Free Outbreak: Brave New World by Robert Van Dusen Page B

let’s get back inside. I wonder if everybody’s come to their senses yet.”
    Carl glanced at Frannie. “I…um… really didn’t mean to be like a jerk or anything.” the boy said under his breath as he scratched the back of his neck and looked away. “I’m sorry. Everything’s just so…screwed up. I didn’t mean it if I made you mad or anything.”
    Frannie looked at him and shook her head a little. “It’s not you, man.” she said at last. She made a strange face, glanced at the toes of her boots for a second. “Hell, I guess I’m trying to get all this shit strait in my head too.” Rodriguez held the door open for him and followed him into the foyer. It seemed like it was quiet inside…
    Lacey glanced after Rodriguez as she took Carl outside then turned his attention back to Frays. He wished that she had taken the kids with her. They did not need to be here for this… God, when are you gonna stop shitting on our heads? Adam wondered as he squeezed his children tight. “Don’t worry, guys.” he whispered into Becca and Paulie’s ears “Mommy’s gonna be alright. You’ll see. Frannie and Amy took real good care of her.”
    “Look, Lacey…lemme just go in and check on her.” Frays said quietly as she started towards the door. She crept quietly along, watching Adam out of the corner of her eye. “I’m Combat Life Saver trained. I’m just going to make sure she’s okay, alright?”
    “No, honey.” Jessica nearly shouted. An uncomfortable tension squirmed around in her guts. “Just…just sit down. Please? T-The police or a doctor or somebody will be here and they’ll take Laura to a hospital.” She put an arm around her husband’s neck, allowing him to hold her before rushing over to the phone on the counter next to the microwave a few feet away. Jessie smiled nervously at her daughter, the woman’s hand resting on the handset. “I’ll call them. They’ll be here any minute.”
    Amy rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Mom? Please, alright !?” she grumbled as she turned sharply towards her mother, taking great pains to keep her voice down. The room felt very hot all of a sudden and it was kind of hard to breathe. Frays paused squeezing her eyes shut for a moment and willed herself to take a couple deep breaths. “I-If the police show up I…don’t think they’re going to help.”
    “What do you mean?” Jessie looked from her daughter to her husband and back again. “What do you mean they won’t help?” She left the phone on the hook and crossed the dining area to stand near her daughter. “Amy? You’re shaking. Sit down, baby. Come and sit down.”
    Frays let her mother guide her to one of the empty chairs at the dinner table. Lacey watched George suspiciously when the big man got up and got Amy a glass of water from the tap and put it on the table in front of her. He kind of suspected that George had something to do with that red mark on his daughter’s face, never mind that the asshole did not have to go yelling at him like he did right in front of his wife…
    “I…” Frays began then stopped to take a sip of water. A little of the liquid overtopped the edge of the cup, spilling onto the table. Frays rubbed the side of her neck and absently wiped the water up with her sleeve. “I-I dunno, Mom.” she said quietly. Amy glanced at Lacey, their eyes meeting for a split second. “I dunno what happened. I-It was bad.” Frays rubbed her hands together nervously and tried to take another sip of water.
    The room was silent for a long minute, save for the sound of the children sniffling. They could hear the back door open followed by Frannie and Carl talking in low voices to one another in the hall. “Guys, go sit with Frannie for a minute.” Adam said quietly as he lowered his children to the ground. Rodriguez could not help but smile when Paulie and Becca let her scoop them up and carry them to the recliner. “Me and Amy are going to check on Mommy, alright? We