Synopsis

On Len’s thirteenth birthday, he tells his friend Alex that he wants to bring the remaining orphans home from their underground cities. Alex is all for it. The two friends approach Lulomen, the director of Creekside Meadows. Soon, a plan is devised. Len, Abagail, and Rex will journey to Metro Metropolis to rescue the remaining girls, and Alex, Zelda, and Orly will go to Tiran and rescue the remaining boys.

Little do they know that Supreme Commander Reginald Botta and Colonel Winslow Pinchet have added to the already tightened security in both locations. They’ve even hired security expert Wanda Denton to help.

With their friend Charlie and his group of rebels providing reconnaissance, the two teams begin their dangerous mission. They have courage, but there are many obstacles in their path. Will they have the skill (and luck) to pull it off?

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Excerpt

“WHAT’S GOING ON IN HERE!” the huge man yelled.

A couple of the young kids whispered under their breath. “Dang!”

One of them started to cry.

Alex didn’t think. He pushed Tony toward the rope. “Climb,” he yelled. “Take all the boys and get out of here!”

Then Alex turned to face the intruder.

With Tony assisting him, Will started climbing. From her spot in the opening in the ceiling, Zelda reached down to help. “Come on,” she said. “Quick.”

Then something unexpected happened. Will stopped climbing. He hung swinging on the rope for a moment and started back down. No,” Will said. He looked up at Zelda. “I’m going to help.” Will slid back down the rope and joined Tony on the floor. He turned to the rest of the boys. “Come on!” he said. “Let’s get this guy.”

Will, this young kid who didn’t really even know Alex, wanted to help. So did Tony. They both hurried to stand next to Alex. In a moment, the other boys joined them, six altogether, standing in solidarity alongside Alex to face the huge man.

When Zelda saw what was happening, she didn’t think twice. She shinnied down the rope and, in a moment, also joined them.

When Alex saw what was going on, with the boys joining him and then Zelda, he grinned. “Okay, everybody,” he said. He and Zelda gave each other fist bumps. “Let’s go!”

And they charged.

The guy never stood a chance.

Alex, Zelda, and the six kids swarmed all over the big man, overwhelming him and knocking him to the ground. He struggled, but he was no match for the eight attackers. They held him tightly while Zelda and Will tied him up with sheets taken from a couple of the beds. When the man was secure, Zelda led Will, Tony, and the other four kids to the rope ladder. She climbed up first and helped the rest: Will went first, and then came Sampson, Lefty, Randal, and Vincent, who, at six years old, was the youngest. Finally, Tony climbed up.

Alex was the last to leave the room. He did a final visual check. The big man was secure and wouldn’t be going anywhere soon. In the background, he could hear sirens. He smiled. Good old Charlie and the rebels. They’d made good on their promise to stage a distraction. He could picture smoke billowing out from the smoke bomb placed around Botta’s statue. He grinned. Great!

Then he climbed up the rope and out of the dorm room.

About the Author

Jim is an award-winning author who lives in a small town in Minnesota. He loves to write! His stories and poems have appeared in over five hundred online and print publications. He has also authored 27 books, including poetry, flash fiction, and short story collections, novellas, and novels, all of which are available through traditional outlets and on his website.

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