CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“She’ll be okay now, won’t she?” asked Irene looking at Matthew.
“You know that she will, my love. She and those precious babies.”
“What about Alden Johns? He didn’t seem totally horrible,” she frowned. Matthew laughed at his wife of nearly a hundred years.
“No. There is still good in him but I’m not sure the medical review board will see it that way. But he could help the world in other ways. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Who is next on our list, Matthew?” Matthew looked around the cafeteria and nodded at the somber man in the corner. He’d just arrived home, after being gone for a few weeks after Brooks wedding. Exhausted, drained, and carrying a weight that might just drown him if they weren’t careful.
“Him.”
“Oh. He’ll be a test for sure,” she whispered.
“He will, love but we’ll succeed. We have to. For us and for all mankind.”
Mitch spotted the young man in the corner and didn’t need to look twice to see who it was. He nudged his brother and Brooks looked over as well.
“Why is he sitting by himself?” he asked.
“Don’t know but maybe we need to invite him over.” Mitch stood and walked toward his longtime friend.
“Logan? Brother it’s good to see you,” said Mitch.
“Oh, hey Mitch.”
“Oh, hey Mitch? We haven’t seen you in three years other than a hot minute at Brooks’ wedding, Logan. I’m glad you’re home. Are you getting out?”
“I-I don’t know,” he said standing.
Mitch reached for his shoulder and Logan gripped his wrist, twisting his arm and forcing him face down to the table. There were gasps and several men stood, including his own father.
“Logan. Son, what are you doing?” he asked. He stared at his father, then down at Mitch who was incredibly calm.
“I-I’m sorry, Mitch. God, I’m so sorry. I need to leave,” he said shaking his head. “I need to leave.”
He released Mitch’s arm and ran from the cafeteria. Literally ran. Noah and a few other men followed, hoping to stop him from doing something stupid. As a Green Beret, with Ranger training, there was no doubt that Logan had seen his fair share of horrors. But something was drastically wrong.
“You okay, Mitch?” asked Brooks standing beside him.
“Yeah. He moved so fast I didn’t expect it. Then I didn’t want to move or he might have snapped. Something is wrong, brother.” Brooks nodded.
“Something is definitely wrong.”