In The End Box Set | Books 1-3 Stevens, GJ (story books to read TXT) 📖

I turned to Logan in slow motion, my mind lethargic as if I was coming back from fainting. He held something out. A crisp white cloth. He raised a corner-mouth smile, and I took the napkin.

I saw the caution in the soldier’s narrowed eyes. I saw in his expression how unnatural it felt to approach me when he’d spent the last week filling walking dead bodies with lead. He didn’t want to show the apprehension to his men, his walk still strong and confident.

A major, I thought he said, but he wore no insignia or unit designation on the black uniform. He looked battle weary; fatigued by what he’d been through. I’d seen the look before, the tiredness behind the eyes, but I guessed most in the military would be the same by now.

I looked to the envelope, turning my head and staring at Alex. Raising my brow, I wanted to know what she thought I should do.

For a moment I marvelled at how I’d changed. I wanted her advice. I wanted to know if I should find out what the architect of all this pain wanted to say, or would doing so just make everything so much worse?

Alex's expression stayed blank as if she didn’t want to influence my decision.

Thompson stepped back as I took the paper, but with surprise he didn’t draw his weapon.

There was no doubt her hand had written it. My pounding heart told me so, or it could have been fear for what the letter would tell me.

Was she going to explain how I could stay alive and not be like this forever? Not need the taste of human flesh to be normal in between the hunger? Would I be able to control it? Could I switch it on and off when I needed? Maybe I’d already answered my question, and to those who’d been watching in the last five minutes.

I paused, breath halting for a moment as a thought flashed into my mind.

Were these soldiers here to observe what had just happened? Was this all just an orchestrated event? Had I passed or failed their test?

With anger growing, I looked up to the two figures on the roof. The long barrel of the high-powered rifle that alerted me to the peril turned away, moving as if I’d caught them looking where they shouldn’t. Then I saw a camera pointed in my direction, held by the guy at his side.

She did this. All of this and I’d proven to her she’d succeeded, and I knew what this was all about. I knew I was the missing piece.

I could control the thing inside me, like I would have to if I were on a battlefield.

I couldn’t read the note. To do so would be part of her plan and she’d somehow end up drawing me back.

It would all be lies to bend me to her will.

Turning the envelope on its side, I pinched two fingers to the edge, ready to rip it down the middle and throw it back in Thompson’s face.

53

LOGAN

“No.”

Alex called out, lunging forward and snatching the envelope from Jess’s hand. I watched as Jess’s eyes went wide, her lips curling to a snarl as the soldiers at Thompson’s flanks took a step back, bringing their rifles to bear, but Thompson held his footing, raising his palms at his side.

“Think of the children,” Alex said, her voice sharp, then softening as she pushed the envelope back into Jess’s hands. “They need to know if they’re okay.”

I looked to Alex, expecting her to shy back, but she held Jess’s gaze with her brow furrowed. Almost without pause, Jess’s snarl melted away, and the soldiers lowered their rifles.

A sorrowful smile settled on Jess’s lips as she relaxed, drawing a deep breath.

“It will all be lies,” she said, looking at Alex shaking her head.

“But it’s all we have,” Alex replied, taking a step closer and taking Jess’s blood-caked hand.

I couldn’t help but look away from what seemed like such a private moment. I turned to Cassie, staring on with a raised brow, gently biting her lip to show the first crack in her hard exterior since she’d woken this morning.

Turning back to Jess, I spoke almost under my breath. “Please.”

Jess looked at me, but then away, not settling in my direction.

I watched as Thompson peered around, murmuring into his helmet microphone. The soldier to the right stepped close to Thompson’s side and spoke, leaning to his ear.

“Five minutes to bingo fuel, Sir.”

Thompson nodded, but didn’t say a word as Jess looked to Cassie, then back to Alex before taking the envelope. Dried blood flaked to the ground as she slid her finger under the flap and pulled out a single sheet of paper, concentrating on the words we were desperate to hear.

My darling Jess,

To say I am sorry would not be enough, I know. By now you must have it clear in your mind. Your crazy, super-brain would have easily figured this out and I’m long overdue being honest with you.

I love you.

I know you loved me, but your other life took you away and I couldn’t live without you. For that I am so, so sorry.

You were right all along. It is my medicine. My formula, but not everything I told you was a lie. We found something very special, and it was a gift I wanted to give to you.

I knew you would be a match. I knew you would be the first to overcome the complications.

If you’re reading this, and there is no doubt in my mind that you have survived, then you are a very special person, but not just to me this time, to the world, because you have control over what you