During a school chapel service, the lights go out. The exit signs go dark. Phones and radios stop working. Outside, vehicles have stopped in the road. Nobody knows why.
That is the opening of Before the Lights Return: A Short Thriller, my fictional story about a school security director, a Christian school, and a community suddenly facing an unexplained blackout.
Explore Before the Lights Return on Amazon (affiliate link)
A crisis with no easy answers
Jack Mercer has hundreds of students and staff depending on him. His son is on campus, his wife is working at a hospital, and the usual ways of finding out what is happening are gone. The people around him must make decisions with incomplete information while trying to care for children, find loved ones, and help their neighbors.
The cause of the blackout remains uncertain. There are rumors and theories, but Jack and his colleagues have to deal with what they can see and what they can do next.
Why I wrote the story
My work in school security and my experience as a Marine veteran have taught me the value of preparation, clear thinking, and people who are willing to step forward when things get difficult. I wanted to explore those ideas through a story about ordinary people facing an extraordinary situation.
This is a thriller, but it is also a story about faith, family, friendship, and community. There are dangerous moments and hard choices, along with humor, compassion, and the hope that people can help one another when the plan meets reality.
The school, characters, and events are fictional. The book does not describe an actual school incident or predict a particular disaster.
A useful conversation to have at home
Fiction can give us a way to ask practical questions before an emergency. Do the people in your household know how to contact one another if phones are unavailable? Do you have a place to meet, a way to receive emergency information, and basic supplies for a power outage? Who nearby might need a hand?
You do not have to solve everything at once. Start with a conversation, write down the important details, and build from there.
Read Before the Lights Return
If you enjoy blackout stories, Christian fiction, and stories about courage under pressure, I hope you will take a look at Before the Lights Return.
Explore the book on Amazon (affiliate link)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
