(Book 2)What Remains Read Online Free PDF

thick
swatch of fabric secured to the wood with thumbtacks.
    I cocked my head with curious wonder then
painfully swiveled around to meet eyes with my wife. She placed one
finger over her mouth to remind me to be quiet. Smiling behind the
finger, Sarah nodded towards Maddox in order to redirect my
attention. Then I felt a sudden rush of chilly air.
    Maddox removed enough of the tacks to allow the
fabric to flop down. He carefully folded the swatch over and tacked
it in place. His motions eagerly ushered to the exposed hole that
now beamed some natural light into the area. I squinted as my eyes
adjusted and peered out.
    Outside the confines of the attic, one of the
slanted strips of wood that covered the vent had been chipped away.
Looking past it I was shocked by the surprisingly good view of the
fence, our neighbor’s house and part of the front yard. Nothing in
the area outside moved.
    I was sure the opposite vent had a similar set
up. The other vent would be the one that looked down on the gate I
was pulled through. Maddox pulled me back and re-closed the
peephole. I stepped back feeling truly proud of the preparations my
family had made while I was away.
    “What do you think, Daddy? Don’t you think I had
a good idea?” said my little man, who eagerly sought my unnecessary
approval.
    “It was a wonderful idea, Monkey.” My eyes grew
moist with tears. Sarah was teary also, both of our tears brought
on by both pride and worry. “I doubt I would have even thought of
that.”

1510 hours:
    Getting down from the attic was an arduous,
aching chore. The time that lapsed while we were in the attic
reminded me that medicine was still quite needed. I needed to get
down and retrieve some pills since my warmly comfortable attire
didn’t factor in pockets.
    I descended the steps at a sloth’s pace. Searing
waves of pain echoed from my joints. By the time I reached the
carpeted floor I was completely winded. The physical exertion
wasn’t what exhausted me; it was the battle to squash my reaction
to the pain. Maddox was waiting at the bottom to ensure I was all
right. I wanted him to see me being strong, like I had to redeem
myself as his immovable object of a father.
    Memories of my desperate climb up the brick
train bridge surfaced during the short descent. That experience
seemed like so long ago. Hanging on that rope above a churning
torrent of infection nearly broke me. I was so ready back then to
accept the seemingly unavoidable clutches of death. If Phil hadn’t
saved me when he had, I probably would have let go.
    I shuddered at the memory and Maddox noticed my
sudden distance. I prayed to God I would never have to tell him
about Phil. A son should not have to know that his father took
another man’s life, let alone a man whose lifesaving efforts
enabled him to even have a father. Knowledge like that in this
modern era could forever change how he looked at me.
    “Daddy?” said Maddox in a timid, yet caring way.
“Are you okay? Do I need to get Mommy?” He began to start back up
the ladder to get help.
    I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder.
He stopped then looked back with concerned eyes. “No…” my voice was
weak but serious. “I’m fine. Can you help me into the bedroom so I
can take a nap? It’s been a busy day of not being in bed for me. I
think I’m ready to take it easy for a bit.”
    Maddox’s smile betrayed him. He’s not a little
kid anymore. Soon I’d have to accept that my son was far more aware
of the permeating evil in this world than I would like him to be.
“Okay. Mommy said we’re all having dinner together tonight, so it’s
a good idea to nap now.”
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    He helped me up into bed then went into the
bathroom. Seconds later he returned with a bottle of water and two
mostly emptied bottles of prescription painkillers. One bottle
would make me drowsy and one would not. Both pills have worked well
despite being past their expiration.
    I took a swig of the