The As The World Dies Trilogy by Rhiannon Frater

Author:Rhiannon Frater
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-20T16:00:00+00:00

4.

Breathing Space

When Jenni had finally come to bed, she leaned over and tenderly kissed Katie on the forehead. Katie sleepily opened her eyes to see Jenni lying down on her own cot and had reached out to take her hand. Soon she fell back to sleep, Jenni’s fingers intertwined with hers.

In the morning, she awakened to find Jenni peacefully snoring and Jason sneaking out the door with Jack on his heels. She could smell hot, fresh coffee and pulled on her socks and boots immediately as her stomach let out a hungry growl. Groggily stumbling down the narrow staircase, Katie headed to the community dining room, where people were gathered for coffee and breakfast—probably the last of the leftovers from the fund-raiser dinner.

After snagging a Danish, a breakfast taco, and a hot cup of coffee, Katie found a corner and sat down to enjoy her meal. The townspeople looked at her curiously, but seem locked in their own worlds. Of course, this was their town and it was now dead. They were probably in shock and in mourning and not sure what to think about any of this, including the blonde in the camouflage pants and black tank top.

Jason joined her at the table. Jack was close behind with his ears perked, looking at the boy anxiously for scraps. The teenager seemed a bit moody this morning and Katie didn’t blame him. Being here, being safe, made her feel raw and more vulnerable emotionally. Being on the run, living on the edge of death, was numbing and comforting compared to the quiet when there was time to reflect on all they had endured and lost.

“Mom’s still asleep?” Jason asked.

“Yeah, she seemed really tired.”

“She was out late with that guy,” Jason said darkly.

Katie opened her mouth and found that she didn’t know what to say. Of course he was upset. Jason’s dad was newly dead, and already his stepmom seemed to have her eyes on another man. She took a bite of the Danish; it was close to being stale.

Jason gave the dog a few bits of cold chicken. “Dad was a shithead, but…” He shrugged moodily.

“Yeah,” Katie said, not sure really what she was agreeing to, but Jason nodded back at her and set about eating.

“It would be different if it was you,” he said in a low voice, so no one else could hear. “At least you wouldn’t be replacing Dad.”

Katie reached across the table and touched his cheek. “Jason, I think Jenni is just dealing with things the best way she can. I don’t think you have to worry about anyone replacing your father right now.”

Turning his face away, he shrugged. “Whatever.”

She sighed. They ate in silence. When she finished, Katie gave the boy a brief hug, patted Jack on the head, and headed downstairs.

When she stepped out into the fresh, cool air, she saw that the wall had been completed. Made of concrete, at least two feet thick and ten feet high, the wall stood sturdy and defiant, five feet inside the hurricane fence perimeter.

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