Darkness Unknown (The Darkness Series Book 6), page 1
Darkness Unknown
Book Six of the Darkness Series
KC Luck
Darkness Unknown by KC Luck
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons either living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 KC Luck Media
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
About the Author
Thank You
Also By KC Luck
iReadIndies
Chapter One
Feeling the cool wind off the mighty Columbia River as she walked along the waterfront, Sergeant Geri Fischer let out a long sigh of relief. Her route along the northeast edge of the town of Astoria had been almost too hot in the late August sun. Even dressed in lightweight camo fatigues, the uniform was warm. But nothing like the desert, she thought, remembering having to march with a full rucksack and weapons through sand so hot it threatened to melt the soles of her combat boots. She forced the memory away as she paused to appreciate the view around her. Those were different times and in different places.
In fact, the simple, quiet town of Astoria could not be more different than any place where she ever lived. Although currently on duty, she wasn’t even carrying a weapon and was only out checking on things to pass some time. Being tagged to be part of the small contingent left behind by Major Grace Hamilton in case of any unforeseen emergency, Geri had not complained. Over a year ago and on the verge of an honorable discharge from the United States Army after recovering at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington, the night the lights went out could not have come at a worse time. She was ready to put everything, especially the memories about the Army behind her. Yet, in the aftermath of the solar storm, her enlistment was extended indefinitely.
Early retirement wasn’t in the cards for me, she thought while her eyes scanned the horizon of the choppy blue-gray water. But a duty assignment here is close enough. Even when a small squad was formed to chase the pirates on the ship the Wind Dancer, Geri’s name amazingly had not been called to go. At the time, Geri remembered being almost insulted at the oversight. After all, she was one of the most combat-experienced soldiers in the group. Even if she preferred to avoid engaging in fighting again, she would have willingly gone and given it her best effort. Duty was duty. Still, Major Hamilton skipped her. Not for the first time, Geri wondered if she somehow sensed that Geri had done enough fighting in the streets of hostile cities.
Starting to walk again, Geri neared the military headquarters set up in large, dark green tents in the empty parking lot of Astoria’s police station. The location made the most sense considering Army First Sergeant and Chief of Police Taylor Barnes currently ran both. Now that is a woman to look up to, she thought, continually in awe at her boss’s ability to handle all the duties laid at her feet. Geri had many different leaders in the past. Some good, some bad, but none could hold a candle to Taylor Barnes. Maybe if she had been the one running the show that night back in the desert… She cursed under her breath, already knowing trying to sleep once the sun went down would be rough tonight. Why do I seem intent on thinking about the past today?
With a shake of her head, she crossed the parking lot to the HQ tent and stepped through the flap to enter. The private on duty listening to the radio they monitored twenty-four-seven jumped to his feet. While her eyes adjusted to the dim light from only a single lantern, she waved for him to sit. “Relax,” she said. “Any news?”
“No, Sergeant,” the young man said. “Not a peep other than our standing check-in by the spotters.”
Geri nodded. “Good.” They had a team of two positioned in the highest landmark in Astoria to watch the harbor, bridge, and main roads into town—Astoria Tower. Surveillance was around the clock. According to First Sergeant Barnes, even when things were quiet, you could never be too careful. After her years of experience, Geri did not like surprises, so she could not agree more.
As she rode Lester with Taylor and Lexi on their own horses beside her, Sam was pleased with how well the day’s riding lesson went. With no significant sources of electricity anymore and gasoline a very rare commodity, it was more practical for people in town to take up horses as a main means of transportation. When Taylor came to her and asked Sam to find her a good horse, she was happy to oblige.
“And then teach me how to ride it,” she had said with a grin. “I’ve done a lot in my life, but horseback riding is not on the list.” Word spread to Lexi, who somewhat reluctantly asked Sam for lessons too. Even though there were two horses and a wagon at the farmhouse, sometimes it was more practical to ride solo into town.
Watching the two from the corner of her eye, Sam couldn’t miss how well Taylor sat in the saddle of the stallion she rode. The woman is a natural at everything, she thought. So, of course, she’s taken to it easily. Lexi, however, was a little more tentative, and Sam knew her horse sensed it. Although the older mare was gentle by nature, an overly anxious rider could be a recipe for disaster. We'll have to find a way to work past that with more practice. Unfortunately, Sam couldn't remember a time when she hadn't been riding horses, so she wasn't sure what exactly would help Lexi relax. I'll have to talk to Laura about it.
Thinking about the woman, when they came around the side of the barn, Sam looked across the backyard and picked out Laura on the crowded back porch. She held little Joe on her lap and was playing a game of pattycake. As if knowing Sam watched her, Laura looked up from the toddler, and their eyes met. A warmth filled Sam as she saw the love she felt in her heart reflecting back. Giving the woman a smile, Sam reigned in Lester. “I think that's enough for today,” Sam said. “What about you two?”
“I agree. My ass is plenty sore already,” Lexi admitted. “And I could use some of that lemonade I see Alice pouring for everyone up on the porch.” Considering it was an especially warm August afternoon, Sam agreed a cool drink of lemonade would be perfect. Lexi looked at Taylor. “How about you?”
Taylor nodded. “Good enough for today. I think I'm getting the hang of it,” she said. “Although, I will kind of miss my bicycle.”
“Why is that?” Sam asked.
“It's a great cardio workout,” Taylor said with a chuckle. “I barely get time to get in a good, long run anymore, unfortunately.” What the woman said made sense to Sam. As Astoria’s chief of police and currently the highest-ranking military person in town, Taylor was a very busy woman. The only person who might be busier was Taylor's wife, Jackie, who was currently walking in their direction across the backyard.
“Well now,” Jackie said with a smile that made her already beautiful face radiate sensuality. She made a show of looking up and down at Taylor. “Don't you look fine up there.”
“Thank you very much, ma'am,” Taylor said with a mock tip of a cowboy hat. “One of these days we'll have to get you to ride.”
“Oh no,” Jackie said with a wave of her hand. “I am just fine living right in the center of town and taking the buggy whenever we both need to go somewhere further.”
Swinging down from her horse, Taylor laughed. “Fair enough.”
Jackie looked at Lexi. “How are you doing, older sister?” she asked. “You don't look quite so gallant.”
“Thanks, sis,” Lexi said, moving less gracefully from the saddle. “Not all of us are superheroes like Taylor.” Smiling, she dusted off her backside. “I'm a writer, not a horsewoman, remember? My job is to sit behind a typewriter and write all this down.”
Sam loved the playfulness among everyone. These were her closest friends, something she hadn’t found until riding into Astoria over a year ago. The town had been nothing but a dot on her map and a means to keep going north. Yet when she arrived on Lester one night and rescued Jackie, Laura, and Lexi’s wife Anna from a terrible fate, she finally found a place to call home.
Watching Lexi walk across the back lawn with Taylor and the others, Anna felt a warmth in her heart. Part of the reason Lexi asked to take riding lessons was for her. Sometimes, Anna worried about needing to get to Astoria quickly, especially when there was an emergency at the high-school-turned hospital. Ever since the first hospital burned down not long after t
“Hey,” Lexi said to Anna as she reached the porch steps.
Anna smiled. “Hey back,” she said, giving her an appraising look. If she had to guess, Lexi was already sore in the saddle. “How do you feel?”
Sliding onto the bench beside Anna, Lexi winced. “I will definitely be feeling this in the morning.”
Rubbing her leg, Anna pecked Lexi on the cheek. “How about a massage later?” she whispered, and Lexi raised an eyebrow.
“I’d never say no to that.”
Feeling a tingle of anticipation, Anna had to focus on hearing what their friend Alice asked her. She stepped close, holding a pitcher of lemonade and a glass. “Lexi, would you like some?”
“Yes, please,” Lexi answered, reaching out a hand. “I know we used some propane to keep a few ice cubes frozen for today, but I think it might be worth it for such a treat.”
“It is indeed,” Charlie said from where she sat near Laura. “Nothing beats ice-cold lemonade on a hot afternoon.” Anna smiled. Charlie had become a very welcome addition to the group. After Sam found her with a sprained wrist and trapped under a log one rainy night, Charlie ended up staying at the farmhouse. From the first second, Alice and Charlie had chemistry, and nothing had made Anna happier over the course of the spring and summer but to watch their courtship. Suddenly, Callie, who sat on the other side of her, let out a little yelp.
Considering Callie was pregnant and almost to the due date Anna had predicted, she paid close attention. “Callie, how are you feeling?”
Callie rubbed her bulging stomach through the tight T-shirt spread across it. “I’m okay,” she said. “Just some kicking. I think the warm weather makes the baby restless.”
Standing from where he sat on the steps, Callie’s husband, Will, took the young woman’s hand. “Do you want to go lay down?” he asked with concern in his voice.
Anna loved seeing how much Will doted on his wife. He was a good man, and she had no doubt he would be an amazing father.
After squeezing Will’s hand, Callie shook her head. “No,” she said. “I want to stay. I want—” Suddenly, the young woman burst into tears. “I want my momma. I want to at least let her know I’m having her grandbaby.”
Blinking with surprise but understanding in an instant what was bothering Callie, Anna wrapped an arm around her shoulders to pull her closer. “Of course you do,” she murmured while knowing what Callie wanted was likely impossible. The young couple were from Sacramento, California. Still, she looked to Taylor, who stood leaning against the porch railing.
Their eyes met, and Taylor gave Anna a little nod. “Callie, I can’t promise anything, but I will have the radio operators keep trying to raise someone from Sacramento on the radio.”
After hiccupping back her tears, Callie wiped her eyes. “Thank you,” she said. “I know it’s not very likely but...”
“Let’s just see what Taylor can find out,” Anna said, but knew all past attempts to reach Sacramento by radio had gone unanswered. All she could do was hope that would change.
Chapter Two
Sitting on the porch with little Joe on her lap, Laura’s heart went out to Callie. With Callie’s baby so close to being born, Laura knew that, of course, the young woman would be missing her family. Not that everyone at the farmhouse wasn’t family in a way, but to share her beautiful circumstances with her mother would be normal under any other conditions. Glancing at the yard where Henry was playing a game of tag with his little sister Shauna and Heather, Laura was again reminded of how blessed she was, even in these unusual times. After a quiet, single life as an accountant at a small firm in Astoria, Laura had never expected to find the love of her life and have a family. But here we are, she thought as her eyes drifted back to Sam coming out of the barn after putting up the horses for the night. Her sweet, caring lover Sam. In her world, she truly needed no one else.
Even though Callie had her husband Will, who Laura knew was a good man from all he had done for everyone, she was far from home. The question always was, though, how much home would really be left if anyone went to look? Laura’s own house burned to the ground in the fire that consumed the town’s hospital. So many of her possessions were destroyed but for a few irreplaceable keepsakes, and yet Laura again would not trade any of the things from her past life for what she had at present. As if to emphasize the point, the three children came running to the porch rail.
“Laura,” Henry said, always the unofficial spokesman for the group. “We were wondering when the barbeque is starting. We are seriously hungry.”
“Yeah,” Shauna chimed in, always unable to keep from having her say, clearly much to Henry’s frustration from the roll of his eyes. “I’m starving.” Her dramatic emphasis on the word starving made Laura hide a smile. Heather, as continued to be the case ever since Sam and Laura found her hiding in their house after her own town was destroyed by pirates, stayed quiet, but her eyes held the same question.
Before Laura could explain it would happen all in due time, Lexi gingerly lifted herself from the wicker couch she was sharing with Anna and Callie. “I think I will go get those coals flaring up right now,” she said with a wince. There was no mistaking the horseback riding was already taking its toll. “Hamburgers will be going on the grill in ten minutes at the most.”
Shauna cheered. “Hooray,” she said. “Can we have cheese on them too?”
“Shauna,” Laura gently reprimanded. “Hamburgers are special enough.”
Lexi chuckled as she used the railing to move down the stairs. “It’s okay, Laura,” she said. “Cheese is an exciting commodity for all of us.” She looked at Shauna. “And yes, I do believe some of that newly imported cheddar cheese from Tillamook will be on the menu.”
Shauna cheered again and Heather clapped her hands. “Thank you, Aunt Lexi,” Henry said, his face more serious than the others. Clearly, he appreciated the value of the cheese much more than the others. “That will make them taste extra good.”
Passing him, Lexi patted Henry on the shoulder. “I agree,” she said with a smile. “Now, how about you three come help with the grilling?” Laura smiled as the trio of children nodded vigorously and Shauna let out her third cheer in under a minute. We might need to work on that, Laura thought, but for the moment, life was good indeed.
Working on her latest colorful knitting project, Julia Sharpe sat at a window in her one-bedroom apartment above Astoria’s old post office and tried to catch some of the early evening breeze. She was fortunate to have large windows that let in a lot of sunlight, but they also generated a lot of heat. Without air conditioning or even an electric fan anymore, her place became quite warm by the end of any sunny day. Just a couple of more things we have all learned to live without, she thought as she worked her knitting needles. Not that she would trade the sunshine. Even though August had been a hot month, Julia loved the long, sunny days of summer and cherished each one, knowing Astoria’s rain would be back far too soon.
