Fever by Kailin Gow Read Free Book Online Page A

own?”
                Jack shakes his head. “No. I’m not going to do that, but I’m fast enough to cause a distraction and still get away.”
                “That thing in the library was fast, Jack.”
                He kisses me then, fast and hard. “So am I, and I’m not about to take a risk. I’ll see it coming. You know I will. Just focus on this guy. Get him back to the helicopter, or to any other form of transport if that isn’t an option. Get to Location Thirteen. Complete the mission.”
                Why does that sound like Jack saying goodbye?
                “Jack…” I start to protest, but he’s already moving. He’s running, with that better than human speed he has, making his way out towards the building the man has just come from. I can feel my heart beating hard in my chest at the thought of what might be happening there. One heartbeat, then another. I hear the sound of gunfire, and want to run to Jack, but I know he’s right. I have to help this man. We landed to help people.
                We landed because I talked Jack into it to help people. That thought creeps into me as I start over towards the heavy set man who is only now coming back to his feet. What if Jack is hurt here, or worse? That will be my fault. Even so, I force myself to head over to the man we’re trying to help. see >
                “Come on,” I say. “Let’s get you out of here.”
                “Thank God, you aren’t one of them.” He looks bewildered at the fact I’m here, but he lets me take his arm. Close up, he looks haggard, his greying hair a mess, his shirt torn. His dark eyes dart from spot to spot as though expecting an attack at any moment. Maybe he’s even right about that.
                “One of whom?” I demand.
                “Them,” he says. “ Them .”
                He points in the direction Jack has run, but I can’t see anything there. I can just see how scared this man is. We need to get him clear of this place before he panics.
                “Come on,” I say. “Let’s get you out of here.”
                He shakes his head. “There’s nowhere safe. Our cars…”
                “We have transport,” I say, pulling him along in one stumbling step, then another. “Is there anyone else here who needs our help?”
                “Anyone else?” the question seems almost to take him by surprise. “No. No, they’re all… they got them.”
                “They killed them?” I ask. It’s a tough question, and one I don’t want to ask someone so obviously terrified, but I know I have to. I can’t stand the thought of leaving someone behind.
                “They took them. Rounded them up like cattle. I… I was the only one to get away.”
                “And is there anyone else in any of the other buildings?” I press him.
                He shakes his head. “No. I just said. They got all of them. The ones they didn’t capture, they… you won’t believe me.”
                “They disintegrated them,” I guess.
                He nods, and then comes to a halt, looking at me with surprise. “How do you know that?”
                “I know a lot of things,” I say, “and it has been a very long day. Now keep moving. Unless you want to be their next victim.”
                That’s harsh and I know it, but Jack is relying on me to get this guy out of there. Worse, the slower he moves, the longer Jacks, tÀnger Jas distraction has to last. That thought is enough to make me practically drag him. He’s a big guy, but I’m strong enough to keep him moving easily, keeping him on course for the helicopter. If we can make it back there-
                There are more shots, a flash of light from inside the building, shouting.