Survival of the Fittest: The Last Hope for the Human Race

By Michael Taylor

One night, seven teenagers wake completely alone and in the dark. Their parents are gone, and it seems everyone on earth has disappeared as well. Worse, the electricity is off. Surrounded by darkness, their differences no longer matter; they are the sole survivors of an alien attack and the last hope for humanity. But in the black of night, can they outrun the hulking creatures with the glowing red eyes?

Priya is the exotic girl who says what she thinks. Will was a star athlete before the attack. They find Trevor and Aiyana, the twins; Alex and Ricardo, the tough guys; and finally, Lindsey, the innocent. Together, the seven of them are the last humans on earthbut are they really humans at all? They have no idea that the government has known of the incoming alien attack for decades; to prepare they created special children with very special abilities.

The chosen seven are part alien and part human, and they exist to fight off the otherworldly forces, threatening to conquer the planet. But with such differing personalities, will the seven be able to put their pride be-hind and work together? They must move beyond the grief of lost friends and family and find the strength to go on; if they dont, the world will die, taken over by monstrous creatures that can smell your fear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462060979

Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor is Professor Emeritus of Transport Planning at the University of South Australia. Author or editor of eight transportation books, Dr. Taylor is a leading pioneer in transportation network vulnerability analysis.

Book preview

PART 1

The Inner World Beginning

Chapter 1:

One Shared Moment

She pulled herself to her feet. She was weak, confused, and, from what she could figure, alone. She brushed her long, dark bangs from her face. The texture of her hair seemed odd to her—almost crusty, like something had dried there. Her surroundings were familiar; she was in her home. She knew it was dark outside because the lights lit up the living room. They flickered a few times before going off and leaving her in total darkness. She struggled to find her voice, but her throat was too dry; she needed water. She stumbled through the pitch black rooms, found her way to the kitchen, snagged the glass next to the sink, and opened the faucet. The cup slipped from her grasp, and the thick plastic thudded against the stainless steel. Her hand fumbled to retrieve the cup, but her need for water was so great that she lowered her head under the tap and drank. The cool water ran over her face and into her mouth. She swallowed furiously; the water soothed her parched throat. Mom, she croaked. Mom, where are you?

Lindsey Sutton was utterly alone. There was no response from her mother, and no response would ever come. At fifteen years old, the teenager was virtually an orphan. She searched throughout the house, but no one was there. Her heart raced as she walked through the rooms. The realization of being alone created terror in her mind. She had never been alone, at least not since her dad had passed away three years earlier in a car accident. Her mother had made it a rule that Lindsey would never be far from her side at any moment except during the hours she was in school.

Panicked by her solitude, she went to the one place she felt the greatest comfort—her mother’s bed. She climbed up, pulled the covers around her body, and curled into a fetal position. Uncontrollable tears gushed from her eyes. Within a few moments, she had cried herself to sleep. The weakness she was feeling had consumed her and forced her eyes shut. Her last thought before drifting off was, Mom.

***

Alex Anderson and Ricardo Martinez were known to be troublemakers, and they had never feared anything or anyone until that very moment. Their hearts sprinted, and their eyes widened—a strange silence formed between them as they swung their heads back and forth, hoping to find someone anywhere nearby.

When they stopped, they stared at each other. One shook his head, and the other shrugged his shoulders.

What the heck? How did we get here? Ricardo asked, continuing to take in his surroundings.

They remained motionless, each holding up his hand to signal the other to be still. A hope was raised in their minds that they would hear something—a car moving, a dog barking—but they could not even hear the sound of the wind. Leaves on the trees didn’t rustle. It was the eerie silence that caused their fear to intensify.

Ricardo motioned for Alex to follow him as they made their way through the park. They stopped by the restrooms, where there was enough light to see each other and, though neither admitted it, to ease some of the fright they were feeling. What the heck is going on? Ricardo said. I don’t remember coming here.

Alex, his head still swinging to try to spy anything around them, replied, I don’t know. This is screwed up, man. I mean, like, I was just at home a few minutes ago, but now I’m here.

Ricardo nodded nervously. Where is everyone? How late is it?

Jesus, Ricardo, I have no friggin’ idea, Alex said. This is so majorly messed up. There’s no one around. I mean, hey, look, there isn’t a car moving. That’s just not right. Something is up.

We need to get out of here, Ricardo said as he started to walk toward Sycamore Avenue. We’ll go to my house. He had no sooner finished his statement than the boys heard a loud pop, a click, and then complete silence and darkness. He reached out and put the palm of his hand on Alex’s chest to stop him. He whispered, This is really messed up. We’ve got to get out of here.

***

There was nothing out of the ordinary. She had experienced the feeling of being alone before, or trapped with her twin brother. She stared at him as he slept on the couch and shook her head in disgust. Such a lazy little … Her thought trailed off when the lights began to flicker. With another shake of the head in disgust, she said quietly, Dad forgot to pay the electric bill again.

Their mother and father weren’t home much, so Aiyana and Trevor Green had basically raised themselves. The sixteen-year-old twins knew that the only reason their mother and father weren’t around was because each of them worked two full-time jobs. Every time the twins thought of either parent, they would always hear their voices say, We just want you to have everything we didn’t have. We work so much because we love you. Brother and sister both understood and did all they could to live up to any expectations that were set for them. There was nothing the twins wouldn’t do for their mom or dad.

Aiyana checked the front door, just to make sure it was locked. She’d always gone through the same routine when the power was about to go. She walked into the kitchen and made sure the refrigerator and freezer doors were closed. In the utility drawer, right under where the silverware was, she found a lighter in case she needed to light some candles. She quickly made her way back into the living room, sat on the recliner, picked up the remote, and clicked the television on. As soon as a picture formed on the screen, the voice of a newscaster could be heard briefly. The lights flickered a few more times, and then the TV went black and the room followed suit.

Trev? You’ve got to get up now, she said. The lights are out. Aiyana fumbled for the candle on the coffee table. The lighter lit up the room dimly, and she lit the wick. Trev, get your lazy butt off that couch.

What do you want? Trevor was clearly agitated about being awakened.

The lights went out. We don’t have any power.

Trevor rolled over to face his sister. Why are you waking me up for that? This isn’t the first time the power’s gone out.

I know that. It’s just that I don’t want to sit here in the dark all by myself.

Yana, you go to bed every night, it’s dark, and you’re all by yourself.

Aiyana rolled her eyes. Just shut up and talk to me.

The tone of her voice was unusual, and Trevor could sense it. The two weren’t just similar in looks. They had a deeper connection when it came to their thoughts. Trevor could always read his sister’s fear, so he knew when he had to be the strong one. He knew when he had to be more comforting. It’s nothing, he said. We’re going to be fine. Trevor sat up and rubbed his hands on his thighs. At least it isn’t cold outside, he said. He smiled at her, and the moment she smiled back, he gave a little chuckle. You see there? You know we’ve been through worse than this.

She couldn’t help but chuckle at her brother. You’re right. I’m just being stupid. Still, an ache inside her was telling her there was something more to this darkness. Somewhere in the blackness was something sinister—a menacing terror that she felt but could not see. Her mind was gripped by the fear. She stood up, walked to the couch, and sat next to her brother.

Trevor reached out and hugged Aiyana. The physical connection between the twins relayed even more information to him. He could feel his sister’s horror. He could sense the same feelings Aiyana had about the darkness. It’s going to be okay, he said, trying to sound reassuring. His voice cracked as he spoke because now he wasn’t sure. I’m sure everything will be okay. This time he said it not just to comfort Aiyana but to comfort himself.

***

The cold metal from the fire escape dug into the soft tissue of his cheek. The pain woke him up. He laughed as he rubbed his hand over his face and felt the defined criss-cross pattern embedded in his skin. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep on the fire escape, but he knew it had to have been for quite a while.

Will McKenzie shook his head, his dirty blonde hair whipping through the air, and his fingers moved upward to rake the hair forward onto his face. The bulk of his time was spent either at some sporting practice or just sitting where he was. His dad worked nights, and his mother had been out of the picture for years. To him, there was nothing strange about the evening. It was nice out; he didn’t need a sweatshirt or anything like that. He didn’t see anyone walking on the sidewalk below his fifth-story perch, so he assumed it was pretty late.

He stood up, stretched, and yawned. His next move was to hit the sack. Will glanced down the street and caught a glimpse of someone headed in his direction. Probably a bum, he thought and then added, He’ll probably be in the doorway downstairs in the morning. But as he watched the figure, he noticed the strange way the person moved, with a kind of jerking motion and a faint click as the feet hit the ground. Yep, he said aloud, a bum and drunk too. He’s not only going to sleep in the doorway, but he’ll piss there too. Will laughed, crawled through the window, rolled into his bed, and reached for the light. Before he clicked it off, the lights flickered and went out.

Will sat up and looked out his window, and he saw that the street lights were out too. He dropped back down on the bed, stared at the ceiling for a few moments, and dozed off.

***

Priya Hendi loved the nighttime. For her, sneaking out through her bedroom window was old hat; she’d done it a thousand times. Considered a dark-haired beauty with the blackest eyes, she had just one flaw—insomnia. Normally, she would have taken her meds to fall asleep, but on this night she had forgotten. There was nothing she could do about that now. If she took the meds now, she’d never wake up in time for school. So in typical Priya fashion, she climbed through her window and started to walk.

She knew every inch of town by heart; she’d walked it more times than she could remember. Priya knew the shortcut through the Safeway loading area that only employees would have known about. She knew exactly when the people who were closing Carol’s Diner would leave for the night. Priya had even gotten to know some of the less-than-reputable people who spent most of their evenings on the streets.

There was something about walking at night that she loved. It may have been the fact that her parents never knew what she did, or it could have been the fact that she learned so much about the streets from the strangers with whom she would strike up conversations. As she made her way toward the train tracks, down near the casino area, she began to sense that something was different. There was an odd odor in the air—no breeze, but somehow the air was moving enough to carry the strange scent.

Where she stood, the corner of Front and Lakeview Drives, she suddenly realized that something was very wrong. There were no cars moving, which wasn’t normal because she was so close to the casinos. Traffic was always moving, twenty-four/seven, in this area. She stopped in the middle of the intersection and looked in all directions—no headlights, no taillights, nothing. Priya, unsure what to think, kept moving toward the casinos. Cheri Bomb, a prostitute who made her business headquarters on Livingston Avenue, would come into view soon. Cheri never missed a night of work. Priya always thought that if she had an office job, she probably would have won some kind of award for attendance. She’d laugh to herself because she wasn’t sure if they gave awards like that in the real working world; then she’d think that if Cheri went to high school, she’d get an award for attendance. Priya knew that because she was in the eleventh grade and had gotten attendance awards in ninth and tenth grades.

As she neared the internationally known headquarters of Cheri Bomb, Priya again sensed that something was wrong. There was no Cheri tonight. There was nothing. The neon lights from the casinos were flashing as usual, but there were no cars or foot traffic. There wasn’t even a cab in sight.

Priya realized she had to get back home and had to get there fast. Before she could turn around to head back, though, the streets went dark. A sense of danger filled her body. Goose bumps covered her skin, and the small hairs on the nape of her neck stood up. It was all extremely unusual. She’d never seen a night so dark. The eleventh grader knew there was something seriously wrong with this scenario. Her steps quickened to double time as she walked. Her hearing became more sensitive to any sounds around her. Then she heard it—a click, click, click that seemed to be keeping pace with her. She wanted to turn around, but common sense told her there was something so horrible behind her, something so utterly terrifying, that she needed to remain focused on getting home. Her double time quickened to a trot and then to a full-out sprint. The click, click, click stayed right with her.

Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness; she could see her house up ahead on the next block. Not too much farther to go, she thought. As she darted up the small hill in her front yard to circle around the house, she looked back. There was something there. Whoever it was was following her. Her heart skipped beats as it nearly ripped through her chest. Her fear was greater than anything she’d ever known. She knew she couldn’t stop to climb through the window; she had to find a place to hide.

The follower moved over the dried grass in the yard. Whoever it was began to sniff the air. Priya, hidden behind a row of bushes, couldn’t see the person clearly, but she knew there was something not quite right about it. That’s not a who, she thought. That’s a what. Her mind steamrolled. She tried to remain silent, but even her silence didn’t stop the thing from finding her. Priya watched as it turned in her direction, sniffed the air two more times, and began moving toward her. Sweat ran down her temple and onto her cheek. Her heart beat so fast that she felt as though she would pass out. It moved closer to where she was hiding, and Priya saw its hand fish through the bushes toward her. She screamed as she felt the bony fingers as they snagged the sleeve of her T-shirt. Priya pulled herself free and darted out of the hedge and across the yard, the thing hot on her heels as she ran. She screamed for help as she sprinted down the street, but her screams were in vain.

Chapter 2:

No One Is Alone

There was little movement in the dark night other than Priya, who continued to scream for help as she ran. The thing that followed her home was still behind her, but it was clear by the sounds that there were more than one now. She didn’t know how many were pursuing her, and at the moment she didn’t care as long as someone would hear her calls and come to her aid like Superman.

She turned onto Highland Drive still at full sprint, still calling for help. She was familiar with this particular street but would not have thought to come to this area very often. Unlike the areas near the casinos, this area was heavily trafficked by vagrants and drug dealers. It was a high-crime area filled with five- to seven-story apartment buildings and vacant storefronts.

Her eyes scanned the buildings, looking for any signs of life. The few times she had been in this area, there had always been people in doorways or sitting on fire escapes. Now, as she moved quickly, she couldn’t see anyone. Priya was as alone in this area as she had been near the casinos. Help!

Her cry was heard. The voice was faint, still in the distance, but grew louder. Will shot upright in bed; the desperate cry had woken him from his restless sleep. He lurched forward toward the window, the voice coming closer and closer. He stepped through the window and onto the fire escape. He scanned the streets below but couldn’t see anyone; the power outage he had experienced before he closed his eyes was still going on.

He knew the voice was female. The cry echoed through the darkness, no more than a block away. He searched in the direction of the voice to see if he could spot anything. He did. A figure moved fast; behind it, but not too close, were three more figures. Instinctively, Will knew he had to do whatever he could to help her. He rushed out of his room and down the five-story stairway.

When he reached the dank, musty-smelling lobby, the urgency within him was at its peak. Without thinking, he pulled the building door open and stepped out. The footfalls of the first figure were close, and the calls for help continued. He stepped onto the sidewalk, stopped the girl, and saw a familiar face. What’s wrong? he asked.

We’ve got to get out of here! Run! Priya said, trying to pull Will, but he wouldn’t budge. He took a firm hold of her arm and held onto her. Look, there’s something chasing me, and I don’t think it’s that friendly, Priya said. I don’t know who— she paused to correct herself—or what it is, but I know it’s getting closer.

Will looked back and saw the figures closing in on their location. His only thought was to protect the girl, and where else would be safer than the place where he lived. He threw the door open, dragged Priya in behind him, slammed the door, and locked it. They backed up into the blackness of the lobby and crouched in a small area near the stairway. They shared a fear. Will didn’t know why he was afraid; he only knew that he was. Priya knew why she was afraid, but she didn’t know what she was afraid of.

They can smell us, Priya whispered. Her eyes were like saucers as the figures that had been chasing her stopped on the sidewalk in front of the building and mulled around outside the apartment building door. They’ll find us.

Will watched the figures intently, waving for Priya to be silent. The three things outside seemed lost. They appeared to be wandering aimlessly, their heads lifted upward. Will stood up, and slowly, quietly, he started toward the door.

What are you doing? Priya asked.

Will didn’t look back or respond; his curiosity had gotten the best of him. The movements of the three were familiar to him. His mind flashed back to when he had been on the fire escape. The drunk I saw before I went to bed, he thought. The three figures outside the door were walking just like the bum had been. He studied them as best as he could, but the glass in the window was dirty. Will couldn’t make out any features on the faces, but he thought he had seen a small, bright, red light near the head of one of them. He inched forward, closer to the door. He froze in place as he stared outside. The three beings, still with their heads facing upward and wandering aimlessly in front of the door, was all he could make out. Do you recognize any of them? he whispered to Priya.

She crawled on all fours closer to where Will was standing. Her eyes never lost focus on the three just beyond the door. She squinted and strained her eyes to see who they were, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t make them out. I can’t see them clearly.

As the two watched the three, they could make out noises, faint hisses and groans. The figures had come together, obviously speaking to one another. Will and Priya wished they could hear them, but their sounds were muffled. One of the three pointed toward the door, and the two others pointed down the street in the direction Priya had been running. The hisses and groans became deeper, angrier; their arms still pointed.

Are they going to come in here? Priya asked.

The door’s locked, Will answered. They’ll have to break the glass first. We can get up the stairs into my place before they could get to us. Will wasn’t sure if what he had just said was true. He had no way of knowing if the two stood any chance of outrunning the three outside. He knelt down next to Priya, looked her in the eyes, and waited for her to look at him. Let’s get closer to the stairs just in case. Don’t make a sound, he instructed, and she nodded in agreement.

As they crept backward, they looked toward the door. A tap on the glass had caught their attention. What they saw was something that would never leave their minds. For the first time, they looked into the face of what was hunting Priya. Seeing that image was like being slammed in the head: flashes of red, slow–oozing, wax-like liquid; a dull white; all of it mixed together in a sickening concoction that spun through their minds. Priya mustered every ounce of strength she had not to scream; Will lost his balance and fell backward. Neither could take their eyes off of what was beyond the door. Uncontrollable, fear-filled tears poured from Priya’s eyes, and Will turned and threw up, doing all he could to make no noise in the process while his stomach contracted and forced more bile upward.

Go, he coughed. Get up the stairs! Fifth floor! Panic took over. It was fight or flight, and it was clear that flight had won.

Will and Priya darted up the stairs to take refuge inside Will’s apartment. Before they stepped through the door, both realized that they hadn’t looked back to see what those things had done. They didn’t know if they had crashed through the glass. They didn’t remember hearing any shattering windows, but even if the glass had broken, their hearts were pounding so loudly that neither could have heard anything. Will pulled Priya inside the apartment, locked the door, and immediately went to the window that faced the front of the building. He knew what he was looking for. His enemy had been revealed, but much was still unknown.

For a few moments, he stared downward. His hand motioned for Priya not to move. When Will finally turned around, he sat on the floor and said, They left. They’re going down the street.

What are they?

I don’t know.

Will was still visibly ill; even in the near pitch-black room, Priya could see how pale he was. She crawled toward him and felt his forehead with the back of her hand. How are you feeling? she asked. You got sick back there.

I’m fine, he snapped, his tone more of embarrassment than anything else. I just never saw anything like that before. He tried not to look at the girl he was with. Will knew her. He knew that she knew him. A star athlete shouldn’t be showing that kind of weakness, he thought. He quickly shifted the conversation. Why were they after you?

I don’t know. I was just out for a walk … Priya trailed off when she realized she was about to expose her insomnia to Will. She had always kept it a secret, even from her closest friends. It was an embarrassment to her, something she didn’t want the world to know about.

You were out for a walk? This late? There’s school tomorrow.

Priya didn’t feel as though she needed to explain herself. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at Will. Look, it’s no big deal, she said. I was just out walking. What do you care what time I go for a walk?

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to

Reviews for Survival of the Fittest

[heatherms · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“Survival of the Fittest: The Last Hope for the Human Race” by Michael Taylor is a YA book about seven teenagers who suddenly find out that they have been genetically modified so that they can fight aliens that are intent on claiming the earth for their own. The book opens up with the seven teenagers who suddenly find themselves alone in a world where all other humans seem to have vanished. As they seek each other out, they all come face to face with strange creatures that seem intent on killing them. Will these seven teenagers figure out the puzzle and do what is needed to survive?This story was a fun read. Each of the teenagers had their own distinct personality and the interactions between them were very plausible. The author transports the reader 50 years earlier to explain why the world governments fear an invasion and why the only possible solution to the invasion is to genetically modify children so that they will be able to fight for the human race.This book is for teenager/adult audiences. Teenagers will relate to the characters and adults will relate to the desire to protect our children at any cost. There was never a dull moment and the author ends the book with a cryptic warning that will, hopefully, be explored in a sequel. **This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads. That in no way influenced my review.**