Phoenix Arise: YA Sci-fi Thriller (From the Ashes Book 1) Read online

  I pulled the trigger.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The woman slumped to the ground, releasing Malik as she fell. He slid away from her and collapsed, face down.

  Not sparing her another glance, I dropped to my knees beside him, shifting him around and easing his upper body onto my lap.

  His lips parted, and a quick breath gushed out. “Lesha.”

  Tears dripped down my face, mixing with the blood on his. They slid down his cheeks in pink tracks. “What did they do to you?”

  He groaned and grabbed his side. Redness seeped around his fingers and drizzled on the ground. A cough wracked his chest. “You came for me.”

  I stroked his face. “I’d run forever for you.” Leaning forward, I rested my cheek against his. It was all I could do to breathe.

  That telling half-smile filled his face. “I said you were awesome.”

  “Where do you hurt? Do you think you’re…” I couldn’t say, are you mortally wounded?

  He snorted, then gasped and clutched his side. “Don’t think so, but you’re welcome to check me out.”

  I couldn’t drum up a laugh. But if he could joke around, he had to be okay. “You just want me to yank off your clothing.”

  His eyes met mine. “I think I’ll always want you to yank off my clothing.”

  “I need to look.”

  “Do it,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Lifting his shirt, I undid and tugged down his jeans.

  He’d been stabbed but as I watched, the wound sealed over, proving all over again that the snake’s bite boosted a human’s ability to heal. How long would the effect last? Only time would tell.

  “You’re gonna be okay,” I said with relief pouring through me.

  “I am.”

  Blinking back tears, I helped him sit up. “Can you walk? We need to get out of here.” Who knew if others would arrive?

  “For you, yes.” With my help, he rose to his feet, where he wavered. He gestured to the dead women. “They didn’t know another ship had arrived. They came for supplies…the camels. But they found us as well.”

  Behind us, the hovercraft’s engines fired up. It lifted off the ground with a blast of air, sending a cloud of dirt, sticks, and grass in our direction. We turned our backs, sheltering our faces in each other.

  I coughed and looked around. Five bodies still. There must have been another hunter in the ship. Will, Piper, Nikolai, Kalani, Riley, and, if I hadn’t gotten here in time, Malik. Six kills for six aliens?

  Malik grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the forest. “Come on,” he shouted.

  Supporting him, we half-ran, half-stumbled across the gully, and started up the hill on the other side, aiming for the woods.

  The craft rose and spun, pointing its nose our way. With a roar of the engines, it dove at the field, coming right for us.

  “Faster,” I cried.

  We raced for the tree line.

  Ear-piercing blasts rained on the field. Fire burst up, engulfing the camp area, eliminating everything in its path. We entered the woods and wove among the trees, snagging ourselves on prickly bushes and with branches slapping our faces.

  My heart hammered. “This way.” Panting, I showed Malik the narrow trail I’d traveled to rescue him. Behind us, the meadow exploded in flames. Trees along the edge toppled to the ground. We ran, leaving the fire behind us.

  The ship screeched overhead. It blasted toward the clouds before pausing. Veering toward the planet, it darted one way, then another. A pop sounded. Smoke billowed from the back end. With a horrifying whine, the ship dashed toward the mountain peaks where it crashed. A huge explosion engulfed the ship and the forest surrounding it. A blast of hot air rushed over us like a wind tsunami. We managed to grab trees before it knocked us down.

  Clutching each other after, we stood mesmerized as flames leaped into the air. Our lungs heaved, as we slowly caught our breath. The wreckage lit up an iridescent greenish-blue before the fire started to burn down.

  Silence reigned after that. As if nothing had happened, a chorus of insects filled the void left behind.

  Turning, we continued through the forest, eventually stopping to sit and rest on a fallen log.

  Malik leaned into my side. “You okay?”

  I smoothed his hair. It was getting longer, almost touching the tips of his ears. Soon, he’d have to decide if he wanted to cut it or let it grow free. “I’m fine. You?”

  “Yeah.” With a long sigh, he wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my head.

  The brown creatures I’d seen swinging above me earlier stirred in the trees, chattering, and scolding. They hopped on the ground, ignoring us, before disappearing into the forest. A small rodent that sort of looked like Joe’s mouse scrambled up onto the end of our log and stared at us with curious eyes.

  With the ship destroyed, Eris had found peace again.

  “The woman spoke English,” I said. “How?”

  “They captured some colonists.” He swallowed. “Maybe they wanted to know our language to learn about us. From what the leader said, they took some back to the larger camp they’ve built beyond the mountains.”

  “Dad,” I said. “Do you think they have my father?” I clung to the thread of hope.

  “I don’t know but we’re going to find out. We can’t leave them there.”

  “We’ll rescue everyone they’ve captured.” I wouldn’t stop until I had. Dad. My chest tightened, and it was hard to breathe. Was he alive? I couldn’t believe they’d already killed him.

  “Yup. Somehow.”

  “Why do you think they captured some colonists?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I learned something from them, though. It ties together the clues we’ve discovered since we crashed.” Leaning back, he stared into my eyes, his solemn. “The colonists weren’t the first to die here. The aliens bragged about killing large birds and people.” His voice broke. “Lesha, I think they hunted a species who lived here many years ago and now it’s extinct.”

  They’d brutalized multiple generations of people, as well as our friends. How could anyone do that to another being? “Large birds…” I frowned. Joe’s… Nah, couldn’t be. “Their hunting sounded cultural.”

  “I think so. They’re a woman-dominant society. In order to mate and have children, they have to prove their worth with a ritual kill using a traditional weapon.” He coughed and then rubbed his chest. “But not just any kill will do. They said the kill has to give honor to their victim.”

  “How is there honor in torturing someone?”

  He shrugged. “No idea, but that’s what they said.”

  I glanced around at the still forest around us. “Do you think any of the other colonists escaped and are hiding on Eris?” Perhaps in the hills around us. Did they watch and wonder who we were?

  His arms tightened around my waist. “If they are here, we’ll find them.”

  When I left Earth, I’d envisioned a wonderful life for us, but this was no utopia. We'd only found death.

  We needed to return to our friends and locate survivors, if there were any, then make a plan to storm the alien’s fortress. Until we’d figured that out, we’d need a safe place to live. Not at the dome, but maybe somewhere in the mountains.

  I waved toward the remains of the ship, now hidden from view by vegetation. “Maybe the ship crashing will keep others from coming after us.”

  “I'd like to think so.” He gazed at the patch of sky above us—a clean, blue canvas stretching into eternity. “Except…”

  Taking his hand, I squeezed, not sure if I wanted to ask what he meant or beg him to hold his words inside forever.

  “It’s just something one of them said. She’d been inside the ship and came back out. When she spoke to the others in their own language, she smiled.” The look on his face, so grim when it should be filled with hope for the future—our future, stilled my heart.

  Dread unfurled its wings in my belly. “What did
she say?”

  “Let the hunt begin.”

  Look for Book 2 of the From the Ashes Duology, on Amazon, in 2021.

  If you enjoyed Phoenix Arise, would you leave a review? You can do so here.

  Want to hear what Marty’s working on next, win ARCs of books, & chat?

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  Have you read my YA suspense, Dead Girls Don’t Lie?

  I’ve included a peek at the book. Just turn the page…

  Other books by Marty Mayberry

  Crystal Wing Academy

  Outling

  Dragonsworn

  Unraveler

  Darkwater Reformatory

  Wicked Betrayal

  Wicked Challenge

  Wicked Rebellion

  Dead Girls Don’t Lie

  Supernatural Misfits Academy

  Busted

  Broken

  From the Ashes Duology

  Phoenix Arise

  Falcon Ascend

  Romance & romantic suspense

  written as Marlie May

  Some Like it Scot

  Simply Irresistible

  Twist of Fate

  Fearless

  Ruthless

  Reckless

  Marty writes young adult and adult fiction and infuses it with suspense, romance, and a touch of humor. When she's not dreaming up ways to mess with her character's lives, she works as an RN. She lives in New England with her husband, three children, three geriatric cats, and a spunky Yorkie pup who keeps her on her toes.

  Dead Girls Don’t Lie

  ~or do they?

  Seventeen-year-old Janie Davis was found wandering a Maine beach with second-degree burns and no memory of what happened. An accident on a yacht caused it to sink, taking her parents and best friend down with it. Recovering, Janie returns home under the watchful gaze of her new guardian—an aunt who had been ostracized by Janie’s family.

  Snooping uncovers the accident report. She’s horrified to learn the deaths could be murder and is determined to solve the crime. Selective breaking and entering leads her to two suspects: her father’s shady business partner who profited from Dad’s death and her aunt, a woman with a sketchy past she’s eager to hide. Unsure where to turn next, Janie enlists the help of Emanuel Sancini, a fellow high school senior who thinks doing community service in the library means he can call himself a librarian.

  Their investigation leads them to crash a party where they uncover more evidence in the homeowner’s office. Discovered in the act, they’re forced to conceal their crime by pretending—sort of—that they snuck into the room to make out. Then Janie’s brake lines are cut and only a quick plunge to the tile floor keeps an overhead lamp from impaling her in the school library. This, and the warning, You’re Next, proves Janie’s getting closer. With Janie targeted, she and Emanuel must race to expose the murderer. Or Janie could wind up dead.

  Chapter 1

  Aunt Kristy insisted I was strong enough to go to school today, but my heart, a tiny bird trapped in my chest, disagreed. I climbed from her SUV and pushed the door shut, steeling my expression as pain shot up my arms.

  My aunt came around the hood and thrust out her hand. “Give me your backpack, Janine. I’ll take it inside for you.”

  “It’s Janie,” I said.

  “What?”

  “I told you before. Everyone calls me Janie.” I tightened my hand on the strap looped over my shoulder. “And I can carry my own bag, thanks.”

  “Well. Okay. If you’re sure. Janie.” She worried her necklace, releasing a sigh, then pivoted on her heel and hurried up the walkway. I imagined she was dying to get to the teacher’s lounge to put away her things. Gulp down a cup of coffee before she had to convince a bunch of teenagers that chemistry was fun. Or maybe she just wanted to get away from me.

  Two months ago, Aunt Kristy moved into my home and applied for a job at my high school. She’d done her best to be a parent since. Few people would take on raising a niece they barely knew. Considering she and Dad hadn’t been close since before I was born, that said something.

  “Hey, there you are,” someone said from behind me.

  Turning, I hugged Sean, my remaining best friend from before.

  “Whoa, aren’t you a rebel? I like it,” he said, taking in my dark green skirt and white tee. At Finley Cove High School, we were expected to wear white collared shirts and khakis, and ‘keep our appearances tidy’. Sean could be a poster child for the school dress code.

  “That’s me, living dangerously.” I’d tucked my shirt into a skirt that landed above rather than below the knee. While my outfit would challenge the school board rules, it still felt awesome wearing something other than ratty shorts and a tee. “I, well, you know, lost weight. Nothing else fits. Think I can get away with it until I hit the mall?”

  “I won’t tell.” His gaze fell away from mine. “You ready to hit the gauntlet?” At my tight nod, he shoved his backpack strap higher on his shoulder and held out his arm. A few months ago, he would’ve held out both arms. One for me and one for his girlfriend. Brianna.

  The doctors said I should be grateful because I’d only received second-degree burns. Third-degree would’ve been worse because the nerves would be shot and I’d never regain sensation. Those doctors didn’t know a damn thing. Pain could be swatted away like a pesky fly. Losing the people I loved had gutted me.

  We caught up with a bunch of girls who stalled and grew silent when they saw me. I’d known most of them since elementary school, hanging out together more times than I could count to talk about hot guys, TV shows, and make-up. Frivolous stuff, but I’d been frivolous back then.

  Marley’s lips twitched as she took in the red patches on my pale skin and the puckers from my grafts. Another girl pretended to gag, not realizing that while my arms and hands might’ve been burned, my eyes worked just fine, thank you very much. Back home, I’d convinced myself my scars were battle wounds proving I’d survived when everyone else hadn’t. Seen through the eyes of these girls, I was repulsive, a thing that should be hidden. I yanked my sleeves down around my wrists, wishing I could pull the material over my fingertips, as well.

  “So, Janie. You still have—” Marley made air quotes. “—amnesia?”

  “I don’t remember much about what happened that night if that’s what you’re asking.” The doctors said my memory might never return.

  “But, but…” Marley’s mouth dropped open. “What if you caused the accident?”

  The other girls released muted giggles, savoring the drama.

  “I didn’t.” My heartbeat pulsed in my throat.

  Like my personal Pitbull straining against his leash, Sean bared his teeth and snarled.

  “Kinda hard to say if you’re to blame or not, now isn’t it?” Marley smirked. “Considering you don’t actually remember.”

  Anger slammed through me like a semi hitting a paper-thin wall. “I wouldn’t hurt my parents or Brianna.”

  Sean elbowed himself between us. “Get lost, Marley, would you?”

  With a huff, she spun and continued toward school with the other girls clustering around her feverishly whispering.

  “Thank you,” I said, grateful all over again I still had Sean in my life.

  “Any time.” We continued toward school. “Umm, about swimming. I thought about it a lot over the past few weeks.” His footsteps paused before picking up speed. “Decided I’m going.”

  Sean, Brianna and I had been on the swim team together and had made a game out of competing for the best times. While Sean could literally swim laps around us due to his male body structure, Brianna also beat me at every meet. A foster kid, she’d worked twice as hard as me to get ahead. If only I’d appreciated that fact sooner.

  “Swimming?” A shiver went through me. “How could you—I just can’t.”

  “Going to the pool will be one of the hardest thi
ngs I'll ever do but it’s what she would’ve wanted. Yeah, I mourn her.” His eyes squeezed shut. When he opened them, they glistened. “I’m going to miss her forever. But she would’ve wanted us to keep going.”

  My aunt had been after me to jump back into ‘activities you used to do before the accident,' but I didn’t see how I could. Going to classes without Brianna would be tough but it would ruin me to do anything else we used to share.

  “I’ll feel closer to her when I swim. Like she’s still with me,” he said.

  Whenever I thought about getting into the water, my brain flashed to memories of me struggling in the sea…my head going under…our boat lighting up the night as it was consumed by flames.

  “Hey.” Sean peered down at me. “You look pale. You still up for this? ‘Cause, we can bail, if you want.”

  Like that would do me any good? My grades were skating too close to the edge already. I pushed for a smile. “I’m okay. Let's go.”

  Crossing the lobby, we walked down the hall to the wing lined with lockers where I ditched my backpack and pulled out a notebook.

  Sean slouched against the wall. “Are you starting to remember what happened that night?” The hope in his voice tugged my insides sideways. If only I could give him one more memory of Brianna, a tiny speck he could hold on to.

  “Some.” I fiddled with a pen before stuffing it inside my pocket. “It’s sporadic. Which is frustrating.” Fear came through in my words. “Do you think I’m blocking it out because…”

  “Janie. You weren’t responsible. Forget what Marley said.”

  A worm of doubt kept wiggling through me, spreading its poison.