The Infected: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller Read Online Free Page A
Tyler, stared at ground. The man didn't acknowledge the crowd and kept his eyes fixed on the stage. Sam squeezed Jordan's hand. He returned a feeble squeeze of his own. She glanced at him and saw the color drain from his face.
"You repay us with disloyalty." His voice had turned venomous. He moved to the second prisoner and ripped the hood away. The second man was Ken Hunter, who worked as a farmer. A sickening cry erupted from somewhere deep in the crowd. Sam imagined it belonged to Ken's wife, Darla. The knot in her stomach cinched and a wave of acid made its way up her throat. Somewhere in this lineup was Abigail's brother.
"You repay us by showing an utter lack of allegiance and devotion for your city." Troy moved to the third man and pulled off his hood.
"Ray Carrol," Jordan said. His voice was cold.
"You repay us by violating the very rules and regulations we have put in place to protect you," Troy said, pulling off both the fourth and fifth men's masks. Derek and Darryl Hoffman were identical twins. The lone pair in the city. They worked as porters. Sam knew them well. They visited the laundry facility daily to drop off chemicals and pick up fresh linens. Their faces were stony and pale.
One prisoner remained.
"You repay us by defiling every sacrifice we have made for you." Troy paused for a moment and the corners of his mouth sunk into a reproachful grimace. He gripped the hood of the last man and snatched it off.
Tyler Stevens.
Abby screamed out something incomprehensible and then melted into silent sobs. The Minister looked in their direction and the scowl curled into a faint grin. It was thin—almost invisible—but it was there and it sickened her.
"These are the men responsible for the breach yesterday," Troy said.
Sam shot Jordan a glance, but he didn't look back.
"These are the men responsible for the death of four citizens."
"It's not true," Abby said. Her voice was so quiet only the people closest to her heard it.
"These men compromised the lives of every citizen of New Hope."
A handful of onlookers jeered at this last statement and then others joined in. Troy had won over the mob and the faint grin appeared once more. After a chorus of boos and hisses, he spat on the ground and marched back to center stage. He placed the microphone back in the stand and plucked a thin, piece of parchment from his pocket. He lifted a hand, and the crowd drew silent.
"On this 14 th day of April," he read from the paper, "I, Prime Minister Carson Troy, hereby declare the acts these six men committed as treason. These six men are a reprehensible stain on our society and have proven they are no longer worthy of residing within these city walls. We will punish these deplorable acts in the swiftest of manners as a reminder to the citizens of New Hope that the Ministry acts in the best interests of the people, for the people."
Some of the citizens cheered. Sam wanted to vomit.
"Any man, woman or creature that puts the common good of our great city at jeopardy is considered an enemy of the state." As he spoke, four soldiers appeared from behind the thick, velvet curtain. They strutted single file across the stage and lined up behind the prisoners.
"Let the record show, at ten past the hour of eight, on this Tuesday morning, I hereby find these six men guilty of all charges brought forth to me and condemn them to death…by decapitation."
Abby, along with several others in the crowd, screamed and wailed but the chorus of cheers drowned out their mournful protests. After a moment, the cheering softened but Abby's cries remained.
"As New Hope is a free society," Troy said, "if, for any reason, a person wishes to contradict this ruling and can provide ample proof that would acquit these men from their heinous acts, let them speak now."
The crowd fell silent, and Troy's grin widened into a sickening smile.
"Let the record state the citizens of New Hope have acceded my ruling and punishment. Let the executions
"You repay us with disloyalty." His voice had turned venomous. He moved to the second prisoner and ripped the hood away. The second man was Ken Hunter, who worked as a farmer. A sickening cry erupted from somewhere deep in the crowd. Sam imagined it belonged to Ken's wife, Darla. The knot in her stomach cinched and a wave of acid made its way up her throat. Somewhere in this lineup was Abigail's brother.
"You repay us by showing an utter lack of allegiance and devotion for your city." Troy moved to the third man and pulled off his hood.
"Ray Carrol," Jordan said. His voice was cold.
"You repay us by violating the very rules and regulations we have put in place to protect you," Troy said, pulling off both the fourth and fifth men's masks. Derek and Darryl Hoffman were identical twins. The lone pair in the city. They worked as porters. Sam knew them well. They visited the laundry facility daily to drop off chemicals and pick up fresh linens. Their faces were stony and pale.
One prisoner remained.
"You repay us by defiling every sacrifice we have made for you." Troy paused for a moment and the corners of his mouth sunk into a reproachful grimace. He gripped the hood of the last man and snatched it off.
Tyler Stevens.
Abby screamed out something incomprehensible and then melted into silent sobs. The Minister looked in their direction and the scowl curled into a faint grin. It was thin—almost invisible—but it was there and it sickened her.
"These are the men responsible for the breach yesterday," Troy said.
Sam shot Jordan a glance, but he didn't look back.
"These are the men responsible for the death of four citizens."
"It's not true," Abby said. Her voice was so quiet only the people closest to her heard it.
"These men compromised the lives of every citizen of New Hope."
A handful of onlookers jeered at this last statement and then others joined in. Troy had won over the mob and the faint grin appeared once more. After a chorus of boos and hisses, he spat on the ground and marched back to center stage. He placed the microphone back in the stand and plucked a thin, piece of parchment from his pocket. He lifted a hand, and the crowd drew silent.
"On this 14 th day of April," he read from the paper, "I, Prime Minister Carson Troy, hereby declare the acts these six men committed as treason. These six men are a reprehensible stain on our society and have proven they are no longer worthy of residing within these city walls. We will punish these deplorable acts in the swiftest of manners as a reminder to the citizens of New Hope that the Ministry acts in the best interests of the people, for the people."
Some of the citizens cheered. Sam wanted to vomit.
"Any man, woman or creature that puts the common good of our great city at jeopardy is considered an enemy of the state." As he spoke, four soldiers appeared from behind the thick, velvet curtain. They strutted single file across the stage and lined up behind the prisoners.
"Let the record show, at ten past the hour of eight, on this Tuesday morning, I hereby find these six men guilty of all charges brought forth to me and condemn them to death…by decapitation."
Abby, along with several others in the crowd, screamed and wailed but the chorus of cheers drowned out their mournful protests. After a moment, the cheering softened but Abby's cries remained.
"As New Hope is a free society," Troy said, "if, for any reason, a person wishes to contradict this ruling and can provide ample proof that would acquit these men from their heinous acts, let them speak now."
The crowd fell silent, and Troy's grin widened into a sickening smile.
"Let the record state the citizens of New Hope have acceded my ruling and punishment. Let the executions
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