Chapter 16, Lane Stone:
Eyes closed and on his back, Lane felt his wife’s body lying on his chest. He felt at peace, the world couldn’t be better. He sensed his two daughters lying not far from him, in the next room of their small farmhouse. It had been a good choice to move to this island, away from the human trials in Abaraka. He wanted his two young daughters to grow up without the fear of war.
His heartbeat echoed in his ears. Odd, something didn’t feel right. The weight of his wife on his chest grew heavier, making it harder to breathe. Smoke, he smelled smoke and dust, there should be neither in his little farmhouse. Pain filled his lungs, and he coughed to clear the smoke from his throat. Throat like sandpaper now, he found it hard to swallow. The weight of his wife turned into th
