by
Special Agent Kerri Elias joined the Boundary Guards to escape the haunting memories of her past, dedicating her life to battling the enigmatic Black-eyed Children—creatures that masquerade as innocent kids to snatch unsuspecting victims. But when her partner vanishes before her eyes, Kerri’s world shatters, thrusting her into a dark labyrinth of betrayal and deception, where not all of humanity’s enemies bear the Children’s deep obsidian gaze.
As she navigates this perilous new reality, Kerri finds herself thrown together with a shaky crew: her boss, Hank Stillwell; the fierce deputy, Danielle Tauriac; the handsome yet secretive newcomer to the Guards, Aaron Vincent; and the scrappy Louisiana native Dr. Will Daigle, who suspects he may be in way over his head.
With the threat of the Black-eyed Children looming ever closer, Kerri is unnerved by a chilling note left for her in the New Mexico desert. Is she the key to humanity's survival—or the next target? As alliances shift and secrets unravel, Kerri must confront the darkness within herself and the sinister forces that threaten to consume everything she holds dear.
Publisher: Independently Published
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tropes: Alien Invasion, Aliens Among Us, FTL, Killer Aliens
Word Count: 233,912
Setting: Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Languages Available: English
Tropes: Alien Invasion, Aliens Among Us, FTL, Killer Aliens
Word Count: 233,912
Setting: Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Languages Available: English
A flurry of motion outside the window. Three Children stood in a tight triangle, heads tilted forward, communicating in the way they had even though no words were spoken. They were capable of speaking perfectly normal English—they certainly had no problem asking for help from people kind enough to stop and offer them a ride.
That much was known, even though most of the people who had heard those plaintive voices were never seen again.
One of the Children stooped, straightened, then all three turned toward the car. The Child who had bent over had a large rock in his hand.
Kerri’s heart gave a stutter-step.
She was as good as dead. They’d find Rivers’s car with a shattered window, and both of them gone. How many could she shoot before they overpowered her, dragged her away?
READ MOREThe Child with the rock lifted it, its thin arm showing no strain in lifting the heavy chunk of limestone. Kerri backed away from the window, raised an arm to shield her eyes.
But another Child put its hand on the shoulder of the one with the rock. It turned slightly, its arm aloft, still keeping its gaze locked on Kerri’s. There was a frozen moment in which nothing moved.
Then with a silent, fluttery movement, all three Children turned and vanished into the darkness. After a breathless minute, Kerri leaned toward the window, finally ending with her nose pressed against the glass.
There was nothing between her and the line of sagebrush. She was alone in the New Mexico night.
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