Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller by Brandon Ellis (easy to read books for adults list txt) 📕

“Looks like a Marine is back,” said Megan, her brows furrowed, curiosity streaking her eyes. She glanced out the window.

Drew sighed. He hoped it wasn’t Segarra, but it probably was. Reality was back, demanding he step up.

Mya opened the door, her sweet innocent eyes staring up at Drew. “My daddy said I could stay with you and do what I have to do.”

“You mean, to sit and chill for a while?” He knew that’s not what she meant.

“To find the others like me and meet up with Jaxx.”

Drew pursed his lips. Could he have a break for just a moment? He stared at the pipe for a few seconds, dreaming of wrapping his lips around the pipe’s mouthpiece and taking a nice drag. He glanced at Mya, her harmless glow flowing to him, whispering her courage, her want to help, her willingness to follow a mission to save the people of Earth—even though she didn’t know ninety-nine percent of those people. And this girl had some powers and secret insights that were more important than a puff of 420 Burnie.

He walked over and put the pipe back on the shelf. “I don’t know how to find the others.”

“I’m your protector,” said Mya.

Drew leaned in more. “You mean, I’m your protector.” That’s why she was asking him to come along, wasn’t it?

She shook her head ferociously, her eyes narrowing. “No, Drew. I’m your protector. You wouldn’t be able to protect me, or her.”

Drew glanced at Megan then back at Mya. “What am I to do, Mya?” This was getting a little out of hand, and even wackier than what has been going on outside for the last few days.

“Jaxx is on his way now. We walk that way.” Mya pointed at the wall behind Drew.

“You want us to go south? I don’t want to go anywhere,” responded Drew. “Let’s rest up.”

“Rest with her,” said Mya.

“Me?” Megan touched her chest. “That ain’t happening.”

“Yes, it will,” Mya replied.

Drew liked the sound of that, but he didn’t think Mya knew what she was talking about.

“So, let me get this straight,” said Drew. “Your dad has given you permission to go on a hike with me and Megan, outside of the shield zone, and to God-knows-where, in order to find other children like you?”

“I won’t get hurt, I promised him.”

“How did you do that, sweetie?” questioned Megan.

“I showed him in his mind.” She waived Drew over to her. “Like this.” She reached up and touched Drew’s forearm.

The chronic shop evaporated in front of his eyes and they were near a river. The Agadon were on the other side, standing like stone statues. A hand touched Drew’s. It was another little girl, smiling brightly up at him. A sensation ran from her hand and up his arm, and Drew’s body began vibrating, tingling. A heart-lifting awareness washed over him and he understood, for reasons he couldn’t explain, that Mya must go on this trip, must do this for the benefit of humanity.

Another child clasped his other hand. He looked and it was a young boy, brown hair, his eyes bright and mischievous, like most boys. And down the line were more children, Megan, and Mya. Then Jaxx, at the very end. He winked at Drew and lifted his hand like a conductor at an orchestra.

The river’s water rushed away from the shore, rising up into a massive wave, hiding the Agadon on the other side of the river. The wave broke and slammed on the Agadon’s position, but when it calmed, the Agadon were gone. They had disappeared.

What was left was a large, golden key resting on dirt and rocks in place of the Agadon. A hand picked it up and it was Jaxx. He was on the other side of the river. He dipped his head and smiled, turned around, and walked off, fading until he vanished.

Mya took her hand off of Drew’s forearm and Drew came back to the present, the smell of weed filling his nostrils.

“That is why we have to go, Drew,” she said.

Drew inhaled. He felt awake, revitalized—brand new. How did she do that? There was something not spoken or shown in the hallucination he just had. Yet, it came to him like the vision. “That’s only one of the many possibilities, Mya. We could also all die out there.”

She shook her head again. “I will protect you. I can protect. You saw it.”

“I also felt that nothing is set in stone.”

“I say we go,” said Megan. “The Agadon have flown away. Eventually they’ll come back and if there is a way to stop them, then by God, I’m all for it. If we don’t try, then we will surely perish by their hands.”

He walked around the counter and took Mya’s hand. “As long as you promise me you’ll be safe.”

Mya nodded her head. “I won’t die.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Will you be safe?”

Mya shrugged. “I think so.”

“Well, damn. That’s good enough?” Drew calculated every reason not to go. He calculated his risks, placing a child in harm’s way, and going south with a woman—Megan—he barely knew. There would be arguments, mistakes, wrong turns, and every other obstacle life throws at you from time to time. And what about the food? The water? Places to stay? Most importantly, where exactly were they going?

But the vision. If they could get to the hallucination that Drew had experienced, then it would be all worth it. They could wash away the Agadon threat.

Megan curled her fingers around Drew’s hand and reached for the door with her other. She opened it. “Lead the way, Mya.”

“No, you two lead the way. You’re the next rulers.”

Rulers? Drew still didn’t know what that meant, but there would be plenty of talking on the way—again, where ever the hell they were going. And supposedly, Jaxx was going to find his way to them.

“Time to step up, Drew Avera.” It was his mom’s voice, kind but firm. “Time to step up and be who you were always meant to