Read Online Eve of Destruction by Patrick Carman - Free Book Online

to light up and warn someone if the world was coming to an end. The door features were marked with helpful notations:
    OPEN BLUE ZONE DOOR
    BLUE LOCKDOWN
    O ZONE LOCKDOWN
    OPEN RED ZONE DOOR
    RED LOCKDOWN
    It was obvious that some of the controls opened doors while others automatically shut and locked them without anyone having to do anything on the outside. The reason for this kind of mechanism, I figured, was to act as a failsafe if an accident occurred and something nuclear needed to be contained, lest the whole place end up crawling with atomic energy. There were switches for the six monitors on the walls. Each had a number, and lining them up with the printed map against the wall by the door, I figured out what they were. These were communication devices, ways for not just me to talk to them but them to me. I switched them all on and found myself looking at empty corridors, wide open rooms, the entryway.
    â€œHey, you guys, over here!” I yelled, trying to lure them to a communication station where they could hear me. But they just stood in the entryway, looking confused and scared. I started clicking random switches on the console, yelling into the monitors.
    â€œThis way! Follow my voice! Hey! Hey!”
    I could see them all standing around the exit, looking perplexed and saying things I couldn’t hear, and then Connor seemed to understand as he pointed toward the red zone and ran off camera. Everyone followed but Ben Dugan. He watched them leave, then looked up the tube leading to the top of the way out.
    â€œDon’t do it, Ben,” I said, but he couldn’t hear me from where he stood. There was no audio, only visual at the entrance. “Don’t be an idiot.”
    Ben started climbing up the ladder and out of my line of sight just as one of the monitors filled with four angry faces staring back at me.
    â€œWhat the hell is going on, Will?” Kate asked.
    â€œThis is good!” I said. “I can see you. I can hear you. Can you hear me?”
    â€œWhere are you?” asked Marisa. She was curious and scared, her eyes focused on mine.
    â€œYou can see me, that’s excellent,” I said. “I’ll be able to tell you where to go.”
    In hindsight, it was not the right thing to say at that particular moment.
    â€œYou’re out of your mind if you think we’re taking orders from you,” said Alex. “Just answer the question—where are you?”
    I searched the different monitors for signs of activity and saw none. Ben was still missing.
    â€œI’m locked in a room at the end of the green tunnel. I can’t get out and you can’t get in—it’s how she planned this. I had nothing to do with it.”
    â€œOh really?” asked Kate, pushing Alex aside and filling the entire screen with her face. “It feels more and more like you two set this whole thing up. How’d you know to go down there?”
    â€œI didn’t—I mean, she gave me a green key card, but still—you guys left me . . .”
    â€œYeah, right. Whatever you say, Will.”
    â€œEither way, we’re all stuck down here until we get the vials and bring them to Mrs. Goring. That’s the truth. I know as much as you do.”
    â€œWhere are the vials?” Connor asked, leaning in close next to Kate, which made Kate move off as she rolled her eyes.
    â€œEveryone just listen carefully, don’t freak out—and first things first: if you see a hole in the floor anywhere do not—I repeat, do not get anywhere near those things.”
    â€œYou’re scaring me, Will,” Marisa said. Everyone else started shouting about what a jerk I was and why didn’t I come out there so they could hold me down and take turns punching me.
    â€œI’m locked in, okay? I can’t get out or I would. And Goring’s not letting any of us out until we get what she sent us down here for.”
    â€œWhy does this feel