Tainted Reality (The Rememdium Series Book 2) by Ashley Fontainne Page A

protect you from bein' terminated by the government. Until we can get a better handle on things and fully understand the depth and breadth of this situation, y’all are welcome to remain here under our protection. However, if you desire to return home, or leave the county completely, y’all are free to do so. Remember, though, if you do leave and attempt to cross state lines, the chances of you being stopped and interrogated, possibly taken into custody and even killed, are high.
    “While we hunker down and gather ourselves back together, please remember a few things. One: we may be in the middle of a store stocked with water, food, toiletries, and medicine, but it won’t last long if we don’t ration carefully. There is no way to judge how long it will be before regular shipments start arrivin' again to restock.
    “Two: the same goes for ammunition. There is only so much here and it must be used sparingly. Three: please be mindful we are usin' items that ain’t ours, nor that we’ve paid for. Treat your stay here as though at a relative’s house. Clean up after yourselves, and be mindful of the person next to you. We are all in this together. Most of you have seen what this sickness does—and how fast it happens when someone is infected. We can’t let our guard down. We must remain vigilant while keepin' our fears in check.
    “I know all of you are scared. Include me in that group because I am as well. What we are experiencin’ is unchartered territory. If we succumb to the fear this nightmare has brought, then we’ve already lost the battle. Now isn’t the time to be divided. Now is the time to pull together as a community, present ourselves as a unified group. Help our friends, neighbors, and family members get through this and survive until the situation is contained. It’s time to put aside our differences, old prejudices, ancient grudges, and work toward a common goal, which is to continue livin’ in a world turned upside down.”
    A rumble of questions rose from the crowd. Regina struggled to catch a full sentence from any particular person, since all of them were yelling. The frenzy was interrupted by Bailey and Allsop running down the aisle, arms waving wildly, faces pale and full of terror.
    “We’ve got a lot of trouble comin’ this way from the freeway!” Bailey yelled after stopping directly below Regina’s perch on the shelf. “I’m talkin’ hundreds of the dead.”
    Several people gasped and a few women started to cry. Jesus, when will this end?
    Allsop added, “That ain’t our only problem. Troops are headin’ this way from the school. They ain’t shootin’ at the dead, so I’m guessin’ they’re only interested in us.”
    Regina yelled over the noise, her own heart pounding with terror. “Those of you able to use a weapon, get to sportin’ goods right now. The rest of you form a protective circle around the children in the toy section. It’s time to defend ourselves from the dead, and those who want us that way. Remember—the dead are to take shots only to the brain. Do your best to avoid the livin'. Do not fire at the troops—and I mean it—unless I give the order.”
     

DANGEROUS ROADS - Saturday - December 20 th – 1:10 p.m. - Mountain Standard Time
    Roberto Sanchez ran his shaking fingers through the pile of damp hair on his head. The power had been out for over six hours, and even though he was in the basement of his house, the heat was oppressive. The fact that he was so drunk he could barely stand up didn’t help matters, either.
    He’d tried for hours to reach Benito on his cell phone after the first call, yet hadn’t been able to connect with him again. Teresa had finally collapsed from the stressors of the missing Maria, coupled with the unbelievable events happening in Arizona. Though he loved Teresa—as much as he was capable of the emotion—he was glad she was out cold. Too many hours of listening to her cry and whine about the whereabouts of her