The Colony: Genesis (The Colony, Vol. 1) Read online

  Book One of the Colony Saga

  Copyright © 2013 by Michaelbrent Collings

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author. For information send request to [email protected].

  website: http://www.michaelbrentcollings.com

  email: [email protected]

  cover and interior art elements © 2013 Stokkete

  used under license from Shutterstock.com

  cover design by Michaelbrent Collings

  NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

  For more information on Michaelbrent's books, including specials and sales; and for info about

  signings, appearances, and media,

  check out his webpage,

  “Like” his Facebook fanpage

  or

  Follow him on Twitter.

  PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF

  MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS

  STRANGERS

  “Highly recommended.” – Hellnotes

  “Collings is so proficient at what he does, he crooks his finger to get you inside his world and before you know it, you are along for the ride. You don't even see it coming; he is that good.” – Only Five Star Book Reviews

  “Move over Stephen King... Clive Barker.... Michaelbrent Collings is taking over as the new king of the horror book genre.” – Media Mikes

  “STRANGERS is another white-knuckled journey that demands to be read in one sitting.” – The Horror Fiction Review

  “Michaelbrent spins a tale that keeps you enthralled from page to page…. Overall I give this novel an A.” – The Horror Drive-In

  DARKBOUND

  “Really good, highly recommended, make sure you have time to read a lot at one sitting since you may have a hard time putting it down.” – The Horror Fiction Review

  “In Darkbound you will find the intensity of Misery and a journey reminiscent of the train ride in The Talisman…. A proficient and pedagogical author, Collings’ works should be studied to see what makes his writing resonate with such vividness of detail…. You will not be disappointed in this dark tale.” – Hellnotes

  “Darkbound travels along at a screaming pace with action the whole way through, and twists to keep you guessing throughout.... With an ending that I didn't see coming from a mile away, and easily one of the best I've had the enjoyment of reading in a long time....” – Horror Drive-In

  THE HAUNTED

  “The Haunted is a terrific read with some great scares and a shock of an ending!” – Rick Hautala, international bestselling author; Bram Stoker Award® for Lifetime Achievement winner

  “[G]ritty, compelling and will leave you on the edge of your seat.... The Haunted is a tremendous read for fans of ghoulishly good terror.” – horrornews.net

  “The Haunted is just about perfect.... This is a haunted house story that will scare even the most jaded horror hounds. I loved it!” – Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Inheritance

  APPARITION

  “Apparition is not just a 'recommended' novel, it is easily one of the most entertaining and satisfying horror novels this reviewer has read within the past few years. I cannot imagine that any prospective reader looking for a new read in the horror genre won't be similarly blown away by the novel.” – Hellnotes

  “[Apparition is] a gripping, pulse hammering journey that refuses to relent until the very final act. The conclusion that unfolds may cause you to sleep with the lights on for a spell.... Yet be forewarned perhaps it is best reserved for day time reading.” – horrornews.net

  “Apparition is a hard core supernatural horror novel that is going to scare the hell out of you.... This book has everything that you would want in a horror novel.... it is a roller coaster ride right up to a shocking ending.” – horroraddicts.net

  “[Apparition is] Riveting. Captivating. Mesmerizing.... [A]n effective, emotional, nerve-twisting read, another amazingly well-written one from a top-notch writer.” – The Horror Fiction Review

  THE LOON

  “It's always so nice to find one where hardcore asylum-crazy is done RIGHT.... THE LOON is, hands down, an excellent book.” – The Horror Fiction Review

  “Highly recommended for horror and thriller lovers. It's fast-moving, as it has to be, and bloody and violent, but not disgustingly gory.... Collings knows how to write thrillers, and I'm looking forward to reading more from him.” – Hellnotes

  MR. GRAY (aka THE MERIDIANS)

  “... an outstanding read.... This story is layered with mystery, questions from every corner and no answers fully coming forth until the final conclusion.... What a ride.... This is one you will not be able to put down and one you will remember for a long time to come. Very highly recommended.” – Midwest Book Review

  HOOKED: A TRUE FAERIE TALE

  “Hooked is a story with depth.... Emotional, sad, horrific, and thought provoking, this one was difficult to put down and now, one of my favourite tales.” – Only Five Star Book Reviews

  “[A]n interesting and compelling read.... Collings has a way with words that pulls you into every moment of the story, absorbing every scene with all of your senses.” – Clean Romance Reviews

  “Collings has found a way to craft an entirely new modern vampire mythology – and one strikingly different from everything I've seen before.... Recommended for adult and teen fans of horror and paranormal romance....” – Hellnotes

  RISING FEARS

  “The writing is superb. The characters are believable and sympathetic... the theme of a parent who's lost a child figures strongly; it's powerful stuff, and written from the perspective of experience that no one should ever have to suffer.” – The Horror Fiction Review

  Dedication

  To...

  Mom and Pop Barbey,

  who provided me with a rare gift,

  and to Laura, FTAAE.

  The Colony: Genesis

  Book One of The Colony Saga

  Contents

  Chapter

  1. 1

  2. 4

  3. 7

  4. 10

  5. 13

  6. 18

  7. 21

  8. 25

  9. 28

  10. 30

  11. 34

  12. 38

  13. 41

  14. 44

  15. 48

  16. 50

  17. 52

  18. 55

  19. 58

  20. 60

  21. 62

  22. 66

  23. 70

  24. 74

  25. 77

  26. 82

  27. 87

  28. 89

  29. 91

  30. 93

  31. 95

  32. 97

  33. 99

  34. 103

  35. 107

  36. 110

  37. 114

  38. 117

  39. 118

  40. 121
<
br />   41. 124

  42. 129

  43. 131

  44. 134

  45. 137

  46. 139

  47. 141

  48. 144

  49. 146

  50. 149

  51. 151

  52. 153

  53. 157

  54. 159

  55. 161

  56. 163

  57. 165

  58. 167

  59. 170

  60. 173

  61. 176

  62. 178

  63. 182

  64. 185

  65. 188

  66. 190

  67. 194

  68. 197

  69. 199

  70. 202

  71. 206

  72. 209

  73. 214

  74. 218

  75. 220

  76. 222

  77. 225

  78. 227

  Author’s Note.. 229

  1

  “Mr. Strickland?”

  “Shhh.”

  A pause. Then:

  “Mr. Strickland?”

  “Shhhh!”

  A shorter pause.

  “Mr. –“

  Ken Strickland tried very hard not to roll his eyes. He almost succeeded.

  “What is it, Becca?”

  Becca Lee was famous for this. Bright enough to be in the college prep courses, but she somehow always found herself on the upper end of the grading curve in the lower level classes. Like she didn’t want to run the risk of finding herself in the middle of the pack. Better to win at an easier game than actually push herself to excel. Still, that didn’t stop her from raising her hand and asking some question every time she finished a test. An obvious-to-everyone-but-her attempt for recognition, if not outright validation. She might as well have just said, “I’m done, I’m smart, and I just wanted you all to know.”

  Ken liked Becca. He liked all his students, even the ones who seemed determined to squeak through their high school career on the way to promising futures as fry cooks, senators, and other high school teachers. But some of them really tried his patience.

  “Becca,” he said. His voice was a stage whisper, one he knew from experience would carry through the room. She was in the first row – a seat she had picked for herself, of course – so he could have been quieter. But sometimes a little public embarrassment was the best medicine. “Please be quiet unless you need to go pee-pee so bad you’re going to explode.”

  Titters from the class. Most of them seemed to understand what he was doing, too, glancing surreptitiously at Becca and rolling their eyes before returning their gazes to the tests he had handed out only…. Ken’s eyes flicked to the digital wall-clock.

  Crap, it’s only been ten minutes? No way she finished already.

  As if mirroring his thoughts, Becca shook her head at that moment. Her face scrunched up and there were wrinkles on her forehead that he’d never seen on her before. She looked worried. Freaked out.

  Scared.

  “It’s not that. It’s just….” She looked like she was searching for the right words, then just shrugged and pointed.

  Ken followed the line of her gesture. He wondered absently if this was some new way to get attention. Wondered if there was any chance he would be able to steal away during his lunch break and meet up with Maggie and the kids.

  Wondered if he was going to live and die in that lowest of all stations: a high school teacher.

  Then all that fell out of his head, fell from his mind like water through a sieve as he saw what Becca was pointing at. What she had been the first to see.

  Others in the class saw it, too. The titters of a moment before disappeared, replaced by several gasps and one small screech that probably came from Janeane Carpenter in the last row.

  Or maybe it came from Ken himself. He couldn’t be sure. But a moment later he realized he’d stopped breathing.

  “What the hell is that?” he said.

  2

  Bugs.

  Lots of them.

  The high school was all indoors. It had to be; Boise, Idaho, didn’t get cold on the same level of, say, Missoula, Montana, but the idea of walking between different buildings during a winter snowstorm would have been supremely unpleasant.

  Ken’s class was on the third floor of the high school, the east side. One side of the classroom was mostly glass, just a wall of windows that allowed a view of the city. It was a nice view, but Ken hated it. It was just one more thing to distract the kids, especially with all the construction going on downtown: huge cranes moving steel girders into place were far too interesting for a mere teacher to compete with.

  Now, however, the cranes were the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, he was staring at the windows themselves. Or at least, at one of them. The second pane from his desk.

  At first glance, the window appeared to be covered by some sort of corrugated cardboard, dark and rough. But then Ken saw that the ripples in the “material” were moving.

  Feet.

  Legs.

  Carapaces.

  The bodies and body parts of thousands – tens of thousands – of insects that for some reason now clung to the single pane of glass.

  One of the students cursed. Normally the word would have gotten the kid a trip to Principal Connors’ office, but Ken barely registered the sound.

  He stood up and walked to the window.

  “Mr. Strickland….”

  He glanced at Becca. She had half-risen from her seat, one hand reaching toward him. She looked like a damsel in a Saturday morning serial, reaching for her beau as he embarked on a dangerous mission.

  A chill ran up Ken’s spine. He turned back to the bugs. He didn’t want to go. But he had to know.

  He moved to the window.

  The insects crawled over, under, across one another. A teeming mass of life. But they did not leave the confines of the single pane of glass.

  Something buzzed and hit the pulpy mound of insect bodies. It hit hard enough that the window beneath clicked. Ken’s face was within inches of the glass when it happened, and he jerked back. Someone behind him screamed.

  “Just another bug,” he said, realizing what had happened as he said it. Just another bug. Another bug.

  But why?

  Another buzz as something flew to join the coagulating pile of insects. He could actually hear them through the glass, their feet clambering over the window and each other, tic-ti-ti-tic-tic-tic-tic.

  His guts roiled.

  He grabbed his stomach with one hand. With the other, he reached up –

  (Don’t do this, Ken, it’s a bad idea….)

  – and tapped on the glass.

  Nothing happened. The bugs didn’t seem to notice. He tapped again, harder this time. They continued buzzing over and around each other, but none took flight, none were startled away by the intrusive vibrations he must surely be sending among them.

  Ken slammed the flat of his fist against the window. A sharp crack punched through the otherwise still air. The window split.

  The bugs kept crawling. None flew away. They remained on the single square of glass.

  And then one of the students screamed.

  3

  Ken didn’t turn around, because he saw the reason for the scream in almost the same second. So did most of the kids. They emptied out of their chairs and stampeded to the windows. Normally the kind of thing Ken frowned on.

  Not this time.

  This time he was too busy looking at the plane.

  He wasn’t an aviation expert. He could discuss airplanes from a historical perspective, but he didn’t know much beyond that. He could tell, however, that the plane he was looking at was a big one. Maybe a 747 – he didn’t think the Boise Airport handled anything bigger than that.

  Whatever it was, though, it was falling. Not coming in for a landing at the airport, not doing a dangerously low flyover. It didn’t even look like it was crashing in the sense that Ken thought of it: a
dive that was just a bit too low, or listing to one side as though it might have an engine out.

  It was simply plummeting, spinning on three axes, flipping tail over wing, nose over belly. Smoke was coming from its sides, as though someone had smashed out the windows before setting off a smoke bomb.

  One of the wings exploded. It happened fast, and more violently than Ken could have imagined. No apparent smoke, no flames. Just one moment there was a wing and the next the plane was raining fiery shrapnel from a jagged stump where the wing used to be. The explosion sounded like a muffled pop at this distance.