Everyone in the city ran into the streets on New Years to celebrate. Even the S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W took the day off to hoist their children up on their shoulders to watch the countdown. The world exploded with black and white confetti. We saw it from the screens Dr. D had set up on the city. It was one of the safest days of the whole year to journey through the Zones to see your friends. Cola was even there with us despite Poison shooting him. We laughed together as if nothing had happened.
I noticed how Kobra and Rocket were closer than ever. They held hands and cuddled on Dr. D's couch. Rocket made Kobra change into a different person. I noticed how he laughed and smiled more around her. They had a cute relationship. I had to admit it.
I sat down on the couch next to the cuddling bunch and Ghoul handed me a drink. I still hated the taste of beer but I had to have one because it was New Years.
On the fuzzy screens before us were cheering people. There was only 10 seconds left until the new year. Dr. D adjusted the antenna, trying to get our signal to come in better. I gripped Ghoul's arm excitedly. 5,4,3,2,1. More confetti shot out across the streets. The excited people jumped up and down. Suddenly, the ground shook. The people in the city looked as confused as us. The camera suddenly cut out.
"Weird." Dr. D muttered and moved the antenna around.
There was no signal to be found. We were all wondering what could have happened until someone called in on Dr. D's radio to inform us that a bomb had gone off in the main square. It was probably just rogue Killjoys.
"We should stay here where it's safe." Rocket said.
We all agreed with her. It wouldn't be good to go to the city and try to stop the violence. Last time was a big mistake. So instead we headed home and told Dr. D to alert us if anything else happened.
Laying in bed that night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about what had happened. I snuggled up to Ghoul for warmth and he put his arms around me.
"Ghoul?" I whispered with my eyes closed.
"Yeah?" He whispered back
"Do you think all of those people are okay?" I asked, my head on his chest.
I felt him shrug. "I assume so. BLI will have found a way to control everything. I'm not worried."
"But there were kids there. I hope none of them were hurt."
He didn't say anything back so I assumed he was sleeping. I never got to sleep.
Early in the morning Poison woke us up. He suggested that we investigate the aftermath of the bomb. I was ready but nervous as to what we would find.
The drive there was filled with music and singing along. I laughed and sang with them, trying to rid of the nervousness inside.
As we pulled up to the fence, a figure stood in the dark shadows where the bomb had gone off. I figured it was a Drac watching the fence. When Poison got out of the car and slammed the door, the figure turned around. It wasn't a Drac. It looked more like a monster. It's face was scarred beyond recognition. Half of it's head was shaved. It sent a shiver up my spine. Whatever it was seemed to recognize us. It sneered.
"Remember your old friend, Poison? Neon?"
Phoenix and Ghoul will return in the next novel.
While you are waiting:
Read Rocket's side of the story: http://www.wattpad.com/story/24228152-a-pair-of-pilot%27s-goggles
Visit the blog and see the art: http://desertchildrenfanfic.tumblr.com/
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Death Valley (Desert Children Series #2)
Fanfiction(Danger Days/Killjoys) - The second story in the Desert Children series. Phoenix and Ghoul are starcrossed, never meant to last. Can they survive as Better Living Industries hunts them down?
