Winds of Ares: An Apocalypse Thriller Read online

  “A weather bomb?”

  “Yes, and stop being condescending,” I said. “I’m not kidding. It’s called the Jupiter project, it’s been in development for twenty years and it’s starting tonight.”

  “We’re getting into a weather war with another country?”

  I huffed out forcefully. “No. It’s testing tonight. Shooting a bunch of weather bombs up there. Like making rain where it’s a drought, cold in heatwave. There’s a bunch. I’m surprised we haven’t seen the launch. I’m looking, I’ll let you know if I see them

  “I appreciate it. If they’re testing these weather bombs, how is it the end of the world?”

  “Because it’s gonna backfire and set off a series of events and storms which will cause calamity, chaos and death ….” I stopped talking when Martin held up his hand. “What?”

  “How do you know all this? From working at the National Weather Service as a twitter watcher?”

  “No, they don’t know anything about it.” I waved out my hand. “My friend the scientist. He works for NASA, but in their deep hidden department.”

  “Like the dark web?”

  “Something like that. How do you know about the dark web?”

  Martin shrugged. “I have no idea. This thing is called the Juniper project.”

  “No, it's Jupiter project,” I corrected. “In reference to the weapons working at full strength and maybe causing storms like they have on Jupiter. You know, massive anticyclonic and cyclonic storms.”

  “You would think if it causes both it would cancel itself out.”

  “I know, right,” I said excitedly. “That was my first …” Again, I sighed. “You don’t believe me.”

  Martin frantically scratched his chin. “I hate to say I don’t believe you, but do you hear yourself? How crazy this sounds?’

  “I know. I thought … Oh!” I pointed. “Look. Hurry, look, it could be one.”

  In the brightly speckled sky, a streak of light slowly moved upward.

  “You mean the shooting star?”

  “When have you known a shooting star to fly up?”

  That gave him pause. I saw it on his face. I was going to question him on it when the screen door opened again.

  Carlie stepped out on the porch.

  “Hey, sweetie.” I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Everything alright?”

  “Yeah. I figured it was a good night to come out and say goodnight to mom.”

  “Oh, yeah, it is. A very good night.”

  Carlie walked to the railing and looked at the sky. “There. Right there. Look how bright it is, and twinkly. It’s like her waving.” Carlie lifted her hand. “Night mom.” She turned to face us. “Do you wonder if she thinks about us as much as we imagine about her?”

  “Oh, yeah, every day,” I answered. “She probably wishes every moment of every day she was right here with you. But she was called for a bigger purpose.”

  “I know. One day I’ll see her.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  Carlie kissed me on the cheek, then kissed Martin. “Night Aunt Jana, night Pap.”

  I smiled as she left.

  There were a few seconds of silence and then Martin said. “She thinks her mother is dead?”

  “No.”

  “She pointed to a star.”

  “She pointed to Mars.”

  “Why is my granddaughter pointing to Mars and saying goodnight?”

  “Because she thinks her mother is there.”

  “What?” Martin asked in shock.

  “Yeah, I didn’t want them to think their mother left them, so I told them she was part of a mission and went on the spaceship Omni to cultivate the land on Mars for the colonists.”

  “And they believe you?”

  “A huh.”

  “What in the world is wrong with you?” He stood. “They think their mom is growing plants on Mars?”

  “Well, it’s better than thinking they were abandoned.”

  With a huffing sounding sigh, he shook his head. “And you wonder why I don’t believe your Jupiter story. I’m getting another beer. Do you want one?”

  “Um …” I shook my bottle. “Yes, thanks.”

  He walked into the house, letting the screen door slam.

  It caused me to jump a little. I finished my beer, setting the empty bottle next to my chair.

  While I wanted Martin to embrace and believe me, it didn’t matter if he did. He would see for himself in a short time.

  Waiting for him to return, I sat back in my chair and watched the sky.

  THREE – ARRIVAL

  Watching Reese ride the horse in the turn out made me both proud and sad. He was such a natural at it. He and the animal were as one. I was saddened because I knew who taught him … Lane. He rode exactly like my husband.

  Something about the ranch always had me up earlier than normal. Maybe it was the fresh air or the fact Rosie was there bright and early baking whatever bread was on the menu for the day.

  Rosie was always gone for the day by noon, leaving a prepared and ready to cook dinner in the fridge.

  I grabbed a cup of coffee and muffin and headed out when I heard Reese was out there riding.

  I stood by the fence watching him, sipping my coffee. He just rode so effortlessly. I could tell he just wanted to leave the fenced in area and go. Both him and the horse.

  I wished Carlie would learn how to ride. She took after me, she had no interest or really any natural ability for it.

  Horses just seemed to want to say to me, ‘nah, I don’t think so.’

  “You know,” Martin walked up and stood next to me. “He could compete when he’s older. Although, according to you there won’t be a world left to compete in.”

  “Riding a horse will be a useful skill when there is no gasoline for vehicles.”

  “True. You can look at the boy and see how much Lane has influenced his riding.”

  “Lane’s been working with him since he was five.”

  “Lane’s good.”

  “You know when I met him, he just wanted so badly to be a cowboy.”

  Martin nodded. “I know, I remember when he first came around.”

  “Probably the only man from Vermont who had aspirations to give up his Ivy League education and join the rodeo.”

  “He followed his heart,” said Martin. “And you never discouraged him.”

  “It’s what he wanted,” I said. “And you know, he would have been a horrible lawyer. He just didn’t have the argument in him other than with me.”

  Martin laughed. “Still, though, I know at first, the rodeo wasn’t groundbreaking money.”

  “Not at first, no. But his dad helped out a lot.”

  “Can I ask how you found out he was cheating?” Martin asked.

  “I heard him on the phone saying it was time for a change and how he knew the second he saw this Missy, Betty, whatever person, they were like connected souls. He didn’t want me to know. I tried to check his texts, but he had deleted everything.”

  “Wow. So … I went last night and looked up this Jupiter Project. I couldn’t find anything anywhere.”

  “You won’t. It’s top secret,” I told him.

  “I get that. What if it’s not a weapon? What if it’s actually for good things? Like, the anticyclonic storms can lower temperatures, clear skies.”

  “Yep. But this is a weapon. They were testing it last night.”

  “Why will it take so long?” Martin asked.

  “I don’t know. There’s no set time, just signs.”

  “Like?”

  Was Martin actually taking me seriously? It didn’t seem like his facetious talking. I was hesitant to reply, and almost did, had I not heard the beeping truck horn.

  Sure enough, pulling up was Lane.

  “Did you …” I hurriedly looked at Martin. “Did you tell him I was here?”

  “Nope. Carlie did.”

  I gasped out. “That girl.”

  “I m
erely confirmed when he asked.”

  I grunted and nearly stomped my foot.

  Martin laughed. “I’ll see how he’s doing.” He walked away.

  When I saw Lane get out of the truck and wave, I turned my back. It was not what I wanted to deal with. I wasn’t in the mood to discuss his infidelity. Not with so much coming our way.

  Elbows on the fence, bringing the coffee to my lips, I watched Reese. I did however peek over my shoulder to see how close Lane was, how much time I had before he cornered me.

  He wasn’t there. He probably went inside the house.

  Lane avoided me. Maybe he was glad I left him. Surely, he didn’t drive three hundred miles not to talk to me.

  He would eventually make his approach and open up that box of worms.

  Until then, I would think about my responses, drink my coffee and watch Reese.

  ✽✽✽

  We had breakfast; Rosie was getting ready to leave but hung out for a little more since Lane had shown up. They chatted away in the kitchen and still my husband had not said a word to me about anything.

  Maybe he was glad I left him, and he felt relieved. Perhaps Betty Jane or Peggy Sue person was ‘the one’, he was in love and I did him a huge favor.

  Whatever the case, I was a bit unnerved and couldn’t understand why he’d trek hundreds of miles and not say a word.

  After twenty years, did he care so little about me it didn’t even faze him?

  I found myself irritated enough to step outside and out of the kitchen where Lane was joking with Martin and the kids as if it were a normal visit.

  It wasn’t.

  I paced little circles in the backyard. When I heard someone step out on to the porch, I didn’t look. If it wasn’t Lane, I would get even more pissed.

  “Jana,” Lane called my name.

  Arms folded tight to my body, I turned around.

  “I heard you left me.” Lane stepped off the porch and walked to me. “You could have told me.”

  “I could have. I didn’t. I knew you’d figure it out.”

  “Well, I didn’t figure it out. Carlie texted me.”

  I shook my head. “Her mouth.”

  “Wanna tell me why?”

  “You know why.”

  “No, I don’t, really. Tell me why you up and left me.”

  “Two words. Betty Lynn or Mary Sue.”

  “You mean Sally Ann.”

  I snapped my finger. “Yep. That’s it.”

  “You left me over Sally Ann?” he asked.

  “You didn’t think I would?”

  “No. And I still don’t think you should” Lane said.

  “Are you giving her up?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’m still leaving you.”

  “You’re being silly.”

  “Silly …” I huffed the words, nearly choking on them. “Figures you would say that. Is she?” I curled my lip. “Good for you?”

  “Oh, yeah. A little older than I like.”

  “Older isn’t bad.”

  “True, because if you get them too young, you have to do all the work.”

  I cringed in disgust. “Oh, save your perversions for someone else.”

  “What?” Lane nearly laughed.

  “It’s not a joke.” I shook my head. “Is she pretty?”

  “Oh, yeah. She’s beautiful.”

  “Gloat, why don’t you.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t ask if she were prettier than you, I’d have to hurt your feelings.”

  I gasped and turned.

  “Jana, I’m joking.” He reached out for my arm. “Stop. You are way more upset than I thought. I mean, I knew you’d be mad, but I figured once she was in the picture, you’d calm down.”

  “Oh my God, Lane, like I’d be fine with this?”

  Lane nodded. “I thought you might.”

  “You, me and the kids. You’ll just keep her at the house.’

  Lane laughed. “No, right now she’s at Jim’s.”

  “He’s in on it, too?”

  “Why wouldn’t he be? This is just not good enough to leave me over,” he said. “If it’s any consolation, she was cheap.”

  “No. No it’s not a consolation. You should never have done it.”

  “Why?” he lifted his hands. “Why? You were all busy buying anything and everything for your end of the world infatuation. I didn’t think you’d mind if I spent a little money and bought something that would make me happy.”

  “How … how can you compare my preparing for our survival to you getting a prostitute and falling in love?”

  “What? I didn’t buy a prostitute; I bought a horse. Sally Ann is a mare I got from Jim.”

  I absolutely froze at his announcement. “A horse? You’re talking about a horse?”

  “Yeah, what … oh my God. You were talking about Sally Ann being a woman?”

  “Yes.”

  Lane laughed loudly. “That’s so funny. And I said if she were young, I’d have to do all the work. No wonder you called me a pervert.”

  I lowered my head and chuckled. “That was pretty funny.”

  He placed his hands on my arms. “Then we’re good?”

  “We’re good.”

  “We can make this a little vacation and then head home.”

  “No, Lane, we can’t.” I shook my head. “It’s gonna happen and happen soon.”

  “What are you …” He closed his eyes and cringed. “Come on, Jana, not the end of the world weather bomb stuff, again.”

  “It’s true.”

  “Jana, I didn’t say anything to you when you went and bought all your stuff. I said nothing because it was a good hobby.”

  “Hobby?”

  “You needed one, Twitter was stressing you out,” he said. “And you know, hey, who knew? I mean, I thought, we might need it one day. An EMP or zombie outbreak.”

  “Wait. Stop. You believe there could possibly be a zombie outbreak before this weather anomaly?”

  “I do.” Lance nodded. “Because it is not as farfetched as shooting specialized rockets into the sky to change the weather specifically. And what? Testing is going to backfire?”

  I couldn’t believe he was arguing with me, looking at me compassionately because he thought I had lost my mind. “I saw the rockets last night.”

  “Jana …”

  “No, Lane.” I held up my hand and turned my body. When I did, it seemed all breath was sucked out of my body. The sky had changed. Not one cloud that I could see, but across the sky it was red. Just as described to me, set oddly mid-sky, were swirls of what looked like red smoke trailing upward. “Oh my God, Lane, there, look at the sky.”

  “Okay.”

  “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning, sailor’s take warning. Red sky at noon. The earth is doomed.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s not how that goes.”

  “It’s happening now.”

  “Jana, no, listen to me.” He gently held my arms. “I know you believe this, I know you do. I don’t blame you, but you were brainwashed. It was like a cult. You and three hundred others sent money probably to some guy in another country and he’s laughing at you.”

  “We were securing our spot at Olympus.”

  “Yep.” Lance nodded. “Olympus is a mountain. You’re not going to a mountain.”

  My gut swirled with frustration. He just wasn’t hearing me. “No, it’s a bunker located in the mountains.”

  “Greenbrier, right? Famous old bunker built during the cold war era. Jana, it’s a resort. The bunker is a casino and museum. I hardly think those resort people are renting it out to your survival group.”

  “I don’t want to hear it.” I stepped back.

  “There are no rockets causing the weather. Think about it, Jana. Who told you all this? Who gave you this information? Some scientist named Julius Caesar?”

  “His name is not Julius Caesar. It’s pronounced Say-Zar. And spelt S-E-Z-A-R.”

&nbs
p; “Yeah. And there is no Julius Caesar or Say-zar who works for NASA, I checked.”

  “They’re not going to tell you anything. He’s in this deep, special secret department.”

  “Do you hear yourself? Do you? Hon, listen, I don’t blame you. And if you want us to trek across country to this place. We can take a road trip. But there is no weather bomb, no massive anomaly coming. Life will go on as normal. Red sky or not.”

  I growled. “Damn it, Lane, I’m not nuts. This is real. What will it take for you to believe this?”

  “Honestly? One hell of a storm.”

  Closing my eyes, I stepped back, I even and slowly swayed my head. Was he right? Had I been duped? I wished I had the answers, I truly believed what I had been told. He had never once acted like I had lost my mind. Maybe he did and I never listened until this very moment.

  “What is that?” Lane asked softly.

  I was ready to question what he meant, when I felt it under my feet. It was a vibration, steady, tickling at first then it grew stronger.

  It was exceptionally quiet for a few seconds; all sound had evaporated. It was broken when all at once every bird in the sky or on the ground, squawked loudly and flew upwards. They flew erratically, smashing into each other.

  The horses went wild, their nays rowdier than I had ever heard, they ran toward the fences, trying to break out.

  Then the noise came, a soft humming, it resembled a train or a tractor trailer convoy. As the sound increased, the vibration beneath my feet intensified. It felt like every small pebble in the ground shot up like daggers against the soles of my shoes.

  “Earthquake?” Lane asked. “Can that be …?”

  “Lane!” Martin shouted as he barged from the house. “Help me get the horses in the barn!”

  Carlie and Reese ran out of the house holding Rosie’s hand.

  “Rosie, get the kids in the shelter. Jana, you, too. Now!” He pointed.

  Rosie ran with the kids across the yard to where the storm shelter was located.

  I couldn’t move. My eyes stuck on watching Rosie open the hatch. Carlie waved to hurry me.

  “Jana, now,” Martin said as he approached. His voice was louder, fighting to be heard against the increasing wind.

  “What’s happening?” Lane asked loudly.