Rise of the Ghost Girl: Book 3 of Miracle Flowers

By Kristi Hurley

Freedom, liberty, and justice for all. All things of the past in the society implemented by the Federation of United Loyalists and the system imposed by the Compass Party hierarchy. Sadly, no remnants of the United States exist since the last 70 years. The Ghost Girl, Miracle Flowers, hidden from the rest of the world for 17 years, now out of the shadows and unknowingly leading a revolution among a community of misfits. Now labeled a fugitive and a criminal by the government, the General and those beneath him lead a search for the Ghost Girl. No one is safe. There is nowhere to hide…or is there?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781329916043

Book preview

Rise of the Ghost Girl: Book 3 of Miracle Flowers

Rise of the Ghost Girl

Book 3 of Miracle Flowers

By Kristi Hurley

Copyright 2016

All Rights Reserved

ISBN 978-1-329-91604-3

Author website:  www.kristihurley.com

Book cover credit:  www.kayladawnphoto.com

*****

This story is for anyone who values life, but it is also for everyone that questions the value of their own.

Dedicated to Mom and Dad

Thank you for believing in me and for inspiring me to believe and to dream.

Chapter One

The phone echoed in the large tomb-like office until a man’s gruff voice growled with, This is General Stone.  It was quiet while he listened to the other voice at the end of the line.  That is a problem.  Send it to me.  I’ll take care of it.  Click.  Almost instantly papers ejected from a machine.  A series of still photos, an article not yet disclosed to the public: A breach at the Compass Founder’s Monument Building.  A breach, the first one known in nearly 70 years since the death of a nation and a birth of another:  The Federation of United Loyalists.

The man with the chiseled chin turned his monitor on showing the video surveillance feed of the breach.  He watched as the video displayed a petite young woman going under a fixed barricade made of a golden rope and walking directly to the museum piece grand piano.  She moved without fear or hesitation, ignoring the signs, the surveillance cameras, and the officer behind the frosted glass partition.  Then she did what no one had ever done before.  Turning the volume up on the speaker, he watched intently at what she did next.  She sat at the golden bench and played the Patriot’s Song.  The General slammed the papers on the marble top desk with such force causing the officer in the next room to peek his head in the door.

Is something wrong, Sir? he asked with wide eyes from behind his thick glasses.

Is something wrong! What do you think? the graveled voice spewed.  But before the man could give his reply he continued,  We have to find this girl.  He examined the photo, turning it from every angle.  She’s dangerous.

The man’s features revealed no emotion.  His face had long been set in stone with paths of deep vertical crevices where frowns had once traversed his face.  If the man had ever smiled, there was no evidence of that now.  Even the furrows on his forehead and brow were lasting reminders of a demanding life.  Demands as a result of his own doing and that of his position as a leader of the Compass Party.  He had to be sure to make examples out of other people to avoid his commander making an example out of him.  His motto: Do unto others before they do unto you.

The man behind the glasses said nothing, contemplating his commander’s fierceness, even questioning as to why a seemingly harmless girl could be dangerous, yet he wouldn’t dare voice his thoughts.    He watched as General Stone examined each of the papers.  Finally, with a little courage he asked, What did she do, Sir?

The General asked, "Do you know the Patriot’s Song?"

Yes, Sir.  I mean, in the Academy we were taught it was never to be sung or played.  Only a traitor would.  That’s how I know it.

"She’s a traitor.  She played the Patriot’s Song…at the Compass Founder’s Monument Building, said the General, as he replayed the news feed for the officer.  And you, he said as he stood to his feet and looked down at the officer shorter than him, are going to find her.  I don’t care how.  Just do it.  And report back to me in 24 hours.  Study the video feed and memorize every detail of these photos."

Yes, Sir, he said as the General dismissed him.  And then he thought to himself as he exited the man’s office, Why me? 

General Stone was a hard one to make happy.  No one could please him.  The young officer wondered if possibly he might be the first to accomplish both.

After the officer disappeared from his sight, the General reached for the phone again.  This time he placed the call.  Stone here.  Do you have anything more for me on that fifty acre land acquisition?  Silence.  Why not?  I gave that to you days ago.  Stop wasting time!  More silence.  No more excuses!  I want results!  The General slammed the phone down, just as he had with the papers.

*****

The girl watched her mom leave every morning since that day she told her about her real birth.  She didn’t know why.  Each day that her mom drove away for work the girl became more curious as to what it was like where she was going to.  She knew she shouldn’t do it, but one morning she sneaked into the car and stowed away in the back hatch without the dog noticing.  Her mom had no idea she was there.  She huddled in a ball underneath a coat unnoticed by her mom.  The car went faster once it was on the busy road.  She heard cars on both sides of her.  Her mom slowed to a stop and opened her window and talked to someone in a glass booth.  There was an exchange of some kind and then her mom sped up and into traffic again. 

Anticipation.  Dread.   Excitement.  Fear.  The girl felt all of those things at once.  Her heart raced as if keeping up to the speed of the car and the traffic that she could hear all around her.  She listened as her mom parked the car and collected her duffle bag from the back seat.  She wasn’t sure how long she was in the car while she waited until her mom was out of sight, but once she was able to see where she was she had no idea where she was or how to get back.

All of a sudden she panicked.  She hadn’t thought of how her actions would affect her brothers and sisters.  They depended on her.  They could sleep later with her gone, but how long could she be gone before they would notice?  Not long, she was sure.  With that revelation, horror gripped her.  Now how would she get home?  She couldn’t.  She didn’t know where home was.

Looking around her, the girl had no sense of direction.  She followed the arrows to the exit sign and walked cautiously into a new world.  That’s exactly what it was, at least to her.  People in fancy clothes, or uniforms.  Flags on buildings with a symbol of a compass, only the compass was broken.  There was one direction at each arrow.  North. They all said north.  Signs with the slogan:  One Direction.  One Destiny.  What kind of place was this?

She tried to blend in with the people in the fancy clothes.  Wearing a knee length cloak with her homemade clothes on underneath, she looked nothing like them.  Would they notice her?  Gawking and straining to see as much as she could, she found herself looking up at the tall buildings.  They hadn’t seemed so monstrous from far off. Right now they loomed over her.  She felt like Jack at the bottom of the giant bean stalk.

Stopping to notice a grand piano displayed elegantly behind glass in what looked like a grand ballroom with cathedral ceilings and cascading chandeliers, she daydreamed as she opened the door and went in.  She had never played on anything so beautiful or seen anything like it.  There was a heavy looking gold chain around it attached to marble-like pedestals that stood from the floor.  No one was around, or so she thought.

She sat on the bench and positioned her fingers delicately and closed her eyes.  Taking a breath she began to play a piece her nanna had taught her.  When she opened her eyes there was a large circle of people around her.  They stared in silence.  Soon a uniformed man broke through the outer circle.  Hey, you there!  And then another young man close to her age took her by the arm running and guiding her out a nearby door.  He didn’t say anything until they were outside and blending in with the crowd.  They stepped into a breezeway.

Who are you?  Here.  We’ll be safe here.  There are no cameras to pick us up, and we can sneak away to my car.  Stop and catch your breath.  He just looked at her and repeated.  Who are you anyway?

I’m not supposed to be here, she said breathlessly.  I need to get back home."

And where is home?

I…don’t know.

He started to speak and shook his head.  Do you know how much trouble you could be in?  No one is allowed to play that song, and most people don’t even know it.  Where did you learn it?

You ask too many questions.

I deserve to know.  I could be in just as much trouble as you if we’re caught.

Caught doing what?  What have I done wrong?  Can you please help me get home? she pleaded.

I thought you said you didn’t know where home was.

I don’t.  I can find my mother’s car though.

Why don’t you just ride home with her then? he asked.

She doesn’t know I’m here.  I have to get back home…I have chores to do.  She almost said more but she caught herself.  She couldn’t let him know about her brothers and sisters.

He stared at the girl.  She could tell he wanted to ask more questions.  Probably questions she didn’t want to answer or maybe some that she couldn’t answer.

When he finally lifted his gaze he said, I can look at the GPS and see where ‘home’ is.  What about your papers?

What papers?  she asked, and then she remembered the papers her mom had once showed her.  She spoke again before he could.  I guess I forgot them, she fibbed.  She never made a habit to lie.  She felt horrible as soon as the words left her lips.  She looked at him quizzically.  She had no idea what a GPS was, but she didn’t want to divulge how completely ignorant she was.

You lead the way to your mom’s car, he said, but stay away from the cameras.

Cameras?

Yes.  They’re all around.  Those bubbles up there, he said pointing up to a building.  Eyes are everywhere.

They finally made it back to the building that the girl’s mom’s car was parked in and found B-30.  She opened the door she had gotten out from.  The young man scooted next to her.  His eyes scanned the big room full of cars as if he was looking for something or someone. 

Security guards patrol this garage regularly.  Be my eyes.  Tell me if someone is coming.

She nodded.  Okay.  She watched as he pushed some buttons and then a map appeared on the glass pane next to the steering wheel.

Okay.  I got what I needed.  That was the easy part.  Now we have to get back to my car.

Will that be hard?  She asked.

It wouldn’t be if we weren’t being searched for.  We’ll have to look over our shoulders the whole way.  He looked oddly at her and said, Here.  Wear my jacket.  You’ll blend in better that way.

He took off his jacket and held it up for the girl, every bit a gentleman, as she inserted her stubby arms into the elongated sleeves.  He reached into one of the pockets.  Here.  Put this on too.

It was a hat, yellow and black like the flag on the buildings, and with the symbol of the broken compass too.  She didn’t ask why.  She just did as he said.

Hold my hand, he ordered.

What?  Why?

Just do it.

She didn’t say anything.  Instead, again she just did what he said.

Look at me.

She looked at him.

Good. Keep doing that like we’re having a conversation, but look beyond me and around me.  Tell me if you see a man like the one that was chasing us.  And I’ll do the same.

Okay.

They walked briskly hand in hand swinging their arms to the rhythm of their strides.

So why aren’t you in school?  He asked.

Why aren’t you? she answered with the same question.

He grinned and slowed his pace making eye contact with her forgetting he was supposed to be looking around her and not at her.

Don’t look, but there’s a projection screen above you with breaking news and with a ticker tape describing you.  And there’s a still picture of you at the piano.  This isn’t good.  He sighed.  What have I got myself into?

None of what he had just said made any sense to the girl except the part, this isn’t

good.

I’m sorry, she cried.  I’m sorry for everything.  All she could think of at that point was her brothers and sisters waking up and not finding her and being confused and afraid. The next thought that crossed her mind was knowing what kind of jeopardy she could be putting her mom in, or her family for that matter.

Don’t be scared.  Everything’s going to be fine.

The girl just nodded, wanting so much to believe him.

My car is parked up the next street.  We’re almost there.

She hadn’t realized how tightly she was still holding his hand.  She still didn’t speak. She just watched everyone and everything around her with cautious eyes.  Five more minutes and they were there.  Where he had parked was different than where her mom had parked.  His car was on the street, not in a building with lights.

See, we made it, he said with a reassuring smile.  He let go of her hand.

She hadn’t realized it but she hadn’t spoken since she apologized to him and noticed that her words sounded more like quivering sounds.

She smiled back and finally said, Thank you.

You’re welcome, he said.  Where did you learn to play the piano like that?

My nanna.  She’s gone now.  She and Pappy both.  It’s just me and…  she stopped.  She couldn’t make mention of her brothers and sisters.

I know how it is, I think.  It’s just me and my dad.  My sister moved away to another precinct after my mom passed away.  We don’t hear from her at all.

He put the girl’s address into his GPS and started the car up.  Immediately voices came from all directions.  She heard the words, One Direction. One Destiny.  The future is now.

She jumped and said, What’s that?

It’s just the radio.  I can turn if off if you want.

No, it’s alright.  She stared out the window looking at all the sights that she hadn’t been able to see while buried under a coat in her mom’s car.

You’re different, he said.  I don’t mean that bad either.  I mean good.  You seem so…innocent.

Why do I feel so guilty then?

That’s what I mean.  What have you done that’s so wrong?

"I should never have left without my mom knowing.  And you should be the one

telling me what I did wrong.  Why was that man chasing me?"

You really don’t know?

The girl just shook her head.

"That piano was never meant to be played.  It’s a museum piece from early this century owned by the founding father, and I use that term loosely, of the Compass Party.  And that song.  That song is a rebel song.  It was composed before the death of U.S. patriotism."

You know about that?

He nodded.  I wear the Compass Party symbol on my hat and on my coat, but not in my heart.

She smiled inwardly.  She just wished she could tell her mom there really were others like them with knowledge of the past.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the young man turned the radio up to hear the announcer break in giving a cryptic report of the girl’s rendition of the Patriot’s Song and the ensuing chase and that they were looking for a young woman, and then he gave a fairly accurate description of the girl.

If I had been caught, what would have happened to me?  She asked not really wanting to know the answer.

You would have been arrested and interrogated.

And what would have happened to you?

I would have been arrested and interrogated too.

Why did you help me? She asked.  She had been taught not to trust anyone.

My dad taught me to always do the right thing, he answered matter-of-factly.

What happens next?  When will they stop looking for me?

"You mean us? I don’t know.  The picture I saw on the screen wasn’t clear of either of us.  If we managed to stay out of camera range from that point on, I’d say there’s a good chance we’re safe."

You really think so? she asked, wanting to believe him.

I do.

A wave of relief settled over the girl. 

You can stop here, she said finally recognizing the road to her house.  She remembered what it looked like from the many days she looked toward the city from the tree line at the edge of her mother’s property, the place she was never allowed beyond.  There were fifty acres of their own, and on all sides of them was unimproved land owned by the Compass Party.

I can take you all the way--

No.  You’ve done more than I could have asked of you.  I’ll be fine from here.  Thank you.  It was nice meeting you.

"It was nice meeting you, and a bit adventurous.  But I don’t even know your name."

It’s better that way.

Not even a first name?

"Milagro," the girl gave him her name in Spanish so as to still keep a little anonymity. With that she got out of the car and disappeared through the trees.

She ran through the thick brush until she came to the crest of the hill and then sprinted the rest of the way to the house.  Peeking in the windows she could tell the kitchen was empty.  Quietly and stealthily she crept up to her bedroom window and crawled in.  After her Nanna and Pappy passed away, she moved into their room which had a trellis outside that she could easily climb.  She couldn’t risk making an entrance from the front or back door unless she had her chore clothes on and ready to get dirty in the animal pens.  She wasn’t sure how long she had been gone until she saw the clock on her night stand. It wasn’t as long as it felt, but an hour and a half was still too long.

She entered the hallway to see her brothers and sisters already up.  She had expected that.  It was after their normal breakfast time.  Rachel and Hannah were getting dressed in their room.  The boys weren’t in their room, but as soon as they noticed her, their relief was evident.

Where have you been? signed Gabriel.

Nowhere, she lied.  She felt her heart turn to stone.  She didn’t like it.

*****

The girl’s transgressions were many that day.  Here was another one to add to