We, R Vol.3

WE, R VOL.3

S.K. Ballinger

This is a work of fiction.  All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel/book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

WE, R VOL.3

Copyright © 2021 by, S.K. Ballinger

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

Ballinger, S.K.

Scurto, Stephanie - Editor

We, R Vol.3

ISBN -

First Edition

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My family first and foremost.

Tawni Rae, Daniel Haynes, Marina O'Brix and the many authors and friends I have.

My father Stephen Ballinger, Grandfather Dewey Fadler and my Grandmother Nina.

My children and their patience.

And my favorite reader and recent editor, Stephanie Scurto.

SPECIAL THANKS

My mother Janet Ballinger.  Love you more than you will ever know.  Thank you for being who you are and for helping make me the man I have grown to be.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE FACE OF DEVASTATION

AGENTS—NOT FOOLS

DAY FOUR

TENAJ AND RELDAF

THE OTHERS

THE FARM

ALONE

BODIES ARRIVE

THE OTHERS CONTINUED

THE ELEVEN

SNHS HEADQUARTER

THE MOTEL

THE FEARLESS FIVE

CURTIS

ADAM

THE FOUR

STACEY

ARRIVAL OF MADISON MONROE

MARK

ONLY TWO REMAIN

JUDGEMENT OF BREMVLAK

SECRETS WITHIN REACH

EPILOGUE

DEDICATION

THE FACE OF DEVASTATION

Surrounded by the debris Madison created, she stood alone, confused, lost, and saddened.  Rising up from her knees, she needed answers.  Having nothing or no one around her, she held her spot in the rubble with tears streaming down her face.  She tiptoed gingerly through the mess, no longer screaming, What of me?  Madison knew she must pull herself together, because the world around her was not at a standstill.  She had no pain from her markings or the powers inside her, so she ventured her first few steps through the underground facility she destroyed collecting around her ankles.

Looking around, the fallen dust still swirling, she soon saw a few shadows coming from the flattened tree lines from the glow of the moon.  Scared, but no longer as fearful as she was minutes ago, she pays attention to the twigs snapping around her and focuses on who or what advances toward her.  Could it be aliens or the one that made a few encounters with her previously, or was it more than that...more agents? Lord, no, not more agents.

Who is there?  Please answer me! Madison yelled.

No answers returned as the shadows started to be more

clear as the closer she walked towards them just as they were walking towards her.

I am not afraid; I just need answers, Madison stated in a quivering voice.

You are one of us, aren't you? a man’s voice inquired.

I am not sure, Madison trepeditiously replied.

You have red markings on your body, and you escape harm and danger.  If that is what you are then, you are just like us, a female stated.

Yes. What do you all know that I don't? Madison asked.

We don't have many answers other than something has led us to you, the same man claimed.

From all directions, sixteen humans swarmed before her.  Madison turned in a full circle taking in each face in order to do her best to memorize their faces.  Still taking precautions, she found that her body markings began moving in a way which hadn't happened unless there seemed to be either danger or alien beings nearing her.  It was then that the other people standing before her began to lift up their shirts to show that their marking were moving and glowing—just as her own.

Finding comfort among them, she let down her guard, slowly moving closer to them, one after another: circles upon circles.  Her need for answers grew.  Introducing herself, she encouraged them to do the same.  She needed trust, and trust usually leads to information.

Why did whatever is happening to us lead us to you? another woman asked.

I don't know, Madison frankly replied.

There must be a reason, and what have you done here?  How are you involved? another person asked.

Bowing her head and touching her marks with her right hand, she tried remembering and explaining to the others about what took place at the compound.  It was so difficult, because she also had questions for them as well—more questions than answers.  Madison manages the following:

I was abducted by alien life and woke up in this exact location surrounded by agents, just about six days ago.  An agent freed me and did his best to protect me.  We both were pursued by other agents.  Nick Wolfe, my protector, said we needed to return to this same location, and that there was something in the caved in facility that could give me answers or perhaps save all of other bad things happening.  We were surrounded, and Nick sacrificed his life for me—maybe for all of us.  I don’t know.  They killed my dog Walker, too.  I loved him so much. When they and I were in danger, my markings began to move and sear through my flesh.  From that moment, I felt pain and the rest is a blur; however, I remember stretching out my arms and seeing everyone and everything around me leveled – dead. And now, here I am among you all.

All leaned in, listening closely to what she said, and all expressed somewhat of the same experiences—except none of them what mentioned a facility.  Their experiences happened just out of the blue, killing many innocent people around them.  Everything and everyone yielded complete devastation with no warning other than their marks moving, glowing, and burning.  They felt the same pain as Madison had instantly before destruction ensued.

None of the group identified as seeing a similar alien or an agent protector like Nick.  Only a few of the sixteen people had been caught, identified, or imprisoned.  Madison experienced all three.  The puzzle pieces were not fully coming together as she had hoped.  Likewise, the others felt more lost than found.  There was little room to waste amidst this cool and eerie disaster area, and most would agree that it was time to move away in fear of agents soon to arrive.

Where are you going Madison? a man asked.

Far from here, she replied with a mix of chagrin and determination.

That is not a good enough answer for us, especially for me, another man shouted.

Madison wished to God they would share their names.  She felt surrounded in a sea of unnamed confusion and demands.

He is right. We were somehow and inextricably drawn to you. You have something that we need, and we have a right to know what it is! a lady yelled.

Again, Madison turned in circles feeling their presence closing in – was this a fucking witch hunt?  Breathing seemed nearly impossible.

I don't have the answers you are looking for. If you wish to follow me, then that is fine, but I am not staying here! Madison shouted.  A man screamed back:

Oh, is that your response?  Listen lady: we all have been put through hell with running from agents, nearly being dissected, and these fucking markings wreaking havoc on our bodies.  We’ve killed just as many people as you have, including people we loved.  We have a right to know. You can’t push us aside.

Madison began walking aimlessly away, leaving the aftermath of destruction that took place only a few hours ago.  She was anxious to the point of numbness.  While doing so, the tension grew among those around her as she extracted herself from the cluster.  Within twenty steps, another man ran in front of Madison, placing his hand firmly on her chest.  He spoke gently, begging:

My name is Ben, and I am begging you to help guide us.  I have lost everything.  When I had no control, I wiped out God only knows how many people in my surrounding area—including my wife and children.  We are all scared and ashamed of what we’ve become, what we’ve done, what we’ve lost.  Please help us Madison.  We need you more than you know.

Don't touch me again Ben.  None of you.  Do not touch me.  I told you what I know.  I am sorry for the losses that any of you encountered, but let me alone! Madison shouted with frustration and authority.

Ben did the best thing, stepping far aside from Madison.  The others did not. They moved with purpose.  They wanted her.  They needed her. Ben kept his distance—just watching, biting his lip.  This was a stand-off in the making, understandable under the circumstances, but Ben knew it would be to no avail.  Their determination to corner Madison was sure to yield disaster.

We are not going to just let you wander off.  You have a purpose, and if you can't share it with us, then you are going to find out that your purpose is meaningless, one woman threatened.

Ignoring what she said, Madison pressed forward through the fray.  She started feeling the pain she hadn't felt since leveling all those around her at the facility. She wasn't the only one feeling the crippling burning, but the others felt the same thing.

Turning back towards them, Madison cringed as the burning sensation from her markings increased.  As her arms stretched far apart, so did the others while Ben yelled for all of them to stop.  Stopping had to be ceased one by one.

Madison felt the coming of the alien who helped she and the late Nick Wolfe.  It calmly walked toward the crowded, yet small area. In an almost human form—but surrounded by a light bluish aura—was indeed the very one who left