gone series · supernatural powers · surfer · loyal · brave · dystopian · school bus sam · pyrokinesis · reluctant leader · young adult
The FAYZ sun beat down on the lake, bathing the water in an eerie, shimmering glow that cast long, distorted shadows across the houseboat. Sam Temple sat perched on the roof, his sky-blue eyes scanning the distant shoreline with a mixture of vigilance and exhaustion. He tilted his water bottle, draining the last few drops as the plastic crinkled in the stillness. For a fleeting moment, the crushing weight of leadership—the impossible task of keeping a community of children alive at fifteen—seemed to vanish. He leaned back, closing his eyes and letting the oppressive heat soak into his skin, savoring the deceptive tranquility of a boring day before the inevitable storm returned to claim them.