Read Online Adaptive Instinct (Survival Instinct) by Kristal Stittle - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristal Stittle
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tense minutes later.
***
Lauren Sanford had noticed the scattering of police when she first entered the ER, but thanked God when more showed up. Just over a dozen uniformed policemen entered the ER through the ambulance doors. Behind them came several paramedics and a dozen military men. Lauren was surprised by the military. They didn’t look prepared, as if they had just thrown themselves together. Most were in partial uniform and some weren’t well armed. One man, however, was in full dress gear.
One of the soldiers began giving orders to the others, including the police and paramedics. He was clearly high up in the ranks. The man in the dress uniform came straight to Lauren’s hallway. She stood up to meet him, Claire held tightly in her arms. The man gave her a look that said he was going to address the group, so Lauren stayed silent.
“Attention everyone, we are abandoning the hospital,” the soldier told them all. A noise arose as everyone spoke at once, but the soldier held up his hands and got them to quiet down. “We have several ambulances, buses, military trucks, and police cars that will evacuate you. The military has found a secure location that will accommodate everyone for now. Those that can walk on their own, please head to the ambulance bay, where you will be directed further. For those who cannot walk, we have paramedics here who will assess your situation and help you to an ambulance. We will try our best to keep families together during transport, however, please be aware that you will all be taken to the same location. If you are split up, you’ll be able to find one another once we arrive. If everyone remains as calm as possible, and maintains order, we should be able to get this done quickly and smoothly.”
“How long will the evacuation take?” Since Lauren was already right next to the soldier, she was able to ask her question first. “A friend of mine is on her way here right now.”
“Ma’am, we can’t wait for anyone that isn’t here already. I’m sorry,” the soldier explained. “Some of the streets out there are pretty bad, and there’s no guarantee she’ll even make it here at all. Again, I’m sorry. Please think of your daughter and head to the ambulance bay.”
“Claire’s not-” Lauren cut herself off as the soldier was already turning away to address another question. Lauren couldn’t see how Claire could be mistaken for her daughter. Claire’s hair was straight and the colour of dark chocolate, while Lauren’s was curly and the colour of fire. Not to mention that Claire didn’t have a single flaw on her skin, whereas Lauren was head to foot freckles. Those were just the most obvious differences. Claire had brown eyes, Lauren had green. Claire had fine, delicate features, Lauren’s were broad and open. In the end, it didn’t matter if the soldier thought they were related or not, because Lauren was responsible for Claire now. Abby had shown considerable strength sending Jon and Claire on without her. Without knowing it, she had sent them straight to Lauren. Lauren would take care of them for Abby.
She shifted Claire in her arms and headed for the ambulance bay. She hid Claire’s face in her shoulder and gestured for Jon to walk close to her as they passed the waiting area. People inside were screaming and begging for help. There were others in there with them, tearing at them, killing them. Two police officers stood in front of the doors, not letting anyone near them. One officer was openly crying. Those being attacked couldn’t escape. The outer doors had an ambulance backed up against them. The people were trapped inside, dying while no one did anything. Lauren was horrified. Later, she understood that they had done that to trap the infection, but at that moment, Lauren didn’t even know about the infection. She saw this as a terrible act of cruelty. Still, she
***
Lauren Sanford had noticed the scattering of police when she first entered the ER, but thanked God when more showed up. Just over a dozen uniformed policemen entered the ER through the ambulance doors. Behind them came several paramedics and a dozen military men. Lauren was surprised by the military. They didn’t look prepared, as if they had just thrown themselves together. Most were in partial uniform and some weren’t well armed. One man, however, was in full dress gear.
One of the soldiers began giving orders to the others, including the police and paramedics. He was clearly high up in the ranks. The man in the dress uniform came straight to Lauren’s hallway. She stood up to meet him, Claire held tightly in her arms. The man gave her a look that said he was going to address the group, so Lauren stayed silent.
“Attention everyone, we are abandoning the hospital,” the soldier told them all. A noise arose as everyone spoke at once, but the soldier held up his hands and got them to quiet down. “We have several ambulances, buses, military trucks, and police cars that will evacuate you. The military has found a secure location that will accommodate everyone for now. Those that can walk on their own, please head to the ambulance bay, where you will be directed further. For those who cannot walk, we have paramedics here who will assess your situation and help you to an ambulance. We will try our best to keep families together during transport, however, please be aware that you will all be taken to the same location. If you are split up, you’ll be able to find one another once we arrive. If everyone remains as calm as possible, and maintains order, we should be able to get this done quickly and smoothly.”
“How long will the evacuation take?” Since Lauren was already right next to the soldier, she was able to ask her question first. “A friend of mine is on her way here right now.”
“Ma’am, we can’t wait for anyone that isn’t here already. I’m sorry,” the soldier explained. “Some of the streets out there are pretty bad, and there’s no guarantee she’ll even make it here at all. Again, I’m sorry. Please think of your daughter and head to the ambulance bay.”
“Claire’s not-” Lauren cut herself off as the soldier was already turning away to address another question. Lauren couldn’t see how Claire could be mistaken for her daughter. Claire’s hair was straight and the colour of dark chocolate, while Lauren’s was curly and the colour of fire. Not to mention that Claire didn’t have a single flaw on her skin, whereas Lauren was head to foot freckles. Those were just the most obvious differences. Claire had brown eyes, Lauren had green. Claire had fine, delicate features, Lauren’s were broad and open. In the end, it didn’t matter if the soldier thought they were related or not, because Lauren was responsible for Claire now. Abby had shown considerable strength sending Jon and Claire on without her. Without knowing it, she had sent them straight to Lauren. Lauren would take care of them for Abby.
She shifted Claire in her arms and headed for the ambulance bay. She hid Claire’s face in her shoulder and gestured for Jon to walk close to her as they passed the waiting area. People inside were screaming and begging for help. There were others in there with them, tearing at them, killing them. Two police officers stood in front of the doors, not letting anyone near them. One officer was openly crying. Those being attacked couldn’t escape. The outer doors had an ambulance backed up against them. The people were trapped inside, dying while no one did anything. Lauren was horrified. Later, she understood that they had done that to trap the infection, but at that moment, Lauren didn’t even know about the infection. She saw this as a terrible act of cruelty. Still, she
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