Taken Over (Book 2 The Ravening Series) by Erica Stevens

some of my courage. I could feel it waning in this strange land of seemingly utter calm and tranquility. I knew better than to think that things were just as they seemed . T here was something going on in this damn town and I couldn’t help but think we ’ d just wande red straight into the spider’s web and that it was just waiting to spin us into a cocoon and drain us dry.
       I wa lked back into the kitchen. Barney was lying on the floor, his front paws crossed before him, and his head resting on them. He cocked one ear and opened one eye to watch as I walked slowly around the room. I opened cabinets, looking for f ood but looking more for a distraction from my thoughts and this world. They seemed to have been completely picked over. Someone had survived T he F reezing, whether it was Jenna’s aunt, her parents, or other survivors I didn’t know , but the only thing left in the cabinet ’ s were a box of baking soda and a thing of vanilla.
       I sighed as I closed the cabinet full of cleaning supplies and turned to the fridge. My eyes widened, I felt my mouth drop as I spotted the note stuck to the fridge by a magnet . The magnet was of Jenna sitting on Santa’s lap . T he picture was a good ten years old, but I had known her then , and the strawberry colored pigtails and bright smile were instantly recognizable. I spotted Jenna’s name as I tore the note from the fridge. I wanted to read it, wanted to know what it said, but it was not my note and I could n ’ t bring myself to know about Jenna’s family before she did.
       I nearly ran from the room, my heart thumping in eager excitement as I rapidly searched Jenna out. I glanced into the room where I had left Lloyd, but he was sta nding by the window, his hand s c lasped behind him as he lifted his face to the sun. His eyes were closed ; he had found some solace in the gentle rays warming him . There was something peaceful and almost joyous about him. I hesitated for a moment, taking comfort in the small moment of pleasure he seemed to have found.
       I tore my attention away, needing to find Jenna, and unwilling to interrupt Lloyd ’s moment . I hurried up the stairs, trying to be quiet in my excited rush. I hit the top of the stairs, and turned the corner to find Bret standing in a doorway. His eyes were sad as they landed on me, his mouth was drawn tight. I froze, uncertain what to do, I held either joy or a major letdown within my grasp . I wish ed that I had read the note after all because judging by the look on Bret’s face , whatever was in that room , was not good.
       Bret frowned at me; his eyes darted down to my now fisted hand. He glanced back into the room before breaking away and coming to join me. “What is it?” he asked quietly.
       I looked behind him, but Jenna was nowhere to be seen. “I found a note with her name on it.”
       “What does it say?”
       I shook my head as I licked my lips nervously. “I don’t know. I didn’t read it, it’s not my note. What’s going on?”
       “It’s her aunt, she’s frozen.”
       Disappointment and hurt for Jenna filled me, but there was also something else. Something that nagged at the back of my mind for a brief moment, something was wrong. I buried t he niggling doubt beneath the returning hope that what I held was good news. There was always something wrong now. “She needs to see this.”
       Bret nodded as he turned away from me. He moved slowly back to the bedroom , looking hesitant as he stepped through the doorway and spoke softly with Jenna. Lloyd had crept up the stairs, only making a sound as he stepped off the last step and into the landing behind me. I lifted the note for him to see, but he didn’t ask any questions, and I didn’t offer any information as Jenna emerged from the room. She looked broken, drawn. Her eyes were red rimmed, her face streaked with the tears that had slipped down her pale cheeks.
       I held my breath as I handed the note out