Blood Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

course,” said Viv. “Everyone has.” She bit her own tongue so she wouldn’t continue on and say what she was thinking: “We don’t really have a choice in the matter.”
         “Well, there's absolutely nothing to fear, so you can stop clenching your hands like that.”
         “Sorry,” said Viv, not realizing she was doing it.
         “He will not harm you. Just stay calm, and everything will be all right. He just wants to have a look around and see where his sustenance comes from. Now why don't you wrap up what you're working on and I'll go get the president.”
         Viv tried to ignore Mark glowering at her as she tidied her work area. She dismissed Sonia for the day, since it was obvious they would not be doing any more work. The girl looked so relieved that Viv thought Sonia would hug her. At last, Viv heard the sound of at least a dozen shoes squeaking on the highly-waxed floor of the hallway. Mark stood up, sucking in his substantial stomach. Viv stood slowly, carefully. She breathed deeply.  
         Several men wearing identical suits descended on the room, looking under tables, counters, and stools, in refrigeration units, and in cabinets. Two more men came in and checked Viv and Mark's badges, passing information into fat walkie-talkies. After patting them down and declaring them clean, all the men went out, and President Ambrose Conrad walked in.
         Viv almost gasped. He was tall, maybe the tallest man she had ever met. But he wasn't really a man. His hairless head sloped down onto a long, flattened face. A gash of a mouth couldn't conceal his impossibly long teeth, sharp like knives, but clean and gleaming white. Conrad's arms hung lower than seemed normal, and his hands were like talons. His body was too long, Viv realized. As if stretched. But the tailored suit hung perfectly around the weird body, Conrad's long teeth almost reaching his maroon tie. Margaret Watts walked in behind and stood beside him, her clipboard under one arm.
         “Mister President,” she said, her authoritative voice echoing in the lab as she gestured toward Viv. “This is Doctor White. She seems to know the place better than anyone.” It was all so matter-of-fact. Like a business meeting. Only this was the POTUS, and the POTUS was a monster. A monster responsible for Viv's son disappearing. For her husband running off. For her job being taken away. For her life being torn apart into a million shards of glass. This monster was responsible for the state of the world right now, for the pain of every single person on the planet. There were other presidents of other countries, but they all took their orders from Conrad.
         Viv shoved all the feelings into the back of her brain, just as she had every day since the Blackout. She forced her mouth to smile, her breathing to slow, her muscles to relax. She wasn't sure if she could talk, as her throat felt as if it had closed up at the sight of Conrad. But she placed one foot in front of the other and walked steadily toward him, holding out her hand.
         “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. President,” she heard herself say, on autopilot. Gracious was her default setting.
         Conrad shook her hand. She thought his hand would be cold, but he was warm and his handshake was firm. “Please call me Ambrose, er, Doctor White?” he said, still holding her hand. His voice was low and quiet. Nothing like the loud voice that echoed through a microphone during press conferences.
         “Yes,” said Viv. “Genevieve White.”  
         Ambrose looked down at their hands, and she realized he was studying the color of her hand, so dark against his, the palest of whites. Viv could see blue veins running just below the surface. “Ironic,” he said. Your last name is White, but you are not.”
         “The irony doesn't escape me, sir,” she said, smiling wider. “It was my husband's name.” She wanted to gnash her teeth, to spit at him. No one was