Read Sometimes We Ran (Book 2): Community for Free Online

smile on his face. I couldn’t help but notice the large sidearm strapped to his waist. It was a huge, silver-plated revolver. “Hey John. How we feeling?” he said in his smooth-as-butter Southern accent. He directed the tray of food over to the table and beckoned me to join him. I walked over and joined him and Odegard, glancing nervously at the guards. Wallace noticed my discomfort and waved the guards outside. “Take five, boys. I don’t think we need you.”
    “But sir,” one of the guards protested. “He could…”
    Wallace cut him off. “That’ll be all.” He turned to me and winked. “Our boy here is going to behave, right?” The guards left, closing and locking the door behind them.
    Wallace began to pull the metal domes off the food. The room was suddenly filled with the aroma of dinner. “Well, now. It’s good to see you up and around. I imagine you have one hell of a headache.” He paused to laugh a little. “With all that adrenaline, we had to hit you with some strong stuff.”
    I was in no mood for pleasant conversation. “Why did you drug me?”
    Wallace stopped laughing. “Well, now John, that was for you own protection. We didn’t want you to hurt yourself. When we took your little friend to quarantine, I thought you were going to tear the place apart.” Odegard said nothing, but shifted a little in his chair.
    His mention of Claire renewed my anger a little bit. “Where is she?” I asked.
    “Claire is okay,” Wallace said, taking a folder from Odegard. “Miller, Claire Margaret. Age twenty-three. College student. Very feisty. Asked a hell of a lot of questions. Parents… Thomas and Heather Miller, whereabouts unknown. I guess that’s happening a lot these days, huh? Not knowing where your people are.”
    Claire’s middle name was Margaret. I didn’t know that. “Where is she?” I repeated my question.
    Wallace waved his hand to an unknown part of the facility. “She’s here. In a room like this one.” He checked the folder again. “Claire was a little undernourished and underweight, but she’s okay. Nothing a few good meals won’t cure.” Wallace leaned back. “She asked for pizza and citrus cola. Young people and their pizza, huh? The cook made her a hamburger and double cheese. Last time I saw her, she was eating.”
    I was glad Claire was eating and being taken care of. If it was true, it was a load off my troubled mind. “I want to see her.”
    Wallace leaned forward and held up his hands. “In due time. Both of you are quarantined for the next couple of days. We have to make sure you won’t turn. You’ll see her. I promise.”
    I looked into his eyes. I didn’t really know if this man’s promises were worth anything.
    Wallace finished removing the domes off the food. “You must have a million questions. First, I want you to eat. You’re pretty underweight, too. A big guy like you needs to eat. Now, since you were…let’s just say sleeping, I couldn’t ask what you wanted to eat. I took the liberty of having my cooking staff make you a few dishes.”
    Taking off the little metal domes off the plates revealed a full dinner. A small salad for openers, followed by a steak main course. French fries and seasoned vegetables were crowded on two smaller plates. Dessert was a small piece of peanut butter and chocolate pie. It was the most food I had seen in a while. Despite not trusting Wallace about anything, my stomach began to growl.
    “Looks good?” Wallace asked. He stood up and patted me on the shoulder. “I didn’t know what you wanted to drink. The doctors said your stomach might be upset after the sedative, so I brought some ginger ale.”
    It all looked good. I wanted to dive in and not stop eating till I was about to burst. I still didn’t trust these guys. Something did not feel right. It was all too perfect. They might be hiding something. I felt it in my gut. I picked up the knife and fork.
    Wallace beamed. “Good. Eat all you can.”
    I