Sequel to Mortal Escape
Ten years have passed since the devastating war between the surface-born and the mysterious beings from the underground, a conflict that shattered the world and left deep scars in its wake. Lennox grapples with the aftermath of a war that changed everything she once knew. After fleeing the city, unable to stand the political games and the bitter aftermath of a failed peace attempt, Lennox has chosen a life of solitude along the shorelines, far from the chaos of her past.
When disaster strikes again, this time threatening everything she’s worked to rebuild, Lennox is forced to flee at the urging of her older sister Halen. As they race against time, the haunting memories of a war-torn world come rushing back, leaving Lennox wondering if safety is even possible in a world so broken.
In the midst of the turmoil, Lennox’s past resurfaces in the form of Salem -- once a childhood friend, now a beautiful and captivating woman. The bond they shared in the past has only deepened, and now, an undeniable connection between them stirs, one that goes beyond friendship, into a realm neither of them has thought to explore before. But with their families’ long-standing animosity and the ever-present threat of war looming over them, a love between them feels not only forbidden, but dangerous.
As they struggle to navigate their growing feelings amidst political strife, explosive battles, and ever-looming danger, can they escape the shadows of their past and find a future in a world determined to tear them apart?
I had barely stood up from the table when Salem’s voice cut through the air, playful and commanding. "Come on, sit on the floor in front of me," she said, patting the space on the carpet. I glanced over at her, raising an eyebrow, but I didn’t argue. It was clear she had a plan, and honestly, I wanted to know about it.
The living room was quiet -- just us and Mr. Jones, who had dozed off on the couch, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest the only sound. I sank down onto the floor in front of Salem, my muscles still a little tight from sitting, hoping this stretching thing would help. Salem was cool and collected, taking her place behind me. Her hands lightly touched my shoulders as she guided me into the first stretch, showing me how to reach my arms up and bend forward. I followed her lead, trying to match her movements as best as I could.
"Good," Salem murmured, voice soft as she demonstrated a few more stretches. I felt my body begin to loosen up, the tension melting away with each movement. When I bent forward, trying to reach for my toes, I suddenly felt Salem’s hands on my back, steadying me for a deeper stretch. She pressed gently, guiding me further into it. A little gasp slipped from me, but it felt so good. The stretch was deeper, more intense, but in a way that was relieving, almost soothing.
I let out a long breath, enjoying the quiet connection between us. Salem didn’t speak for a moment, and I was grateful for the pause. But then, as she held me there, she broke the silence with a question.
"So, tell me, Lennox Sloan, what have you been up to after all these years?" she asked, her voice light but with a note of curiosity.
I hesitated, unsure how to answer. I could tell her all the things I’d been part of, but ... it was hard to condense it all. I’d had a lot of time to think, but not a lot of time to make meaningful connections, and I wasn’t sure how to express all the chaos that had been my life outside of the city.
"Not much," I said, dragging the words out slowly. "You know, life. Stuff." Salem raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
"Way to be vague," she laughed, clearly amused by my half-answer.
I rolled my eyes, a smile pulling at my lips. "What about you, though? Last time I saw you, you were just ... what, fourteen?"
Salem chuckled, a soft sound, and I could hear the amusement in her voice. "Yeah, fourteen. I’ve been busy since then. I went into a nursing program -- following in Safia’s footsteps."
I nodded, understanding that. "Of course, that makes sense."
"And," Salem continued, "I also became a swim coach. Well, I was before all of ... this."
"Ah, that explains the fit body," I said, glancing at her with a teasing grin.
Salem’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "You’re a charmer," she replied, clearly entertained by my flirting. I leaned back slightly, stretching my legs out.
"How many girlfriends do you have anyways?" she asked.
I raised an eyebrow and shook my head at her question. "No girlfriends," I confirmed.
“Ah, the love them and leave them kind, are we?” Though she smiled, I wasn’t sure how serious to take her. I wasn’t inexperienced with women -- far from it -- but I didn’t think that was how I’d describe myself.
Before I could ask Salem about her love life, something unexpected happened. The ground shook for a brief moment and the lights suddenly flickered and dimmed, casting the room into harsh, cold darkness. The tension in the air was immediate -- heavy, palpable.
Mr. Jones woke with a start, sitting up abruptly on the couch, his eyes wide with confusion.
Cassie appeared from her room, moving quickly toward the control room, with Ezrah emerging from his own room and following right behind her. Their expressions were tight and focused.
Lily quickly walked over and knelt beside us; her posture composed despite the obvious tension in the room. She grabbed both mine and Salem’s hands, her touch grounding.
I wanted to ask, to say something, but the words stuck in my throat, a wave of cold fear washing over me. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Something wasn’t right.
The shaking had stopped and the emergency lights came on, but the overhead lights remained out. A few moments later, Halen entered the room, her face pale and eyes filled with sorrow. She looked like she’d been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Lily spoke, her voice composed but with an underlying urgency. "What's happening, Halen?"
Halen swallowed hard, her gaze flicking over each of us before she spoke, her voice low, heavy with the weight of what she was about to say. “What we just felt was the detonation of an atomic bomb in the city.”
Mia, who was now sitting next to her grandfather, looked up at Halen. "What does that mean?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Halen took a deep breath, her face full of distraught. "It means nuclear warfare has begun.”
