Those of the Unexpected

By Allison Ince

Betrayed by the third generation weapons, the Zoeks are scattered. Some have been taken to the Experiment Halls, while some are still in hiding. In an unfortunate twist, Memory and Abednego are taken into custody by a small precinct. The law enforcement have no idea what is ahead of them, but they have an awful feeling it has something to do with the disappearances in the neighborhood a few months before.

Tyme, Tech, and Ghost befriend the Gutter Rats, a group of ex-gang members. The three Zoeks unravel the Elite’s plan to destroy the neighborhood with one violent act at a time.

While their friends fight to save lives, the rest of the Zoeks find themselves in the hands of Agent Jagger and the Elite Representatives. Who will be sold? Who will be executed? And will they ever see each other again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781639616718

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sirens and Silence

This is Officer Dan Parker, responding to the backup request for a neighborhood disturbance, the lean officer says into his radio. His eyes are a stressed green, and his hair is jet black.

He flicks on his lights, casting blue and red hues on the pitch-black lampposts. He knows something is wrong when all the nearby streetlights are out. Most neighbors do not notice or care when a street lamp goes out, but for all four in a small vicinity to go out at the same time with only one house losing power is abnormal.

The sirens howl through the drizzling sheets of rain, as two teens run to the beat of the sirens. Memory’s hand is still tight in Abednego’s grip.

Memory! Abednego gasps as they scurry into another alley.

Yeah? she says in between sobs.

I think we can…stop…running…now.

NO! She’ll find us! They’ll send…Shadow after us!

No, it’s okay. Abednego slows down, dragging Memory down with him. They both slow to a stop. They heave and spit, struggling to catch their breaths. Tears slip from Memory’s eyes, mingling with the swift raindrops. It will be all right. Panting, he lifts his head to get more air. They won’t want us alive now, so they won’t bother sending for Shadow. She teleports.

The sirens wail, a warning to all. They bring nightmares to Memory as she and Abednego walk on.

*****

Officer Parker pulls up to the dreary street. Neighbors stand outside with black umbrellas. Their eyes are looking up at the quiet house and its gray windows that almost seem to weep rain. The officer parks his patrol car and gets out. He moves past the crowd of neighbors. He can see a small amount of smoke coming from the back. A fire truck and ambulance are already there. The firefighters are walking from the back of the house. Parker walks up to one to get some information.

Officer, your men are in the house, a firefighter says, meeting him halfway.

What caught fire? Parker asks.

A vehicle. We believe it might have been lightning, he suggests, shaking his head. But to be honest, that doesn’t make sense. There was no point of origin.

Parker nods. Was anyone injured?

The paramedics just loaded up a young kid into their ambulance. He’s barely alive. They found him unconscious on the couch. He was alone in the house. They found no one else.

Thank you. Parker pulls away and heads to the front door.

No problem, the firefighter replies.

Officer Parker walks up to the house. The door is open. He can hear the other officers inside searching the house. He slows to an uneasy walk. He steps over the threshold of sense into nonsense. Pitch-black darkness covers every object. The kitchen is in shambles as if someone had been in the middle of cooking or bringing in groceries. He walks past the crowds of policemen to see the back door wide open.

You think it was a home invasion, Parker? asks an officer from behind him.

I don’t know. Are there any witnesses?

We haven’t questioned the neighbors yet, reports the young officer.

I’ll go do that, says Parker. He tears himself away from the house and into the rain as he goes up to one resident of the neighborhood. Sir, can you tell me what you saw? he asks, pulling out his notepad and pen.

You know, officer, I really couldn’t tell you. I just heard an explosion.

Do you know who called 911? Parker asks.

It sure wasn’t me. The man strolls away.

Well that was helpful, grumbles Parker under his breath. He turns from bystander to bystander until he comes across a man in a blue suit. He steps up to the man and meets his cold eyes. Sir, could you tell me what you saw? Parker asks.

Nothing, growls the man.

You saw nothing?

The man peers down at Parker with his nose held high and a bored, almost demeaning expression on his face. No, officer. There is absolutely nothing to see, just civies and stolen property. The man sneers and walks to a black car.

The police begin to leave as the investigation comes to a close. Witnesses saw nothing but smoke and running teenagers, while a house speaks of abandonment and vandalism. Electricity is turned back on, lighting up street lamps. Doors and fences are locked, a Jeep without an engine is being towed away, and a comatose child is set up in a hospital bed.

Parker sits in his patrol car. The rain is tapping on his window, and he can’t help but feel as if something very big has taken place here with very little to show for it. Injustice rings in his ears, getting on his nerves. Who did this? he murmurs to himself.

Chapter 2

Condemned

Take the abortive ones to hallway B12, Agent Jagger snaps to a line of orderlies who hold Christy, David, Efrum, Vember, and Surge in their grips. And take the variables to the weapon’s hall, he snarls to another line of orderlies who hold Clip, Cleek, Var, and Assail. They were never truly weaponized, thus they may prove adequate weapons after all.

With this last statement, the five abortives and the four variables are dispersed. Clip, Cleek, Var, and Assail are placed back in their original cells where Airy and Estrella are already being held. David, Vember, Christy, Efrum, and Surge are dragged to a bright hallway where cells are more like dog pound cages, narrow and surrounded by chain-linked fences. In here, the abortive ones await an uncertain end. Traitors are usually sent here, if not used for experiments as variables in another hall. In here, the lights are bright and shiny, giving a triumphant feeling for those who have survived the Elite persuasion. In here, there is also a weight of sorrow. In here, the five open their eyes to see one man in a cell across from theirs. The man has blue irises, and his smile is soft and sincere.

Christy faintly recognizes him, but she does not speak to him right away. She is unsure of where and when he imprinted on her memory.

*****

Condemned. The city condemned the house with everything still in it: clothes, food, and furniture. It’s as if the tenants just disappeared. Chief Esperanza leans back in his chair behind his desk and peers out the window.

Officer Parker stands, absorbing the case’s conclusion. He is a tall, thin man with broad shoulders and tanned skin. His green eyes follow the beam of sunlight that flows into the office.

I would say it was a home invasion. We’ve got a lot of gangs around here, but the pieces just aren’t adding up to one, Chief Esperanza declares. It could be an abduction of some type, but that many people, without a single call to the police or scream for the neighbors to hear. We’re still researching the people who owned the house, but research only gets us so far. We might want to keep an eye open for vandals and intruders. He looks back at the silent Officer Parker. But for safety purposes, why don’t you go ahead and follow up. Go back down there and see if there have been any more intruders.

You got it, Chief! Parker smiles gently, turning around and exiting the office.

*****

I wonder if we’re not the only ones who escaped? Memory sighs as she settles herself down on the pavement.

I don’t know, utters Abednego who plops down next to her.

We’ve been running all night, she states, picking at her rain-drenched clothes.

Yeah, and I’m starving.

I’m scared.

He peers over at her, his eyes ablaze with a soft amber flame. It’s all in God’s hands. We just need to have a little faith.

She smiles subtly. ‘This too shall pass’, she murmurs to herself.

Let’s go back! Abednego pops up.

Back where?

To the house, he confirms.

Why? Memory’s voice almost cracks.

Nowhere else to go! He stretches out his hand to hers. "And the Elite shouldn’t be interested in it anymore. We’ll only be there long enough to gather food,