The Extinction Series , Ellis, Tara [famous ebook reader .txt] 📗

have many other options. “I can’t remember her name. What is it?”

When the silence continued, Scott risked sticking his head out again. The roof was empty. At least, he couldn’t see Tony anymore. “Tony!”

No answer. Leaning back against the tire, Scott mulled over his options. If the guy wasn’t willing to be talked down, the only other choice he had was to go in after him. Alone and at a disadvantage, it would be a really stupid thing to do. And Scott had already come to terms with the fact that he wanted to live. Looking over at the nearest body that was missing the top portion of its head, he closed his eyes briefly and grimaced.

He’d go to the station, gear up with heavier equipment, and use the radio to see if the other officer was still answering. Perhaps she’d be up for a stake-out later on, after he succeeded in getting some gas.

Having made up his mind, Scott holstered his weapon and prepared to crawl away in as much of an un-cowardly fashion as he could muster. But as he went to move away from the car, he sensed motion to his right among the trees, along the back of the parking lot. Before he could finish turning to look, something punched him in the neck with enough force to take his breath away. He suddenly found himself flat on his back, looking up at the surreal glow of the sun that was obscured by ash from an eruption on the other side of the world.

Scott’s hands flew instinctively to his throat. A surprisingly hot fluid shot through his fingers at the same time that a gurgle worked its way out of his mouth, spraying blood up and into his eyes.

That sonafabitch shot me.

His hands failing to stem the flow, Scott gasped and choked on the blood pooling in the back of his throat. In his final moments, he wondered if maybe it wasn’t better that way. To be shot down in Tony’s shooting gallery, rather than slowly going mad as he wandered the streets alone.

His eyes closing, Scott thought of his mom, and his only regret was that he wouldn’t be able to lay her to rest next to his dad.

Guess I wasn’t meant to patrol the End Times, after all.

A warmth spread over his body, beckoning Scott into the void and forcing him to leave the pieces to the less fortunate left behind.

Chapter 12

JESS

Amazon Jungle near Kumalu, Suriname

Northeast interior of South America

Jess jumped down from the stool when she heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the gravel driveway, and Akuba froze with a spoonful of scrambled eggs hovering over Amisha’s plate. She shot Jess a concerned look before dropping the spoon and moving with purposeful strides around the counter.

The three women were on their own at the moment, since Kavish and Slaider had left at first-light with the body of Amisha’s mom. Paul went to sleep after being up all-night patrolling, and the much older man was in a building on the other end of the preserve.

They’d left barely more than an hour ago, so Jess knew it wasn’t the two men returning. Cocking her head, her brows furrowed as the vehicle came to a stop and the engine cut out. There was something about the crunch of the tires that she recognized. “I’ll go check,” she offered, scooting away from the kitchen counter where Amisha sat with the young girl they’d started calling Pikin, which meant child in the local language.

Amisha had taken on the role of caretaker for the young girl she’d brought with her to the preserve, though the poor thing still hadn’t spoken a word. Pikin and Amisha had joined them in the kitchen after the crow of the rooster had announced the new day, and Amisha announced they’d both be helping with the chores.

Jess figured staying busy was the best way not to get stuck too far inside her head. It was the main reason why she’d eagerly thrown herself into the farm work this past week. While they were all still uneasy about the chickens that were killed the day before, there hadn’t been any other signs of what had done it. They couldn’t just stop taking care of the animals and gardens because of a random attack. Jess’s hope was that Kavish and Slaider would return with more help by the end of the day. Even one or two more people would make a huge difference. Otherwise, they were all going to get worn out before too much longer.

Her stomach knotting, Jess’s hand hesitated on the back door. She’d been expecting her dad to come back at some point, but she wasn’t ready to face him yet. There hadn’t been enough time for her to process the news about him not being her biological father, and in spite of what Akuba said, she knew something horrible had happened to Mr. Van. Brain damage or not, they could all try and deny or excuse the behaviors, but it was still all pointing back to the same conclusion about the Kra Puru. That Kavish could have been right from the beginning.

Jess shook her head to clear her thoughts. She couldn’t allow herself to think that way. She realized she’d been standing motionless at the door for some time, and glanced back to find both Amisha and Akuba watching her.

“Wait for me,” Akuba said, as she rushed over to where a rifle was leaning against the wall near the back door. “I’ll come with you. It could be anyone.”

As they walked together around the back of the house, the unknown dangers of simply greeting a car in the driveway exposed how much things had changed. It also reminded Jess of what a dangerous situation they were in. She knew the preserve was some prime real