Ava Altair grew up reading fantasy and science fiction novels. She graduated from Florida Tech with a BS in Science Education – Physics and a minor in Computational Mathematics. She taught as an AP Physics teacher for five years in Florida. She now lives in Oregon, teaching horseback riding lessons and managing the stables with her mom. She enjoys hanging out and talking about science concepts and story ideas with her dad.

What it is to be human doesn't apply anymore. The surface of the Earth has been poisoned by years of abuse and now most life lives beneath the waves of the ocean. Over the last 500 years, humans have become fragmented and specialized by genetic manipulation, but two main factions exist in the Undersea. The hybrids, a race that continues to genetically modify themselves to climb the social ladder, and the humans, the unmodified organic race that makes up the lowest tier of society. 

Alex, a Delta Six hybrid, finds an unlikely companion in a human man, Jack, while on a mission to steal the Athena file. Alex withholds the file to elicit help from Jack and they set out on an adventure across the Surface. Their relationship is tenuous until a device mysteriously links them together. Now, running from Alphas, an elite group of hybrid assassins, Alex and Jack must weather the hostile surface of the planet to reach their common goal. They soon find they can't both have the thing they want most, but also can't seem to let each other go.

FLUX

"Ellie," Brooke whispered. "Ellie, I have to pee. Els?"


Brooke was leaning over Tom's stomach and shaking Ellie who slept on the floor next to their bench. His head rested on one of Brooke's thighs and it looked like her head had been resting on his stomach while she was sleeping.


Tom reached out and touched his hand to her arm. "I can take you."


In the dim light, he could see her shaking her head furiously. "No, that's okay. I'll wake her."


Ellie grumbled in her sleep and rolled over beneath the travel coat she was using as a blanket.


"Seriously, I'll take you. It's not a big deal." He pushed himself up into a sitting position and steadied Brooke on the bench.


Brooke's mouth became a hard line. "I don't think I can."


"Yeah, but, you'll be right there- listening," she whispered.


Tom chuckled. "No, I won't. I'll plug my ears."


"Ellie, please wake up. Come on, please?"


Chapter 108: Release