Undone: Dawn of Deception, #2

By A. R. Shaw

Sometimes 
you just have 
to fight. 

Read how author A. R. Shaw delivers another far too plausible post-apocalyptic scenario challenging human survival. 

* Though she prepared, her most precious commodity is taken from her. 
* With pure will, Sloane Delaney finds a way to fight back. 
* Kent finds, despite his lack of skills, he'll do anything to save those he's come to love. 
* Wren lives through a horror no one imagined. 

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"Starts off with a bang and continues with nonstop action to an unbelievable ending!"

"AR Shaw is a master storyteller. This series is a must read!"

"Best of class post-apocalyptic writing." - mhavelka

"End of the seat intensity!" - tjgwin

"Write faster please."

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A. R. Shaw's books are recommended for fans of A. G. Riddle, Winter World, Michael Crichton, A Case of Need, Douglas E. Richards, Split Second, Steven Konkoly, Hot Zone, James Rollins, The Seventh Plague, Stephen King, The Stand, Justin Cronin, The Passage, Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven, Jean Hegland, Into the Forest, Pierce Brown, Red Rising and Nora Roberts, Year One, Matthew Mather, CyberStorm.

Start the journey. 
Get your copy today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Keyboardmine
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393037859

A. R. Shaw

USA Today bestselling author, A. R. Shaw, served in the United States Air Force Reserves as a Communications Radio Operator. She began publishing her works in the fall of 2013 with her debut novel, The China Pandemic. With over 15 titles to her name, she continues the journey from her home in the Pacific Northwest alongside her loyal tabby cats, Henry and Hazel and a house full of books.

Book preview

1

Sloane

W hat happened? Wren yelled through the torrent, turning to her mother with frightened eyes. Her dark hair was plastered to the sides of her face in ringlets, drenched, dripping down the wavy locks like a decorative rain chain.

Keep moving, Wren, Sloan implored her daughter, out of breath and out of patience.

Wait! We have to go back for them.

We will. I’m not leaving them.

Her oldest daughter stopped again, abruptly, right in the middle of their escape path.

Wren, keep moving. They’re right behind us.

No, Mom! We have to go back!

This is not the time to challenge me, Wren. Move, or I will drag you myself. This is the plan. They will meet us there. If they don’t show up…we go to plan B.

More than just the rain marred the river streams down Wren’s face.

This is the way we planned our escape in this contingency. Kent knows this. In an emergency…this is the plan, Wren. As she said the words it felt as if she was trying to convince herself as much as her daughter.

Wren opened her mouth to say something. Sloane predicted the pending protest by the way she’d set her dark eyes on her…that distasteful…I hate you, Mother look. She’d grown accustomed to the expression too much lately. Even during the apocalypse, the mother/daughter struggle continued. Why wasn’t there a reprieve during the end of the world? Give me a freaking break, Wren. Now is a good time to do what I say. Sloane got ready to say those words when suddenly a loud bang interrupted her thought process and as a reaction, she grabbed her despondent daughter and threw her to the sodden forest ground, shielding her child with her own body.

Where did that come from? Wren said.

Not the time, Wren.

But that shot sounded like it came from the cabin.

Sloane didn’t hear the last words. She heard nothing now. In a crouch, she pushed Wren behind a large evergreen tree trunk, one with deep crevices between the chestnut rivers.

Wren spoke words, but Sloane no longer heard her daughter. Pinning Wren’s left shoulder against the tree trunk to keep her there, she peeked around the neighboring ferns back the way they’d come. No other shots were heard. Besides her daughter’s babbling, there were no other noises. Even the birds and insects suddenly gave way to silence. No one followed them that she detected.

Mom!

Sloane’s eyes darted around in a three-sixty. If they headed south, the beach access exposed them too much. Going north meant a long upward hike, but if they hiked around and skirted the old house they’d make the contingent meet-up safe house faster. Problem was, the shots came from that location. What if Kent and the little girls were caught? Please, please, let them make it. Maybe it was a warning shot? Coast is clear? No, that wasn’t even his gun.

Mom! Wren yelled and that’s when Sloane suddenly found herself, shortly after, supporting her own weight on her ass and elbows after Wren had shoved her by the shoulders away from her. She forgot Wren had ten pounds and two inches on her own slight frame now.

Wren’s expression told her what she was thinking: Oh crap…what have I done?

Don’t…you…ever! Sloane began to say, but another shot rang out and this time bark flew from the side of the tree where her daughter’s head leaned. A high-pitched ringing was all she heard.

In one unconscious move, Sloane threw herself from her position, grabbed Wren by the jacket and shoved her in front of her at a run.

This time, Wren didn’t say anything. She didn’t look back. She didn’t complain or protest. Apparently rounds fired near her head were a great motivator.

Sloane noted the complied reaction with a warped sense of humor. No amount of yelling, reasoning, compromising, but bullets…yep, bullets seemed to get her daughter’s attention.

This was what Sloane thought as her daughter held her head down, running through the damp forest with her mother’s tethered grip upon her. Sloane’s right hand held the Glock from the side harness on her thigh. She held the weapon out with demon eyes, watching behind them as they escaped through the forested landscape passing at a green blur. Someone had spotted them. Someone had shot near her daughter. Someone would pay.

2

Kent

S ee, if you step on the moss, your feet only whisper, Nicole mused as her sneakers sought the next hairy green bed.

Just avoid the twigs, Mae said. It’s crazy how everything is growing back so quickly after the tsunami destroyed it all.

It’s a little-known fact that moss is actually troll poo…watch where you put your hands, Kent said as both girls went, Eww…

Proud of himself, Kent reached for another wet fallen branch to add to the stack already in his arms. This stuff would take forever to dry out. Hairy troll poo grew on everything, even the downed dead stuff. The girls chattered nearby, contemplating the validity of his words. He’d never had children of his own, but his heart pulled when he thought of the three girls. In such a short time, he and Sloane had become closer than any other relationship he’d dared to try in the past. As a doctor, he knew the desire he felt for her was a survival mechanism. A biological thing…procreate in a time of crisis kind of thing. Sloane couldn’t have more children, but he didn’t mind trying anyway. Even the mere mention of her in his unconscious mind made his body jerk in longing for her naked body next to his.

Blah…let’s get going, girls. I’ve got enough for the smoke signal tonight. Grab your piles, let’s head b…

He turned with his arms full and froze suddenly.

Wha… Mae began to say when he struggled with the load and held up a hand, suddenly cutting her off.

Bending down, he carefully laid the logs on the ground without making much sound and backed up into the tree line where the girls stood with wide eyes, in fear of moving.

He reached for their small hands in his trembling palms and led them quietly, like mice, farther into the deep thicket, hoping for dusky shadows to hide all traces.

The men below were invading their sanctuary. Crouching with weapons out. Extra loaded magazines affixed to their belts. One spoke softly into the side of his shoulder as they’d kicked open the cabin door. The others silently wide-stepped a perimeter, slicing the pie around the building’s corners.

Something in his chest pounded out of control, so much, he feared the slamming sound might expose their location. Sloane and Wren? They were farther west looking for those mushrooms that sometimes grew near the trunks of trees. The ones they sautéed in canola oil with salt…the pretend butter. They’d follow the plan. That’s what Sloane would do. She was stronger that way. That’s what she’d expect him to do, too. Then suddenly rounds were fired, exploding the silence near their cabin below. The sound was so deafening he and the girls crouched to the ground in reaction.

He turned his head to see the valley and watched as Ace ran like hell toward Cannon Beach. One of the soldiers, raised his rifle again, trailing a second aim at the dog.

No, no, no...run, Ace!

An arm appeared then, from the cabin doorway, and pushed the threat away.

Ace was long gone.

Kent cared less now about the silent getaway and pulled the girls hastily up the forested embankment and deeper into darkness.

When we get there…she and Wren will be waiting.

But half a mile of hills and dales of the forest floor another shot rang out, and this time Kent knew instinctively it wasn’t Ace they were shooting at.

3

Sloane

Abee sting hit the back of Sloane’s left calf muscle. She knew it wasn’t a bee sting, but that’s what the bite felt like as she sucked in a quick breath. Later, she wondered why she’d never heard the shots that pulled her down. Wren, run! she yelled but a second bullet hit her in the upper thigh, spilling her to the ground. Her outstretched hands hit the ground in front of her. Her left palm skinned and buckled over a tree root on the ground. From her right hand, her Glock flew a few feet in front of her. Scrambling for the weapon, despite the sharp pain, she watched the back of Wren’s muted flannel shirt fade in the distance and heard pounding steps descending upon her.

Don’t even think about it, the man’s voice said as she lay on her stomach, her arms outstretched. She looked away from her daughter in hopes of keeping her safe. Hoping they didn’t see Wren at all. She flipped over to further incite their attention away from her escaping daughter.

Why? she yelled with her eyes wide. Then…she suddenly understood. As soon as her eyes landed on him…that sadistic smile, all the questions of who was behind their pursuit were answered.

Their arms and weapons jumped slightly. Put your hands behind your back. Now!

Lieutenant Hyde. She had to spit out his name. Something about the man she’d encountered on Horseshoe Drive all those long months ago turned her stomach. She thought they were free…she thought wrong.

Without a word of greeting he nodded to another soldier aiming a rifle at her head. The soldier flipped the rifle around suddenly like a baton and slammed the stock end into the side of her temple.

Darkness and stars caved in her vision. She could fight the men. There was no fighting the dark depths, but before Sloane lost all vestiges of consciousness a nearby handheld radio flickered to life with static.

A hoarse voice shouted over a familiar voice’s screams. Tell Hyde I’ve got the girl.

4

Kent

The loud shot hit him in the gut like a sledgehammer. Sloane. The reverberating echoes of the second explosion barely registered in his mind.

What’s going on? Mae whispered…always the inquisitive one. It’s been hours since we saw them.

I don’t know but we have to stick to the plan. Come on, he said and continued to pull, coax and drag Nicole and Mae through the wet forest.

Wren…was the second shot for her? Unlike Sloane, he didn’t think so, but who was he kidding? They might both be dead right now. Getting the littles to safety was his only mission now. That’s what Sloane would want him to do. Then, later…he’d find out what happened to Sloane and Wren, but not before. First, get the littles to safety.

The sun, having nearly abandoned them to dusk, left barely any light when he heard a sound crashing through the brush. They sank immediately to their knees. The damp cold seeped in through blooming circles at the knees in their denim jeans and they had at least another hour to go through the dark.

Nicole’s hand shook in his. Her entire slight frame wracked with uncontrollable shivers.

Then the eyes appeared, glowing, and the brush moved as if something beelined toward them in the dead of night, only it was mere early evening. The sudden musky, damp odor relaxed him instead of alarmed him, though. It was Ace coming to greet them, through the woods.

Hi there, you mangy mutt. Why aren’t you with Sloane? Kent said as the wet dog brushed up against him, furry wet tail slapping against his thigh. Kent ran his hands over the dog’s fur quickly, instinctively, checking him out for injuries. Finding nothing in the dark, relief washed over him. One less family member to worry about. He was Sloane’s dog. Everyone knew that. He usually followed her around everywhere, constantly by her side. He wasn’t exactly jealous of Ace but he resented the dog’s connection to her somehow. The only other male in the family and he chose Sloane as his alpha. Just didn’t seem right to him.

Where’s Mom and Wren? Mae demanded and stopped in her tracks as if she wasn’t going to take another step without knowing the status of her mother and sister. Right then. Right there.

I…I don’t know yet, Mae. We have to keep going to the safe house. We’ll find them, once I get you two to safety. Don’t worry.

Though he said the words, in his heart he feared at least for Sloane’s safety. The connection they shared made him feel the dread deep into his soul. Had the soldiers near their cabin been the FEMA soldiers from months ago that bothered Sloane in her old neighborhood hideout? He didn’t know. There were no insignias on their various uniforms. He looked back from the crested hill toward the way they’d come. The Madrona trees stood out against the deepening violet sky like warped prison bars. Where were they?

Were those the bad men that smoked us out of the house? Nicole asked.

I don’t know. Did either of you recognize them?

They both shook their heads.

I didn’t ever see them, Mae said.

It’s possible they’re militia or just marauders going from house to house looking for supplies or both.

They tried to shoot Ace, Nicole pointed out. They’re bad men.

Kent didn’t want to scare the girls, but he had to agree, they weren’t good men, no matter who they were.

Let’s get out of here, Kent said, It’s not much farther to Foley Creek.

Ace led the way, brambling through the brush like a dog on a bird hunt.

How did they find us? I thought we were hidden here, Mae said.

Let’s keep our voices down. It doesn’t matter how they found us. Old utility records maybe, he said, unconsciously shaking his head. Getting to our meet-up place is our mission now.

Wish they’d leave us alone, Nicole said.

He agreed but knew in his heart they would not. Evildoing was something man didn’t live without for long. A natural disaster might sequester the demon within for a time but eventually greed began again.

In another hour’s time, he carried Nicole’s wet, shaking body in his arms and dragged Mae by his side, up to the safe house steps through the forest rain. His heart sank at the sight. She wasn’t here. Neither Sloane nor Wren ever made their way to the safe haven. He knew this in his heart but still hoped his suspicions weren’t true. He didn’t feel her presence anywhere. No signs of them along their path increased the dread in his soul.

Wait, Mae. I’m not sure those old stairs will hold my weight and yours at the same time. Here, Nicole, let me put you down for a moment. I need to make sure it’s clear, he whispered

Ohh…kay, Nicole chattered as Kent slid her down from his hold next to Mae. Both girls were drenched and exhausted. He needed to get them warm and dry, which meant he had to start a fire. They would succumb to illness again if he didn’t take that risk. Their immune systems were already weakened. The shivering would make things worse since it caused an increase in metabolic rate and taxed the oxygen supply. With Nicole’s damaged lungs it was like making her ride a bicycle through the rain in a storm.

He was going to have to leave them on their own. There was no other way for him to search for the missing ones. And beyond that, he was going to have to take Ace with him…dumb dog would probably get him killed but Ace could track Sloane, or he hoped so.

Creeping up the damp wooden stairs to the tree level house above a garage, Kent used the barrel end of his rifle to unlatch and open the door. There were no signs of previous entry. There were no signs of life at all for that matter. The sparse interior seemed lonely, in fact—sadly out of state. A manmade thing should contain a human soul and yet this place felt cold and discarded. The feeling of abandonment permeated this world. He thought he’d get over in time, but so far that bereft feeling never left him. It hung over buildings, lone stragglers they’d spied in the distance, over sweaty metal swings swaying in the slight breeze. They were mostly gone…and those that remained stayed hidden from the others. Abandoned vehicles, office buildings, highways—it was all over…with only a few that hid in the shadows, too afraid to come out in the light of