TORMENT by Jeremy Bishop Read Free Book Online

brimming with tears. Realizing in that moment that Elizabeth would soon be the only family she had left—Matt, Margo and Mom would soon be reduced to ashes—she picked the girl up in her arms and held her tight to her chest. She chased after Austin, who was halfway to one of the strange looking...things.
    “You want me to carry her?” Paul asked, as he took her arm, half walking, half running next to her.
    “I got her, thanks.” Mia said.
    “You know what these things are?” Paul asked.
    Mia looked at the four bell shaped objects. Each craft stood seventy-five feet tall and had a sixty foot diameter at the bottom. The underside had a curved surface coated by millions of smooth, black panels. The black skin looked familiar to Mia, but in her panic she failed to place the image. The stark white surface of the object Austin led them toward gleamed bright in the halogen light, obscuring most of the external features except a large American flag and rows of small portal windows.
    “Salvation, I hope.”
    “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” Mark said as he joined their mad rush to the strange structure. “The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” He looked at Mia. “One of the Psalms. Can’t remember which one under the current circumstances.”
    Mia quickened her pace as they neared a ramp that led up to a large open, steel doorway. Austin stood by the hatch, but no longer waved for them to hurry. He looked past them, his eyes pinched with sadness. She turned to Mark as she stepped up on to the ramp. “You’re not afraid?”
    Mark climbed onto the ramp, followed by Paul. “Actually, I’m scared shitless, but you were asking for salvation. I just want to not be nuked.”
    Mia couldn’t help but smile as they rushed up the ramp and past Austin. Mark somehow gave her hope that everything might be okay. Perhaps this was all a cosmic misunderstanding? Maybe the missiles could be called back? Her smile disappeared after she passed through a long hallway and entered a large room.
    Fifty chairs, laid back like recliners, filled the room. Attached to each chair was a restraint system, like you’d see on a roller coaster, but much more rigid. Collins, the three Secret Service agents and Chang were in the process of pulling the bars up over their chests. Once in place, the black padding around the bodies, heads and chest expanded, locked them in tight.
    A loud clang sounded from the hallway behind them. Tom had closed the door. Mark ran to one of the small portals. He turned back as Tom entered the room, “We have room for at least forty more people!”
    “No time!” Tom said as he jumped into one of the chairs and pulled the bar up over his chest. As the padding inflated he said, “I suggest you strap yourself in. We launch in thirty seconds.”
    Mia’s eyes widened as the word “launch” took root in her mind. “Oh, God.” She flung Elizabeth into the nearest chair and yanked the bar up over her small chest. It seemed loose on her small body. “Will this work for a child?” Mia shouted as her hands began to tremble.
    “No... time ...” Tom said, barely able to breathe, let alone speak in the tight grasp of the chair.
    Mia leaned down and kissed Elizabeth. “I love you.” As the pads on Elizabeth’s chair began to expand, Mia jumped into the next chair. Paul and Mark were both strapped in already, pads constricting their bodies. She slid into position, sat up and grabbed the safety bar. As she pulled the bar up and over her body, a loud mechanical voice filled the one-fifth occupied room, “Ten, nine, eight, seven ...”
    Mia grunted as she pulled down on the arm and locked it into place. The pads began to fill with air, but were still a few inches from her body. She turned her head slightly and looked to the side. She could see through one of the portals. People poured from the small train cars still, all running toward the crafts. Soft thuds drifted