Forever Kiera (Other Side of Forever series Book 2)

  FOREVER KIERA

  Shannon Eckrich

  Forever Kiera © copyright 2017 Shannon Eckrich

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover by Rue Volley

  Edited by Elizabeth A. Lance

  Forever Kiera

  Forever comes with a price.

  Kiera Sanders has a loving family, amazing friends, and a promising future. Her life is more than perfect. In fact, it’s a life most teenage girls can only dream about. But on a school field trip to the Eldorado Canyon, a tragic accident threatens to take it all away. She finds herself a short distance from the wreckage with a mysterious guy named Ethan Bradley and only the ability to watch in horror as all her friends and classmates perish. But the worst is yet to come.

  Ethan explains she is no longer a part of this world, and she must leave it behind. Kiera does everything she can to escape Ethan and the weird changes occurring to her body, but in the end, she’ll have to make a choice: Stay in the mortal realm and risk the lives of her family, or leave everyone she loves and follow Ethan into a strange new world in order to keep them safe.

  Somewhere in the Middle

  Moisture poured down the sides of my face and dripped off my chin, the intense heat excruciating. It wasn’t the warmth of the desert, or the fire smoldering around me causing this reaction. No. It was because my eyes burned, like they had turned into acid. They were melting in their sockets. Watching my best friends and everyone from my senior class die...well...there were no words to describe it.

  Gazing at the fireball in front of me, I wanted nothing more than to fade away into oblivion at that very moment. I had to be in shock or something. Whatever it was, it didn’t stop the screaming inside of my head. Didn’t even block it from my mind. I needed it to stop. It was kind of weird, though. I could hear everything around me, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even cry. And those voices...god, those voices. Why wouldn’t they just shut up?

  Nothing.

  And I meant, nothing, could be more heart-wrenching or painful than this.

  The Beginning

  Ever have one of those dreams where you wake up on an island swarming with zombies and you were the only person actually alive?

  Probably not.

  Chasity once told me only one person could come up with that kind of crap, referring to me. She said my brain had been wired differently from everyone else’s. But I didn’t think that rang entirely true. People have been dreaming up stuff about zombies and dead people way before I entered this world. So, their ideas had to come from somewhere, right?

  In reality, I didn’t think the zombies were what really freaked me out in my dreams. It was the fact I was living and they were dead.

  All of them.

  Except me.

  It wasn’t fair. I was stuck in an isolated world without friends or family or anything else familiar to me. And the zombies pretty much had it made. All their family and friends were zombies too. But they just didn’t have the brains to realize it. I knew they were just dreams. Nightmares, even. But being alone for the rest of my life, now that had to be my biggest fear.

  5:43 A.M.

  I woke with a gasp, unable to move anything but my eyes. I focused on the familiarity of my wall in the darkness. The white wallpaper. The light blue stars on the white wallpaper.

  I was home. In my bed.

  There were no zombies or dead people. And no feelings of isolation and no island. It was just a dream. Mom and Dad were two doors down the hall, with Cody next door. My family was here. I was here. And I was safe.

  I. Am. Not. Alone.

  Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and repeated the words again and again.

  Just in case I happened to be wrong.

  6:45 A.M.

  “Ki-Ki, c’mon, get up!”

  Cody’s small footsteps pattered over the floor, quickly approaching the side of my bed. Squeezing my eyes shut, I suppressed a smile, waiting for just the right moment. His little knee caused a slight indentation in my bed, and suddenly, I flipped over and snatched him up in my arms. “I got you!” I held onto his squirmy little body while he fought like mad to get away.

  My little brother’s always been a fighter, except for when the other kids teased him at school for being shorter than everyone else. If only he would be as rough with them as he was with me, then I’d bet they’d leave him alone for good. Mom and Dad didn’t think violence solved anything.

  And I didn’t either, to a point. But when the teachers ignored it, he had to find some way to stand up for himself, even if it meant giving someone a busted lip.

  Mom and Dad always gave me that look, shaking their heads when I offered him this kind of advice. But it was whatever. As his older sister, one of my duties included looking out for him. They should have realized this by now.

  “Let go, Ki-Ki,” Cody squealed. He’s eight years old, but he stills calls me Ki-Ki, instead of Kiera. He’d been calling me that since the age of two. He could never pronounce my full name. Not that I think he really tried. But the nickname thing sort of stuck on me. And lucky for him, because I’d never stand for anyone else calling me that.

  I finally released him because his laughter and lack of breathing caused his peachy skin to appear almost purple. I couldn’t risk him having one of his coughing/gagging/puking fits on my bed. Not this early in the morning. Besides, Mom would freak if she had to wash my sheets for a third time this week because Cody threw up again.

  Cody flopped beside me on the bed. It took a minute for him to catch his breath and for his purple cheeks to fade back to peach.

  “You’re a half an hour early, buddy.” I glanced over and smiled. “How come?”

  “Mommy said you were going on a trip today. And she said something about a cannon.” He looked up at me with his big brown eyes. “I wanna go too. Please, Ki-Ki. ‘Cause I know there’ll be pirates there. ‘Cause pirates always have cannons.” Excitement flooded through his face, and his cheeks puffed out as if he were about to explode.

  He did.

  “Boom! Boom! Boom!” he yelled, tossing his hands in the air and launching invisible iron balls across my room.

  I laughed. “I’m not going to see cannons, silly.” I reached out and ruffled his short dark hair. “I’m going to a canyon. Eldorado Canyon. And there are no pirates there. I promise you.”

  Cody twisted his lips and squinted. His way of concentrating way too hard. “How ‘bout ghosts? Any ghosts there? They’re my second favoritest thing in the world.”

  I shook my head, amused by the way the smallest of things caused so much excitement for him. “No ghosts, either.”

  Cody pouted, and it nearly broke my heart.

  “Sorry, buddy. But I’m afraid the canyon isn’t really that exciting. We’re touring a mine and there’s a lot of walking involved.” I couldn
’t imagine Cody in a mine or around the Colorado River. I’d be too afraid something would happen to him.

  “Maybe, next time.” His voice fell and moisture clouded his eyes.

  “Don’t worry.” I gazed at him and smiled. “Maybe, I’ll bring you back some gold. Wouldn’t that be cool? Then I’ll help you make your own treasure chest. Just like a pirate’s.” Something had to cheer the little guy up.

  “Really?” Cody’s eyes lit up and his face brightened.

  “Yes, really.” Mission accomplished.

  “Ki-Ki, you’re the bestest sister in the whole entire world!” Cody shot up like a rocket and scrambled out of my bed.

  I laughed at his cuteness. Most brothers and sisters fight like mad. But not me and Cody. Somehow, we’d always managed to get along. “I’m your only sister.”

  “Yeah, that too.” Cody raced out of my room. “I’m going to tell Mom you’re bringing me back my own loot of gold so I can grow up to be a pirate,” he said as his footsteps disappeared down the hall.

  I shook my head and slowly slid out of bed. My best alarm clock ever. I loved the way he looked up to me. Just the thought made my stomach all bubbly inside. I had no idea what I would do without him.

  I made my way over to my dresser and pulled out a white tee and a pair of jean shorts. The temperature would be well over one hundred degrees today. One of the downfalls of living in Nevada. But, hopefully, being inside a mine would drastically reduce the heat. Because even though I was born and raised here, the heat and I have never really agreed. Especially, when it came to the curls in my hair.

  I got dressed, pulled my curly, brown hair up, and secured it with a pink scrunchie. Then I headed down the stairs.

  Mom and Dad were at the kitchen table reading the paper and sipping their morning tea while Cody destroyed a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. I smiled at the milk dripping from the corners of his mouth.

  Mom glanced up at me, and then she looked at Cody and sighed. “Eat your cereal right, please. You’re going to get it all over your school shirt.”

  Dad and I laughed as Cody gave her an animalistic growl.

  “Cody, stop that.” Mom tried to sound mad, but Dad and I knew it was all an act. Mom never got angry at anything. She’s too mellow. But she continued any way, “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re not a dog? You’re a boy. And little boys don’t growl.”

  “Omigosh!” I acted surprised as I made my way to the cabinet. “A giant dog has eaten my little brother.” I grabbed a glass and headed over to the fridge. “Oh, whatever am I going to do?”

  Cody began to growl and snarl even more.

  “Kiera, do you really have to encourage him?” Mom glanced at me with the look. Even though her lips were twisted, her eyes remained soft.

  I poured a glass of milk and winked at her. “I guess I’ll have no reason to bring any loot home from the canyon this afternoon. Because a big dog wouldn’t have any use for gold. Maybe, I’ll have to look for some bones.”

  “No, Ki-Ki!” Cody yelled. “I was only playing. I’m not a dog now. Please, please, please, can you bring me some gold? Please?”

  Cody bounced up and down in his chair like some wild child that couldn’t be tamed.

  Dad ignored him and glanced over at me as he placed his cup of tea on the table. “Oh, I forgot you were going out to the canyon today. I think you’ll really enjoy it. And you may be able to find some really good specimens.” He smiled.

  I rolled my eyes and thought, here we go again. “Dad, I’m not digging through the dirt. How many times do I have to tell you, I have no ambition to do what you do?” I finished my glass of milk and placed it into the sink. “I mean, I think what you do is cool and all, but it’s not for me.”

  Cody’s eyes lit up and he bounced even harder in his chair. “I do, I do, Daddy. I wanna be an acheyologist! Digging in the dirt is cool.”

  “It’s Archeologist, Cody,” Dad corrected him and gazed back down at his paper.

  I laughed. “See, Dad, there’s still hope one of us will follow in your footsteps.”

  Dad got up and walked his cup over to the counter and set it in the sink. “I guess you’re right.” Then he looked at me, a small smile spreading across his face. “But I do remember a time when you were as enthusiastic as Cody to dig in the dirt.”

  “Yes, Dad.” I rolled my eyes. “But that was a long time ago.”

  “It wasn’t as long as you think.” He walked back over to the table and leaned in to kiss Mom on her cheek. Mom’s skin turned slightly pink as she smiled up at him.

  Then he made his way over to Cody and ruffled his brown hair. “I’ll see you later, sport.”

  He glanced up quickly. “Bye, Daddy.” Then he stopped bouncing and returned to devouring his cereal.

  Before Dad even opened the door, a loud horn blared outside. “Kiera, would you mind telling Chasity she doesn’t need to inform the entire neighborhood about her arrival.”

  I snickered and picked up my bag. “Sure, Dad. I’ll let her know.” This had been an ongoing battle between them since she started driving. Dad hated the sounds of horns blaring, especially in the morning. I told Chasity. Now she just continued to do it for laughs.

  “Oh,” Mom spoke up as I opened the door. “Why aren’t you driving today? Because I really needed you to pick Cody up after school. Jessie’s coming in late, so I have to cover her until she comes in.”

  I sighed. “Chasity wanted to pick me up today because of the trip. But I guess I can get her to drop me off after school, and then I can go get Cody.” I slid my arm into the strap of my backpack and hoisted it up on my shoulder. “But I don’t even know why you still work at the casino. It’s not like you have to.”

  “It gives me something to do while you guys are away.” She wrapped her hands around her cup. “You know that. Besides, it’s only for a couple hours a day.”

  “Yes, Mom, because without us you go crazy.” I recited the same words she’d said quite a few times. Most mothers would kill for a little peace and quiet. Not mine. She’d rather have everyone around her twenty-four seven, like she had separation anxiety or something when we weren’t here. “Okay, I gotta go.” I stepped out the door and onto the porch.

  “Love you,” she shouted as I shut the door.

  Part of me knew I should say it back, but why waste the words? Mom already knew how I felt about her. I continued to head out to Chasity’s black Jeep, unable to resist the urge of whispering the words, “Love you too,” before I made it to the passenger side door.

  7:45 A.M.

  “I swear you are such a freak.” Chasity laughed when I finished telling her about my latest zombie dream. “You should be dreaming about Luke James instead of them. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be stranded on an island with him?”

  “Eww...” I screwed up my face. “I know you are so not talking about the same Luke James on the basketball team.” I continued to look at her. “You’re not, right?” I lifted my brows, waiting for her to tell me no.

  She smiled as she pulled out of my development. “Yes. And what’s wrong with Luke?” She tossed me a quick glance before focusing her attention on the road. “I was thinking about asking him out.”

  “No, Chasity.” I shook my head, unable to digest her words. “He’s been with nearly every girl in Coronado High. And have you noticed his legs? Even chickens have a better set of legs than him. And his personality—” I held my hand up, “—ugh, I’m not even going there. All I know is you can do way much better than him.”

  “He hasn’t been with you or Nicole.” She focused out the windshield as she continued to be as stubborn as always. “And his legs really aren’t that bad.” She snorted.

  “Because I have no desire to be with anyone right now.” I pulled my lip gloss out of my bag and smoothed it over my lips. “And definitely no desire to be with Luke.”

  “You know, Kiera, not to change the subject or anything, but you haven’t had a boyfriend all year. What’s up
with that?”

  I smacked my lips together and then placed my lip gloss back into the bag. “I’m tired of the boyfriend/girlfriend thing being such a game. They always want something that I’m not willing to give. And, besides, I have plenty of time to find the right guy. A mature guy. If, he ever shows.”

  Chasity laughed as she pulled into the school. “Yeah, but someone has to have your attention at school.” She swung her Jeep into the spot next to Nicole’s little red hatchback.

  “Nope.” I shook my head. “Nobody that I can think of.” I grabbed my bag from in between my legs and got out of the car, relieved to escape the boy talk. The guys here just didn’t interest me. And talking about them bored me to death. I’d rather spend my time with people who didn’t expect anything in return. And those people were Chasity and Nicole.

  I walked over and stood next to Chasity as Nicole got out of her car.

  “Hi, guys,” Nicole squealed as she spun around toward us and kicked her door shut. She raced over, her blonde hair swinging in the air, and gathered both of us in her arms, squeezing us tightly.

  “Hi, Nicole,” Chasity and I said her name together.

  “Come on guys, I’m excited to see you. Excited about today. I’ve never been in a mine before. This is going to be so cool.” She finally released us so we could breathe.

  Nicole, well...she’s very energetic. It didn’t take much to get her excited. She’s been that way since I met her in the first grade.

  “Well,” Chasity said. “We better hurry if we want to go, because we’re already running late.”

  “Oh, crap!” Nicole grabbed our hands and began pulling us through the parking lot toward the bus near the entrance of the school. “We need to go so we can get some good seats.”

  I couldn’t have agreed with her more.

  8:15 A.M.

  I snuggled deep into the stiff, green seat next to the window. Chasity swung her bag over my head, nearly missing the side of my face, and shoved it into the compartment above me.