Jessica Dunker has a new queer post-apocalyptic book out (bisexual): The Walls Between Us.
If all the nation’s power suddenly shut down, there would be no electricity, no water, no phones, no internet. Akeno suddenly faces the nation’s blackout alone, doubtful of what to do next, until he meets Sam, a charismatic, young woman intent on surviving. The two partner up when a paramilitary invades campus, driving Akeno and Sam into the wider community, where they face the societal dangers of a chaotic nation. Survival will be harder than they realized.
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Excerpt
“ Thank you all for coming,” Dr. Holden shouts over the loud static. “Our assignment today will be getting this radio to work. If anyone knows anything about radio tech, please apply yourselves. Any volunteers other than the ones at present?”
Everyone else turns a tired eye to Akeno and the few stragglers who just walked in the door after him. They all end up sitting in the back too, other than Akeno.
Suddenly a man’s voice filters in and out from the radio, a deep baritone that echoes off the walls. He clasps his hands together in ex- pectation and impatiently waits for the sound to clear up. A student wiggles the dial just a little to get a better connection. He leans forward in his seat, his chin resting on top of his clasped thumbs. It would al- most seem like he was praying.
The radio filters in, and a clear voice booms from the speakers. The small group around the radio cheers, and Akeno smiles as everyone makes way for the speaker’s sound to reach those in the back. A hush falls over the room.
“–for just the right one to take action. As we know from earlier broadcasting, communications have failed all over the region, and some expect other states to be without power too. We cannot connect to the capital yet, which in our case is Raleigh, but attempts are still being made. Are we the only ones in this mass blackout? If so, why? If not, and the whole nation has gone dark, then I’m not sure I want to know the answer.”
Akeno’s anxiety is only confirmed by this news. The blackout ex- tends across borders. It’s worse than he thought. It’s not just the county; it’s across states.
He leans back in his desk and scans the room, his arms folding up around his chest. His fellow students’ faces turn from smiles to a look of troubled concern. They’re listening to everything the man is saying and are just now putting the pieces together. Akeno’s heart rate picks up, and for the first time, he’s afraid.
“Wait. Does that mean–”
Voices speak over each other.
“Nobody’s communicating? Why can’t the capital–?”
“Do you think this is statewide?”
“What if it’s across the country?
“You think it’s an attack?”
“Everyone, keep listening,” Holden shouts louder than the class.
Everyone quiets, and those in the back draw closer.
“Update: We’ve just been able to connect to another radio,” the radio man’s voice says.
“Hello … Hello? Can you hear me? Hello, can you hear me?”
Static echoes in the background. Akeno thinks they must have sev- eral radios on wherever this man is.
“She’s a woman from northern Georgia,” the radio man says. “So we’ve finally managed to cross borders…She says she and her family have been trying to contact other family members from across the country…She lives in the woods…She says her family’s power is out too…She says she contacted South Carolina!… says it was a man who lost his power yesterday…
“Breaking: Three states have confirmed to have lost power. I repeat, three states are now without power…We have lost power here in North Carolina, the woman in Georgia, and now South Carolina. Another line’s coming in!
“Easy folks. We’ll return after this break. More to come soon. Tune in to 90.2 AM. Spread the word. Keep your faith. Over and out.”
Static.
The classroom erupts in a frenzy
Author Bio
Jessica Dunker is a young writer who cherishes and upholds stories that capture the flaws of our society and the diverse characters that learn how to survive within it. She graduated summa cum laude from East Tennessee State University with a Teaching, M.A. and English B.A. She is a former executive editor of The East Tennessean and has published multiple short stories in The Mockingbird. She is now a secondary English teacher in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her partner and pup.