Collapse Series (Book 7): State of Destruction by Lane Summer

Author:Lane, Summer [Lane, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | Dystopian
Publisher: WB Publishing
Published: 2016-01-25T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

I am watching the San Francisco Bay. The Golden Gate Bridge is glowing with orange torchlight and lanterns. The shoreline is orange, too, blazing with firelight and trembling with the rumble of militia vehicles. Refugees from the stadium have been moved around to different locations in the city, being housed in abandoned apartment complexes. Nearly three hundred innocent people perished in the attacks on the stadium.

The loss infuriates me. Even at our best, we cannot protect everyone.

Omega simply strikes too fast, too suddenly, and too secretly.

“You seem conflicted, Commander.”

I turn, startled. Cheng approaches me from the darkness, relaxed, catlike.

“Do I?” I say.

Cheng laughs.

“Ah, it’s no use playing games with you, Commander Hart,” he replies. “You know what you’re doing. You’re too smart for that.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets.

“You’re not re-thinking your decision to destroy Red Grove, are you?” he asks.

I raise my eyebrows.

“Why?” I say. “What is it with you? Why do you want to see that place burn so badly?”

Cheng’s relaxed grin fades, and he turns away from me.

After a long silence, he speaks.

“I have seen much evil there, Commander Hart. Murder and sacrifice and horrible death. I would like to see it wiped from the face of this Earth, no matter the cost.”

“Even if it costs you your life?” I press.

“Believe me, I would consider it a noble death.”

I tilt my head.

“Do you love your mother?” I ask.

He looks surprised.

“Why do you ask that?” he answers.

“Because if you love your mother,” I tell him, “then you might still display loyalty to her, and that makes you dangerous. I need to know that I can trust you to lead us to Red Grove. I have to be able to believe you. Do you understand?”

Cheng searches my face for a long moment.

At last, he answers, “I loved her, once. When I was young. But she is evil, Commander. She is the devil. And when I discovered her true nature, she attempted to kill me...and to this day, she believes that she succeeded. Her heart is happy, thinking that she murdered me.” He touches his heart. “Who could love a woman like that?”

I nod, satisfied.

“Good,” I say. “Because for what we’re going to do, you’re going to have to be able to kill her. Are you ready for that?”

Again, the mischievous smile.

“Always,” he says.

“Then you’re the man for the job,” I conclude. “Come on, it’s almost time.”

We walk back toward the Schoolhouse. Militia members in black are spilling out of the doorway, silent in the dark night. I walk with Cheng toward the entrance.

The Angels of Death. We are all here, reconvened and ready for another mission. Manny is huddled in the back of the room, talking in hushed tones to Arlene and Elle.

Chris has one boot up on a chair, hand resting on his thigh as he talks to a small group of the Angels. “Commander,” Chris says, nodding at me. “Cheng. We’re ready.”

I take my place beside Chris and watch the rest of the room grow silent as Cheng walks to the table in the center.

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