Free Terra Nova (The Variant Conspiracy Book 3) by Christine Hart Page B

be Chester. My stomach lurched before the train’s brakes hit.
    “You guys wait at the station while I rent a car. Melissa, if your card is valid, come with me in case they reject mine.” Josh watched Melissa expectantly.
    We found benches outside the station. I scanned the street in both directions, searching for some sign of the ruins or the church.
    “Do you think I have time to look around?” I said to Jonah.
    Concern wrinkled his nose. He knew what I wanted to find.
    “I think the source of Ivan’s madness will be moot if we don’t stop this virus in its tracks.”
    I paced while gripping my backpack straps firmly.
    Josh pulled up alongside the curb in a mint green Volvo van.
    “Is this what you call inconspicuous?” Ilya slid the van’s side door open.
    “We have a seven seat minimum. It was this or rent two cars. Are you footing the bill?” said Melissa curtly.
    “Nobody’s sniffin’ a gift fish here.” Faith used her most appreciative tone.
    “Good. Everybody in?” Josh turned around from the driver’s seat, observing us with authority as though we were children. “Buckle up, kids.”
    Josh hit the gas and I lurched forward. “This driving on the wrong side of the road is going to take some getting used to.”
    “Are you sure you want drive then? I’ll give it a try.” Cole sounded eager to take the wheel.
    “I’ve actually driven in the UK. Why don’t you let me drive?” Melissa reached toward the wheel.
    “No, I’m fine! I can drive the stupid van!” The impatience in Josh’s voice made my stomach churn. He drove too fast for someone so unsure.
    “If you change your mind, please do so before you crash into a telephone pole” Melissa crossed her legs, shifting in the seat.
    “Just keep the directions coming and I’ll be all right.” Josh risked a quick glance at Melissa.
    “Look for an exit to the M56. From there, it’s a straight shot to Hartford Lane. According to the map, we’ll go right past the entrance to the Chatham Park estate.” Faith had adopted Nellie’s tablet before we left Utah, and the device mercifully still worked in the UK.
    More quaint countryside rolled by as we drove. Picturesque hedges and Old World stone walls traded places until we came to a huge grove of trees and a two-story stone arch.
    “This must be the place.” Josh turned off the lane and onto the gravel drive that led to the arch.
    A cool breeze drifted through the van as we entered the shade of the trees.
    “Aaaaiiie!” squealed Melissa, suddenly flailing for all her worth.
    “What? What? Oh shit!” yelled Josh.
    I heard a buzzing and I knew what terrified them. Josh hit the brakes and clapped his hands together with a BANG.
    “Was it—” I started, but couldn’t finish.
    “Did you kill it?” said Jonah frantically.
    Josh pulled his hands apart. A large dead bee lay crumpled in an oily smear on his palm.
    “Burn it.” Josh’s voice was dark and angry as he glared at the dead insect. We all knew he spoke to Faith, and that he could handle the flames.
    Faith complied by reaching her hand out to shorten the range. A brief blast was all it took to eradicate the remains.
    “Let’s end this place.” Cole gripped the door until it crunched.

Chapter 9
    Josh pulled into a parking spot at the outer edge of the estate’s visitor parking. We were all rattled. I comforted myself knowing we’d found the right place and the Terra Nova ordeal would end soon. Everything else we dealt with after that could be managed without the human race on the line.
    “We’ll need new disguises again.” Melissa seemed the most levelheaded of all of us as she carefully re-clipped her hair. “We should be tourists, preferably from a non-English country so we can easily keep to ourselves.”
    “How about a large Chinese family?” Ilya asked.
    “Bring it!” said Faith.
    The telltale feeling of cool wet air filled the van. My friends blurred around me and slowly resolved. Smooth heads of black hair