Frantic by Jerry B. Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

you’ve done.”
    â€œWhat dumb stuff?”
    â€œThe drugs and the lying,” Vicki said. “You almost got yourself killed back at the detention center because nobody trusted you.”
    â€œWasn’t my fault,” Janie whined.
    â€œWhen are you going to take responsibility for your life? You’re the one who’s gotten yourself into this mess. Don’t blame anyone else.”
    Janie grabbed her stomach and rolled on the floor. “How can you be so cruel, preaching to me when I’m in so much pain?”
    â€œBecause this is the first time you’re listening. Maybe getting stung by that locust will be worth it if you finally realize—”
    â€œNothing is worth this much pain,” Janie said. “You don’t know what it feels like.”
    â€œYou’re right, I don’t. But the pain you’re feeling now is nothing compared to the pain of being separated from God forever. Multiply what you’re feeling right now by about a million and—”
    â€œDon’t try to scare me.”
    â€œI’m telling you the truth!” Vicki yelled. She wondered if she had awakened anyone in the house. She paused, then heard Tolan cry in another room. A few minutes later he stopped and apparently went back to sleep.
    Vicki looked closely at Janie and was scared. The girl’s eyes were hollow and her lips chapped. Her face was white as a sheet.
    â€œIf God would do this to me,” Janie said, “I don’t want to connect with him. He doesn’t care.”
    â€œThat’s not true,” Vicki said. She grabbed a Bible. “God could have wiped out everybody who didn’t believe in him. Instead, he’s being patient with us.”
    â€œHow do you figure that?”
    Vicki turned to Second Peter. “This was written a long time before the disappearances, but it’s still true. It says, ‘He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.’ A little later it says, ‘The Lord is waiting so that people have time to be saved.’”
    Janie rolled her eyes. “God is stinging us and putting us through earthquakes because he cares? I say that’s a weird way of showing it.”
    â€œDon’t you see?” Vicki said. “This is your only hope.”
    But no matter how Vicki tried to explain God’s love, Janie wouldn’t listen. She stood and hobbled toward the stairs. “If you can find anything in there about how to kill yourself, let me know.”
    Vicki made sure Janie made it to bed before she went to her own room. Melinda awoke a few minutes later and screamed for some medicine to help with the pain.
    It’s going to be a long five months, Vicki thought.

6
    THE NEXT day, Vicki heard a truck and rushed outside. The paralyzing fear that the GC would show up and bust them was gone, but anytime the kids heard a strange noise they knew it could be trouble. She stayed behind a tree and watched.
    Vicki couldn’t place the driver and the other passenger, but she knew Mark’s smile. He jumped out and introduced Carl. Vicki noticed Carl had the mark of the believer.
    â€œAnd you’re not going to believe who I ran into,” Mark said. A burly man walked out from behind the truck.
    â€œPete!” Vicki screamed.
    Pete hugged Vicki and the others, then turned to the schoolhouse. “Some place.”
    â€œWorks for us,” Vicki said. “Come inside and catch us up on everything—”
    Pete shook his head. “Work first—talk later.”
    The kids pitched in and unloaded the truck. This was the biggest shipment Z had sent them. They filled the shed and the storage area near the kitchen and moved to the basement. They even lined the underground tunnel with canned food, making sure there was room to get by in case they needed a quick escape.
    Pete heard the moans and cries of Melinda and Janie upstairs. Vicki explained the