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“We’ve alerted all communities to inform us if anyone goes missing,” General Masters added. “We will not stand by while these damn abominations pick us off one by one.”

“We’ll stop this,” Jameson said darkly. “Whatever it is.”

Both the generals nodded.

“If my team find any more intel, we’ll pass it along,” General Stillman said.

We filed out of the command room. I glanced back and saw Masters press a hand to his wife’s shoulder. The connection between them, the sense of solidarity and support, was obvious.

“Stay sharp, guys,” Jameson said. “We could get called out at any time. Everyone is on high alert.”

“I’ll get back to the lab.” I needed to uncover everything I could on the cocoons.

“Catch you later, Jess,” Marc said.

As the others headed down the corridor, I caught North’s hand. He looked back and the deep grooves beside his mouth made my chest ache. “How are you?”

“Fine. I need to get back to the infirmary.”

I frowned. “I thought you finished your shift.”

“I offered to work an extra one.”

I bit my lip. “North, you need some rest. Did you get any sleep last night?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Better to keep busy.” His gaze turned inward and he pulled in a breath. “Do you think any of those missing people are still alive?”

“I hope so.”

He pulled his arm free. “I need to go. See you later.”

I watched him disappear down the hall, worry nipping at me. He was in a dark place and I wished I knew how to help him.

North

It was raining.

I’d finished a second shift at the infirmary, until the doctor on duty had made me leave. He’d said he didn’t need a walking zombie making mistakes. I’d gone home and stared at the four walls for ages, before I’d fallen into a fitful sleep on my couch.

The nightmare had woken me. Left me drenched with sweat and my heart racing.

I couldn’t get Drew out of my head. Or the scent of blood and death.

Or the sinking feeling of helplessness.

More people were out there, in the hands of the monsters. Either dead, hurting, or trapped in a damn cocoon.

That was when I knew that I had to get out of my house. I’d walked the streets of Dawn for hours, avoiding anywhere that I might run into someone I knew. It helped that most people I knew were tucked up in bed asleep at this time of night.

Then the rain had started.

I was drenched. My clothes were soaked and water was dripping off me.

I didn’t care. I kept seeing Joe and Hudson in my head, but their faces always morphed into Drew’s. They were covered in blood.

Then, I was holding those young boys, and instead of rescuing them, I watched them die.

I shook my head. They hadn’t died. They were fine and with their families.