A Glimpse of Decay (Book 3): Lost in Twilight by A.J. Santiago Read Free Book Online

information.  They probably keep it in one of the drawers of the desk you’re sitting at.”
    Vincent began to shuffle through the drawers and finally came across the control.  He punched the power button and the screen flickered on.  Grey snow filled the display.  He cycled through the channels but was unsuccessful in finding anything.
    “Shit, I can’t believe that everything is down,” he said, his face incredulous.  “Not even one channel is broadcasting.  How are we supposed to learn anything?”
    “Maybe there’s no one left at the television stations?” Shondra suggested.
    “But you would figure that they would have some sort of automated message playing…or at least something like that.”
    “Well, at least the power is still running.”  Shondra leaned back into the couch and let out a relieved sigh.  “And at least the air conditioner is working in here.  God it feels so good, especially after spending all that time out in the heat at the stadium.”
    “Did you say that your boyfriend is in the army?” Vincent asked.
    Shondra sat up straight and looked at Vincent.  He couldn’t tell if she had become upset with him over the question.  She looked away and said, “Yeah.”
    “What did he say…about what is going on.  He must have told you something.”
    Shondra sighed.  “He really didn’t say much.  About a week ago, he got word that his unit was going to mobilize.  They’re out of Fort Hood—he was down here on leave.  Anyway, three days ago he leaves for the airport.  He said that he was heading to Fort Hood, but he didn’t know where he was going from there.”
    “And that’s all he said?”
    “Yep, that’s about it.  He knew that there was an alert with the stuff that had gone on in Russia and with the stuff that was going on in Europe and on the west coast, but he was in the dark just like everyone else.   Everything happened so fast.  He left and then I started seeing all the stuff over the television and the radio.  Next thing you know, the mayor is calling us back on emergency duty.”
    “I still can’t figure it out,” Vincent said as he leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.  “This is supposed to be some sort of chemical weapon or something that got released by accident in Russia, and now it’s over here causing all this madness.  I can’t believe our government hasn’t been able to figure out something.”
    “Maybe because it’s moving too fast?”
    “Maybe, but you would figure that the government would have plans for something like this.”
    “Dude,” Shondra chuckled, “I don’t think anyone was planning for the dead coming back to life…and zombies and shit like that.”  She leaned back in the sofa and curled her bottom lip, nibbling on it slightly.  “I think maybe this whole thing has just overwhelmed the system.”
    Vincent swiveled back and forth in his chair as he contemplated his predicament.  “Well, I want to make it over to my parents’ place and see if they’re still there.  I haven’t been able to talk to them since before getting assigned to the stadium.”
    “Where do they live at?”
    “Out off of Judson.”
    “Shit,” Shondra said, “that’s a long way away from here.”
    “I know, but I gotta try.  And you?  What are you going to do?”
    “Well, now that Jamel is off with the army, I’m by myself.  My momma is in Houston along with my baby sister.  My brother is out in Detroit somewhere.  Really, I don’t know what to do.”
    “Well, you can hang with me, if you’re cool with trying to make it out to my folks’ house.”
    Shondra sat and pondered her options.  “If you’re okay with that, I’ll tag along with you.  What about Nick?”
    “What about Nick?” Nick said as he walked into the office.  “What are we talking about?”
    “Did you take care of business?” Vincent asked.
    “Yeah, I just wouldn’t go near there for at least thirty minutes, if you know what I