Page 111 (1/2)

The glow froed abruptly from the electric blue and white of the news station The set flashed red, drowning out even the color of Vida’s hair "Oh, shit"

The structure was al beloere clear enough: CHILDREN’S LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS DESTROYED

"--reporting live from just outside of Colby, Kansas Government officials have confirmed that drones were used to hit a warehouse believed to house the re, faked photographs and docuanization claimed to--"

I didn’t stay to hear the rest If they had sent drones to Colby, then ere seeing really was Kansas HQ--and all of those agents, unless they’d abandoned it earlier in the day, were gone

Cole was in the office with the door shut, but he’d left it unlocked I slipped inside, finding hi ain, he looked up, then switched the phone over to speaker

"The guys said it was still burning when they got there" Harry "They picked up two survivors about a et any closer I’ to have them pull back and meet with us in Utah"

"How did they escape?" I asked How could anyone?

"Unclear The connection was rotten and the survivors had couys found theot was unreal"

"What makes you say that?" Cole asked

Static filled the room, filled my brain It was only because of the murderous look on Cole’s face, the way the heat beneath his skin evaporated that last trace of softness in him, that I knew I hadn’t misheard Harry

"The survivors," Harry said "They claim they were attacked by a unit of kids They said they were Reds"

19

"DO YOU BELIEVE IT?" I asked "That Reds did this?"

Cole looked up at my question "I wish like hell I knew It just makes me want to--"