The Amber Project

Chapter 1

Hey guys. This is the first chapter of a novel I wrote a few months ago. It is available in full on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Create Space, and Smashwords. I'll be posting several chapters here. If you would like to get the full novel for free (which is also compatible with kindle, nook, and any e-reader you might have), you can get it here: http://jnchaney.com/stay-up-to-date 


The sequel to this novel comes out in March. I'd love to hear what you guys think of the story. :)

Documents of Historical, Scientific, and Cultural Significance

Play Audio Transmission File 021

Recorded April 19, 2157

CARTWRIGHT: This is Lieutenant Colonel Felix Cartwright. It's been a week since my last transmission and two months since the day we found the city...the day the world fell apart. If anyone can hear this, please respond.

If you're out there, no doubt you know about the gas. You might think you're all that's left. But if you're receiving this, let me assure you, you are not alone. There are people here. Hundreds, in fact, and for now, we're safe. If you can make it here, you will be, too.

The city's a few miles underground, not far from El Rico Air Force Base. That's where my people came from. As always, the coordinates are attached. If anyone gets this, please respond. Let us know you're there...that you're still alive.

End Audio File

April 14, 2339

Maternity District

Miles below the surface of the Earth, deep within the walls of the last human city, a little boy named Terry played quietly with his sister in a small two bedroom apartment.

Today was his very first birthday. He was turning seven.

"What's a birthday?" his sister Janice asked, tugging at his shirt. She was only four years old and had recently taken to following her big brother everywhere he went. "What does it mean?"

Terry smiled, eager to explain. "Mom says when you turn seven, you get a birthday. It means you grow up and get to start school. It's a pretty big deal."

"When will I get a birthday?"

"You're only four, so you have to wait."

"I wish I was seven," she said softly, her thin black hair hanging over her eyes. "I want to go with you."

He got to his feet and began putting the toy blocks away. They had built a castle together on the floor, but Mother would yell if they left a mess. "I'll tell you all about it when I get home. I promise, okay?"

"Okay!" she said cheerily and proceeded to help.

Right at that moment, the speaker next to the door let out a soft chime, followed by their mother's voice. "Downstairs, children," she said. "Hurry up now."

Terry took his sister's hand. "Come on, Jan," he said.

She frowned, squeezing his fingers. "Okay."

They arrived downstairs, their mother nowhere to be found.

"She's in the kitchen," Janice said, pointing at the farthest wall. "See the light-box?"

Terry looked at the locator board, although his sister's name for it worked just as well. It was a map of the entire apartment, with small lights going on and off in different colors depending on which person was in which room. There's us, he thought, green for me and blue for Janice, and there's Mother in red. Terry never understood why they needed something like that because of how small the apartment was, but every family got one, or so Mother had said.