The Strain by Frost Kay

Author:Frost Kay [Kay, Frost]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781732442078
Publisher: Renegade Publishing, LLC
Published: 2018-07-16T05:00:00+00:00

Three

His words sickened her. Some principles would never change and should never change, no matter what he believed.

Once their agreement was formalized, Janice returned to the hangar on wooden legs. James slipped his hand into hers, and she appreciated the comfort. The masked soldier waved at the people.

“Time to see you through decontamination and to your new abodes.”

Panic fluttered in her breast as Janice retrieved Bella from her old neighbor and pulled the sweet baby into her arms. She placed her lips against her granddaughter’s forehead and breathed in deeply, Bella’s sweet baby smell curling around her. She followed behind the group, soaking in each moment with what was left of her family. She blinked hard as they were led through the massive, modern main floor of the Nest. Bright lights seemed to simulate the sun, warming her skin.

“Where are the apartments?” one person asked.

One soldier gestured to the door. “The Grotto’s just past that door.” He wrapped his hand around the knob and opened the door.

James stepped forward and looked through the door into the dark. His shoulders tensed and he spun around, his whole body vibrating in anger. “That’s a cave.”

The soldier’s expression blanked. “Yep.”

“Your president promised us living quarters,” James stated.

“And you’ll get them as soon as they can be replicated.” The soldier sighed. “The sooner you start mining, the sooner we can start fabricating what you need. We’re doing what we can.”

James nodded, his jaw ticking, and strode back to Janice’s side. He glanced between Bella and her. “Did we do the right thing?”

“I don’t think there was a right thing.”

A group of soldiers marched in and stopped. One stepped forward and began calling out the names of those fifty-five years of age and over. Her stomach dropped. They were coming for them so soon? She cuddled Bella close and pressed kisses along her brow.

“I love you so much, baby girl. You’re going to grow up strong like your nana and your mama.”

Carefully, as tears dripped down her cheeks, she handed Bella to James, then cupped her son’s face and smiled. “I’m so proud of you. The day you were born changed my life. You and Bella are my greatest joy and love.”

Tears flooded her son’s eyes as he grabbed her up into a tight hug. “Mom, this isn’t right … it isn’t right.”

“I know, baby, I know. It will be okay. I love you. Take care of Bella.”

She squeezed him as tight as she could without disturbing Bella and stepped back. The soldiers began herding the people into the Grotto.

Janice blew James a kiss, and locked her knees as he disappeared through the door. All she wanted to do was fall to the floor in grief, but instead, she held her head high.

“Please follow us, and then we’ll show you to your new homes.” A young soldier smiled at an elderly woman shuffling with a cane, and offered her his arm.

Janice kept her face blank. Did that soldier know he was leading the old woman

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