Chimera Skies: Chimera Skies, #1

By Sharlene Healy

Monsters aren't the only ones after me.

 

When my parents are kidnapped on our simple family vacation, my perfectly ordinary life turns upside down. A stranger rescues me and my siblings and takes us deep underground to Bunker 3. It's there we learn about chimeras, monsters that are secretly living among us. Our information comes at a price, though, and we now must remain at Bunker 3.
 

I know I need to find my parents, but Bunker 3 starts to feel like home. I find friends and even a little romance. If these strange nightmares would leave me alone, I know Bunker 3 is a place I could be happy in. Little by little, though, I uncover the truth: monsters aren't the only things lurking in the dark, and Bunker 3 has its fair share of darkness.

 

 

From the back of the book:

 

Sam is an ordinary high school girl on summer vacation with her family when an unusual traffic jam in New York turns into a nightmare with her parents abducted by uniformed officers. With the help of a stranger, Sam and her siblings escape and end up in an underground bunker where their lives are turned upside down. Sam learns her parents have been kidnapped by a secret society of monsters known as Chimeras.

 

Now, Sam must find her parents and learn how to fight these monsters before it's too late. With the help of her siblings and some new friends, Sam is determined not to break. Can she rise to the challenge or will a hidden enemy in the bunker be her undoing?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hailstorm Publishing
• Release date: May 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201083588

Sharlene Healy

Sharlene Healy has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. After many twists and turns, her life road led her to her husband, who encouraged her to participate in NaNoWriMo 2013 while their son was still a baby. She now has four kids and spends most of her time juggling them as best she can. She lives on the West Coast after slowly migrating from Pennsylvania. She loves to read, craft, and generally cause mayhem. She can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and TikTok. If you'd like to discuss her books, join her Facebook Group: Can't Stop Won't Stop Reading or her Discord Channel: Sharlene’s Book Club.

Book preview

Prologue

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Bzz. Bzzz. Bzz.

Fluorescent light. The buzzing was only a fluorescent light. Its flickering illuminated slightly ahead of me and the rest was darkness. I sighed in relief as I turned around, not quite sure where I was. Or how I got there in the first place. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash in the darkness. My head whipped back around. Nothing.

Bzzz. POP. Every single light—about twenty of them—snapped on.

I stumbled back, my sight adjusting to the sudden brightness engulfing me. A sound, a mocking laugh, came from behind. I turned around, body shaking. Their soulless eyes stared back at me. Fear gripped my heart with dark fingers. Countless eyes. Blank, hate-filled eyes. Panic clawed its way through my system. I knew if that single glass barrier broke, those eyes would consume me, devour my soul. Smooth hands would surround my throat, and with no remorse, they would squeeze the very life out of me.

Chapter 1

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The minivan lurched forward and a hard object hit me in the back of my head, waking me from my nap.

Oops, sorry, Sam. I caught a legendary Pokémon, though! said Tom, my younger brother. He was sitting behind me, holding up his Nintendo 3DS for who knows what reason.

Grats, gotta catch ’em all, right? I said as he sat back down, rubbing the sore spot on my head. I watched as the trees swished in and out of view. Tom was racing against Ben to catch the most Pokémon during the car ride, and we had bets on who would win. The competition was heating up as my brothers tried to fill the boring hours in the car with their game. It was another family road trip for the Weeks family to visit our Great-Aunt Lucy in Prince Edward Island. Leaning my head against the window, I thought about all the parties I was missing back home and sighed.

Turning seventeen should have been my ticket out of these trips, but Dad was insistent and explained that June—my twin sister—and I would be at college soon. He believed we would need these memories for comfort. My only consolation was the new book series Mom had bought to entertain me during the long drive. Nothing pleased me more than feeling the weight of the paper pages in my fingers and smelling the unique book scent wafting out of the new, opened cover. Whether the book was brand new or used, each held a new story, a new adventure to experience, and that was my favorite part.

June sat up in her seat and yawned. We haven’t eaten in hours. When are we getting food? she asked.

Mom turned around and glanced at us: her four beautiful children lounging in the back like sloths on a hot summer day. Of course, the weather in the car was chilled, compliments of the finally working air conditioner. We’re still three hours from the hotel, but we’re stopping in an hour to get lunch.

Dad looked in the mirror and joked, But if you’re hungry now, we can pull over for some roadkill. Ain’t nothing like some fresh meat to get the systems goin’.

We all groaned in unison while Mom laughed. We’d been traveling since early Monday morning from Dallas, Texas, where we lived. It was Wednesday, and we had already stopped by Colonial Williamsburg and Philadelphia. Dad and Mom believed in adding educational elements to any trip, but they planned fun activities, as well as the typical visits to museums and historic sites.

The most exciting part of Colonial Williamsburg was the late-night ghost tour around the town. The guides told stories about the ghosts that haunted the town from centuries ago. Ben and Tom claimed they weren’t scared at all, but they jumped and screamed when June hid behind the bathroom door at the hotel and popped out with a BOO! when the tour was over. June and I laughed so hard we almost peed our pants. The next day, we all made the trip to Busch Gardens. Although the sun baked the air, no one had any problem sweating it out in line after line to feel the thrill and rush as we flew down roller coaster tracks. In Philly, we took time to imitate Rocky (like all tourists do) on the steps of the Art Museum and ate authentic cheesesteaks on South Street. The savory meat was incredible and was a perfect match for the cold sweetness of Rita’s water ice. They interspersed the recreational stops with historical and educational stops at Valley Forge Park, the National Constitution Center, and the Liberty Bell.

Family road trips added color to the easy-going, all-too-normal suburban lives of our family. Nothing exciting ever happened to us. Dad was a science professor at a university near home, and Mom wrote and illustrated children’s books. At the insistence of our parents, we were also involved in sports, music, and various clubs at school. No one was ever allowed to sit at home and say the two words Mom dreaded most: I’m bored.

As the car moved forward, the green trees of Pennsylvania waved us toward New York. Before we knew it, Dad was exiting off the highway in search of food. It was Ben’s turn to pick this time, and I hoped he wouldn’t pick another random pizza joint. All that grease from the last time gave me a stomachache so badly I thought I was going to die. Thankfully, he decided he was in the mood for hoagies. We made a stop at a conveniently located Wawa and had fun pressing the buttons to order because gotta have a Wawa. Stretching our legs felt good and improved everyone’s moods enough to face the last bit of the trip. With bellies filled, we all piled back into the deep green minivan.

Forty-five minutes into the drive, I looked up from my book and saw a traffic jam about a mile ahead. Cars were moving bumper to bumper for miles, creeping along at an annoyingly slow pace. We had been in the car for days, and it was tiresome even with all the stops. Although walking to get food was a good break, it wasn’t enough to ease the aches caused by hours in the car. I tried stretching my legs, but there wasn’t much room to do that in a car. The traffic jam would make our aches worse.

Dad, is there any way around that? I asked.

I’m not sure, honey. I can’t see past all these cars, he replied. It must be a lunch hour rush.

As we inched forward, I noticed a blockade in front of all the traffic. Men and women dressed in black and beige camo pants and shirts dyed a hunter green stood blocking the highway. Patches adorned each uniform, the ARMY label clearly visible from where I sat. I dropped my book, startled as I spotted guns and a cement barrier. I had never seen anything like this. My breathing sped up, and June glanced over in concern. When June saw what I was looking at, her face reflected the panic I felt. A tank and several jeeps were lined up across the road, reinforcing the blockade. Men were directing cars off an exit; one by one, cars left the highway and traffic inched forward. Some cars turned around and went back the way they came, while others drove straight into a small rural town to the left.

A tall woman with hard black eyes rapped her knuckles with a commanding force on the window. Dad rolled it down and said, What’s going on, ma’am?

She barely glanced at him before saying, Move off the exit, please. This is an emergency situation.

As soon as we exited the off-ramp, another man knocked on the window. Please head toward the town. This is for your safety.

Who are you guys? Dad asked, hoping to find an answer this time.

U. S. Army. We’re here in response to a national emergency. Please move along.

Dad rolled up his window and slowly headed in the direction the soldier pointed. Another woman was standing by the side of the road leading to the town. The way she stood and surveyed what was happening made it clear she was a leader. She turned to talk to a subordinate, causing her dark green jacket to reveal a patch on the sleeve with three gold stars above it. Dad gasped and gripped the steering wheel so tightly I saw his knuckles whiten. He started whispering to Mom, and I leaned forward to hear what I could.

...And Susan, these men and women are not from our army. Did you see the patch on that woman’s shoulder? It had a picture of a silver wolf biting a snake—some sort of cobra. She’s the only one I see with it, but it’s an image that’s been appearing on documents and no one knows what to make of it. No military branch carries a patch of that design.

He whispered even quieter, and I strained to hear. They’ve been warning us at work.

Mom looked at Dad with a knowing gaze. What do you suggest?

I suggest we turn around and go back the way we came. Whatever is happening here doesn’t feel right, and I don’t want us in the middle of it.

Dad turned the car back toward the highway, exiting the slow train of traffic, headed into town. We barely moved before two troops ran into the middle of the lane, effectively blocking the road. Dad slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the two soldiers and we all jerked forward, our seat belts tightening. One of the soldiers—a man with a tattoo of a mermaid on his neck—ran up to the driver’s side and tapped on the window. Dad rolled down the window.

Turn around. You need to head into town, Mermaid Tattoo commanded.

Dad smiled politely. Thanks, but we need to get back on the highway. We have important appointments that we can’t miss.

Important appointments, huh? said Mermaid Tattoo. This is the army. You’re going to turn back around right now.

I’m sorry, but we have to get going, replied Dad, his tone still calm. He started to roll up his window when Mermaid Tattoo stuck his gun right on top of the glass as it was closing.

Get out right now, said Mermaid Tattoo, moving his gun to aim straight at Dad.

Dad put his hands up before reaching for the window button. Mermaid Tattoo yelled, Out! Now!

Dad quickly unlocked the car and stepped out, keeping his hands up the entire time. My siblings and I started screaming for him until the second soldier yanked open the side door and yelled, Shut up! while pointing his gun at us. A third soldier, seeing the commotion, ran up and opened Mom’s door, pulling her out to stand next to Dad. Mermaid Tattoo kept his gun trained on Mom and Dad while soldier number three forced them into zip-ties. We started screaming again, and a fourth soldier rammed the back window of the car, smashing it to pieces. I curled into a ball, covering the back of my head with my hands, shaking frantically. He aimed his gun at us as well, yelling at us to shut up.

I turned around, frantically searching for Mom and Dad. Mermaid Tattoo was scanning Dad’s hand on some sort of device, and I watched as it turned green. He grinned in triumph and said, We got one.

Dad saw me looking at him. No matter what, stay together. We’re going to be fine.

Mermaid Tattoo hit him on the side of the head with the back of his hand. No one asked you to talk.

He and soldier three forced Mom and Dad into an army jeep off the side of the road. We watched, helpless, as they were driven off onto a dirt path. Unable to comprehend what was happening, tears gushed out of my eyes. Knowledge of a gun barrel right at my head kept me from moving to even wipe them. Ben started to climb forward to the driver’s seat when the remaining soldier pointed the gun at him and told him to stop moving. As he stared down the barrel, Ben’s face flashed with anger, but he made no more movement.

Another woman, this one with a buzz cut, pointed to a soldier standing with a group of soldiers and commanded, Get rid of the children and then take the car to be stripped of its parts.

He smiled maliciously at the woman and proceeded to jump into the car. He looked to be in his early twenties and was wearing the same uniform as the other soldiers. His uniform had a patch like the woman with the buzz cut, with three red stripes and a gold circle surrounding a wolf and snake. He turned around and demanded, Cell phones, hand them to me now.

I thought about not listening, but the pistol in his hand was persuasive, and so was the glare of the woman with the buzz cut. No doubt if we made any sort of move to escape, it would not end well. We handed our phones over and our last hope of getting help disintegrated into dust. The soldier revved up the car and sped off haphazardly down the road opposite of the oncoming traffic. I watched as the town shrunk through the shattered back window, then disappeared, as the soldier took a sharp turn onto another road along the highway.

Tell us where they’re taking our parents, I demanded. My tears were gone, but I still felt panicky. Take us to our parents.

The soldier glanced at me through the mirror and returned to driving. All right, fine. If this is how he wanted it, so be it. If I was going to die, I wasn’t going down without some kind of fight. I nudged June. She looked at me with her eyebrows drawn together and head tilted. I mouthed scream to her, and she opened her eyes wide and nodded in understanding. We were far enough from the other soldiers that we could risk an escape. I opened my mouth wide, drawing in air until my lungs ached, and let out a high-pitched scream, worthy of a banshee. June joined in on the first note. The soldier swerved the car and yelled, Freaking mother of all that’s holy!

He pulled the car over to an underpass and turned the keys in the ignition. You’re lucky I was the one picked to get you. The others would have just shot you already. If you want any information, we’re going to do this my way. My name is Max Peters, and if you want your parents back, if you want to escape in one piece, you’re going to have to do exactly as I say.

Chapter 2

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Max glared at us until we were silent. He opened his mouth again, but a static-filled buzz came from his pocket. He pulled out an old-fashioned black walkie-talkie.

You there?

Max pushed the button and radioed back, Yeah. I’m on my way there, but I have some strays. Their parents were taken. Their dad came up on the scan.

Bring them in, said a voice through the static.

Congratulations, now you guys will get the official intro. Everything will be explained once we get to our destination, Max told us.

How about you tell us now, grumbled Ben.

Max’s face lit up in a grin as he restarted the car. He drove down a lonely dirt path and made a sharp turn onto the soft grass, driving through a slight opening in the trees. I took a sharp breath, sure that the car would get stuck between the trunks. I sighed in relief when the car slid through, branches scratching the surface. There were no buildings or roads in sight, but tall trees in all shades of green rose majestically up from the ground and stretched far into the distance. Wind rustled the leaves while branches bent and swayed as if dancing to a secret song. The wheels of the car crunched, disturbing the still peace of nature. Max brought the car to a stop and turned it off.

We walk from here. Bring your luggage, he said as he jumped out.

Why should we? I said. You work for the ones who kidnapped our parents.

He turned and looked at me straight in the eye. Do you think everyone is always who they say they are? He shrugged. Come or not, but your best chance for survival is with me.

We all looked at each other. Our best chance of finding out what was going on was to follow this guy. With sighs of resignation, we climbed out of the car and followed Max. He led us through some bushes to a small circular field with a lone, majestic tree in the middle. Max walked up to the tree and traced a complicated crisscross pattern onto the bark. In the center of the pattern, a glowing blue panel appeared. He placed his hand on the screen and said, Max Peters, alive and well.

The screen glowed brighter and scanned his hand and a computerized voice answered, Confirmed, entry permitted. June and I looked at each other in shock. Whoever heard of a tree that opened up like that?

The screen sunk in and separated, revealing roughly carved wooden stairs leading downwards. One by one, we entered the tree, and the panel closed behind Tom with a sharp snap.

What happens if you draw it wrong? asked Ben.

You look like an idiot in the forest drawing on a tree. Max laughed.

Max led us into a well-lit hallway with metal walls and concrete floors. I unconsciously shivered, a cold wave of unwelcoming emanating from the bare entrance. The short hallway quickly opened up into a carpeted room that gave the complete opposite feeling of the hallway. Soft couches lined the walls, with fluffy cushions scattered across them. The lighting was bright and welcoming and each wall featured a painting or decoration of some sort, making the room feel as if it were straight out of a magazine. The plush carpet invited you to roll around on it, while the ceiling featured paintings of clouds and stars. A tiny sign near the entry door named it The Lounge.

A woman wearing tight black pants and a black short-sleeved shirt stood in the middle of the room with a group of men. A black leather knife sheath hung at her hip and a gun was holstered over her shoulder, flashy and unapologetic. She bent forward while pointing to a map, a pink headband keeping her hair out of her face.

Max strode up to her and said, Ms. Jane, these are the ones whose parents were taken.

Ms. Jane turned away from her companions to face us and nodded. "Welcome to Bunker 3. I’m Jane Summers, and I’m the one in charge, you could say. You can call me Ms. Jane. All four of you are lucky that one of our few double agents got to you first. You’ll need to be here for a while until we know if those who kidnapped your parents have forgotten about you four. If you wish to stay longer, you will need