Taken Over (Book 2 The Ravening Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

opportunities to find more food on the way.”
       Molly managed a wan smile for me before squeezing my arm gently. “I’m sure there will be ,” she replied fervently.
       “We’ll be following a different route than you, sticking more toward the back roads and heavily wooded areas,” Darnell continued.
       “We’ll meet up with you once we get the supplies ,” Lloyd assured him.
       “Bethany please,” Abby whispered.
       I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her against my side. “I have to go Abby, but Aiden will be here.”
       “You don’t have to go!” she insisted. “There are others that could go!”
       I sighed softly, glancing at my brother over her head. He had wanted to come too, but we could not leave Abby alone, and he was needed here more than I was. He understood s c ience, he was a better help to the doc than I was. Bishop had taken , and stored , plenty of blood from me over the past three weeks. In the past day he had taken even more. He had protested my leaving also, but he had done so only with me. I think Bishop realized that I needed this, that I needed some sort of mission, some kind of goal i f I was going to keep surviv ing .
       He knew that denying me this was denying me something that I fervently needed. I needed to escape my thoughts, needed to escape my memories , and my torment over losing Cade.  “There aren’t any others,” I said softly.
       “Of course there are!”
       “Abigail,” I said gently, but firmly.
       Molly draped her arm around Abby’s shoulders. “It will be fine,” Molly assured her. “ I need some help with the cooking and getting the rest of the supplies packed up.”
       Abby gave a small nod but tears shimmered in her dark eyes. I managed a smile for her and gave her a quick hug. I felt guilty leaving her here, felt guilty hurting her like this, but it had to be done. It needed to be done. If we succeeded than we may very well be able to save her life , and the lives of many others . I didn’t want to hurt her, it was the last thing I wanted as she had already experienced so much loss in her short life, but I couldn’t stay here .
       “I love you Abby.”
       She threw her arms around me and hugg ed me tight. “I love you too Bethany, please come back.”
       I closed my eyes, fighting against a wave of tears as I gently dislodged myself from her. I had to get away from her , before I couldn’t. “Good luck,” Darnell said softly.
       Aiden walked beside us as we exited the building. He took hold of my arm pulling me back from the others as they made their way to the forest. “You know that I don’t agree with this . ”
       “Aiden…”
       “Even Bishop feels it would be better if you stayed. If something happens to you…”
       “He has plenty of my blood, believe me, I know.”
       “That’s not the point…”
   “I have to do this Aiden.”
       As h is dark eyes scanned me , I was struck by the stark differences in my brother over the past few weeks and they tugged at my heart. He was only eighteen, yet dark circles from lack of sleep and stress had form ed under his ey es. His mouth was pinched tight; the corners of it were tugged down. Just weeks ago, even with the aliens looming constantly over us, he had retained a carefree air and youthful innocence that I hadn’t possessed in years. An air that had been refreshing and joyful , even for someone as jaded as me. Aiden’s exuberance had been contagious, his smile bright, and his quick wit uplifting. Though he still retained a lot of his old personality there were subtle changes taking him over that I didn’t like, and didn’t want to see continue. I wanted to ease the burden he had taken on, and this was one of the way s to do that .
       “If you’re doing this because of him Bethany…”
       “What are you talking about?” I interrupted sharply , angered and wounded by his words .
       H e frowned as he tilted