赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Communication within the pack was difficult. Most of the people they called were not answering their phones, and the comms had been one of the systems going through updates and was already down before this had all started.

But Galen’s neural link was a different story. He and Caleb had created their own secure line to reach each other in a situation where Summer had been compromised. Luckily, Galen had shared that information with Fiona years ago.

Fiona gave Nessa the information she needed, and she was quickly able to connect her to Galen's neural link. Fiona filled him in on what they knew about the number of rebels and their behavior.

They agreed that closing sections of the city was the best option to gain control of the situation. Still, Galen insisted that soldiers be sent to each section before they were closed off. Fiona disagreed.

“We need to be quick, Galen,” she said. “The longer we let them roam freely, the more danger everyone else is in.”

“You’re right. We do need to be quick,” Galen replied. “But I’m telling you, Fiona, they are mostly non-violent right now, but it can change in an instant. I’ve looked into the eyes of people I have known my entire life, and I have no idea who was staring back at me. I’ve already had to restrain a few people to keep them from hurting themselves.”

“If you’re right, realizing that they are being trapped with the soldiers will aggravate them quicker,” Fiona said.

“It might,” Galen replied honestly, “but I’d rather risk that than risk leaving the civilians trapped with no one to protect them if it goes wrong.”

“I see your point,” Fiona sighed. “All right, a compromise then. Once I have confirmation that a unit has arrived in a section, I will close that section off.”

“Agreed.”

“Good,” Fiona said, “because with you and Ashleigh already there, I feel confident that I can seal off your section.”

Galen looked around. He and Ashleigh had already confronted several lone individuals but hadn’t seen any groups.

“You said there was a group moving between mine and the next section, right?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “It seems to be the largest group gathered. They keep moving back and forth between the two zones. But if we don’t seal them off soon, they will move into the same zone as the school. I would like to avoid that.”

“Me too,” Galen replied. “Is there a unit in the section next to mine yet?”

“No,” Fiona said. “There are a few soldiers, only three. They are waiting for the others to arrive.”

Galen swallowed.

“Combine the two zones,” he said. “Seal us off.”

“Galen… that is too large an area for only the two of you and three soldiers,” Fiona said.

“Do it,” he said. “If you seal off both zones, the school can’t be reached by anyone else, no matter what happens here.”

“Yes, but sealing you off will keep the other soldiers from reaching you as well,” she said. “It’s too big a risk.”

“No,” he said. “Allowing the chance for anyone to endanger those children is too big a risk.”

Fiona closed her eyes and swallowed. She thought of Ren, of the others huddled together in the panic room of the school. She let out a sigh and nodded.

“All right,” she said. “That’s what we’ll do.”

Fiona looked at Nessa.

“Prepare to seal off zones D3 and D4,” she said.

“But there aren’t enough soldiers for such a large space,” Clara said.

“Do it,” Fiona said with a nod to Nessa.

Nessa swallowed and nodded.

She began to enter the command sequence.

“It’s done,” Fiona said, “you should see the barriers momentarily.”

“What is that?” Ashleigh asked, stepping up beside Galen as she looked up.

Above them, it appeared like an electrical drape fell over a large section of the city, like a blanket covering a birdcage.

“Do what you can to settle those trapped there with you,” Fiona said. “But keep yourselves safe. Contact me if you need anything.”

“We will,” Galen replied.

Galen pressed his thumb into his palm, hearing the soft click that disconnected the call.

“What just happened?” Ashleigh asked.

“Our section of the city has been sealed off,” Galen replied. “It keeps us and those roaming around causing trouble locked in the area so they can’t wander anywhere else.”

Ashleigh turned to him with furrowed brows and a look of surprise. She crossed her arms over her chest.

“That seems a bit dramatic, doesn’t it?” Ashleigh asked. “So far, all we’ve seen is a few wolves that are ranting and raving. Nothing dangerous or even that concerning.”

Galen closed his eyes and let out a slow breath.

“We don’t have time for this right now,” he said. He moved away from her, looking around for signs of anybody nearby.

Ashleigh sighed and shook her head as Galen walked away.

When Bell burst into the office, she said the school children were in the panic room. That some kind of attack on Summer had begun. Immediately, Ashleigh and Galen had set out for the streets, but so far, Ashleigh had seen no sign of aggression.

Every person they had encountered was either hiding or in the same state as the woman she had seen in the hallway, clearly in need of help but by no means ready to attack or endanger anyone.

Even the ones that Galen had felt the need to restrain, Ashleigh thought it was unnecessary.

Ashleigh looked at Galen. He was searching high and low, peeking around corners and in windows. He was thoroughly seeking what he perceived as a genuine threat.

But she hadn’t seen anything to support his claim that Summer was on the brink of collapse. That the wolves were in desperate need of an Alpha and that they couldn’t wait for Caleb’s return any longer.

Ashleigh couldn’t help but wonder if the actual threat to Summer might be a wolf who had suddenly become ambitious.