Primordial Earth Read online

  Baileigh Higgins

  Primordial Earth

  The Extinction Series

  Copyright © 2022 by Baileigh Higgins

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Baileigh Higgins asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  Baileigh Higgins has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

  First edition

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  Contents

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  Acknowledgments

  Primordial Earth - The Prequel

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 1

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5 - Lilian (Young Rogue)

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7 - Bones

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13 - Bones

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15 - Lilian (Young Rogue)

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18 - Lilian (Young Rogue)

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23 - Bones

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25 - Lilian (Young Rogue)

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 2

  Chapter 1 - Moran

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5 - Moran

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10 - Moran

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14 - Moran

  Chapter 15 - Bones

  Chapter 16 - Seth

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 3

  Chapter 1 - General Sikes

  Chapter 2 - Kat

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5 - Kat

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10 - Seth

  Chapter 11 - General Sikes

  Chapter 12 - Kat

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16 - Kat

  Chapter 17 - General Sikes

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20 - Kat

  Chapter 21 - General Sikes

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 4

  Chapter 1 - Bones

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5 - Bones

  Chapter 6 - General Sikes

  Chapter 7 - Kat

  Chapter 8 - Callum

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13 - General Sikes

  Chapter 14 - Kat

  Chapter 15 - Callum

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18 - General Sikes

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20 - General Sikes

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 5

  Chapter 1 - Jessica

  Chapter 2 - Seth

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6 - Lee

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9 - Jessica

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12 - Jessica

  Chapter 13 - Lee

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16 - Lee

  Chapter 17 - Olivia

  Chapter 18 - Jessica

  Chapter 19 - Callum

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22 - Jessica

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 6

  Chapter 1 - Imogen

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5 - Imogen

  Chapter 6 - Kat

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8 - Brittany

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11 - Imogen

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13 - Kat

  Chapter 14 - Callum

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18 - Callum

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21 - Kat

  Epilogue - Seth

  Primordial Earth - Book 7

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2 - Kat

  Chapter 3 - Callum

  Chapter 4 - Sandi

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6 - Seth

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9 - Kat

  Chapter 10 - Callum

  Chapter 11 - Sandi

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14 - Seth

  Chapter 15 - David

  Chapter 16 - Kat

  Chapter 17 - Sandi

  Chapter 18 - Callum

  Chapter 19 - Paul

  Chapter 20 - Tony

  Epilogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 8

  Chapter 1 - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 2 - Tony

  Chapter 3 - David

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7 - Paul

  Chapter 8 - Callum

  Chapter 9 - Sandi

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12 - Paul

  Chapter 13 - Callum

  Chapter 14 - Terri

  Chapter 15 - Sandi

  Chapter 16 - Kat

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19 - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 20 - Tony

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23 - Kat

  Chapter 24 - Sandi

  Epilogue - Rogue

  Primordial Earth - Book 9

  Prologue - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4 - Jessica

  Chapter 5 - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 6 - Sandi

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8 - Seth

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10 - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 11 - Sandi

  Chapter 12 - Callum

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16 - Jessica

  Chapter 17 - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 18 - Sandi

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20 - Lt. Cummings

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue I - Kat

  Epilogue II - Sandi

  Epilogue III

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  About the Author

  Glossary

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  https://www.baileighhiggins.com

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thank you to Alex for the stunning book cover design. You can check out his portfolio on Facebook at 187Designz. He’s an amazing artist!

  Primordial Earth - The Prequel

  Chapter 1

  Seth stared out of the window as they drove throu
gh the outskirts of Portland. He spotted a smear of chocolate on his cheek and wiped it off with a grin. Nothing beats ice cream on a hot summer’s day.

  His mother glanced at him over her shoulder, her face beautiful despite the ravages of chemotherapy. A silk scarf covered her head, the soft material matching the pattern of her blouse. Beige slacks and sandals graced the rest of her form, and she looked relaxed. Happier than she’d been in a long time. “Are you okay back there, little man?”

  “I’m good, Mom, and not so little anymore. I’m thirteen already,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “I know, but I can’t help it,” she said. “Did you enjoy the ice cream?”

  “It was great, thanks,” he said, bobbing his head.

  They’d stopped for a treat to celebrate his mother’s latest test results. Her cancer was in remission. After months of awful treatments, hospital stays, and wards, it was finally over.

  “How do you feel, Mom?” Seth asked. The question was unnecessary. He knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it again anyway. It was a form of reassurance.

  “I’m fine,” she replied. “Better than ever.”

  “Good,” he said, absorbing the words. It still felt a bit unreal, but if it were true, they’d be able to go home soon—their real home in Alaska. Far away from the city with its noise, pollution, and crowds.

  He closed his eyes and pictured it. A small wooden cabin set in a clearing surrounded by tall, green pines and a thick layer of snow. A stream trickled down the hill and formed a pool at the bottom. During the coldest months of the year, it froze over, perfect for ice skating, but it offered great fishing the rest of the time.

  In the distance, the mountains rose to touch the sky, and the wilderness stretched for miles in every direction. The nearest town, Anchorage, was thirty-six miles south, and few people braved the rugged trails. It was a rough and lonely way of life, but he loved it and couldn’t wait to return. “Dad?”

  “Yes?” his dad answered, flashing him a look in the rearview mirror.

  “When are we going home?”

  “Home?” his dad asked with a quizzical frown.”We’re almost there.”

  “No, I mean our real home,” Seth said.

  “Alaska?”

  “Yes,” Seth said with a nod.

  “Not for a while, buddy,” his dad said.

  “Why not? Now that mom’s fine; we can go home, right?” Seth asked.

  “It’s not quite that simple. There are still a few follow-up tests to do, and your mom needs to regain her strength.” His father reached out to take his mother’s hand and squeezed it. “But we’ll get there.”

  “How long?” Seth asked, his heart sinking.

  “A few months, maybe,” his dad said.

  “Months?” Seth cried.

  “I’m sorry, buddy,” his dad said with a sympathetic smile. “It’ll go fast, you’ll see.”

  “I guess,” Seth grumbled, sinking back into his seat.

  “At least you’ll be able to finish the school year with your friends,” his mom added with a kind smile.

  This time, Seth said nothing. What was the point? His parents didn’t understand. How could they when he’d gone to great lengths to hide the situation from them?

  The truth was, he hated school. He didn’t fit in, and he didn’t have any friends. An outsider, he was picked on and bullied. He hadn’t told his parents because of his mom’s illness. She needed to focus on improving, and his father needed to support her. They didn’t need to know about his silly problems.

  Seth stared at the passing scenery, trying to imagine several more months stuck in hell. He wasn’t cut out for city life and longed to return to the wilds. It was the only place that brought him peace. The thought of not getting back was enough to drive him crazy, but he didn’t have a choice.

  Suddenly, a shimmering curtain dropped down across the road. It stretched over both lanes, blocking the traffic. Tires squealed, and horns blared as drivers swerved to avoid the strange barrier.

  A resounding crash sounded as two cars collided right in front of their vehicle. Seth’s father yanked the steering wheel to the side, narrowly missing the collision. The back bumper scraped against the other car’s side, and Seth winced at the high-pitched noise.

  A truck loaded with wooden beams appeared out of nowhere, and his dad slammed on the brakes. The wheels locked, but the car kept moving, sliding across the tar. Seth saw the accident coming and tried to brace himself, but it was impossible.

  They smashed into the back of the truck, and the hood crumpled like tissue paper. The windshield exploded in a spray of glass, and a beam impaled the seat next to Seth. The car slewed sideways, and his head slammed into the backrest. Stars danced across his vision as the car settled in place. Silence fell, broken only by the engine’s noise as it ticked over.

  After a minute, Seth groaned and raised his head. The vein in his right temple throbbed, and chunks of glass fell from his hair onto the seat. Hot blood trickled down his face and dripped onto his shirt. He stared at the crimson blotch with a frown, trying to organize his thoughts. Then he remembered. “Mom? Dad!”

  Silence.

  “Mom. Dad. Answer me!” Seth tried again. “Are you okay?”

  Nothing.

  Still no answer.

  Fear spurted through his veins, and he strained forward in his seat. The beam obstructed his view, and he reached for the door handle instead. The door opened, and he fell through the opening with a thud. Gravel bit into his knees, but he hardly felt it. All that mattered was getting to his parents. They had to be okay. They just had to.

  He jumped up but paused when a wave of nausea hit him. His head spun, and his stomach churned. Vomit bubbled up his throat and splattered onto the ground, narrowly missing his shoes. Wiping his mouth with one hand, he waited until his head cleared.

  Forcing his legs to move, he stumbled toward the front of the car. He focused on his mom’s side and tugged on the door handle. At first, it refused to budge, and he braced himself. With one foot planted on the side of the vehicle, he pulled as hard as he could.

  It shot open, and he fell backward with a yelp of surprise. His ass hit the asphalt, sending a jolt of agony up his spine. Ignoring the pain, he scrambled forward to grab his mother as she slumped to the side. He caught her before she could hit the ground and cradled her in his arms. “Mom? Mom, talk to me!”

  Her head lolled back on her shoulders, and her eyes remained closed. A stream of blood ran from a deep cut on her forehead, matting her hair to her scalp. He pressed one hand to the wound but yanked it away with a cry of horror. The skull felt soft and squishy to the touch, and he guessed she had a skull fracture. Probably from one of the beams. “Oh, no. This is bad. Mom?”

  With frantic haste, he laid her down on the ground and checked for a pulse. Not a single beat thrummed against his fingers, and panic bombarded his mind. Sitting back on his heels, he tried to think of something to do but came up blank. “Focus, Seth. Focus!”

  A couple of years before, his father taught him basic CPR. He hadn’t thought much about it since and regretted that now. Squeezing his eyes shut, he groped for the memory. It was faint, but it was there. “Thirty compressions, two breaths. I think.”

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  Seth cycled through the compressions before tilting his mother’s head back and administering two breaths. It felt strange, and he hoped he was doing it right. Her life depended on it. He went through another round and another, each more desperate than the last.

  “Come on, Mom. Come on. Breathe!” he yelled, slamming both fists onto her chest. Her body shook with the force of the blow, but she didn’t move. She didn’t even blink. At last, he couldn’t deny the truth anymore. Squeezing her hand, he looked at her still face. So beautiful in life and death. “Mom. I’m so sorry. I love you.”

  Tears ran down his cheeks as he climbed to his feet. Now that his mother was gone, his focus shifted to his father. He stumbled around the back of the car, one thought prominent in his mind. He’ll be okay. He has to be okay. I can’t lose both of them in one day.

  Seth slid to a stop next to his father’s side of the car and reached for the door. It opened without a hitch, swinging open on oiled hinges. “Dad?”

  His father lay slumped over the wheel, the airbag punctured by a wooden beam. Blood covered the dashboard and pooled onto the seat—a river of crimson that smelled like copper… and death. Seth choked back a sob, unable to believe his eyes. “Dad?”

  Unable to stop, he reached for his father’s shoulder and pulled. He had to know. He had to be sure. Don’t let it be real. Please, don’t let it be real.

  The body fell back, and the head rolled toward him. The eyes were blank and sightless, no longer the fierce gaze of a strong and able man. His father was gone, his soul winging its way to the afterlife, wherever that might be.