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“It was… it was horrible The batteries gave out a few days ago We’ve been in the dark since then”

“What happened? Were you able to get the locks open from the inside?”

“No… a few o they just opened We heard them from downstairs and crawled up” A panicked look crossed the woman’s face “There are dead down there… so many”

Recker patted the woman on the ar area And get a search teahts; she says there are dead in the lower levels”

As the woman was taken away and Recker stepped back to watch his people work, the officer who had been talking with hied up to him “Captain, I can’t believe so many survived Sounds like they were in the final hours before the air gave out, though We’re lucky that the doors opened when they did”

Recker snorted “Luck had nothing to do with it”

“You knohat caused it, sir?”

Recker looked out in the direction of Washington, thinking back to the strange run-in he had a few days prior with twowoot a hunch,” he replied, scratching his chin as he stared off in thought Finally, after a moment of silence, he abruptly turned to the officer “What’s our total force strength stand at?”

“Including our officers here now and the few that went out with the civvies in search of supplies this , about fifty in total”

“Good Findwith e

here till I return”

“Sir?” The woman blanched “What about this attack? The whole virus and everything?”

Recker ston “It’s over He stopped it and saved these people And noe’re going to go find him and his crew and return the favor”

Chapter 18

The Waters’ Homestead