The Becoming: Ground Zero by Permuted Press, Jessica Meigs Read Free Book Online Page A

blood. No one in the group had managed to establish how long the infection could survive outside the body. As a precaution, they treated all blood as if it were infectious. It wasn’t yet safe to touch Remy. Ethan’s fingers curled, and he withdrew his hands, tucking them into his pockets before he did something stupid.
    Remy’s knees tried to give out on her, and she dropped her weapons with a clatter, slumping against the kitchen doorframe. It was obvious she was exhausted. Ethan could imagine the adrenaline that pumped through Remy’s veins quickly leaving her. He glanced at the handgun and the long, bloodied knife on the floor at her feet and frowned. All he wanted was to get her cleaned up and into her bedroom, where she could relax and rest after her trying ordeal out on the streets.
    “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay,” Remy answered dismissively. She waved her hand absently in Ethan’s direction, and his forehead scrunched in concern and no small amount of annoyance. It was an odd mixture of emotion to have, but for the second time that day, he’d been flatly dismissed. It was all he could do to not lose his temper.
    Ethan hesitated again. He still wasn’t sure what to do. When it came to Remy, any confidence and certainty he had flew out the window. Ethan had never seen Remy look so exhausted. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Ethan persisted.
    Remy ignored his question. A clatter of hurried footsteps came down the stairs, and Remy’s brown eyes cut to the staircase. Ethan followed her gaze and saw everyone staring at them. Gray was white as a sheet; he looked as if he’d seen a ghost. Brandt was gathering towels from one of the bags under the dining table. Cade and Theo appeared behind Nikola and Avi, and they both pushed past and went straight to Remy. Theo paused at one of the first aid bags and tossed Cade a pair of latex gloves before he donned a pair himself. Ethan put his hands out for Theo to throw him a pair, but Theo didn’t see his gesture, much to Ethan’s disappointment.
    “God, Remy, you’re still in one piece?” Cade asked jokingly. Ethan rolled his eyes at Cade’s wise-ass remark. Cade slipped her gloves on and pulled the younger woman away from the doorway. Remy obediently held out her arms, and Cade stripped Remy’s soiled jacket off, shoving the damaged clothing into a plastic trash bag Theo held out.
    Remy ignored Cade’s question, giving equal treatment to Theo as he checked her for injuries. Oddly, Ethan was relieved at her reaction; at least she wasn’t being dismissive solely to him. Remy nodded her head in Avi’s direction. “Who is that?” she asked as Cade and Theo continued to manhandle her.
    “Avi Geller,” Ethan spoke up. He hovered nearby, watching Theo and Cade’s every move. As Theo examined Remy, Ethan breathed out a slow sigh of relief. Remy didn’t appear to be seriously injured—a miracle in itself. “We’ll discuss that later, okay? Right now, you need to get cleaned up, and you need food and rest. You’ve probably been on your ankle way too long—”
    “No,” Remy contradicted. “I’m fine.” She studied Avi for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. Ethan followed Remy’s gaze to the blond woman who stood on the bottom step. He wondered what was on Remy’s mind as the skinny visitor returned their looks. Ethan knew what was on his mind, and it was all less than flattering. “She wants something,” Remy finally said. “More than just shelter or food like the last person who found us.”
    Ethan raised an eyebrow and looked at Remy. The woman hadn’t moved her eyes from Avi. The young woman’s perception was admittedly impressive. Ethan had known Remy Angellette for just under a year, and in that time, he’d often wondered if Remy was psychic or telepathic or one of the other -ics that people always used to talk about. Remy always seemed to know what someone else thought or felt without having to be prompted. Ethan was sure Remy was a master