The Edge of Cascadia

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Volume One of the Last Colony Series

  THE EDGE OF CASCADIA

  S. A. Sebuchi

  The Edge of Cascadia is a word of fiction. Names, characters, places, or incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Other than historical figures, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  2021 Sebuchi Books

  Copyright © 2021 by S. A. Sebuchi

  All rights reserved

  Published in the United States

  Cover design by Makoto Sebuchi, cover concept by Carla Buchanan

  Hardcover ISBN 978-1-7377994-2-9

  Paperback ISBN 978-1-7377994-1-2

  eBook ISBN 978-1-7377994-0-5

  Trigger Warnings:

  Suicide

  Gun violence

  Death

  Acknowledgements

  Writing The Edge of Cascadia wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many people and all their amazing support. Thanks to all my family and friends who read early drafts and got me going in the right direction. Thanks to Suzie for listening to me speak about my book for hours and hours and always showing interest and encouraging me.

  Thanks to my husband for designing the perfect cover. Thanks for always helping me brainstorm, for reading chapters and rewrites, and supporting me through the ups and downs. I never would have been able to finish without your endless support.

  Thanks to my parents and brother Mark for your support and enthusiasm. Your input has been so valuable.

  Thanks to the beta readers who took the time to read my book and give me such awesome feedback. You shaped my book and made it so much better. Thanks to my editor, Lori, for helping me polish the book and make it shine.

  Thank you to my author friends for helping me through the most difficult time of my publishing journey, with special thanks to Jade, Carlo, and Frank—you were a shining light in the darkness and I’m so grateful for your support.

  And finally, thanks to you, new reader. I hope you enjoy my book!

  About the Author

  S.A. Sebuchi grew up in Washington and discovered a love for writing at a young age. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she received a BA in Comparative History of Ideas. She lives on 5 acres in the woods with her husband and two children and loves reading, writing and living inside her imagination. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok or visit her website at www.sasebuchi.com.

  For my husband—my best friend, my rock, my true love.

  CHAPTER ONE

  SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE

  Annabelle

  The day her grandmother died she burdened Annabelle with a secret. The sun shone brightly that afternoon but Gran didn’t permit one ray of its brilliance into her room. She seemed to want to die in the darkness.

  “Gran? You awake?” Annabelle waited a few seconds after entering the dim room to let her eyes adjust. Clutching a sketchbook and pencil, Annabelle walked to the bed, leaving the door open to let some light in. Annabelle’s shoes tapped as she crossed the cement floor and the cold, musty air made the room feel like a cave in the desert.

  “Annabelle?” Gran reached her hand up and Annabelle took it after laying the sketchbook on the nightstand.

  “Yes, it’s me.” She sat on the chair next to the bed.

  Gran smiled, but her eyes darted back and forth. Annabelle had intended to draw her portrait but shadows dominated Gran’s face. She couldn’t bear to let Gran’s last sketch be dark when her life had been filled with color and warmth.

  Gran closed her eyes and took a few slow breaths. Her lips parted and her face looked relaxed. Had she fallen asleep so quickly? Should she let her sleep? Annabelle watched Gran breathe, waiting.

  “Is everything okay?” Annabelle whispered finally. After all, Gran had summoned her to talk privately.

  Gran opened her eyes and let out a laugh. “Of course everything isn’t okay,” she said, this time managing to make eye contact.

  Annabelle frowned, but nodded all the same. Gran spoke the truth. How could everything be alright when she was dying?

  “I know, I’m sorry,” she said, brushing a loose strand of hair from Gran’s eye.

  “No, it isn’t what you think.” The spunk and energy Annabelle loved about Gran came back, and her eyes widened as she tried to sit up. Her frail arms shook under her body’s weight.

  “Gran, what are you doing?”

  “Help me up, will ya?”

  Annabelle bunched some pillows under Gran’s back. Gran’s clear and focused eyes made her look years younger. Is this a good sign, or a bad sign?

  “There, that’s better.” Gran sighed and looked around. “Now listen, I need your help with something.” She leaned forward, dropping her voice into a whisper. “But I don’t think you’ll like it.”

  Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “Gran, how can you say that? I’d do anything for you.”

  Gran stared over the top of Annabelle’s head, hesitating.

  “Gran, what is it?”

  “Annabelle.” Gran stared at her now. “I have a secret and I can’t let it die with me.”

  Annabelle slid her chair closer to the bed and took Gran’s hand. She’d do anything to relieve Gran’s pain. “What is it?”

  Gran squeezed Annabelle’s hand and looked into her eyes, unblinking. “I need you to get something for me,” she said.

  “Ok,” Annabelle said, giving Gran a reassuring smile. “What is it?”

  Gran rubbed Annabelle’s hand with her thumb, stalling again. “It’s in the old bunkers,” she said, looking down.

  “What?...Gran…I…” Annabelle couldn’t go in the bunkers, and Gran knew it. Danger lurked inside the deteriorating tunnels and the Colony prohibited anyone from entering.

  “I said you wouldn’t like it.” Gran chanced a look back at her and Annabelle didn’t know what to say.

  “Everyone keeps telling me I’ve lived a long and wonderful life,” Gran said. “That I have much to be proud of. But it isn’t true. I’ve lived a life full of pain and grief. I feel like it’s all I’ve ever known.”

  “Gran, what are you talking about?” Annabelle shifted in her chair. Everyone in the Colony shared a history of heartache, especially Gran’s generation, but no one spoke of it. Gran should feel gratitude toward the Colony for saving the human race. Ev
eryone focused on looking forward instead of back.

  “We all thought we were free when we abandoned the bunkers,” Gran continued, “but we’ll never be free.” She widened her eyes and clenched her jaw. She leaned forward until she gripped Annabelle’s shoulder and squeezed tight. “Annabelle, you need to retrieve a key. Never let it out of your sight, and don’t tell anyone about it.” Gran’s sharp tone made Annabelle feel like she couldn’t ask anything else, but she had so many questions she couldn’t focus on one.

  “What does this key unlock?” she finally asked. “Why is it so important?”

  “It was your grandfather’s. Annabelle, please.” Gran lowered her voice and her lip quivered. “I just need you to keep this safe. Can you do that for me?”

  Annabelle’s pulse quickened. “How will I even get into the bunkers?” The intensity became too much for her and she leaned back, forcing Gran to release her.

  “Your grandpa built a secret tunnel from our room in the bunker. I left directions to its location and a compass in the nightstand. You should still be able to access it,” Gran said.

  “How could he do that? Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

  “He was curious. We’d been stuck underground our whole lives, and we didn’t fully understand the risks involved when he built it.” Gran gave a mischievous grin. “The good news is he never got caught.”

  Annabelle never would’ve imagined that sweet, law-abiding Gran would have an illegal exit out of the old bunkers. Maybe she didn’t really know Gran at all. “Did you ever actually go outside?”

  Gran chewed her lip. “Not often,” she said under her breath.

  “Gran! I can’t believe you. What about the radiation?”

  “We figured it would’ve been long gone by the time he started building it. Annabelle, please promise me you’ll get it.”

  Annabelle tilted her head to the side, frowning. She loved her life in the Colony. Working at the Parenthood Association gave her status and continuing there would guarantee her success once she had children. Getting caught could jeopardize everything she’d begun to work toward.

  She glanced back to Gran. She looked small in the bed, her eyes big and pleading. After her mother died Gran had taken her place. She’d been the only mother Annabelle had ever known and she couldn’t refuse Gran’s dying wish.

  “Okay.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “But what does it unlock?”

  Gran pursed her lips. “I actually don’t know.”

  “Gran! Why would I need to get the key if you don’t even know what it unlocks?”

  “I just know it’s important. It was your grandfather’s, and he got angry with me every time I brought it up. He said it was for my safety that I didn’t know what it unlocked. He was very firm on that.” Gran started speaking slower, and blinked a few times before continuing. “I know it must uncover something big. He said the Colony would banish him if anyone ever found out he had it. It was supposed to be destroyed. Annabelle, if it falls into the wrong hands its secret might never be revealed. It would be best if you had it, and even better if you could solve its mystery.”

  “Banished?” Annabelle almost laughed. “Gran do you realize what you’re asking me to do?” Gran didn’t respond and when Annabelle looked at her for more information, she had her eyes closed. Oh no. A tremor jolted through Annabelle and she grabbed Gran’s hand. “Gran?”

  Gran peeled her eyes open. “Please, Annabelle, I can’t go in peace unless you promise me you’ll get it.” Her words came out quiet and unsteady.

  Annabelle blinked back tears. “I will, I promise,” she said. She didn’t want to think about what agreeing meant.

  Gran let out a slow, labored breath. “Thank you,” she said.

  Annabelle feared more questions would cause Gran stress. “Okay, Gran, okay. Don’t worry about anything. Just relax now.”

  Gran nodded and closed her eyes. Her face became emotionless. Annabelle stared at Gran and her heart pounded in her ears. It couldn’t be the end already, she wasn’t ready to let go. She watched until she saw the slight rising and falling of Gran’s chest, then leaned back in relief.

  Annabelle retrieved the compass and note from the drawer, but didn’t look at them. Instead she pushed them into her pocket and grabbed her sketchbook. She wanted to enjoy these last moments with Gran doing what she loved most, sketching. She hoped drawing a portrait would comfort Gran.

  Annabelle watched Gran’s face. As long as she could remember Gran had always greeted her with a warm smile, eyes lighting up and inviting her in. Gran’s beauty remained even in these final moments. Her cheekbones stood out, giving her an air of elegance despite the wrinkles, which showed her age. Her shoulder-length white hair had once been dark brown, like Annabelle’s. Even though they no longer shared the same hair color, they still possessed the same smoky gray eyes. Her father said Annabelle resembled Gran as a young woman, and she took it as a compliment.

  Annabelle lost herself in the sketch, the dim light somehow not impeding her ability to draw. The challenge of capturing Gran’s beauty consumed her, and she placed each line with concentration and precision. In the end, Annabelle believed she had a sketch which transcended age. Gran’s inquisitive eyes and calm smile radiated warmth, exactly how Annabelle wanted to remember her.

  Gran didn’t say much more the rest of the day. She opened her eyes and nodded each time one of Annabelle’s brothers came to visit and share their love, but struggled to stay engaged. She took her last breath surrounded by loved ones, and in the dark.

  ***

  The next morning Annabelle set out for Gran’s secret tunnel early, hoping fewer people would be out to notice her. A dust storm greeted her, distorting the sunrise and casting an eerie amber glow across the sky. She would’ve thought the unusual color was beautiful if it weren’t for her destination. She didn’t see any bikes yet, everyone was probably waiting for the dust storm to die down before heading to work. Annabelle didn’t blame them, traveling in this weather would be challenging but at least it would provide her some cover. She kept her head down while the wind grabbed at her backpack.

  The tunnel to the bunker’s entrance lay beyond the Colony’s boundary, something Gran had failed to mention. When Annabelle had read that, she’d decided she wouldn’t go. The risks put her outside her comfort level.

  Every time she’d closed her eyes the night before, however, she would see Gran staring at her with large, pleading eyes. She’d told Gran she’d get the key, and she couldn’t break her promise.

  So much could go wrong though. She could get caught outside the boundary without a guide, she could get lost and wander into a radioactive zone, she could get caught inside the bunker… She pushed her fears aside and marched forward. She hoped this would only take a few hours—she’d promised her dad she’d go to his house that afternoon to help sort some of Gran’s belongings.

  She passed the uniform homes of the Colony, feeling exposed. In order to save water for growing food, the Colony forbade landscaping, and the homes sat a few feet from the sidewalk. Only a line of gravel separated her from every home’s sunroom entrance and the endless row of windows stared at her like a million eyes. Colorful doors interrupted the windows and she noticed a thin layer of dust from the storm covered them.

  After a few minutes, she reached the pathway behind the homes, where the massive neighborhood biodome towered above. From the grains exit of biodome #4 follow the compass N. Rather than walk around the back to the grains exit, she went through the biodome. She needed a break from the windstorm and with any luck it would look like her final destination.

  Uprooted tumbleweeds blocked the door, and it took Annabelle a few minutes to clear the entrance while trying to avoid getting pricked by the thorns. Once inside she took a deep, cleansing breath, then went down the hallway toward the large chamber which grew fruits and berries. When she arrived she pushed a button on the wall, and the pocket door whooshed as it opened. She stepped through and the door c
losed behind her.

  Annabelle didn’t linger as she would usually, plodding past the apple and cherry trees toward the grain chamber. The buzzing bees helped relax her, and she took a deep breath of the thick orchard air, tasting its ripeness. She passed by her strawberries, noting how good they looked after hours of her care, and arrived at the grain chamber.

  Annabelle opened the door to the grains chamber and a few bees flew past her. She sighed with relief when she saw no one in there and pushed onward. As she walked down the path between the sea of golden wheat, her heart rate increased. At the other end of the wheat, she entered the hallway leading to the outside exit and closed the door behind her. After she made sure no bees had escaped, she took a step. She went at a slow pace as she approached the metal exit door.

  She could still turn back but once she went through that door she committed to leaving the Colony and retrieving the key. Even if she didn’t get caught, she’d forever carry the secret of breaking many Colony rules. She’d feel like a fraud. She arrived at the exit and stopped, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Crossing this threshold would make her a different person. She opened her eyes and pushed the door button.

  Outside the sky was no longer orange, but the dust still distorted her view. She took the compass from her pocket and positioned herself facing north, straight ahead from where she stood. She understood why Gran had picked this spot as a starting point—no houses were built on this side of the biodome and only empty, scrubby fields separated her from the Colony boundary. She set off north.

  Annabelle fought the urge to run as she crossed the scrubland. Instead, she concentrated on feeling small, invisible. She’d worn her tan patchwork pants and top, and she hoped it would help her stay camouflaged. She kept near the largest sagebrush bushes, slinking across the sandy ground. Her heart pounded as she approached the small trench marking the Colony’s boundary.