A New World: Conspiracy by John O'Brien Read Free Book Online Page B

Lynn were right behind or next to me, aside from
the others.
    I rise and turn before I even know I’m doing
it. Adrenaline, which I was coming down from after safely exiting
the night runner lair with Lynn, resurges. A small amount of relief
enters as, upon turning, I see Robert and Bri – Robert just
beginning to rise from his bending to help with the dropped mag and
Bri staring open-mouthed. Both have droplets of bright red blood
sprinkled across their faces. Time slows and seems to stop for an
instant before zooming back to normal speed like a train running
through a tunnel at high speed.
    More relief floods in as I see Lynn
crouching in answer to the shot ringing out. Grabbing the backs of
Robert’s and Bri’s vests, I shove them in the direction of the
hospital wall and head after them.
    “Against the wall, NOW!” I shout.
    The outside wall of the hospital offers our
only chance of cover and I hope we can make it to its safety before
another bullet is launched, seeking a target. A quick glance behind
tells me that the others heard and are racing on my heels through
the overgrown front lawn. I know someone is hit, but right now it’s
about getting everyone to safety – at least what I hope is safety.
From the path I felt of the bullet and it hitting someone behind, I
feel fairly confident that the wall will enable us to stay out of
the line of sight, providing that whoever fired at us doesn’t
move.
    There isn’t another shot; there is the only
loud swish of the tall grass against our pant legs, the sound of
our boots hitting the ground on the run, and our panting breath. I
pass by and move to the side of Bri as she streaks through the
grass, putting myself on the sniper side of her and Robert. We sail
through untrimmed, waist-high bushes lining the outer hospital
wall, sliding to our knees on the bark-covered ground. Carried by
my momentum, my shoulder slams into the brick wall.
    Hearing others break through the bushes, I
glance back relieved to see Robert, Bri, and Lynn, all looking my
way; Robert’s and Bri’s are eyes wide. Feeling covered for the time
being, I rise over the bushes to look back where we were standing
just moments ago. Lanes of bent grass attest to the routes we
hastily carved through it. Just over the tops of the grass, I see a
dark-clad body lying face down on the concrete path leading to the
hospital entry. I immediately recognize the diminutive figure with
dark hair fanned across the warm stone. Looking down the line we
are forming against the wall, I verify my assumption – McCafferty
isn’t with us, but instead, lies unmoving on the sidewalk.
    “McCafferty,” I hear Lynn and Gonzalez call
out at the same time.
    There is no movement in response. I feel my
heart sink with sorrow. I want nothing more than to run to her
side…to find that she is okay and help her to her feet, or patch
her wound and carry her to cover. I know in my heart that she is
most likely gone. In a flash of an instant…gone. A sweet, young
woman, always with a ready smile. Her laugh always the first to
burst forth, or her giggle, which earned her endless good-natured
ribbing…silenced. A woman with the sweetest disposition…with dreams
and fears…one of us. One moment standing with the rest of us, happy
that Lynn was back, and the next…unceremoniously falling to the
hard ground…her life ended in a flash of a moment.
    “Allie,” Gonzalez calls, eliciting the same
response…nothing.
    I notice both Lynn and Gonzalez take a step
away from the wall toward McCafferty, their expressions making it
evident that they are on their way to aid a fallen comrade.
    “No!” I whisper harshly.
    I’m torn. My heart goes out to Allie, and I
am filled with grief…a grief that I can’t express until we are safe
– providing that moment comes and whoever fired on us doesn’t shift
positions. A sorrow that, once started, will flow unrelentingly.
Time is critical. I glance to the corner of our wall of protection
and