Read Online Parish by Nicole Murphy - Free Book Online

friend.
                  “Thank you sir, for saving her and us.” Jack smiled and gave him a grateful nod.
                  “It ain’t nothing.  I’m just glad I could help.  Now we got to get out of the city.” Artemis turned his attention back to driving.
                  “Do you know what caused this?” Wade asked as he looked out of the window.
                  “No.” Emily shook her head.  “There wasn’t enough time to figure it out before people started turning.  It was really bad at the hospital.”
                  “We know we saw it on the news.” Jamie was still holding onto his mother’s hand as tight as he could.
                  “Oh honey and you got scared for me?” Emily asked.  Jamie nodded slowly.  “Well, you can see, I’m fine, and you’re all fine.”
                  “Do you have any information, we were stuck for a while?” Artemis asked.
                  “No, it wasn’t too long after the news showed the hospital falling it went back to the emergency alert system after about fifteen minutes even that went dead.  We don’t know anything.  The president said the local authorities would speak to us after he was done, tell us where to go to be safe.  No one came on to tell us anything.  We watched the neighbors all leave, but we don’t know where they went.”
                  “They probably just tried to get out of the city before it got overrun.” Artemis shrugged.  “Bet the roads out of town are all gridlocked now though.  We’re gonna have a hell of time getting out, but we are in a military vehicle and these babies are designed to go off road.  Don’t you worry. If there’s a way I’ll find it.”
                  “I suggested we go to the swamp.” Emily looked to Artemis who was nodding.
                  “Why?” Wade asked, confused.
                  “There won’t be too many people in the swamp.  More importantly if we have a military left they’re gonna go through and bomb the hell out of cities.” Artemis explained.
                  “But what about survivors?  We can’t be the only ones.  If they bomb the cities they’re going to kill a lot of people who are counting on them to come and rescue them.” Wren grasped the back of the seat as she manically stumbled over her outburst.
                  “They know that.  But you need to think, if there are a million dead out there looking to eat anyone left who is alive and only a handful of survivors, the greater good has to win out or all of the survivors everywhere are at risk for being eaten.  I can’t speak for the rest of ya but I have no intention of letting someone eat me alive.” Artemis shook his head.
                  “Of course none of us want to be eaten.” Wren’s shoulders dropped.  “I just thought the military didn’t leave a man behind?”
                  “They don’t as a rule, but I think you would agree with me that the rules have changed?” Artemis asked as his eyes lifted to the rearview mirror to look at Wren.
                  “I would agree with you on that.” Jack nodded as he reached over and squeezed his wife’s knee.  “Everything has changed.”
                  “This is so bad.” Jamie interjected.  “This is so, so bad.”
                  “We’ll be alright.” Emily reached down and pulled her son onto her lap, folding him into a loving embrace.
                  “So, here’s the question…are we heading to the swamp or somewhere else?” Artemis asked.
                  “I think it would be best to go there.  It’s not heavily populated and we could just hide there until it’s safe.” Emily resolved herself to her earlier suggestion.
                  “What if it’s