Children of Obscurity: Project Shedload, #1

By Rebekah Cook

Julia is living the life of an average sixteen-year-old girl. with just one tiny secret, she is diagnosed with schizophrenia. She has a young love crush, she's skating by in her classes and most days she just tries to stay invisible.

All of that changes when thick, murky shadows spread across the globe. No one knows what they are or where they came from but Julia begins hearing urgent whispers of warning.

Julia has a connection to the shadows and special abilities she never knew existed. Julia must face her insecurities and follow the hints, along a danger-filled journey, to find the truth about her past. A truth that may bring about earth's destruction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rebekah Cook
• Release date: Jul 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223882350

Rebekah Cook

Rebekah lives in a small town in Ohio with her husband, three children, and a variety of furry companions.  

Book preview

Revelations 9:1-3, 6

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.

When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.

And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.

During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

One: The End

April 23, 2035

Life as I knew it ended the day the sun disappeared. As far as teenagers go, I was totally basic before all of this; before my life crumbled around me. It makes me cringe every time I think of how spastic I was and how utterly spoiled I behaved. I wish I could take it all back but that isn’t how things work.

Before the shadows fell, I would ‘Norman Bates’ over any insignificant thing. My straightener was missing? Cue, me, stomping through the house and screaming. We were out of my favorite snack? Lights, camera, action, spot light centered on me, THE. JULIA. AMELIA. KARNES, starring in my very own tragedy. I wasn’t allowed to attend a party? My parents were ruining my life. And, if the cutest boy in school didn’t know I existed? Now that, that was the end of the world.

It’s kind of funny now that the end of the world is actually here, those things all just seem, well, inconsequential.

Two: High School and Nightmares

(One Year Earlier)

U gh. I rub my head and jerk into a sitting position in bed. That dream was so real. I reach over to my nightstand and grab a nearly empty pill bottle and twist the cap. It makes a satisfying rattling sound as I tip one cylindrical mind number into my palm.

These vivid, horrific dreams haunt me every time I close my eyes, dreams of the world burning, people screaming, and me standing in the center of it all, smiling.

At least I still don't believe they're real. At least I'm not spending all of my time curled up in a ball or screaming to my parents and shrinks that the world's going to end. Nope, not now that I have these babies. They make everything seem less important, even my real life.

The familiar fuzzy feeling of the meds kicking in washes over me. Bleck.  It’s a teensie bit better than acting like a complete mental case, I remind myself, as a wave of dizziness causes me to stumble. This is all worth barely remembering the horrors that live in my mind. 

It will get better after about an hour.  I just have to adjust to the chemicals that are fighting away my inner demons.  I rattle the bottle again, after placing the lid on tight.  Gotta tell Mom I’m almost out.

"More bad dreams?" Mom asks me as I shuffle into the kitchen, grabbing a bagel and a banana.

I lift my shoulders and let them slump back down, Same ol’ sh-,

Julia Karnes, my mother’s voice dips in warning and I frown. Language.

Right. I hate being interrupted. Same ol’ stuff? I roll my eyes and walk to the door.  Gotta head to school. Don’t want to be late. See you after?

You have time to eat. My mother gestures to a chair at the hightop but I want the solitude of the walk, not a chat with dear ol’ Mom, so I wince and then pull out my phone, a sure fire way to shut the grown ups down real fast. They know my eyes aren’t leaving this screen for anybody.

Not today Mom, gotta get going if I want to get a front row seat in first period. 

The walk is just what I need. The fresh air laces through my hair, like a gentle massage and the sun warms my skin.  I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling.  God, that sun though.

Sierra is waiting for me as I take the last few steps onto school grounds.  I love her, I really do, but the sight of her now makes me want to turn around and run.  I want just a few more minutes with the sun and the wind.  I need to shake off the last bit of fog that lingers so I can act human instead of a brain starved zombie. Sierra doesn’t give me that though.

Hey Bae! She jiggles over to me, her curves swaying to and fro and her arms waving in the sky, like she hasn’t laid eyes on me in several years.  Like we didn’t just video chat last night for three hours. I laugh and shake my head. She looks divine, as usual, and I fidget with my own outfit choice, grumbling under my breath.

I look tragic. I should have chosen something different but to be fair, there wasn’t much in my closet. My parents are frugal and practical. Sierra’s are not. I huff and my bottom lip juts out.

Sierra raises an eyebrow at me and tosses her hair, What’s your deal?

Why can’t my mom be just a little bit like yours? I throw my hands around, a fluttering motion that builds with intensity as they make their way around my body. Wearing an outfit more than once a month is basically social suicide, I grimace and tug on my plaid blouse. I really don’t want my mom to be like Mrs. Carson. I wouldn’t survive five minutes with that blank cheque. She is too uppity, too extra. I just want mom to take me shopping once in a while, that’s all.

Girl, Sierra unfastens the two bottom buttons of my blouse and ties them so just a hint of my stomach is showing and takes a pair of scissors from her cross body bag, cutting a hole in the upper thigh of my jeans. I hug my body self-consciously but she laughs and grabs onto my arms. All you have to do is get creative with what you’ve got. See. She holds my arms up and spins me around. It’s like a brand new outfit now. 

I don’t know, I tug on the blouse that was previously tucked neatly into my jeans. I’m totally uncomfortable. I glance down at the sliver of skin above my waistband and purse my lips.

Stop it, Sierra whines. You are gorgeous. There’s nothing wrong with showing a little of what you’ve got. She bats my hands away from my stomach and I shove them in the pockets of my jeans. I know Sierra. She won’t take no for an answer.  I stomp my foot on the ground once and then blow air through my lips.

The fuzzy feeling has almost completely disappeared and my outfit really is improved by Sierra’s little alterations. Alright, I admit. It looks pretty snatched.

Of course, she makes a small bow and then winks, except it’s YOU who looks like a ten. Sierra bumps her hip into mine and then moves ahead of me. I sigh and follow behind her, invisible to everyone, as all their eyes are glued to Sierra. I don’t mind being invisible, in fact, I prefer it most days. I mean, if I were to have a total mental breakdown at school, no one would even notice. Besides, when you're invisible it’s way easier to stare at the boy you are crushing on which is what I intended to do when we got to the hub, practically everyone's favorite spot on all of campus. 

Three: Shadows Fall

Sunlight streams down onto my shoulders as we make our way through the hub.  My eyes scan the wide hallway of windows, admiring the blue sky and puffy white clouds. Groups of students loiter about, leaning on the clear glass or sitting cross legged on the tiled floor. The soft light that filters in through the windows is warm and inviting. 

So, I understand the massive amount of teen bodies crowding the narrow walkway. If I was social, this would be the place I’d choose to hang out too. But that doesn’t mean I forgive them for making the journey to free wall space less than tolerable for an awkward introvert such as myself.  I roll my eyes and turn at an uncomfortable angle to make it through a ridiculously large group of upperclassmen.

Come on, Jules, I want to have a few minutes to chat before the bell rings, Sierra waves me onward, several strides ahead of me. I admire her confidence as she pushes her way through the throng of students. Several boys stare after her as she prances along. 

I’m coming, uh, sorry, excuse meeee, I hold out the e sound and it raises an octave, coming out as almost a squeak as I bump into a girl with long platinum blond hair. I think she’s a senior but I don’t know her name. She gives me a withering stare and I widen my eyes at her. What’s up your bug? I feel like shouting at her, but for all my drama, I’m all talk and no bite.  She looks away before I do and I walk away, a smug smile on my face.

It’s about time, Sierra laughs as I lean against the window pane next to her, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays on my back. Could you walk any slower? She nudges me and glances down the hallway, where the sunshine and blue sky is replaced by off white walls and classroom doors. 

I run my hand anxiously through the untamed curls of my auburn hair and steal a glance to my left.  A perfect set of white teeth accented by dimples on both cheeks and warm chocolate brown eyes capture my attention. 

Alex is just about perfect right? I sigh.

I mean, Sierra raises an eyebrow and purses her lips. If you like jocks. I guess he’s ok.

He’s not a jock, I glance over at him again and a small smile forms on my lips as I watch him high five a freshman walking by. Or at least that isn’t ALL he is.

He’s the starting quarterback, Julia. He’s a jock, nothing more, nothing less. Sierra tosses her raven hair and it falls lightly down to her lower back. 

My eyes never leave Alex, but I roll them so Sierra knows what I think of her opinion.  Not everyone goes for the bad boys. Alex rubs his hand on the back of his neck, flexing his bicep. Good gravy. I rock back and forth on my heels, my body warring with my self-conscious mind for the ability to move forward. 

Why don’t you just talk to him, Sierra nudges me, nearly giving me a heart attack. I suck in several breaths and lower my eyebrows at her. She isn’t fazed by the dirty looks I send her way. Instead, her bright red lips part, revealing a gleaming smile. Staring at him clearly isn’t getting you anywhere. You’ve been doing that for 2 whole years and he doesn’t even know your name.

I’ll talk to him, I exclaim, my voice rising to a crescendo. Several students glance over at me, giving me the side eye. I press my lips together and tug on my shirt again, hoping to knock loose the knot Sierra tied without her noticing. I really shouldn’t have caved.  I don’t like my stomach showing. The knots she tied are better than a sailor’s and I grunt, throwing my hands back to my sides. 

After the failed attempt at gaining back my autonomy, as if I really ever had any, I run my eyes over her outfit.  Her ivory skin creates a stark contrast with her red crop top. Sierra is always so well put together and has the uncanny ability to coordinate her outfits so that she always looks like she just stepped off a runway.

Sighing, I look back into Sierra’s ice blue eyes and run my hands over my jeans, wiping the clammy feeling away. Just, not today, I frown, hearing the lie in my own voice.

My petite frame, curvy build, and warm bronze skin...how do I put this? They aren’t the norm at McArthur High. My mess of wild auburn curls, petite curvy frame and my quirky personality make me the donkey in a room full of unicorns.

I look nothing like the girls that Alex usually dates. He never looks at me, always through me. Because you are invisible. I remind myself.  I don’t blame him, really. I mean, outside of being ‘that girl’ with the unruly hair, I am also different in another, more important, aspect, one that makes me less like a donkey and more like a coo coo bird.  .

I can tell you aren’t being nice to yourself in there, Sierra taps on my forehead and gives me a goofy grin.

Busted, I chew on my bottom lip before, giving a sheepish grin, shaking my head.

You won’t know if people will like you, if you don’t put yourself out there, her voice is softer than usual.

You know it's more complicated than that. I sigh.  My diagnosis would make anyone run for the hills.

You don’t know that-

Alex won’t ever really see me. I put emphasis on the word me. And even if he did, he wouldn’t like what he saw.

Sierra opens her mouth to argue when a head full of blond hair blurs by us, causing Sierra to stumble backward.

Hey, Karnes, Westin, my Biology lab partner, calls out my last name, giving me a high five on his way by.  I cast my eyes to Alex one last time before wrinkling my nose and giving Westin a small smile. Our Science teacher, who talks to everyone like they're on his football team, inspired this little game Westin and I have been playing. 

I put on an exaggerated low voice, What’s shakin’, Akers? I laugh, sloughing off the last bit of self deprecation from my mind. Westin wiggles his rear end in response and laughter bubbles up in my throat.  He gives me a wave and a bright smile before jogging off after his friends. 

What’s the deal with you and Westin? Sierra’s voice hisses in my ear, drawing my attention. Her eyebrow is arched and her lip is curled up at the corner causing her to look quite devious.

Nothing!  He’s just my lab partner, I huff, crossing my arms as I stare after Westin’s retreating form. Sure, he’s funny and super nice but he has a goofy smile plastered on his face all the time; it’s like he can never be serious. I watch him dancing a little jig in front of his friends, causing them all to laugh. His gangly limbs flail about like a marionette. A small metallic shine catches my attention. It glimmers inside his ear for just a moment before blinking out.

It’s sad, Sierra sighs.

What? I rub the back of my neck.

He can’t hear anything? Without the-? She points to her ear.

Oh, I nod. Right. He has, uh- I pause thinking back to one of our first conversations in lab. Bilateral hearing loss. 

I noticed Westin’s hearing aids when we were paired together in lab. Before that, I had no idea he couldn’t hear. He introduced himself as ‘Westin, the deaf kid’ and proceeded to tell  me pretty much his entire life story.

His Dad was some kind of genius scientist, I guess. I whisper.  It was kind of exciting knowing something that Sierra didn’t. She was always the one with the gossip. He kept Westin with him when he was working on top secret stuff in his garage. Westin was like four or five and the noise from the machines caused so much damage that the doctors could only treat it with hearing aids.

Someone give that guy a father of the year award, Sierra slow claps.

Right? I frown. I mean, what kind of parent exposes their kid to that level of noise on purpose?

Sierra’s eyes widen and she shakes her head before glancing over at Westin again and my gaze follows hers. He’s still jumping around, causing eruptions of laughter from those around him. 

If you don’t pay close attention to the way he watches people’s faces, reading their lips, you might completely miss that he is deaf. He told me his hearing aids allow him to hear muffled sounds, but never allowed him to hear like before. Once you get to know him, you notice that he often needs people to repeat things or that he’ll occasionally use sign language without even realizing he’s doing it.

As I watch him show off in front of his friends, I wonder if maybe he uses his goofiness to try and compensate for the fact that he’s different. I smile and shake my head. Westin wants to be seen, while I just want to disappear. 

I’m just saying, I’ve never seen you smile like that with anyone be-  Sierra’s words become fuzzy as my eyes focus on the sunshine streaming through the central hub windows.  Dark shadows materialize as if from the air itself, and smother every last ray of brightness.  At first, I don’t think much of it. Clouds block the sun all time right? 

I gaze up at the sky.  It’s almost like a curtain fell over the sky.... The entire expanse of it is gray and lifeless.  I frown and look around the courtyard outside. Thick, murky shadows float across the ground in blob-like clumps.

They almost seem alive as they creep their way deeper into the grassy areas of our school campus. A cold feeling rushes through my veins and an intense pulling sensation almost brings me to my knees.

No, no, no,  I suck in several desperate breaths, my thoughts spiraling.  I can’t be having a waking dream. It’s been years since an actual hallucination ruined my day.  I’ve been taking my medication. This shouldn’t be happening.

The sound of feet pounding on the ground surrounds me. Everyone crowds against the windows and gasps fill the air.

Holy-! One boy’s exclamation is drowned out by several more shouts.

Why is it so dark?  Where did the sun go? Another girl whimpers.  It’s the girl with the platinum blonde hair. 

Others are answering their phones, calming down parents and guardians on the other end of the call. 

I suck in several deep breaths.  Oh, God, thank God they see the shadows too.  My heart rate, which thrums in my ears, begins to slow down.  But, the relief is temporary.  Wait? They see them too?  My wide eyes scan the landscape outside.  I bring my hands up, covering my mouth and take in the grayscale world. The sky is dull and dark, as if there’s heavy cloud cover, but it doesn’t make sense.

Sierra, My voice trembles. Wasn’t the sky bright blue a few seconds ago?

Sierra nods mutely and squeezes my hand. 

The shadows cling to everything, like a thick layer of sludge and the sun is completely blotted out. 

Uhmm, my voice rises slightly as I watch a shadow roll across a bush, causing it to completely disappear in its murky depths. What is happening?

The scrambled sound of the PA system turning on causes me to jump; several girls around me let out shrill cries including Sierra.

Attention McArthur Royals, the principal’s deep voice rings out calm and clear, causing some of the tension to ease from my shoulders. He sounds calm and the man is practically a ticking time bomb, so everything must be alright.  Due to the strange weather we are currently experiencing, we have been advised by local authorities to cancel school for the remainder of the day. Your parents have been notified. Bussing will be provided as usual, but if your parents choose to pick you up or allow you to walk home they must notify the office. Looking forward to seeing you all back here again tomorrow.

The PA clicks off and students begin scrambling away to gather their things.  I stand, Sierra at my side, frozen for a few more moments.  Westin glances back at me and gives me an encouraging smile.  I lift my hand in a small wave before Sierra tugs me toward our lockers.

Something’s not right, Sierra whispers.  She repeats this several times as we weave our way through the crowded hallway. 

Sierra, I tug my hand free from her grasp. You’re freaking me out. Calm down! Everything is going to be ok.  A whisper in my mind, causes me to jump. The words are unclear but the voice is dark, deep and inhuman.

Mordium  Mordium 

I squeeze my eyes shut and then open them again, sticking a knuckle in my ear and pressing hard.  Now is not the time for hallucinations.  Not at all. 

Mordium  Mordium  The voice chants and I want to scream. Something deep inside of me stirs and I feel like the whisper is a warning.  Something IS terribly wrong, either with me or with the world outside, maybe both.   

Sierra tugs on her backpack, ignoring the words of encouragement I spoke moments before. Her locker slams and the voice in my head goes silent.  I breathe a sigh of relief.

I have to go.Sierra yanks her phone from her back pocket and taps a few times on the screen. My mom is on her way. She didn’t want me to walk home, you know how she gets. I guess I kinda understand this time though. Sierra’s voice trails off. I just nod. She lives a block from my house and we usually walk together. 

Sierra’s phone chimes, That’s her. I’ve got to go. You shouldn’t walk. Come with? She grabs my hand, which is shaking slightly. She knows I’m anxious.

I tug on a strand of my hair, considering my options. I’ll be fine. I say the words slowly. I’m actually desperate for the safety of an adult and a hunk of metal between me and the weird shadows but Sierra’s mom is a problem. I want to go home now. Sierra’s mom is impulsive and irresponsible.  They won’t go straight home, there’s at least a starbucks stop and possibly a manicure calling her name. I can get home in two minutes flat if I jog from here. I force a tight smile on my face. And I’m certain I’ll beat you home. 

Sierra gives me a knowing look and laughs, Oh, you will definitely beat us home.  Mom isn’t going to let some fog ruin her plans. Although she’s smiling I can hear the slight tremor in her voice.  She’s afraid. I’ll see you tomorrow?  Her voice is small, so unlike her. 

See you tomorrow, I give Sierra a tight embrace.  I feel like I’m saying more than just see you later.  It feels like goodbye.  Why am I so dramatic, ugh.  Before walking out the exit, Sierra turns and gives me a small wave. 

I wave back, then shoulder my own bag and follow behind her.  The whispers return and this time feel like they are pressing down on me, insistent that I hear them out. 

Mordium  Mordium

Four: Mordium

Iusually enjoy walking home from school.  I’m old enough for a driver’s license but I don’t see the need for one or the job I’d have to get to