Sunset Rising

Book One

Copyright 2012 by S.M. McEachern

Clownfish Publishing

All rights reserved.

S.M. McEachern’s blog: http://smmceachern.wordpress.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17312777-sunset-rising

“Sunset Rising is thrilling; there is no better word for it. Romance, intrigue, and action all come together beautifully here to create an experience that will leave anyone asking for more.” – Molly Burkemper for “Readers Favorite”

“Sunset Rising is a rollercoaster ride with a terrifying drop at the end. A beautiful love story filled with danger and horror. The Greatest Book I’ve Ever Read.” – Selina Liaw, Book Blogger and Goodreads reviewer

“How is this not on every bestseller list yet? Listen to me now, please … if you love Dystopian YA novels READ THIS BOOK!” – Paula Fetty-King, Goodreads reviewer

“REAL RATING OF THIS BOOK – 7 OUT OF 5 STARS!!!” – Zeina Issa, Goodreads reviewer

“I am shocked this is this author’s first book… I would rank this book up among some of my other favorites, such as… Suzanne Collins ‘The Hunger Games’ and Neal Shusterman’s ‘Unwind.’  This page turner is a must read!” – Kerry Kerr MacAvoy, Author and Goodreads reviewer

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Prologue

Date: February 16, 2024

Benjamin Reyes wasn’t the kind of man to tell people I told you so, but everything he’d predicted was coming true. No one in the Valley had ever liked him. The kids made fun of him and called him “the hermit.” The adults talked about him, too, but never to his face. They all thought he was crazy. So when he told the town a global nuclear war was imminent, they all laughed at him.

Their ignorance dumbfounded him. Didn’t they watch the news? All they had to do was connect the dots. People were suffering the effects of climate change all over the world. In some countries, people were being killed daily by massive flooding; and in others, scores of people were dying because of drought. Countries with abundant water were reluctant to share because they feared that one day they too would face a drought. People all around the world were dying from the famine and disease brought on by the misery of human suffering. Instead of helping each other, countries all around the world strengthened their military defenses and threatened war.

News reports that one country or another was threatening to launch a nuclear attack had become commonplace. No one paid much attention to it anymore. Except Benjamin Reyes. He always paid attention. He paid attention to all the military vehicles and aircraft coming through the Valley and up into the mountain. No one else found that suspicious. Military vehicles had been coming up and down the mountain for as long as anyone could remember. Everyone knew the government had some kind of secret base up there, and no one questioned it. Why would they? The people trusted their leaders.

However, during the past week, Benjamin had noted that the vehicles were going up the mountain but weren’t coming back down. So he started warning everyone in the Valley, but they just laughed at him… until they turned on their televisions and saw a tearful President Taylor giving the news that bombs were falling. She urged everyone to take cover then asked God to bless them all.

Benjamin knew where they could find cover, and people were finally listening to him.

The entire Valley population followed the path that the military vehicles had taken and walked up the mountain for hours. Mothers and fathers shared the load of carrying babies. Older children helped smaller ones. The elderly had to try to keep up on their own. No one brought any personal belongings; there was no time.

Eventually, the road ended at a hangar that appeared to have been carved out of the side of the mountain. Military personnel were busily trying to fit helicopters and large trucks into an already cramped space. The civilians surprised them. The soldiers weren’t sure what to do until they were given the order to force the civilians back. The refugees would not be granted entry.

The civilians continued to push forward, desperate to get to safety with their children. Someone shouted the order to fire on them. Reluctantly, soldiers armed themselves and sent a hail of bullets into the oncoming crowd.

Benjamin Reyes grabbed as many children as he could and hid them behind vehicles still parked on the tarmac. He shouted for the people still coming up the mountain to turn back, but they kept coming. A rumble from the sky announced the arrival of the first of the nuclear missiles. Panic spread through the crowd, and the clash between military and civilian became more desperate.

Finally, the soldiers stopped firing, and Benjamin peeked out from behind the truck and saw people being let into the hangar. He took the smallest children by the hand and bid the rest to follow him. Bodies lay where they’d fallen all along the tarmac, and he had to pick his way through them to get the children safely inside the Dome.

“Three more minutes, and those doors are shut. I don’t care what the president says,” a well-decorated general said to a group of soldiers.

Benjamin realized that not everyone would be saved. Thousands were still coming up the mountain. Three minutes later, he watched helplessly as the soldiers shut the doors, drowning out the screams of the people left on the tarmac. He thought he would be sick.

“I am General Edward Holt,” a voice boomed over a loudspeaker. The refugees quieted, anxious to hear what the general had to say. “Nuclear bombs have begun to reach our country’s major cities. You are very lucky to have found refuge here, for which you can thank President Julia Taylor. This is a bio-dome capable of supporting life for as long as we need it. Forget about your homes and whatever family you’ve left behind. These doors must remain sealed for at least the next thousand years.”

Sobs among the crowd turned to panic as the severity of their situation dawned on the civilians. The world as they knew it was ending.

“However!” the general yelled over the cries of the people. He only continued when the room became silent and he had their attention. “Your arrival was unexpected, and we’ll have to make room for you. Until we can work that out, you’ll have to stay here in the hangar.”

Their stay in the hangar lasted days, but they were given food, water, and bedrolls. Children found ways to entertain themselves, and the adults comforted each other. Everyone thanked Benjamin Reyes for leading them to the Dome. So when General Holt returned and asked to speak with their leader, Benjamin was unanimously elected. Reluctantly, Benjamin accepted the position and met with General Holt in private.

“I am sorry to say that President Taylor is dead,” the general said. “Although I suspect you already knew that.”

“The president is dead?” Benjamin asked, shocked. “I thought she was here, inside the Dome.”