Into The Fire (The Ending Series) by Lindsey Fairleigh, Lindsey Pogue Read Free Book Online Page B

all about that.” After all, the Colony
was a former military base.
    The Colony. My barely-there smile turned into a
definitely-there frown. According to Jake, the Colony was a very dangerous
place. Maybe I should take off soon. I needed to get back to my friends
as soon as possible; Jason was probably losing it. He tended to be protective,
especially if—okay, when —I was in danger. He’d blown the brains out of
the last person to threaten me. Of course, Mandy had been a cult leader
who’d mentally and physically raped a large group of unwilling followers,
including my sweet Carlos. So it’s not that she hadn’t deserved it, but
still…brains…and skull chunks. Ew…
    What does he think happened to me? Does he think I’m
dead? Cringing, I realized Jason was probably blaming himself for my
disappearance, especially since his temporarily over-excited nulling Ability
had prevented me from sensing human minds. In reality, it had been my fault. I
never should have wandered off. I’m such an idiot.
    “Well,” Dr. Wesley said, offering me a genuine smile, “those
sound like pretty formidable people. They must not have been nearby when you
were attacked, otherwise…”
    I shook my head, gently for once. “Jason…” …was nearby,
but I guess not close enough. “Oh God, Zo…the others. What if the Crazies
went after them, too? Some of them are pretty vulnerable.” Like Sarah. “Do
you know…did the patrol notice anything? Are they okay?” I asked, imploring her
with my eyes.
    “You’re the only one our patrol found, according to the note
in your file.” She glanced at the papers in the folder again, then shook her
head. “Yep. Just you. There’s no mention of anyone else. I’m sure they’re fine.
It would have been noted in your file if you’d been found near a bunch of fresh
bodies.”
    As I looked into her deep, blue eyes, I found no hint of concern. But what if she’s wrong? She thinks their fine, but…
    Feeling anxious, afraid, and a little nauseated, I studied
the white-speckled beige institutional floor tiles like they held all the
answers. Jason…Zo…Chris…everyone…what if they’re all hurt…or worse? I
thought miserably.
    “Lay back, please,” Dr. Wesley said, placing her slim hand
on my shoulder and easing me backward on the exam table. “We do general,
holistic checkups on everyone who enters the Colony from the outside.” Her tone
was businesslike.
    From the outside? I frowned.
    “This includes an exam of the patient’s reproductive
organs,” the doctor explained. “It’s required, so I hope you don’t mind.” That
shut me and my thoughts up for a good five minutes while she poked and prodded
my most personal parts. When she finished and let me sit back up, she asked,
“Have you been sexually active since you were infected?”
    Rearranging my thin, borrowed robe to cover myself, I
blushed, wondering if she’d been able to tell just by looking. Well, this is
embarrassing. “Um…yeah.”
    “Have you considered procreating?”
    I almost laughed, but instead emitted a part-choke,
part-cough. “No.”
    “The human population has been drastically reduced. We’ve
started a program here to help keep us from the risk of extinction. There are
quite a few desirable men here, and you’re a young, healthy woman. You might
consider—”
    My eyes narrowed involuntarily. “You mean, you guys started
a breeding program?”
    “That’s not exactly—”
    “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not a broodmare. Besides, I’ve
got my hands full with Jason. And you really don’t want to see what he’d
do to any of your ‘desirable men’ if they, you know, tried to ‘breed’ with me.”
And yes, I used air quotes. I suddenly wished I had my knives and my little
pistol. But I’d left all my weapons in the tent with Jason. Damn, I really am an idiot.
    A minuscule smile curved the doctor’s lips, and she moved
her head in the barest of nods. “You’re lucky to have found so many