release date: Feb 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781484966785

Nathan Johnson

Nathan Johnson's was born Sept. 2, 1971, in Irving, TX. He grew up in Cedar Hill, TX and graduated from Cedar Hill High School. While there, he became interested in writing. He graduated in 1991 from Cedar Hill High School. He finished writing "The Rebel" in November 1991. After seven years of writing as a hobby, he took a break and focused on his education and career. He recieved an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Mountain View College in May 2000. In Aug. 2001, he started working for Immigration & Naturalization service (Later Department of Homeland Security), where he's currently employed. His passion was always present and after several years of employment, he resumed his favorite past time. In Jun. 2011, he self-publshed "The Rebel through Createspace.com and later smashwords.com. For the next two years, he began writing another novel called "Touch of Evil, Part 1." It was published through createspace.com and smashwords.com in June and July 2013, respectively. Shortly after, Tate Publishing decided to publish a manuscript of "The Rebel" he'd submitted. "The Rebel" was released through Tate Publishing on Jan. 7, 2014. He's currently working on "Touch of Evil Part 2."

Book preview

Chapter 1

April 1986

Pripyat, U.S.S.R.

It was a typical spring in Pripyat, a town in northern present-day Ukraine that had a population of 49,300. Organized in 1970, it housed mostly employees from the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was considered one of the modern cities in Russia. The average age was 26. Residents were completely unaware of the looming danger. Christopher &Shawna Merchins were stationed there during the Cold War. He was to be transferred to Las Vegas, NV in May. He’d been in the military for two years. He met Shawna shortly after joining. She was from Washington, DC. They were married a year and a half when she became pregnant with twin girls due in August. They named them Zeina and Zoey. This was supposed to have been a happy time in their lives, but the situation changed. It was Apr. 25, 1986 and after this, their lives, as millions of others, would never be the same.

Chernobyl- Apr. 26, 1986 1:23am (Russian Time)

On Apr.26, 1986, at 1:23am Russian time, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s reactor four exploded, dispersing large quantities of radiation into the sky. Chris mentioned hearing some type of pop, but went back to sleep. When they awoke at 7am, they notice smoke coming out of the reactor. Like everyone else in Pripyat, they had no clue that most of the air they were breathing had 700,000 times more radiation than normal. The next day, they were forced to leave, spending their last week overseas in Kiev. They had no idea how much danger they were in. All they could do was wait and hope for the best. The worst nuclear meltdown in the history had just happened. They thought they got out in time, but like many others, did not.

One week later, they touched down on American soil. At the last minute, Chris’ assignment changed from Las Vegas, NV to Dallas, TX. They settled in May 1986 to the suburb of Cedar Hill. This was quite a change since they’d never lived in a big city, but they soon adjusted. Besides, they knew Cedar Hill was an excellent place to raise their girls. Shortly after arriving, a concerned Shawna went to the doctor. With the exception of being the most active babies the doctor had seen, they were fine. Chris and Shawna were also tested for radiation. They too were fine.

The top story for weeks was the Chernobyl accident and its effects on the USSR. Places as far west as the UK and Western Europe were covered by a massive cloud of radiation. The government lied to them about the radiation levels and was recruiting people to do cleanup around the damaged reactor. First, they contained the fire and kept the contamination from further polluting the air, and stopped the flow of water the firemen used to put out the fire. If they let it go water would react with the Cesium 137 and cause an explosion many times stronger than the initial one. Finally, they built a casing over the damaged reactor containing the radiation already exposed. This process took a few months to complete. This was The Sarcophagus. It’s important to mention if that big explosion happened, all of Europe would’ve more than likely been uninhabitable!

This was very difficult for the Merchins because Pripyat could not support human life for generations. Moreover, they’d never see their friends again. However, they quickly adapted to life in Cedar Hill, making many friends through the church and community. The summer of 1986 was one of the best summers of their lives and the joy was even greater come August when twins, Zeina, and Zoey were born.

Chapter 2

Cedar Hill, TX

The Birth- August 4, 1986- Zeina & Zoey Merchins

Monday, Aug. 4, 1986 was a day that lived forever in the hearts of the world. Zeina and Zoey Merchins were born to Christopher & Shawna Merchins. Zeina arrived first at 8:04am and Zoey arrived six minutes later at 8:10. They were born at Charleton Hospital in Dallas. Zeina weighed 7 lbs., 8 ounces and Zoey weighed 7 lbs., 2 ounces, which was an amazing size for twins. The only cause doctors concluded was radiation exposure. Otherwise, they were very normal .Zoey came into the world screaming, while Zeina had a normal calm cry. A few days later, they went home.

Average Family

The Merchins were a very normal family and enjoyed the company of Shawna’s sister Roberta (Bertie) Jones. Bertie was the oldest of six children. Because she was 20 years older, she was more like Shawna’s mother. They settled in Cedar Hill in July 1973. They had a son, Harold, who was 14 when the twins were born. He was very close to Zeina & Zoey from the beginning, especially Zeina. Bertie’s husband’s name was Joe Jones. They were married August 1967. The Merchins’ were very active in church & made friends very quickly. After church, the Merchins’ and the Jones’ got together, had lunch, and visited while Harold played with Zeina & Zoey. Life was grand! However, all good things come to an end.

Radiation

In February 1988, Chris came home from work, complaining of pain in his stomach, head and back. It was so bad he could barely move. At first he thought he was working too hard and it would pass. It didn’t and went to the doctor. After several tests the results were not good. The radiation exposure was taking its toll on his body. There was little the doctor could do. In March he retired from the Air Force on disability. Throughout 1988, his condition steadily worsened. It was then they discovered Zeina & Zoey’s special powers. When he had pain, either of them could put their hands on his body and temporarily soothe it. So far, Shawna and the twins seemed fine. However, in November, with Chris on his deathbed, Shawna had similar symptoms. She went to the doctor in December and was told she had the same thing, except she experienced less radiation, meaning slower progression.

No more life as we know it

By January 1989, Chris was seriously ill. He called Shawna, Joe, Bertie, Harold and the girls to discuss the order of the will.

Chris: Shawna, I want you to call Bertie and Joe over so we can go over my last will and testament. This is very important because I don’t have much time.

Shawna: Oh honey, don’t talk like that. I want you to stay around until the girls are old enough to know what they want to do.

Chris: Now you know that’s not going to happen. I can barely get out of bed and it takes everything you have to take care of me. No, we have to get Joe & Bertie over here to discuss the girls’ future after we’re gone.

Shawna (Sighing): I know. We have to tell them. The girls aren’t old enough to fully understand, but it’s inevitable.

Chris: I think they already know. It’s so obvious.

Shawna: Yeah, guess I might as well call them and get them over.

The following weekend, the reading and the implication of the will took place with Joe, Bertie, Shawna and the girls.

Chris: All, I have something very important to discuss. Of course, Shawna will be the primary caretaker after I’m gone. As long as she’s of sound mind as I am now, she’ll be in charge of all decisions about what happens with the house, its contents and most importantly, the girls. After she’s gone, Bertie and Joe will take the girls and raise them. I have to make it as simple as possible so there will be a smooth transition. How does this set with you?

Shawna: I always knew we’d have to do this, but not this soon. It’s the way it has to be. I know God will call us home soon and I know He has a very special purpose for us.

Chris: "Yes, we both know that. It’s much earlier than I wanted to go but you and I both know we’re not to stay here forever. It’s God’s will and I accept that. Joe; Bertie; is this okay with you?

Joe: It sounds like you trust us with your beautiful daughters. You have my word I’ll take great care of them. We both love them so much and would love to have them.

Bertie: Absolutely. I think it’s great y’all have chosen us to be caretakers. They are very lovely and intelligent girls and Harold loves them so much too. Besides, he’s 17 now and he can help us with them.

Chris: Great! I’m so happy it’s settled. I just wish Shawna and I could stick around to see them grow, but I really believe God will be ready for us soon. The only problem now is we don’t have the girl’s opinion yet. Zeina, would you like to live with Uncle Joe & Aunt Bertie?

Zeina: Yes.

Chris: Zoey, would you like to live with Uncle Joe & Aunt Bertie?

Zoey: Well, yes!

Chris: You’re quite sure, aren’t you Zoey? Well then, it’s settled.

Shawna: I’m sure glad that’s done, but for now girls, you’re with us.

Sunday, Feb. 26, 1989- Dad dies

Christopher Merchins (Apr. 4, 1956-Feb. 26, 1989).It was a dark, dreary and cold morning when Chris Merchins passed away in his sleep at 8:14 am. He died peacefully with his wife Shawna and the twins by his side. He was 32 years old. His obituary simply read, He was a great father, son, and served his country to full capacity and was another unfortunate victim of Chernobyl. He was laid to rest on Wednesday, Mar. 1, at Little Bethel Cemetery with full military honors. After the service, Shawna had a brief conversation with Zeina/Zoey.

Shawna: Girls, could you come here please. I have something I need to tell you.

Zeina/Zoey (unison): What is it, mommy?"

Shawna: I need you to know that I love you very much and I’m going to try and do as much as I can for you, but I need you to help me as much as you can. I know you’re not yet three years old, but there are little things you can do. Do you know what I mean?

Zeina/Zoey (Unison): Yes.

Shawna: That’s good. I just want you to know that and to tell you I love you.

Zeina/Zoey: We love you too mommy. We’re going to miss daddy so much.

Shawna: I know you will. He loved you both very much.

Zeina/Zoey: We know.

For the remainder of 1989 without the stress of taking care of Chris, Shawna’s condition improved almost immediately. She occasionally needed help from Zeina & Zoey but that was no problem because they were already wise beyond their years. They already showed signs of remarkable strength, even able to roll and move things to accommodate their ailing mother. For the most part, Shawna got around well but was in a slow, steady decline. Toward the end of the year, she was in a wheelchair but made do. They spent Christmas at Uncle Joe and Aunt Bertie’s north of town. It was a rough one without Chris, but they managed quite nicely. It was one of the coldest winters on record in Dallas. Two days before Christmas the temperature was -8. This reminded Shawna of winter in Pripyat. Joe & Bertie constantly joked with them about bringing the winter with them even though they’d been gone almost four years!

By the summer of 1990, Shawna was in bad shape. The twins turned four on Aug. 4. Shawna was almost bedridden. In the fall, Bertie moved in with Shawna and the twins had to take care of them. The doctor predicted she had about a year to live. Zeina & Zoey were far too young and small to help with moving of their mother from the bed to the wheelchair. She was still of sound mind and called all the shots but that

was all she could do. By the fall of 1990 and the winter of 1991, Shawna was in grave condition. Zeina/Zoey moved in with Aunt Bertie and Uncle Joe in March. Hospice took over in late April. The end was near. On May 29, Shawna was heartbroken that she couldn’t attend Harold’s high school graduation, but he came to visit and she wished him well. She had less than a month to live.

Friday, Jun. 28, 1991- Mom Dies

Shawna Merchins (March 5, 1958-Jun. 28, 1991). It was a humid, dreary and rainy afternoon when Shawna Merchins passed away at 3:27 pm. with Joe, Bertie, Harold and the girls by her side. How could it be? The girls weren’t even five years old yet and they were orphaned. She was only 33 years old. Her obituary simply said Wife of Christopher Merchins, served their country in full capacity, retired to Texas and had a wonderful life together.

Zeina &Zoey were never the same after this, but they did better than expected. They knew their parents loved them with all their hearts and knew they’d receive