Exodus: Book Two: Last Days Trilogy Read Online Free Page A

Marcus. “Oh, yes,” Rev. Bailey said, “the woman trapped at the Institute.”
    Devante closed his eyes. “I see them running. Free.”
    “But they’re trapped. Aren’t they?”
    “I see them running.” Devante opened his eyes and stared at the picture again. “Her life essence will not leave this earth.” he muttered. “We must get her. Regina. This Marcus Leon has her against her will. She is not his fiancée. She is nothing but his assurance of safety.”
    “Why is she so important to you?” Rev. Bailey asked.
    “I feel a connection to her. She was present at my birth. I would like her with us.”
    “Then we must find her.” Rev. Bailey said. “I have a friend who works for The Times. Let me give him a call. If they’re out of that building, someone must have seen them.” Rev. Bailey stood up. “You have a vision of her? In these visions, do you see any road signs or landmarks?”
    “I see her running.”
    “Running. Yes.” The reverend cleared his throat. “Well, I’ll uh... just make that call.”
    Devante continued to stare at the photograph of Reggie in the paper. Only at her.
     

The Ohio Border
     
    For the first time, Kyle fully understood the phrase ‘God forsaken place.’ When he heard the news, he pulled off to the side of the road.
    All that morning, as he headed to Route 30, the radio news was rife with FEMA self-testimonials: how efficiently they were evacuating Chicago, how eighty percent of the people were already out, how FEMA’s Jack Ross assured the population that nothing was coming from the sky, nor were there military threats from other countries. Finally, just five minutes before, FEMA went on record to state that the evacuation itself was merely precautionary, since a truly biblical debacle was the only thing that would justify it, and that it appeared nothing would occur.
    Then someone mentioned that all rescue efforts at the Institute had been stopped. No one was looking for Reggie and Marcus. Not only that, the news speculated that Doctor Leon and Reggie were already out and on the run. Kyle wanted to believe it, but his feelings were mixed. Marcus was a wanted man, wanted for the murder of his assistant, for the abduction of Reggie.
    Hogwash, Kyle thought. How could anyone buy that?
    After a five-minute break to hyperventilate and fume, Kyle fired up the engine. Now he had even more incentive to find his daughter. He had to search her out. He had to. No one else was going to do it.

CHAPTER FOUR
     

Westing Biogenetic Institute
Chicago, Illinois
     
     
    Reggie and Marcus had only a sorry-looking pile of displaced rubble to show for their hours of digging. Escaping was hard work.
    Reggie’s hands bled at the knuckles, but the worst pain was under her short fingernails from grasping at debris and tossing it out to Marcus.
    “Reg.” Marcus held the candle to the hole. “Come on out. My turn again.” He sidestepped a rock as it flew out. “Nice.”
    “My last burst of energy. I think we’re making progress...” Reggie giggled. “I’m coming out.”
    “You did good.”
    “Yeah.” She brushed herself off with a less than enthusiastic tone.
    “Here.” Marcus handed her a Gatorade. “Take a drink.”
    “I’m fine.” Reggie sniffed, handed him the flashlight, and walked over to the sink. She turned it on and splashed her face, lifting her tee shirt to dry off.
    “Did you hurt yourself? How are your hands?”
    Reggie held them up. “Hurt.”
    “I’m sorry.” Marcus caressed them. “I’ll dig now. Maybe by morning we can get our...”
    “No. Don’t dig.”
    Marcus shook his head. “Why? You want all the credit for getting us out?” He gave her the candle. “Well, watch how big the pile gets when I get another shot.”
    “Marcus...” Reggie said, sadly. “It’s no use. We hit another wall.”
    “No.” Marcus slid out. “We were doing so good.”
    “We were doing real good.” Reggie swung out her hand. “But it’s another