LOGINThe heavy steel door of the vault slammed shut behind them. It let out a sad sound, like an animal that was hurt. June leaned back against the cold metal door. She was taking fast breaths. Outside the world was in a lot of pain. The Investors ships were hitting the ground in Nigeria making a series of thuds that made Junes bones shake. She felt the vibrations all the way to her soul.Her mother, Patience whispered to her "June you are bleeding." Junes mother reached out to touch her shoulder. June looked down. Saw that her medical clothes were all torn up. They were soaked with salt water, grey ash and her own blood, which was glowing gold.. June did not feel any pain. Her mind was already away thinking about the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital."We have to go " June said. Her voice sounded empty in the dark room.The soldier wiped the soot from his forehead leaving a dark smear on his skin. He looked at June like she was crazy. "The world outside is like a fire, Doctor. The cente
The sky did not get dark. It turned a purple color.High above the grey clouds of Akwa Ibom the red lights of the ships started to blink. They looked like thousands of eyes staring down at the ground. The new ships were sharp and black with glowing lines. They looked like metal insects floating in the air.The soft peace of the ship was gone."They are not waiting " June whispered.She got up quickly. Her boots slipped in the black dirt that had just grown around the green jar. The tiny plant at her feet was already a foot long. Its leaves were a green.. The air around it felt heavy. It smelled thick like a hospital basement."June get away from that thing!" her mother shouted.Patience Gregory grabbed Junes arm. She pulled her back. Her mothers touch was cold. Her skin was still pale from sixty years of sleeping in the computer world.. Her grip was strong.Around them the thousands of survivors were starting to scream. They were not looking at the ships yet. They were looking at the
The gold tank was like a mouth that wanted to eat me up. Junes skin was stuck to the glass and she could feel her thoughts being pulled out of her head. The white ship was making a loud humming noise. It was so loud that her teeth were shaking."Stop it!" June said loud. She was scratching at the glass with her fingernails.. Her fingers felt weak like they were made of wax that was melting in the sun.Director Vane was standing by the computer. She did not look like a person anymore. Her skin looked like plastic in the bright light. She was watching the numbers on the screen go up."It is almost done June " Vane said. Her voice was smooth and cold. "When your special blood is all gone this ship will have power to get to the Second Earth. You should be happy. You are helping the future of humans.""This is not for humans " June said slowly.She looked at the statue that used to be a soldier. He was standing still. His eyes were empty. He was not her friend. He was not a real person.Th
The water in the lab had stopped rising. Was starting to boil.The big blast of energy had broken the cooling systems of the Ark.Steam was coming out of the walls like snakes.It made the red emergency light look like a fog.June was standing in the water up to her waist.She was still holding Bensons hand.She did not want to let him go."Doctor we have to moveThe soldier grabbed Junes shoulder.He was not controlled by the General anymore.His eyes were clear and scared.He pulled her away from the wheelchair.The metal made a scraping sound against the floor under the water."He is gone June. If we stay here the water will crush us""The ships" June said.She was having trouble breathing because of the steam.She pointed at the ceiling.Through the water of the ocean white ships were coming down.They did not look like the Generals drones.They looked like ghosts.They moved through the water like it was not there.They were shaped like stones.They glowed with a clean light.It
The giant needle did not look like a doctors tool. It looked like a silver tooth. It was hollow and filled with a liquid. The liquid moved inside the glass like trapped smoke. It was thick. Changed between gold and black colors."Benson wait!" June shouted.She tried to pull her hand from the machine.. The old mans grip was strong. He was thin. Looked weak but his fingers felt like iron. It was not his muscles moving his hand. It was the power of the machines connected to his wheelchair. He was part of the computer now."There is no time to wait June!" Bensons voice cracked. He hit a button on the side of his chair.With a clack metal cuffs snapped shut around Junes wrists. They locked her to the computer desk. The cold metal hurt her skin making it turn red. She. Kicked her heels against the floor but she could not move. She was trapped."You are a doctor!" Benson yelled. The lab alarms were now screaming. "You know how a virus works. If we do not kill the source now the General will
The phone in Junes hand felt very heavy. It was a piece of glass and metal that should not have been working. Around her the world was a graveyard of ash and broken machines. There were no power lines, no cell towers. Yet the screen was glowing with a light."INCOMING CALL: BENSON""June what is that?" her mother asked. She pulled her hand away from Junes face. Her eyes were wide with fear. "Is that a piece of the machine?"June did not answer. Her thumb stayed over the Accept" button. Her heart had just started beatingIf I answer this do I let the dream in? June wondered."Do not touch it!" the soldier shouted. He ran toward her through the dirt. His heavy boots kicked up clouds of grey ash. "Doctor that phone is a trap. The Boss is trying to find a way into our heads."June looked at the soldier back at the phone. The vibration was moving up her arm. It shook her bones. It did not feel like a machine. It felt like a heartbeat."He is calling from the ocean " June whispered. Her voi
The giant screen on the building wasn’t just showing a key—it started counting down. Big red numbers lit up the night sky.60…59…58…The ticking drowned out even the sirens. It was this deep, heavy thud, like someone swinging a hammer straight into the street. Everyone around June just… stopped. Ne
The air in the bakery didn’t just go cold—it felt like someone had died in there. June froze. Her heart slammed against her ribs, wild and frantic, like a bird trapped in a cage. She clutched her son, Leo, so close she could feel his own heartbeat pounding against her skin. Right in front of her st
The helicopter’s searchlight swept over the grass, hungry and restless, turning night into a harsh, blinding white. “Get down! Don’t move!” Dante hissed.He yanked June and her mom into the deep shadow of a giant iroko tree. The wind from the blades was brutal, thrashing the leaves so hard they r
The end didn’t come with fireworks or some earth-shattering roar. It crept in on a low, building hum. When the countdown hit zero, that black hole inside the oven didn’t blow up. Instead, it started to inhale—slow and strange. A wave of sound rolled out—so deep no one could hear it, yet strong enou







