Read Online Braving The Storms (Strengthen What Remains Book 3) by Kyle Pratt - Free Book Online

Scott attached adhesive tabs to Caden’s chest that led back to a heart monitor and then clipped a sensor over one of his fingers.
    “I’ll never get any sleep with all these wires and beeps.”
    As she turned to leave Dr. Scott said, “Try.”
    * * *
    Hansen General Hospital, Wednesday, September 23 rd
    The sound of footsteps caused Caden to wake. His eyes opened to Dr. Scott holding a syringe. “Need more blood?”
    “No. I think you’re fine. I’ll take another swab to be sure, though.”
    “What time is it?”
    “Nine o’clock.”
    “In the morning? Why did you let me sleep so late?”
    “You weren’t going anywhere so, why wake you up before I needed to?”
    Caden grunted. There was logic to the doctor’s reasoning.
    When she finished he stood looking for his phone.
    “Sit. I need to take your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.”
    Caden obeyed. “I feel fine. When can I get out of here?”
    The doctor wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm. “If you remain asymptomatic perhaps we can release you later this evening. It depends.”
    “On what?”
    “The samples from last night and this morning.”
    “Like I said, I feel fine.”
    “Right now you’re fine,” Dr Scott said flatly. “So were the two little boys, but now they’re dead.”

Chapter Nine
    Hansen General Hospital, Wednesday, September 23 rd
    Caden knew the woman had died, but news of the children came as a shock. “The two boys? Dead? When?”
    Dr. Scott wilted into a nearby chair. “About four hours ago.”
    The words were not spoken callously, but flatly, without emotion. Looking at the doctor, Caden thought she appeared older than her years. Sadness lurked in her eyes. Of course she was tired. Death had visited the isolation ward twice in one night.
    Perhaps she had seen too much death this last year or perhaps the gloom was because death had come for children. Perhaps both were the cause. “What about the others, Hugh, Jake and his wife?”
    “Hugh Coulson is critical and Debra, Jake’s wife, is in serious condition. We’ll know in the next few hours if they’re going to make it.”
    “What about Jake?”
    “He isn’t showing symptoms, but I had to sedate him during the night.” She shook her head. “If he wakes up and discovers the others are dead…I just don’t know what he’ll do.”
    “What about Zach and Private Nelson?”
    “They’re not displaying any symptoms. If you continue to be asymptomatic, I may release them in a few hours.”
    “Why is their release contingent upon me being okay?”
    “Because they would have been infected by you. If you don’t get sick they almost certainly won’t. I’ll let you know soon, but right now I’m waiting on the results from the tests last night.”
    “How long does it take you to get a test done?”
    “We flew the samples to the lab at Washington State University. They’ll call us when they have the results.”
    “You can’t do a flu test here?”
    “Sure I can,” the doctor’s voice sounded irritated. “But I need to know if it’s the Kern variant.”
    Caden leaned back onto the bed. “Okay, I’ll wait and hope for everyone’s sake I stay healthy.” Alone in his room he stared at the walls and wondered who the Grim Reaper would visit next. Wanting to change the direction of his thoughts, he grabbed his phone and called Maria. He wasn’t going to get caught holding back information from her again.
    * * *
    Brennon Trailer Home, Wednesday, September 23 rd
    “Hi,” Vicki said as she greeted her brother at the door of the rusty single-wide trailer they called home. “Where have you been?”
    Since he wasn’t infected, Zach decided not to tell his sister, or DeLynn about his stay in the hospital isolation unit. “Armory stuff. They needed me.”
    “You missed school. I was worried.”
    “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”
    “Well, I guess you heard the rainstorm last night and this morning.” She stepped away from the door.
    He hadn’t,