The Viperob Files by Alister Hodge

Author:Alister Hodge [Hodge, Alister]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2019-05-01T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

“Isn’t that your dad’s mate?” said Jaego, pointing at a grim-looking man who marched down the empty street toward them. The man’s eyes were locked onto the group of teens as they ran, the gap between closing quickly.

“Yeah, maybe he’ll know what’s happened back home,” said Ethan.

Normally a five-kilometre run would’ve barely raised a sweat, but after drinking the day before, his muscles felt heavy and tired. Jaego looked worse still—sweat beading at his forehead over a face pale and drawn. Ethan skidded to a halt before the man, breathing hard.

“Thank God I found you, Ethan,” said Kane. “Your dad sent me to find you, we need to get off the island—now.”

Ethan gave him a puzzled look, before glancing past Kane at the smoking building. “What happened?”

Kane glanced over his shoulder, following Ethan’s line of sight before turning back to the teenagers.

“The cyclone managed to punch through an exterior wall that was still awaiting repairs from the last storm. A fire took hold shortly after, probably from damaged wiring I guess…” he said, trailing off for a moment. “The cause doesn’t really matter though. What matters was that the top ten floors had been disconnected from the sprinkler system while repairs were ongoing, meaning there was no stopping the flames once they took hold.”

The three teens stared at the smoking carcass, eyes wide in shock as they listened.

“We haven’t been able to contact our parents. Do you know if they evacuated everyone?” stammered Gwen. “Each of our families lived in that section of the building.”

“Most made it out in time.”

“But?” said Ethan.

“Not all survived. There were some legitimate fatalities in the fire, and that’s what the authorities have alleged was the cause of your parents’ death.”

Gwen sharply inhaled, tears already glistening in her eyes. “What do you mean, ‘alleged’? Is my father dead or not?”

Kane held a hand up to slow her rapid-fire questions. “Each of your parents were taken into custody by a Spec Ops security team prior to the storm hitting. Few people survive interrogation under their hands, and I’m afraid your families were all on the official list of published storm casualties, meaning…”

“You can’t be serious,” muttered Jaego. “You’re expect us to believe security detained all of our parents for no reason, then murdered them?”

“I didn’t say there was no reason for their arrest,” said Kane, flicking his gaze to Ethan. “Your father stole a set of crucial files, files that prove Viperob is facilitating a military invasion of our own country.”

“Was that what you two were arguing about the other day?” said Ethan, his mind reeling as comprehension dawned.

Kane nodded. “It was information important enough for Nikolai to risk his life over.”

“But it wasn’t just his own life, was it?” said Gwen. “If what you’re saying is true, then it’s led to the death of all our parents, and that makes no bloody sense at all. I’m done with this shit, I’ll find the truth myself.” She shoved past Kane and started up the street.

“I wouldn’t do that,” said Kane.

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