Red Death: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller Read Online Free PDF

building down there beside it last week. And the local crew guys reported other companies were there working too, welding iron security gates across all the entrances and exits.”
    Puzzled, Tara’s mind raced. Why? Why would they need the ductwork covered?
    Mary narrowed her eyes and her voice dropped to a whisper. “They’re only covering ductwork big enough for a person to get through. The smaller ones, they don’t cover.” Tara thought her heart might stop. She felt immediately sick.
    “Oh, my Lord. What’s your cousin’s take on it?”
    “He thinks they’re making quarantine centers, camps maybe. The scariest thing is they made all of them sign non-disclosure releases. He was almost afraid to tell me, but everyone knows something bad is coming. Ebola must be all over the country, Tara, and they don’t want people to know. He said just that first case in Dallas caused the stock market to drop 300 points—so it might cause a panic and shut down the economy, the flights, and the stores. God forbid!” Mary made a sarcastic sound in her throat.
    “My God, that’s ridiculous! If everyone knew, maybe they could protect themselves!”
    “I’m beginning to believe they don’t want everyone to survive it. Maybe it’s some form of population control like the conspiracy theorists are saying.”
    Suddenly, the websites devoted to crazy conspiracies where Tara regularly lurked weren’t looking like such nutbags.
    “What about your daughter, Mary? Is she okay?”
    “Yes, she’s fine. She wasn’t directly exposed to your neighbors in the ER, but her whole shift was given leave to self-quarantine. She’s kept my six year old grandson home all week with her too, because he caught a cold at preschool. Now she’s getting it. I was afraid for her at first, but she just has regular head cold symptoms and a small fever. With flu season around the corner, this is scary. Hard to know who has the flu and who has Ebola.”
    “Oh no, Mary, I didn’t even think of that.”
    Tara warned her to get her supplies now, mostly so she wouldn’t have to go out anymore. Mary nodded. “I thought I would top off my pantry today. Then I’m going into hermit mode like you and Lee.”
    Tara nodded. “I think it’s for the best right now.” She pulled her phone out. “Can I have your number and email, Mary?” They exchanged contact information.
    “I just had a thought—what would happen if we couldn’t use internet or phones? We would all be really isolated,” Tara said.
    Mary nodded. “They could shut that stuff off as easy as pie too. Not to mention if the electric goes—none of us will be able to charge our devices! But if, God forbid, that happens and you ever need me? See that little window right over there?” She pointed and Tara nodded. “You just shine a flashlight over in that window. The head of my bed is right there. I’ll see it and come.”
    Tara looked up at their own bedroom window. “You could do the same thing with ours. Our bed is further back, against the wall, but I would see the light on the ceiling eventually, if you kept it up.”
    Mary nodded. “Okay, I’m going for supplies, Tara. You need anything?” Tara told her no and they said goodbye. She was even more worried now. The unreality of it all struck her—but unfortunately, it was all too real.
    She went in search of Lee and passed on what Mary had said. Between Mary’s news and Lee’s phone call, a different feeling had descended on her. Tara didn’t like it at all. It was one thing to imagine an apocalypse, another to believe you might experience one.
    ~
     
    Another week went by, and to Tara, it seemed even less traffic was on the formerly busy street out front. The media had stopped reporting anything about Ebola. Just the week before, Facebook had still been full of the usual inane concerns about kittens, Justin Bieber’s relationship status, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey. When Tara asked for info or posted Ebola concerns,