Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“I get nervous shooting apples on top of people’s heads, but I’ve done it.”
I gape at Amira. “Really?”
She shrugs. “When you get to a certain point, you know you can make the shot. I’ve won a lot of bets doing it.”
We’re sitting side by side on the concrete floor of a huge room with a domed ceiling inside the Sub. There are about thirty people sheltering in here, some of them restless kids playing tag. It’s been a couple hours, and I’m getting more nervous as time passes.
“Have you ever let anyone shoot an arrow at an apple on your head?” I ask.
“Sure. If I knew they could make the shot. It’s pretty messy when an apple explodes in your hair, though.”
I study my nails, cut short because they had to be for working in the garden. Before the virus, I had long, pretty nails. Even though I was a broke college student, I always found the money for manicures. My life now is completely disconnected from what it was then.
What if I had met Marcus back then? Things would have been very different if we’d met as a quarterback and an aspiring scientific researcher.
The apocalypse has taught me a lot about what’s important. Trusting someone and feeling genuinely secure in their presence is a rarity to be cherished. My gut tells me I’m right to feel that way with Marcus, but I’ve been burned before.
“We’ll see a lot more of each other with you on the security team,” Amira says.
“You like your team members?”
She shrugs. “They’re okay. I’m still pretty new.”
I spent my first half hour in here talking to Stella. After I told her what Marcus wanted her to know and that I’m joining the security team, she quickly explained the structure here.
Command teams one and two handle camp security and enforce camp rules. Security teams one through four only train and handle security. The camp perimeter is checked four times a day.
Amira and I are talking when the lights in the room suddenly go out, people murmuring in alarm. A couple seconds pass, and then there’s a loud whooshing sound and spotlights mounted on the walls switch on, providing a little light.
“We’re running on low power,” Stella announces. “Everything’s fine.”
I see more than a few side-eyes in response.
“You think that aromium shield needs electricity to work?” Amira asks me in a tone only I can hear, barely moving her lips.
“Yeah.”
She sighs heavily.
“You have plenty of arrows?” I ask her.
“Yeah, but not all of them with me.” She leans in, her head right next to mine. “Should we come up with a rendezvous point in case shit ever hits the fan?”
Just the thought makes my stomach feel like a tumbling dryer, spinning endlessly. As far as life on Blue Arrow Island goes, we’ve got it great. But that’s all dependent on the shield that keeps anyone or anything with aromium out.
“The beach? Where we were first dropped off?”
She nods. “Okay.”
“I killed a dog-sized praying mantis.”
I hear her sharp intake of breath. “Are you shitting me?”
“Nope. It was a walking nightmare.”
Her groan is weary. “This fucking place.”
My gaze wanders the room, landing on Stella. She’s listening to something over the radio, her brows drawn together with worry. A few people near her stand up.
“Everyone, stay here,” she says, her voice stern. “Ellison, Breck, come with me.”
Breck is a tall, burly member of Command Team Two. Ellison’s face is drawn with concern as she follows Stella.
“She’s worried about Nova,” Amira whispers.
She takes my hand, both of us holding on tight as we wait. Marcus is so strong and capable that I’ve never considered him dying. But I’m holding my breath, staring at the doorway when Nova walks through it a couple minutes later, blood splattered on her face and in her hair.
Marcus comes through next, a woman limp in his arms. He scans the room, his gaze landing on me. The agony I see in his expression makes me want to run to him, but I can’t. Not now.
“Put Shan in the surgery room!” Ellison flies through the doorway next. “Des in an exam room. Niran, keep pressure on that wound.”
Everyone who’s been sheltering here is standing now, people putting their arms around each other as we all look on in shock. The woman in Marcus’s arms leaves a trail of blood as he carries her through a doorway.
“What the hell happened?” Amira says softly.
“Virginia.” My fury for her seeps through my tone.
She’s on the wrong side of the battle for control of this island. Her niece’s life isn’t worth more than those of the people she’s hurting and killing here. All so Whitman can build a supernatural army to help him murder more people and amass even more power.
Marcus said Whitman could find out what’s really going on here at any moment. And if that happens, there’ll be no stopping Virginia. If she has all the supplies she needs and no one keeping her in check, she’ll be able to supply Whitman with countless pseudo-human soldiers.