Encounter: War For Earth, #3

By Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn

We never saw it coming. The Encounter is here.

Time has run out for Maya and her children. The alien invasion has created hell on earth, and the creatures are determined to destroy humankind. But a chance discovery leads to a glimmer of hope. Maya must mobilize before it's too late, risking a daring move that could end her life and life on the planet as we know it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zach Bohannon
• Release date: Aug 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223839286

Book preview

1

The storm of the invasion had ended for now, though the battle was far from over.

Maya craned her neck as she searched the sky. Her jaw hung open and she used her hand as a visor to shield her eyes from the blinding lights. The spotlights buzzed as the inert gasses inside them worked tirelessly to illuminate the sky. Reno and her kids stood at her side, but none of them spoke.

Small ships flew in every direction. The aliens which had descended from the larger carrier ships screamed as they retreated back into the sky, their cries like sharp ice.

She thought back to when Laura and Aiden had been infants, crying out while Maya was in the other room doing laundry. Her heart would skip a beat and she’d run across the house to find that Laura had bumped her head on something, or Aiden couldn’t reach one of his toys. The creatures sounded like this—but different. Maya didn’t even bother to cover her ears, too amazed by the madness above her.

The aliens scattered like frightened cockroaches. Only moments earlier, Maya had thought they’d made a grave mistake coming to Cincinnati and to the stadium. But it had turned out to be the right call, at least for now.

She thought of Gerald. He, too, had survived several close calls, and not only within the last several days. He hadn’t talked much about his time in the Army, but he had once told her a story about a near-death experience he’d had in Iraq. He’d been in the midst of a firefight on the streets of some small city, returning fire from behind a car. He’d switched positions to find cover behind a brick wall, and only moments after that, the car he’d been behind had been hit with an RPG. He had told her the story once, but never spoken of it again. She’d wondered about the other horrific things he’d seen over there, but she never asked him to tell her those stories.

Now, as she stood looking up at the retreating aliens, she wondered if Gerald had been so lucky that day. Had she left him for dead? She wanted to think not. Wanted so desperately to believe he was still alive. But she couldn’t deny what she had done. Gerald had put himself in that situation, and yet Maya couldn’t help but blame herself. Had she panicked in thinking they didn’t have more time to figure things out?

It was hard to think that now as she looked at how close they had just come to being vaporized by the vermin in the sky. But that was the mother in her, the EMT who wanted to help everyone, no matter the cost. Gerald was a survivor. And if he did make it out alive, and if Maya ever saw him again, she thought that he would hopefully know why she had done what she had—for the same reason he had gone to her mother’s house and taken the kids away after the dome had first appeared over Nashville.

Maya looked over to see Reno staring up at the sky, his face still bloody and swollen from the fight with Gerald. Would she be able to think of him the same way again? He’d been her best friend, her partner when it came to saving lives. But now she couldn’t help but think of Gerald and what he’d done. Reno glanced at her and smiled. She ducked her head, avoiding his gaze.

She felt a hand squeeze hers, and it drew her attention away from the glowing sky and thoughts of her ex-husband.

Aiden stared up at her, the twelve-year old’s blue eyes sparkling and full of tears. She kneeled down and hugged him, squeezing him until the muscles in her arms tightened.

Everything’s okay, Maya said, running her hands through his oily hair. Her palm moved to the nape of his neck—something she did often to comfort him.

Stepping out of the shadows, fifteen-year old Laura stood behind Aiden. Maya motioned for her daughter to come forward, and the girl wrapped her arms around her brother and her mom. Maya removed her left arm from around her son and hugged her daughter with it, now holding both of her children close to her. She closed her eyes.

This is all that I need in the world.

Then she noticed, even with her eyes closed, the lights dimming. She opened her eyes to see that the lights hadn’t been turned off all the way, but had been turned down. Through the splotches in her vision, she saw the man who had let them inside of the gates approach. He appeared to be in his mid-to-late 30s, with curly hair and a thick brown beard to match.

Y’all alright? He had a Southern drawl, which comforted Maya.

Yeah, Maya said. We’re good.

Reno hobbled over to the man and patted him on the back. Man, thanks for letting us in and saving our butts. We can’t thank you enough.

Well, even if you could, we’d have to save that for later. These lights are on a timer; gonna go off any minute now. So, you all want to be under some real cover before more of them come back. I suggest you follow me.

The man turned his back and walked away.

Are those things really coming back? Aiden asked.

I don’t know, but we’re not going to be here to find out.

She stood up, letting go of Aiden’s hand. Laura pulled away, wiping her eyes and standing up straight. In the dim light, Maya’s teen daughter appeared as if she’d aged ten years. Like she’d become a woman right before Maya’s eyes.

You all coming, or what? The man had walked twenty yards, and paused in front of a door.

Reno stood next to Maya. He looked at her and smiled, and then she felt his large hand wrap around hers. He approached first, and Maya walked beside him with Laura and Aiden behind them. They all followed the man through the door.

2

The door led them down a long corridor and into the stadium’s concourse. Some of the chained gates secured the concession stands, but most did not. Plastic wrappers, stale popcorn, and opened packs of condiments lay scattered across the concrete.

What the hell happened here?

Maya.

When she glanced up, Reno was several feet in front of her with Laura and Aiden, all of them looking back at her. She hadn’t even realized she’d stopped walking.

Yeah, we’ll want to keep moving, the man said.

Maya shook her head, exhaling a long, slow breath. Sorry.

It’s all right, the man said. Let me get us off this main level and then we can talk.

They continued through the main concourse, seeing more of the same. Raided concession stands and overturned tables and chairs.

The man finally came to a door. He retrieved a cluster of keys from his pocket and went right to the one he was looking for. He pulled the door open, then waved for Maya and the others to follow him.

Laura had already made it to the door, stepping in front of Reno. Maya and Aiden came through last before the man pulled the door shut, trapping them in darkness until his flashlight cut through with a single, sharp beam. A thick, metal chain—like the kind used to secure an impound lot—lay on the ground. The man picked it up and wrapped it around the door handle and then through a piece of metal on the adjacent wall. A thick lock had been looped through one of the links at the end of the chain. He closed the lock and made sure the chain was secure. Then he turned around and nodded.

Let’s keep moving.

Hold up. Maya put out her hand, moving it until he could see it in the glow of the flashlight. You haven’t even told us your name. That’d be nice before we follow you deeper into this place.

The guy wiped sweat from his forehead. It’s Dave. Sorry about that.

Reno stuck out his hand and Dave shook it. Reno.

And I’m Maya. These are my kids, Laura and Aiden.

Dave smiled at the children. Aiden waved and Laura gave him a nod as she stood with her arms crossed.

Nice to meet you all, Dave said. If you don’t mind, can we walk while we talk? I’d like to get us where we’re going.

Maya nodded, and they started walking again.

They headed down a series of winding corridors, the flashlight’s narrow beam guiding them. If she hadn’t known they were in a football stadium, Maya might have been more concerned about where they were going, because the air felt still and menacing. But after traveling through the tunnels beneath Nashville, the darkness didn’t concern her.

Watch your step, Dave said. We’re heading down some stairs. Unless you want to try the elevator. He uttered a small laugh, but no one replied.

They went down the stairs and through a few more corridors before finally coming to a locked door. Dave pulled his keys out again and opened it.

A dozen candles illuminated the room. Maya glanced around to see orange and black on the walls, and the team’s logo positioned throughout. A bench seat bordered the entire room, at least fifty locker stalls recessed into the wall behind it. On the floor, dozens of people lay spread out on the carpeted floor with little room between them. It appeared as if most of them were asleep, though some were sitting up and others looked the group’s way.

You a football fan? Dave asked Aiden. Pretty cool, right?

Aiden said nothing. He moved closer to his mom.

He’s more into video games than football games.

Ah, gotcha. Well, we can at least be thankful the place doesn’t smell like it would after a game. He laughed again, and this time Maya humored him with a smile. There’s an empty office over this way. Let’s go chat in there for a second.

I’ll hang out here with Aiden, Laura said.

Maya sighed, looking around the room at the strange people she didn’t know. Look, that’s fine, but stay right here. I don’t want you two—

It’ll be fine, Mom, Laura said. Really. I got him.

Maya cocked her head and then smiled, nodding. She had been worried about Laura ever since they’d abandoned Gerald on the highway, but nothing had changed about the fact that she loved Aiden and embraced the responsibilities of being his big sister.

She’s growing up so fast.

Maya kissed Aiden on the top of his head and squeezed her daughter’s shoulder before turning around and following Reno and Dave into the nearby room.

A cluttered desk sat in the middle of the space, its walls lined with pictures of football players. A shelf sat in the corner with trophies on it. And on the desk sat a picture of a large man in his 40s standing next to a woman and three children. A coach’s office.

We really owe you for saving us out there, Reno said to Dave.

Dave waved him off. Don’t mention it. We’re all in this together, right?

Maya and Reno shared a glance. They’d come across their fair share of humans taking advantage of this apocalyptic event and trying to steer it toward their own agendas.

Well, that hasn’t exactly been our experience, Maya said.

Sorry to hear that. Maybe we’ve just been lucky around here.

How long have you all been here? Reno asked.

Since the beginning of it all. Our group was larger, but a lot of people left. There’s a few dozen of us here now.

Maya narrowed her eyes. That’s it?

Dave nodded. People began to panic about being in the big city when word spread about all the domes. A lot of people left for the country. Not to mention that we don’t have a ton of food. I didn’t want to mention this out there, but we have to ration the food and it isn’t going to last very long.

Reno looked at Maya as Dave continued.

I think if people had known that those bastards can’t stand the light, then fewer would have bailed, considering the situation we’re in here.

Pretty big generators here at the stadium, I’m guessing, Reno said.

Oh, yeah. This place is prepared for quite the shit show. Dave checked his watch. Look, it might be best for you all to go ahead and get some rest. We can make some space in this locker room for the four of you. Just make yourselves at home. Tomorrow we can chat a little more.

Maya wanted more answers immediately, but her eyelids felt as heavy as the engine block of a ’65 Mustang. The questions swimming through her head could tread water until the morning.

Sounds like a good idea to me, Reno said.

Dave smiled. Alright. Like I said, make yourselves at home. I’ll be sleeping in there tonight, too, so holler at me if you need anything.

Maya reached out her hand. Thanks for everything.

Dave shook it.

Reno then patted him on the back and said, Yeah, thanks a ton.

Don’t mention it. Now, let’s all go get some rest.

3

Dust filled the air. Maya shielded her face and closed her eyes as she groaned. The particles had stung her eyes before she could close them, and she swiped her forearm across her face to try and relieve herself of the discomfort.

After several moments, the dust stopped tickling her skin. She waited several more seconds before opening her eyes, and did so only slightly at first, making sure the dust storm had ended.

Maya stood in the middle of the highway, her legs straddling the dotted yellow lines.

She scanned the area. Nothing around her looked familiar. But considering her surroundings, she wondered if it would even be possible for her to know if she’d ever been there. The barren countryside stared back at her—no buildings, no trees. Not a person or thing in sight. Just the highway, dust, and dirt, flat and dry all the way to the horizon.

As she looked up into the sky, she saw nothing there, either. No ships or extraterrestrial beings. More nothing.

Where am I?

That’s quite the question, isn’t it?

The new voice sounded in her head like an echo. She recognized the gruff timbre of it. But as she looked around, Maya did not see her ex-husband.

Gerald?

She searched, spinning in circles. But he wasn’t there.

Then a focused tornado engulfed her with dust. In a matter of seconds, she’d