Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited Read Online Free PDF Page A

out a staggered breath, “alright, you got that one.”
                  “And I know you know me well enough to know that I won’t do that,” Fanny nods, “besides we have to get ready for Joshua’s speech. He’s asked us to stand beside him while he addresses everyone.” Hope looks down at the ground before turning away from her friend, “I know it sounds like such an honor doesn’t it.”
                  “I just don’t understand why my father keeps dealing with his shit,” Hope says before punching a hole into her bedroom wall.
                  “He doesn’t feel like he has a choice,” Fanny says with a hollow voice, “he gives in because he thinks he’s protecting us.”
                  “Did he tell you that?”
                  “Yes.”
                  “He’s sacrificed a lot for us hasn’t he?” Hope says looking at the hole she created and feeling a sinking feeling in her stomach.
                  “For all of us,” Fanny agrees, “and he never asks for anything in return. That’s what a real leader does for people.”
                  “Yeah I guess,” Hope says, “well he may not ask for anything but he deserves better.”
                  “Perhaps, but for now all we can do is stand beside him and protect him the way that he protects us,” Fanny says with a twinkle in her eye. “So let’s get down there and stand beside him.”
                  Hope nods hesitantly before following Fanny down the stairs. An old grandfather clock against the far sidewall chimes as the pair notices the silence coming from the rest of the house.
                  “They must be at the assembly already,” Hope reasons.
                  The pair exit outside and see the crowd forming around the center. Words buzzing about as the masses try to figure out why they’ve been summoned together. ‘Maybe there has been another birth,’ they over hear one woman say. “Can’t be, they haven’t given a damn about births since that Hope child was born.” Hope hears the reply and feels like she has just been sucker punched in the gut. They finally make their way to the front of the crowd. Joshua is standing in front of a small podium, Damian and Penelope are standing to his right side and Natalie is standing uncomfortably to his left. Fanny lets go of Hope’s hand and nods toward Natalie. Hope smiles, understanding her intention even though she is lacking in words. Fanny stands beside Natalie, nudging her softly, forcing her to smile. Hope stands between both of her parents and takes each of their hands in hers as they all await Joshua’s speech.
                  “My fellow survivors,” His crisp voice rings out through the crowd, silencing the murmurs, “today is a glorious day for our proud society. For we are a community built on hope and survival, because we know what the rest of humanity forgot on that faithful night. We know that life is not just handed to us, that it must be earned, savored and most of all wanted!” The crowd cheers as he takes a slight pause, “Now my friends we have a chance to go out and show the world how well we have adapted and how we can help others, just like us, survive and become strong! We have made communication with a small base back on the main land. They have requested help, our help, because their time is running out. Now there are some that think it would be foolish to leave our little slice of paradise for some, would be survivors, but I say it is our duty and our job as survivalist, and even greater then, as people. For who are we to say who should live and who should die? Are our lives more important than theirs?”
                  “NO!” the crowd chants back.
                  “I’m curious,” Connor calls out from the back of the crowd, “will you be leading the rescue