“Congresswoman Chase, you made it,” Dr. Chase spun around to see a familiar face.

• Continued from Chapter 6

Epilogue

“Mr. Speaker. So good to see you.” The congresswoman did her best to hide her surprise. What was he doing here?

“Actually, it’s President Harrington now. Turns out the Colonel here just made it over from the White House. Those things wiped out the entire cabinet along with The President. Best we can tell, the Vice President went down with the Senate. I was just sworn in as a precaution.”

Alexander Harrington was not part of The Society. He was more prone to conspiracies and lies than leadership qualities any sane American would recognize.

“Oh, in that case, congratulations. You officially inherited a pile of dung. But I am here in any capacity you need, sir.” Dr. Chase needed to navigate this cautiously. This was not part of the plan.

“Cut the crap, Chase, I have been read in. I know everything and imagine I am the last face you expected to emerge from that conference room. Your ‘Society’ pals told me your big plans. Once we figure out how to get out of here safely, we are going to have a major sit down. How’s Beaumont?”

“Oh, uh -” Dr. Chase was rarely at a loss for words. How much does he really know? “Dickie has taken more than a few beatings today, but he’ll survive.”

“Good. I need an ally. Your number one job now is as a doctor. This ragtag group is depending on you. You can drop the planning and scheming until further notice. Clearly your plan did not go off as planned. And speaking of your plans, where are those secret weapons of yours?” Harrington was surveying the group.

“Sir?” He knows way too much. Who told him about the girls?

“I said I know everything. Where are the girls? I need to thank them for my life. They may be our only hope moving forward.” Harrington could do a lot with such power on his side.

“The girls, sir?” Dr. Chase was now more afraid of her new President than the aliens.

“No more crap. Do we have an understanding?” Harrington got in close now. “All those times you mocked us for our theories, what you had planned was far worse than anything we imagined. How many billions are dead thanks to your ‘Society’? Not going to share, fine. Officer, place Dr. Chase under arrest until we can sort this out.”

“Mr. President?” Sergeant Anderson could not disobey his new Commander in Chief. “Dr. Chase has been – ”

“I’m well aware of the Congresswoman’s activities. She is a threat to national security. I’m told you were with her the past few hours. Where are the girls?”

He was Capitol Police, but the former military man in him had to fall in line. “Sir, yes, sir. The girls are right over – they were right there a moment ago. I don’t see them.”

Harrington turned red. “They’re gone. Find them. The future of your country depends on it, soldier.”

Anderson organized the remaining collection of police, secret service, and military personnel into a defense structure and search party. The Society had stocked the bunker with above-average weapons in anticipation of ruling over the survivors. In their plans, the aliens left. The Society leadership would be among the few survivors downtown. The drones were an unforeseen threat. What else do those motherships have in store for the survivors? No telling now if their armory was enough to withstand another drone attack, but they had just about anything and everything but nukes to make a stand. If need be the nukes were an option as well.

“Isabella, wait up,” Evelyn was beyond exhausted.

“Yeah, can’t we take a sec?” Serafina too.

“We need to get away, as far from the Capital as possible and quickly. Too many dangers, from all sides.”

Isabella knew there was no one they could trust. The aliens were a threat to all humanity, but those humans could not be trusted. Even Dr. Chase had hidden motives. That new guy calling himself the President was scarier than anything they had encountered thus far.

The girls walked, staying out of sight as best they could, only crossing open streets at night under cover of darkness. They slept a few hours here and there, taking turns keeping watch.

By morning they reached the zoo. It was said seeing a lot of the animals were killed too. Their tears interrupted by the sight of an escaped tiger, they quietly moved along, following the creek.

Over the next two days they crept along, avoiding drones, humans, and wildlife, except for a few snakes that wanted even less to do with them. They would hear screams from time to time, and the girls wondered if the drones were following them, or was that locals treating each other badly. Fear made folks do terrible things. Evelyn, Isabella, and Serafina did not know where they were. From the riverbank, they could see buildings through the trees. There was some damage but less and less devastation it seemed. But the whole world is dark at night. No cars, no city lights, and not even any flashlights that they could see. It was chilly but not freezing, and thankfully no rain.

The creek opened up and became a lake.

LAKE NEEDWOOD, ROCK CREEK NATIONAL PARK

They found a few park maps. YOU ARE HERE apparently was in Derwood, Maryland. They were starving. They needed to find food. The creek water seemed gross but tasted clean. Now they had a lake. They grew up fishing and hunting. This could be a base of operations for a while.

“Hello there,” The voice startled all three that they almost formed hands and shot another blast. “Wait! No need for that.”

They turned around, and a woman stood there with a young girl. It was the girl doing the talking.

“You can call me, Lucy. This is my friend, Gabby. She has a few special talents of her own.” They saw the woman, Gabby, put her hand on her hip, where a gun was holstered.

“You are not too shabby, yourself,” Gabby added, looking down at her companion. The child, who could not be more than nine or ten, appeared to be in charge.

“We – “ Isabella hesitated, fearing she would overshare. “Evelyn, Isabella, and Serafina. It is a real pleasure to meet you.” Lucy cut in. For a child, Lucy was all business.

“Lucy has been telling me all about you,” Gabby tried to calm the situation with a friendly tone.

“Come with us. We have food and shelter and a plan.” Lucy took control.

“You are the girls we saw in our visions,” Evelyn spoke up.

“This feels right, Izzy,” Serafina encouraged.

“Come on, girls.” Isabella took their hands. A warm glow briefly surrounded the trio. They were getting the hang of this power. “Yes. You are known to us. Lucy. Gabby. Lead away. There is so much to be done.”

• THE END? Coming Soon “ECHOS OF DESTINY: A Whole New World”