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  Silence of Stars

  HOLLY J. WOOD

  Copyright © 2017 by Holly J. Wood

  Cover Design by: Mythic Studios, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the author.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-940427-15-7

  ISBN-10: 1-940427-15-0

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2017940424

  Book Website

  www.hollyjwood.com

  Email: [email protected]

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  Printed in The United States of America

  Dedicated in loving memory of F. David Rudd.

  Support, encouragement, and love as wide as the universe.

  I could search the galaxy and never find a father as incredible as you.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book. Oh this book. It has been a labor of love and tears and many, many rounds of rewrites and revisions to get to this point. I lost count of the number of times I wanted to call it quits and shelf this story forever, but Lark and Gideon wouldn’t let me. Their story demanded to be told and has fairly haunted me over the past four years. I will be forever grateful for the friends and family who have supported me and helped this book to finally come about.

  First, my heartfelt love and thanks to my mom, Marilyn Rudd. You have given me wings and helped me to fly. This book would not have happened without your enthusiasm and encouragement. (And your willingness to help with the kids during crunch time). You are strong, and brave and a beacon of light in my life. I love you, Marmie.

  Next, my beta readers along the way who have offered wonderful insights and feedback: Janelle Lehmann, Candice Toone, L. T. Elliot, Preston Cox, Christy Dorrity, Marilyn Rudd and Susan Auten. Each of you made this story stronger, and I’m so grateful for your thoughts and input.

  I have to give a huge shout out to my rock star editor, Jen Hendricks. Jen, all I can say is—wow. I’m so lucky to have you to polish things up and keep my stories on track. My books and I thank you.

  To Preslee, Brennan and Jaycee Norman, thanks for being such good sports and helping me with the cover. And to Lynzee Ouellette, for your beautiful photography skills.

  As always, I couldn’t pull this project off without the help and support of my writing group: Christy and Devon Dorrity, and Angie and Dale Millsap. Thanks for all you do! A special thanks to Devon for designing another beautiful cover and helping with the formatting, and to Christy for being my “book birthing coach.” Your encouragement is priceless!

  To Natalie Niederhauser, thank you for being my cheerleader! You’ll never know how much it means to have your support and friendship in my life. (Don’t ever move, okay?).

  To Kami Wood, Heidi Terry and Kayleen Fuller, thank you for making my research trip possible, and especially for being my buddies along the way. Here’s hoping to many more research trips in the future!

  To Steve, Trevor, Lucy, Layla and Tyler, thank you for keeping me grounded. You guys are my world and I love you more than you’ll ever know.

  Lastly, I acknowledge the giver of all good gifts. I couldn’t accomplish anything worthwhile without God’s help in the journey, and I am humbled for the privilege.

  CHAPTER

  One

  “What are you doing up here?”

  I jerked away from the telescope and gave Reagan a shrug. “Just looking at Pegasus. It’s super clear tonight.”

  She crossed her arms. “You think I don’t know when you’re lying?”

  I ignored the accusation and tilted my head. “Question is, what are you doing up here? Don’t you have a dance to get to?”

  Reagan tossed her bouncy brown hair to the side. “Lark, I refuse to let you murder your social life like this. It’s Friday night—the last night before the world could come to an end—and you’re going to spend it partying like any self-respecting teen should.”

  I rolled my eyes and stooped to look through the eyepiece of my telescope again. “The world isn’t coming to an end. And I for one, would rather spend the night on my rooftop watching for a glimpse of the spaceship, than in some gym packed with sweaty teenagers.”

  “Ha! I knew that’s what you were doing.” She pulled on my shoulder, forcing me to look into her warm brown eyes. “Just come. Please? This whole thing totally freaks me out. I want to pretend for one more night that everything is normal.” She pulled her signature pouty face.

  I frowned. “Come on, Rea, not with the face. You know I’ll just be a third wheel to you and Dan anyway.”

  She shook her head, causing her mass of hair to swing like loose coils. “I promise not to dance with him unless you have someone to dance with. Deal?”

  I sighed and shifted my weight, casting a longing glance at my telescope. “Aren’t you even the least bit curious? I mean, it’s not everyday Earth gets invaded by extra-terrestrials.”

  She made a face. “Maybe, maybe not. They look like us, and they’ve obviously been monitoring us. Who’s to say they haven’t been living among us for years already?”

  I nodded. “You’re right—in fact, maybe someone you know is an alien.” A wicked smile spread across my face. “Maybe I am.” I let out an evil cackle.

  She slapped my arm. “Quit it! You know I’m already freaked.”

  I grinned. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t get how you can be calm about this whole situation. I mean, six months ago we didn’t even know life existed on other planets. Then—poof! Suddenly we get a memo from some intergalactic council that not only does life exist, but apparently, our world is on the naughty list and we have to join space rehab or face dire consequences.” She held up her hands. “Call me crazy for wanting to block out reality for one more night.”

  My smile faded, the joking gone. “It’s fine to be scared. We all are on some level.”

  She put a hand on her hip. “Except you. You’ve been totally level-headed about this insanity from day one. How?”

  I lifted a shoulder and then ran my finger across the nameplate on the telescope: Dr. Paul Taylor.

  Reagan nodded in understanding. “Your dad.”

  I turned from her and stared out into the night as a lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t talk about him right now. My father, the world-class astronomer and historian. He’d always believed we weren’t alone in the universe. Maybe that was why I wasn’t shocked when we were contacted, or that we were about to be invaded. He was my hero, and since he believed, so had I.

  Reagan touched my shoulder. “You okay?”

  I turned and smiled. “Yeah.”

  “Do you want to talk about the accident?”

  “No.”

  She slid her hands into her pockets. “Come to the dance, Lark. It will be good for you. We’re starting to get a little bit worried about how much time you spend up here.”

  “We?” I sighed as understanding hit. “My mom put you up to this, didn’t she?”

  Reagan squirmed. She’d never had a good poker face. I gave her a look and she caved. “Okay, maybe she did, but I would have invited you anyway. You’ve become so reclusive since your dad died, spending all your nights up on your roof with his telescope.”

  I folded my arms. Maybe I’d been more reclusive than usual, but I’d always spent clear nights up here with Dad’s telescope. For as long I could remember, I’d been looking at the stars.

  Reagan shifted. “And now with the Recruitment tomorrow—what if one of us is Chosen?”

  I shook my head.
“We’ve been over this a million times. The odds of it being one of us are slim to none.”

  “But we’re the right age, so there’s still a chance. No sixteen-year-old is safe.” She bit her lip as tears filled her eyes.

  I couldn’t stand to see Reagan cry. I leaned forward and gave her a tight hug before pulling back to look in her eyes. “Listen, there are millions of teenagers in this country and only twenty will be Chosen. The odds are ridiculously high it won’t be either of us, okay?”

  She nodded but a tear slipped down her nose.

  I gave her a reassuring smile. “And even if we were, this program sounds pretty amazing to me. I mean, the way things are, I’m betting just about any planet is an improvement to ours.” I shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe they even have real food. Or air that doesn’t have to be filtered. Or libraries filled with rows and rows of books.”

  She snorted. “Clean air and food would be enough. Don’t get carried away.”

  “A girl can dream.” I paused and then blew out a breath. “Well, come on. Let’s not keep Daniel waiting.”

  She squealed and grabbed my arm. “You’re coming?”

  I shrugged. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

  She pulled me toward the stairs leading down from the rooftop observatory and into my house. Just before we reached the stairs I saw a bright flash out of the corner of my eye.

  I froze. “Did you see that?”

  “What?” Reagan frowned and pulled on my hand, but I wiggled it out of her grasp.

  “That flash. It came from over there.” I pointed, straining to see any sign of a spaceship, but the night sky was empty.

  “Relax. It was probably lightning.” Reagan grabbed my hand again, her palm slightly clammy.

  “There’s not a cloud in the sky,” I protested.

  She raised a finger. “Nuh-uh. Don’t even think about going back to that telescope. We need to find you a super-hot outfit—your black top with the ruffles and sequins will be perfect.”

  My shoulders slumped. “What’s wrong with my hoodie and yoga pants?”

  She pursed her full lips. “I’m gonna pretend you didn’t just say that.” Her gaze traveled up to my hair. “The ponytail goes too.”

  I sighed. “Fine. But I swear, if that spaceship lands while we’re at this dance you’re gonna owe me your next five dessert rations.”

  “Deal.” She flicked on the light to my bedroom and raised an eyebrow at the history books strewn across my bed. “More contraband?”

  I shrugged, fingering Dad’s favorite hardbound on U.S. History. “I don’t spend all of my time with the telescope.”

  “You need to keep that stuff out of sight. You know what they’ll do if they find it.” She gestured to Dad’s Bible on my pillow. “Especially that.”

  I went to the Bible and hugged it against my chest. “I think the government is busy enough with the Others’ impending arrival. There haven’t been house inspections in over two months.”

  She shrugged. “You never know. Just put them back in hiding, for my sake. I don’t want to see my best friend shipped off to juvie for something stupid.”

  “Fine—but it’s not stupid.”

  Reagan didn’t share my passion for books, or understand my need to be surrounded by them. They were like friends. A safe harbor to come to when no one else understood me. I’d carefully hand-picked each of these titles from Dad’s library, to hide when the Book Ban had begun. The inspections had been weekly at first, and I’d cried at seeing the empty shelves in the library, knowing the books had been burned. After we’d first been contacted by the Others six months ago, the Inspections had mostly come to a stop. But there was always the chance of a surprise Inspection. Maybe I was growing careless.

  Reagan watched as I lifted the floorboard and gently placed the Bible in the small space. If she knew what was hidden inside the cover, she’d blow a gasket.

  She handed me the rest of the books and then stepped over to my nightstand, picking up my journal. “Do you still write in this every day?”

  “Maybe.” I stood and snatched it out of her hands before she could open it. “Snooping much?”

  She shook her head and winced at the Civil War chess set on my desk. “Girl, you so need a boyfriend.” She went to my closet and rummaged around, pulling out the black top and a pair of skinny jeans, completing the look with strappy heels. “And with this outfit, you’re gonna get one. The guys will be falling all over you.”

  I made a face as I took the clothes from her. “Just what I’ve always wanted—some guy from Franklin High pawing at me all night.”

  She narrowed her eyes and pointed to the walk-in closet. “Go.”

  I gave her a mock-salute and marched to the closet, closing the door behind me. “Speaking of boyfriends, where’s Dan?” I called as I changed.

  “He’s going to meet us at the dance,” Reagan answered.

  I heard a knock at my bedroom door and then my mom’s voice. “Where’s Lark?”

  “Changing,” Rea said.

  A bit of silence followed in which I pictured Mom beaming and giving Rea a thumb’s up.

  “You two have any plans for the evening?” she asked.

  I rolled my eyes. “We’re going to the dance, Mom.” I finished dressing and opened the door. “And I know you put Rea up to it, so you can stop with the act.” I stared her down and she raised both hands.

  “Guilty as charged.” She dropped her hands and her smile warmed. Mom was one of those women who was stunning without even trying, but when she smiled? Forget it. The world paled in comparison. It was great to see her smiling again. “You look lovely, sweetheart,” she said. “It will do you good to get out of the house.”

  Reagan gave me a once-over and nodded. “She’s been hiding all that gorgeousness for too long. And this hair.” She reached up and slipped out the elastic, causing my brown hair to tumble past my shoulders. She smirked as she feathered it out with her fingers. “Mm-hmm. Just give me ten minutes, a curling iron, a touch of makeup, and Cinderella will be ready for the ball.”

  Mom clapped her hands together. “I’ll request a cab.” She moved for the door and then hesitated. When she turned, her face had fallen into the default pinched look she’d been wearing for months. “Honey, as much as I’d like you to get out . . . I don’t know, maybe tonight isn’t the best night.”

  I hated seeing the worry in her eyes. She used to have a light about her, but ever since Dad died that light had been extinguished. She tried hard for my sake, but I knew how often she cried. Add the stress of Recruitment to her grief, and she was barely getting by.

  “We’ll be fine, Mom.” I straightened my shoulders and forced my most convincing smile. “It’ll be fun.”

  Reagan nodded. “The dance will have chaperones, and we’ll come home right after.”

  Mom relaxed. “Okay. Just promise to be careful and keep your phones handy in case I need to reach you.”

  “Will do,” I said.

  She smiled at me and left the room.

  I kept my smile in place until she was out of sight.

  “See? I knew you secretly wanted to go,” Reagan said.

  I glared at her as she led me to my vanity table. “Make that ten dessert rations.”

  CHAPTER

  Two

  I stared out the cab window as Reagan chattered. Growing up, Dad had told me stories about how Philadelphia had once been a jewel of a city, with clean streets and stately homes. Looking out at the garbage-strewn streets and run-down houses, it was hard to imagine that things had ever been different. I stared up at the sky and strained my eyes for any sign of the spaceship.

  “What do you think it will look like?” I asked, realizing too late that I’d interrupted Reagan. She sighed and I turned to face her. “Sorry—what were you saying?”

  She shrugged. “Nothing important.” She looked out her window. “I don’t know . . . I’m picturing some cr
azy huge monstrosity that hovers over the city like they do in the movies.”

  “Yeah. I mean, it would have to be huge to fit a few thousand Recruits, right?”

  She leaned away. “Don’t sound so excited. It’s disturbing.” When I laughed she scowled. “I’m serious, Lark. No more talking about it tonight. You’re starting to sound like one of those freaks that’s campaigning to be Chosen.”

  “You’re right. I’ll stop.” I crossed my hand over my heart and she shook her head.

  The radio that had been playing quietly in the background suddenly cut to static. The driver hit the button for another station. More static. He flipped the radio off and muttered something under his breath.

  Chills covered my arms. I turned to Reagan, but she was checking her makeup with her compact. If she’d noticed the radio weirdness, she made no sign.

  The cab pulled up to our school where dozens of other cars were dropping kids off. I cringed. I’d let Reagan drag me to one school dance back in freshman year and that was enough. I couldn’t understand how gyrating like animals and getting wasted by the punch bowl was supposed to be fun.

  The driver scanned a credit on my phone. Reagan got out and waited. When I didn’t move to follow she bent her head down to look at me. “Coming?”

  I swallowed. The sound of thumping bass from inside the school made me feel sick. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

  “Come on, you’ll be fine.” She pulled me from the cab.

  As we walked toward the school I scanned the skyline.

  “You’re gonna give yourself a kink in the neck,” she said.

  I shrugged. “At least I’m not the only one.” I gestured to the others walking around us. Everyone kept glancing up as if they expected the sky to fall at any moment.

  Reagan pretended not to notice and kept her eyes forward as we walked into the school. When we reached the gym, my worst fears were confirmed. A huge banner hung over the room that read “Party Like There Ain’t No Tomorrow,” with freakish alien faces painted all around it.

  I stared open-mouthed at the madness happening inside the gym. Kids were drinking and doing drugs while scenes played out on the dance floor that would make a brothel owner blush. I averted my eyes and grabbed Reagan’s arm. “We’re leaving.”