Free Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) by S E Gilchrist

“I came over as soon as I heard they were finally going to announce it. You need to know what’s happening and begin preparations.”
    What?
    That word.
    My mouth dropped open. My hand shook and hot tea sloshed over the sides of the mug scalding my skin. My heart thumped filling my ears with its noisy beat. Exchanging my mug into my other hand, I shook my wet hand and tried to concentrate on what Dad was saying.
    “Firstly, there’s some strange magnetic impulses emanating from the meteors and they’re playing havoc with our instrumentation making it hard for us to interpret the data we’re retrieving. In some circles, it’s believed these impulses may affect our weather patterns as the shower approaches Earth.” His gaze swept the room to linger on me.
    I couldn’t work out what the expression in his eyes meant. But a terrible sense of dread swept over me.
    Dad added, “Secondly, at the very least there will be airbursts. Of what magnitude the scientists are unable to gauge at this point.”
    “I don’t understand,” said Em.
    Dan explained, “What Dad is saying is that some or all of the meteor shower will impact on our planet. It will depend on the size of the meteorites as to how much damage it will cause. Many will probably burn up in our atmosphere. Those that are really big may cause large explosions.”
    “Good lad.” Dad ruffled my brother’s hair.
    “This is terrible,” wailed Em. “I have to tell my father. People must be warned.”
    In two strides, my father reached Em’s side and wagged a finger under her nose. “You can’t tell anyone, got it, girlie? Another public announcement will be made soon enough but until then, its closed mouths.”
    I caught yet a third silent communication Dad exchanged with Mum.
    “Is this true, Dad?” Suspicious, I examined both my parents’ bland expressions. They were keeping something from me, but what? Was this one of Mum’s crack pot ideas that Dad, for heaven only knew what reason, had decided to buy into?
    “If you don’t believe me that’s your call.” Looking grumpy and somehow stern at the same time, Dad stomped to the door. One hand on the wall, he tossed a grim warning over his shoulder, “But you must be ready to act when the shit rains down.”
    Thirty seconds later the front door slammed.
    Two minutes later, the quiet was rent with a powerful rumble that faded into the night.
     

Chapter 5 – PREPARE
     
    The next morning, I stood in the shower enjoying the beat of hot water cascading down my back. What was real? What was fantasy?
    Were both my parents crazy?
    Placing my palms on the tiles I leaned my forehead against their coolness fighting tears and my stupid self-pity. I needed to think through what was happening. Sort out the craziness from reality, because my every sense I possessed screamed at me something was wrong.
    Prepare.
    What did it mean? Why had everyone begun to mention that word?
    The timer pinged.
    I turned off the taps immediately, knowing how important it was not to waste what water we had left in the tanks. I remained in the shower recalling the conversation I’d had earlier that week with Mum, the moisture slowly drying on my skin.
    Warder .
    Mum had mentioned the sensei but that didn’t explain the tat on Alex. Could he be a Warder too? How many Warders were there anyway?
    Another weird coincidence?
    Then there was the inference we’d spent our entire life hiding from someone or something. Damnit. Why does everything have to be so hard?
    And what, if anything, did any of this have to do with the meteor shower?
    Tapping my short nails against the tiles, I considered the ramifications. My friends had walked home soon after Dad had left last night. Marnie would hold her tongue but there was no way Em would withhold any information from her journalist father. It was only a matter of time, before the news would be all over the local paper.
    Next the internet.
    Then the entire country.
    But if that were the case,