Rise From the Ashes: Lena's Story by Laura Franklin Read Free Book Online

the closest thing I have to a son, Andrei. I am proud of you, but also feel protective of you.” The old man reached out and put his hand on top of Andrei’s. “I ask only one promise from you.”
     
    “Yes?”
     
    “Just be prepared. Sometime after the height of summer, it will happen. I wish I could tell you more, but you must be prepared to step right into action; take control. If you move without hesitation to stay in control of our military, then we may have hope.”
     
    “Our military? I am merely a General of the Russian Federation Air Force. I can keep control of my soldiers, but none others will follow me.”
     
    “No, you must move to control all branches. All, Andrei.”
     
    Andrei cleared his throat. Thought for a while.
     
    “I shall promise you this, dear Gennadi. If such a thing happens, I will do my utmost to position myself so that I can control our military to ensure the safety of our country. But I will make no moves and do nothing beyond my own area until I see the coast lines of America and Europe under attack at the same time. Will that do?”
     
    Gennadi squeezed Andrei’s hand. “That is all I ask of you. Then you will be prepared, then you may be safe.”
     
     
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
     
     
    “Safe? Really Bob. You’re worried about being safe ?” Marc was dangerous and right now Bob knew he had Marc’s full focus. He scrambled to think of something that would distract Marc.
     
    “I mean healthy. I mean to make sure we don’t get sick. That’s all I meant, dude.”
     
    “Oh, right. Well we seem to be immune, don’t we? So stop acting like a pussy and let’s break into this yellow house. I know for sure that old lady had some gold.”
     
    Marc moved forward. He was on the short side, not terribly short, but a little below average. He was stocky and swarthy, like a little Italian version of Napoleon. He acted bipolar, energetic and frantic one minute and almost murderous the next. Bob couldn’t remember how they had ever become friends. He did know that Marc’s family had a lot of money and were paying his full tuition. When he got really drunk at parties, Marc would rage about his pussy father who had abandoned the family. Bob didn’t blame the father, considering the hell-spawn Marc was, but would never say that.
     
    Will was standing by Bob watching Marc kicking in the carved wooden door. Will had bright red hair, was tall and was also here because his family was paying tuition. He had slightly crossed eyes, which he claimed was why he couldn’t get any girls unless they were drunk. Bob figured it was because Will was just a dog out for sex and girls picked up on that.
     
    Bob shrugged to himself and he and Will followed Marc inside. The room was dark because the curtains were all pulled closed.
     
    “We’ll leave Middlebury this weekend. We’ll hit all the big houses and get all the gold and diamonds. When we get back to civilization, we’ll all be fucking rich!”
     
    Will nodded and laughed. Bob was silent. Marc had turned instantly strange when the news came about the invasion. He had locked on the idea of stealing things the second he realized most of the people were dying from whatever was in the clouds. They had spent yesterday ransacking houses. Now Marc was getting bolder and waiving around a gun he found. Bob had the feeling he was looking for a reason to shoot someone. He was concentrating on not becoming a target for Marc.
     
    The other students who were still alive at Middlebury College had either left for their homes or were staying fully clear of Marc. He had never been popular, he was just too quick to anger. Bob figured being rich but feeling your dad skipped out on you must have played a number on his mind. Then it seemed like his mother tried to make up for it by spoiling him, giving Marc whatever he wanted. He had turned from a whiney kid into a mean and demanding college student.
     
    Will didn’t seem to have too much of a personality at