After the World Ends by Jamie Thornton

Author:Jamie Thornton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Igneous Books

16

Dessa watched her friends leave through Sanctuary’s front doors.

As soon as they vanished from sight on the gravel path that would wind them around the green hill and down to Farm, Ms. Winters said, “All right, gentlemen, if this is going to be a conversation, then I expect it to happen with weapons lowered.”

The air crackled with tension until Mondo said, “Lower your weapons, officers.”

One by one, the blue suits lowered their guns. Pierce reiterated his demands, but in a more conversational tone. Officer Mondo’s smile was back, and he responded in a way that sounded like he was willing to listen and negotiate.

“Let’s go,” Ms. Winters said. “The children are waiting.”

Dessa linked arms with Riley to make sure she didn’t get left behind and followed Ms. Winters, the two lab coats, and two of the blue suits, into the elevator.

When the doors closed, Ms. Winters slumped against the elevator wall. Her crown of hair was still perfectly in place, but the skin around her eyes looked strained and her mouth drooped into a frown.

Dessa could smell the stress sweat now that they were cooped up in the small space of the elevator. She breathed deep, trying to calm herself down.

“Coordinator Krause should have come up and dealt with this himself,” Ms. Winters said. “Sending an underling, even his second-in-command, was inappropriate.”

“I believe he would have, Dr. Winters.”

With a start, Dessa realized it was Officer Rohs speaking.

She hadn’t noticed until now that he was one of the blue suits the elevator had dumped out. His eyebrows were pinched with stress and his hands were flushed around his rifle. He looked like he could use a cigarette now more than ever.

“There’s been some sort of breach down at Lab level,” Officer Rohs continued. “He set me up specifically to bring you back down.”

Dessa tried not to look super interested in the conversation, but hung on every word. A breach? Had V’s really been getting inside Sanctuary’s defenses after all?

“Project Polus?” Ms. Winters said, standing rigid.

“Is not affected,” Officer Rohs said quickly.

Ms. Winters relaxed again against the elevator.

If Ms. Winters wasn’t worried, then Dessa decided she wouldn’t be either. What did anything else matter alongside the news that her brother was awake? The elevator’s hum underneath her feet underlined her desperation for speed. She had never so desperately wanted it to move just a little faster. As the lights showed they passed Supply level, Riley buried her face in her hands and muffled a sob.

Ms. Winters patted her on the back. “Your father has survived far more dangerous situations than this. Security is careful and thorough. Though it might not feel so when a gun is pointed in your face, they are well-trained. He will be fine.”

As Dessa silently urged the elevator to go faster, she felt bad that she didn’t feel more bad. Riley was a pain a lot of the time, but this was Riley’s father. Of course, she was freaking out.

Riley lifted her face from her hands, tears shining on her cheeks.

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