The 7th Fire

By Spencer McKinley

THE DYSTOPIAN THRILLER OF 2023 - INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS
"Author Spencer McKinley masterly weaves multiple mysteries into a mesmerizing thriller with her debut novel, The 7th Fire." -MSN NEWS: "THE MUST READ OF THE WEEK."
In 2021 the Canadian Government sent seven scientists to investigate an environmental disaster in the Northwest Territories: all seven advisors vanished. When activist Anne Erickson learns that her sister is one of "The Missing," she journeys to the Canadian wilderness to find her. Anne's investigation leads her to the infamous Northwest Angle, a land haunted by ghost stories, local legends, and mysterious disappearances. Hunted and on the run, can Erickson survive long enough to prevent a global catastrophe?
READERS DIGEST - "The 7th Fire is a complex web of conspiracies and counter-conspiracies that could fuel an entire season of The X-Files."
GOODREADS - "A gripping, chilling story that won't let go until you've reached the final page."

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098377557

Book preview

cover.jpg

www.austenelliot.com

[e-mail]

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people

or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Based on the original screenplay: The 7th Fire, Copyright © 2014 by Spencer

Copyright © 2020 (USA), 2021(Canada) by Spencer

Originally Entitled Lake Ice: The 7th Fire Trilogy

The right of Spencer to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any for or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by the way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Library of congress Cataloging in Publication Data is available

ISBN (Print): 978-1-09837-754-0

ISBN (eBook): 978-1-09837-755-7

The 7th Fire

Spencer

Inspired by True Events

Contents

DAY 1

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

Day 2

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

DAY 3

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

DAY 4

CHAPTER 14

Day 5

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

Day 6

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

DAY 7

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

Acknowledgements

Author Bio

DAY 1

CHAPTER 1

Gracie first encountered the girl on her drive to Kenora. She was late, speeding to her last pickup when she almost hit the teen standing in the icy road. Gracie immediately slammed on the brakes, and the FedEx truck skidded, then stopped in front of the startled girl. Gracie stuck her head out of the window and shouted,

Are you ok? She could see the look of shock in the girl’s eyes. What are you doing out here?

I’m ok. I need a ride. Are you headed North?

The girl was shivering. Gracie noticed that she had a black eye.

What happened to your face, Gracie asked.

I was hiking and slipped near Burke’s Ledge, the girl lied.

You need to go to Urgent Care, Gracie said.

No, I’m ok. Are you headed North? she asked again.

Gracie hesitated. Who was this kid? Why was she on the road?

How far North? Gracie replied.

Land of the Lakes. My friends are camping up there.

Your friends are at the Lake? Are you sure? That entire area is under Lockdown. There’s a military blockade up there. The campgrounds are closed.

My friends are camping near North Lake, the girl repeated.

North Lake? That’s a private reserve. You must be mistaken. No, I’m sorry, I can’t take you up there. The area is under quarantine.

My phone is dead, and I need help. I need a lift. the girl said.

I can call for help, Gracie offered.

But aren’t you headed up North? the girl replied.

Well, yeah....My last pickup is in Kenora...but…..

Isn’t that in the direction of North Lake? the girl asked.

"Yes, but I told you, that entire area is under Lockdown."

Ok. So? Can you give me a ride to Kenora?

Gracie paused; the girl made her nervous.

How old are you? Gracie asked.

Nineteen, the girl replied.

Gracie noticed that the girl’s hands were trembling.

You look a lot younger than that, Gracie said.

I’m nineteen, the girl repeated.

Gracie paused again, then leaned over the passenger seat and opened the glove compartment.

She took out her iPhone.

I can call for help, or you can wait for another car, your choice.

Suddenly, two military jets flew past.

Are those army jets? the girl asked.

"Yes, we’re in the middle of a blockade."

If you can give me a ride to Kenora, I can hitch or walk the rest of the way.

I can’t. I’m sorry. I have an urgent pickup that’s due by four pm. All I can do is call for help.

"Please, can you give me a lift?"

Gracie wavered. The girl was stranded. Damn, she thought.

How long have you been standing out here? Gracie asked.

Almost three hours with no rides or phone service, the girl replied.

The girl held up her phone. Gracie shook her head.

"Well, ok. I am headed that way. I can leave you off in Kenora ."

Ok! the girl perked up, she even smiled.

All right. Get in.

The girl ran up to the FedEx truck, opened the door and hopped inside.

Thanks. I appreciate it. I’m Annie, she said.

***

The vehicle bounced and skidded on the icy road as they drove through the empty town.

Gracie clutched the steering wheel as she maneuvered through the blowing snow that swirled in mists around them. The main street was boarded up; the boats anchored in the Marina.

"What happened here? Annie asked.

The army evacuated the town. The Feds were using it as a base camp.

A base camp? Because of the blockade?

Gracie nodded, yes. A few minutes later, they drove out of the area and headed north into the mountains. After a long beat, Gracie asked her,

So, where are you from?

Minneapolis.

Minneapolis? When did you leave the States?

Two weeks ago.

What about your friends? Have you heard from them?

"Yeah, they texted me yesterday. They’re near North Lake.

That doesn’t make any sense. Gracie replied. The area has been under lockdown since March.

Gracie stared at the girl. Annie’s face was swollen, and her red hair was matted with blood. Annie turned away from her and stared out the window.

Did someone hit you? Gracie asked.

"No, Annie lied.

Then you had quite a fall, Gracie replied.

Annie ignored her.

Tell me the truth. Are you running?

No.

You know, I drive for a living. I’ve seen runaways before.

Really? So, is that what I am? Annie asked.

Gracie hesitated. She wasn’t sure.

I not running away. I’m going camping, Annie said.

Hmmm... You know, I’ve lived near the Lake all my life. My family has a tackle shop in Kenora. I still live in the apartment above the store. I’ve seen all kinds of people on the road. Yet, I’ve never seen a girl your age traveling alone.

Annie shrugged.

Suddenly another military jet flew past. Spooked, Gracie slammed on the brakes, and the car lurched forward, rattling across the snowy road. Gracie pumped the brakes again, and the car spun around before stopping in the center of the lane.

"What’s happening up there?’ Annie asked.

We have to get off the road now. To hell with the pickup, Gracie said. I’m going to leave you off at Clarkston instead. You can go to the Emergency Room there. Gracie got on her phone and texted FedEx, ‘Road closed due to blockade, cannot perform pickup.’

That takes care of that, she said.

Why are you me leaving at Clarkston? Why can’t we drive to Kenora?

Because the army is here. Gracie said, then tilted her head at Annie, Haven’t you heard of The Missing?" she replied.

The Missing?

Yeah, the Missing . The environmentalists that vanished up at the ELA back in March. That’s why the Feds set up a blockade.

Is that why the army is here?

Six people disappeared.

Six People? What’s the ELA?

ELA stands for Experimental Lakes Area. It’s the only freshwater basin left in the world.

I don’t understand. How did six people disappear?

That’s a good question. That’s what everyone wants to know. That’s why the Feds are here. The government’s sealed off the area until the investigation is complete.

So, who were they?

The Missing? They were a team of independent scientists. Every year they come to the Lake to perform a Green Check. But this year something happened; they disappeared, and no one knows why.

Were they murdered?

"No one knows. But it’s proving to be a long search. If they were murdered, they’re probably at the bottom of the Lake. With all the politics going on up there, no one knows what happened to them."

Politics?

Gracie shook her head.

It’s complicated. Half the land is a Tribal Reserve. The other half is divided between the Feds and a U.S. Company called Brux.

So? Annie asked.

Gracie cut her off, We’re here, this is Clarkston, she said.

Gracie drove slowly into town. Annie noticed that all the stores were closed.

"Ok, this is where you get off and

Reviews for The 7th Fire

[riley dawes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This edgy YA Thriller packs a winning formula as the author wastes no time getting straight to the action. Inspired by true events, and written before Covid (see bio notes) the novel deals with a disaster much the current pandemic. The main character, Anne reminded me of Jennifer Lawrence's character in “Winters Bone;” the movie that made Lawrence a star. Annie Erickson starts out as a vulnerable teen who later transforms into a total badass. Her quest for justice is brutal and unnerving but her courage is also uplifting. There are several mysteries interwoven in the novel, with a plot twist in every chapter. You can’t even guess the ending until you get there and well .. when you do…then you find out that’s just the beginning of Annie’s journey. Great fast-paced read!

[kristin camichel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book made my heart skip a beat. I bought the eBook from Kobo and was really happy I did. This book, inspired by actual events, is not for the fainthearted. A fast-paced read with cinematic vision, the main character, Annie Erickson, is a brilliant computer hacker searching for her missing sister. The latter is supposedly either kidnapped or murdered by a sinister biomedical company. The plot was set up concisely in just a few pages, and the reader knew it was time to buckle up for an eerie ride. 14-year-old Annie Erickson’s is astonishing as a sometimes cold and tenacious young crusader, investigating the disappearance of her activist sister. McKinley’s talent for plot and dialogue feels as authentic as the real-life disaster this novel is allegedly based on. Erickson’s resilience shows in a series of frightening and brutal scenes in which she battles corrupt government Feds and big Pharma. This read felt like a potential Netflix series with Annie Erickson as 21st-century rebel Anne Shirley. It was a simple read that I finished in one sitting. A suspenseful mystery with lots of surprises that kept me hooked until the last page.