Sanctum (The After Light Saga) Read Online Free Page A

out, barely brushing the side of my face. “What—what happened to you?”
    “I’m fine, mom. Nothing really happened,” I tried to appear like I was alright.
    “How can you tell me that nothing happened? There are stitches, and your face is bruised and swollen. Oh! And you have bandages around your wrists. Who did this to you?” she pressed. Her voice was shaky and filled with dread.
    “I know it looks bad, but believe me, it could have been much, much worse.” I tried to reassure her, but at this point, I could see the reassurance wasn’t working.
    “I’m so sorry. I’m so , so sorry. My baby,” she cried.
    “Mom, I’m fine. Really.”
    My dad entered and stood next to my mom. His brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed, and his lips turned down. I knew he’d just received a full run-down of what happened from Dr. Banks. His fingers gently pushed away strands of hair from where I’d been hit. I could see the many questions swirling within his eyes.
    “Dad,” my voice trembled, and hot tears instantly welled and fell from my eyes. Looking at him, I couldn’t keep it in, but I didn’t know what to say or how to explain it. This was the worst experience I’d ever encountered in all my seventeen years. The bunker, the Arvies...they were nothing compared to what I had felt inside at that very moment. I’d never been more afraid, hopeless, or brittle. It made me realize I wasn’t as strong as I’d previously thought. I was alive, but changed, not knowing if it would be for better or worse.
    At the p resent, bad was overpowering good. Although my parents were standing next to me, I still felt completely alone. Darkness encompassed me, like a dark cloud, covering the bright sun. The sun was still there, but until the dark clouds moved away…the world would remain overcast and dreary.
    “It’ s alright sweetheart,” my dad whispered. “I’ll make sure this never happens again.” His eyes were glassy with unshed tears, but I could see rage simmering behind the sadness. He leaned down, kissed my forehead, and left the room. I had a feeling he was going to find the General.
    But h ow could he make sure? Out here the world was filled with uncertainties. There were no guarantees. We weren’t living. Not yet anyway. Right now, we were merely surviving.
    “I’m so sorry, Abi. If I knew…if I had another chance, I wouldn’t have brought you here,” my mom whispered.
    “W e didn’t have much of a choice, Mom. We couldn’t have stayed in our hive forever, nor would we have been able to survive topside very long. This place was our only hope. Everyone else is safe, and I’ll be fine.”
    “I just hope the la rger bunker isn’t run by ignorant fools,” she said, taking hold of my hand.
    All of a sudden a sharp alarm blared, making us cover our ears.
    My father stuck his head back in the door and sighed. “It’s a mandatory meeting. Your mother and I have to go, but we will be back as soon as it’s over,” he said, nodding his head in reassurance.
    “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got Dr. Banks,” I smiled, as he walked in.
    “Yes, she won’t be going anywhere without me knowing,” he confirmed, shaking my dad’s hand.
    “Thanks, Banks. I owe you one.”
    “No, Stephen. We owe you our lives. We wouldn’t have survived this long without you,” he returned.
    “We did it together,” my father stated. Suddenly the alarm stopped.
    Everyone, except those in the infirmary, had to attend or suffer the consequences.
    “You two go ahead . I’ll take care of Abi.”
    “I’m not going to leave her,” my mom said, turning to me.
    I smiled and nodded. “Go. I’ll be fine. You don’t want the General to throw all of us in cells, do you?”
    “He’s probably itc hing to find a way,” my dad added.
    “I’d rather be in a cell with my family, then to be separated and free,” she said.
    I grinned at her. “You’d better go. After the meeting come right back and tell me what’s going on,” I