Pulse: Retaliation (Anisakis Nova Book 2) by Eloise J. Knapp Page A

horror.
    Chelsea and Dom were on their way back to Jim's, taking a long route home through the neighborhoods of Kent back to Renton. Standard curfew had a new level of danger; the military now had permission to shoot on sight. They were focusing on metropolitan areas, which made neighborhoods easier to navigate.
    For both the infected and healthy alike. As Dom drove, he imagined masses of parasites and annies spewing from their hiding spots.
    "We're going over everyone's lists today." Dom had been imagining a horde of parasites turning over the truck. Chelsea's voice snapped him out of it.
    "Oh, right. I only have Tony from down the hall and his wife Beth." He hadn't had much time to consider anyone else, but he was confident with them. "Tony was a contractor before everything, and obviously Beth has to come."
    Chelsea made a soft noise of agreement. "She's nice. Very motherly. I remember her saying she was a Sunday school teacher."
    "Who's on your list?"
    "The Shelby family next door," she started.
    "Matt and Allie? What do they have to offer?" Dom was suddenly aware of how terrible that sounded.
    Chelsea noticed. He glanced over and saw her furrow her brow. She said nothing about his comment, but answered calmly. "I think it's important to try and bring some kids. Allie is an amazing girl. She's well-tempered and tough. Matt was a programmer, but he and his wife used to take long backpacking trips so he's outdoorsy."
    Dom only spoke to Matt once or twice when they first moved in. All he remembered was that his wife never came back from work the day the bus of infected crashed into a grocery store. He wouldn't be Dom's first choice, or third or fifth for that matter.
    Not everyone would have a direct skill to contribute to The Lake. Hard workers with a good attitude and the right personality would be valuable to have, too.
    "Anyone else?"
    Chelsea drummed her fingers against her thighs. "Yeah, Cat and her—Dom, what is that?"
    The sun was setting directly in front of them, sending piercing orange light through the dirty windshield nearly blinding Dom. It made the road shadowy and difficult to see. He squinted, pressing on the breaks and raising his hand to shield the sun.
    A block away a dozen figures walked down the road. It was a collection of normal looking men and women in regular clothes. Some of them carried signs. They blocked the road completely with their slow march.
    "Is your door locked?"
    Chelsea nodded. She leaned to her side and withdrew her handgun. Dom did the same, keeping one hand on the wheel and letting the transmission keep them moving forward. There was an arterial road up ahead. He'd reach it before they came too close to the group. Based on the slow deliberateness of their walking and signs, Dom assumed they weren't infected.
    As the distance closed between them, Dom saw their signs.
    We cannot escape our fate.
    Join and be Free.
    Hide No More.
    The group suddenly parted for the truck. They definitely weren't infected, or even armed. Dom had seen religious groups before claiming this was somehow Rapture or Judgment Day, but this group had no mention of God. It was something else entirely.
    Whether they were letting them through or not, Dom had no intention of driving through them. He turned left. Their heads turned and followed the truck. By the time Dom navigated back to the main road, the people were already on their way.
    "What was that?"
    Dom let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I don't know. I don't want to know."
     
    ***
     
    Jim. Librarian, jack of all trades.
    Tony & Beth. Carpenter, teacher.
    Matt & Allie. Programmer/backpacker, daughter.
    Cat, Dog + nephews. Nutritionist, yoga teacher, midwife. Man's best friend.
    Anthony. Competitive marksman, Army veteran.
    Linda. Office secretary, green thumb.
    Magnus, Jessica, Brittney and Peter (kids). Sportsmen, Navy veteran. Youth leader, chef. Kids.
    Wayne. Medical experience, roommate.
    Jamie. ? Roommate.
    Laurie. Experience with