Apocalyptic Proportions: Rescue Team Nine (Book 2)

Chapter 17

Aimee

"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." Revelation 17:17

44 Days to Jacksonite Apocalypse

As I finish cleaning my wound and mending the rest of the victims of the impromptu violence, Red leaves the clinic to help with the cleaning process. He remembers his robes this time. My father will be more watchful of us from now on, but I have a few questions of my own. Where were Thompson and Frank during the eruption? The other disciples helped the guards get everyone in their rooms, but those two had been missing.

"I think that'll do it. You're free to go back. Remember, everyone is to stay in their rooms today."

The older woman in front of me returns my smile. "It's all right, dear. Our prophet has this. Even if the Lord calls us home early, we should be thankful we didn't have to wait so long to leave."

The woman mistakes my sudden silence. "I know. We're all saddened by the outsider's lack of knowledge. Hopefully, God will forgive them one day, and they, too, will see his face."

Watching my patient leave, I allow the anger I feel to intensify. Never before have I felt so strongly about hitting something. Instead, I pick up a glass off a shelf and hurl it at the door just as it opens. Thankfully, the throw is off and hits the wall beside it instead. Red glances at the shattered glass before staring at me.

"Remind me never to make you mad."

I sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just so frustrated. I don't understand these people."

Laying a plate on the table, Red walks over and places a hand on my shoulder.

"I know. Come on, I brought you some food. We delivered supper to everyone's rooms tonight. Your father thought the residents needed time to meditate and worship."

"Of course, he did. Did you see the smile on his face this afternoon? It was entertainment for him. Believe me. He would have started taking residents out himself if he thought that was a real full-blown attack."

I let Red lead me to the table. Pulling out a chair, he gestures for me to sit.

"I know. It's why I'm here, Aimee. You eat. I'm going out on the balcony to talk to Dice, and then I will meet up with Thompson. He made an appearance after the attack. He wants me to take guard duty tonight in the prison. I can't pass this opportunity up."

I reach for his hand. "I don't like it, Red."

He squeezes it. "I promise I'll be careful, but please eat. I wolfed some down in the cafeteria already. I get the feeling we're going to need our strength."

I watch him walk to the back of the room and onto the balcony. Today's attack surprised me. The place my father has made over is an old prison turned asylum. Reports say it's haunted, so it was easy for him to purchase the property and land cheaply. The barbed wire around this place only helped to reassure the residents about security. The guards work around the clock. Typically, Dad follows every move they make. There's no way that mob should have been able to get through, which only means one thing—my father's illness is worse, and worse yet, he allowed the mob to come inside the gates. The smile on his face was a smile of delight, and for once in my life, I have a deep desire to do the unspeakable, to kill my own father. How can one person have so much hate in his heart that he thinks it's a game to watch people die? It would explain why Frank and Thompson disappeared. They'd made it possible for the people to get in. They did Jackson's dirty work so he could keep his hands clean. The food in front of me suddenly makes me nauseous.

­­­­­­*******************

Red

"Can you explain to me what that was out there?"

I know I sound angry, but I don't care. Dice isn't even fazed.

"There was a breach in the gate."

Although I'm nowhere near amused, I laugh. "That shouldn't be possible. Those gates are monitored around the clock."

"It's not impossible, and you know it."

"Thompson and Frank."

I've already solved this hypothesis, but there are times when people need to express their thoughts out loud.

"I have to agree with Aimee. You need to be careful where those two are concerned, and I'm not happy that you're going with Thompson tonight."

"I'll be careful. The poison is in that prison. I know it."

The day's events are starting to catch up to me.

"Damn it!"

Smashing my fist into the brick wall, I allow the pain to fight against the anger coursing through my veins.

"Feel better?"

Breathing hard, I allow my emotions to run free. "My hand doesn't, but I do. I sure wish I was in the air right now. Fuck groundwork."

"Oh, I don't know about that. Despite the circumstances, old Betsy has earned some competition."

"Just don't tell her that. I don't need her to quit on me next."

It's a joke among us. Flying is my paradise. Betsy is the helicopter I've been flying since I joined ranks with Rescue Team Nine, and there have been plenty of sticky situations she's gotten us out of.

"You have a background check on Frank?"

"I wish. He's in there on a full alias. Even Striker hasn't been able to dig anything up. He's covered his tracks well. My guess is he's running from the law."

"I figured as much." Looking at my watch, I close my eyes and regain what sanity I've managed to keep. "I have to go. It's time to find out where our missing comrades are and hopefully switch the poison."

Dice groans. "I'd feel a lot better if someone was in there to watch your back. Be careful, man."