King ☞ r. grimes

72

Taken

Katie, Maggie, and Carol drove in silence. No one dared to speak a word.

When they got to the perimeter of the compound, they parked the car in the cover of the woods and walked the rest of the way.

They stood at the perimeter in dead silence.

Katie stared down at the satellite building.

She hoped that Rick was in there alive and out of danger.

She hoped that this would all be over soon and they could all go home.

Once this was over, everything would change.

They would have new trading partners and food to spare.

They just had to get through the rest of the night.

Katie's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an alarm blaring.

Katie's heart dropped into her stomach.

All she could think about was Rick in danger.

Her friends in danger.

Her family in danger.

"They could be in trouble, we have to go help them," Maggie said, starting to walk towards the building.

Carol grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"You're not going. You're staying here. You shouldn't even be out here," Carol snapped.

"Why not?" Maggie retorted.

"You're supposed to be someone different," Carol said.

"I'll go," Katie offered.

"If I can't go, you sure as hell can't," Maggie snapped.

Katie turned around to glare at her.

"I'm going," Carol snapped.

Katie's back was to the woods, as were everyone else's backs.

They didn't see the man emerging quietly from behind them.

Katie heard a twig snap behind her, she turned around, but before she could fire her gun, Carol had already shot him in the arm.

Maggie turned to finish him.

"Stop now or she's dead," a woman's voice ordered harshly.

The woman was holding a gun to Carol's head.

Katie started to turn around and see who had ambushed them, but someone grabbed her and restrained her.

Katie and Maggie looked at each other with pure terror in their eyes.