Yesterday's Gone: Season Three (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER)

broke from his group and began to move through the room to get a closer look, feeling as if every eye was either on him or his companions. He saw a few familiar faces from the island, but no one he really knew.
    Brent looked back at his group and saw both Boricios and Ed speaking with a pair of Guardsmen, with Mary and Paola beside them. Mary had her arms around her daughter, but her attention was fixed on the conversation between the Guardsmen, Ed, and the semi-matching set of Boricios.
    Brent looked around again, sighing when he didn’t see either Jane or Emily.
    He hoped they were okay, and wanted more than ever to get back to the island — not just to get home, but because he wanted to see them, and make sure they were safe. Brent was surprised to realize how much he cared.
    “Mr. Brent,” a young girl’s voice called from across the room.
    He turned, heart swelling as he saw Emily racing toward him, her pigtails bouncing on top of her head. She was maybe three feet away when she leapt into Brent’s arms. He caught her, then pulled her into a giant hug. As he hugged Emily, Brent scanned the room for Jane, but didn’t see her anywhere.
    “Where’s your mommy?” Brent asked.
    “Mommy wasn’t feeling well,” Emily said.
    “What do you mean?”
    “She was sick and they wouldn’t let her come on the boat.”
    Brent set Emily on the floor, then met her eyes, “What happened?”
    “Some men came to the house and told us to get ready. They said we had to go, then they ran a blue light over us like they did that day we all came over. Mommy’s light beeped, and they said she had to go back inside the house, and then they took me.”
    Brent’s heart was at full gallop. He tried to catch his breath and not look like he was a half-minute from a freakout.
    “Then what?”
    “Mommy said not to worry. She was crying, and one of the men stayed with her to help her get better. She said that everything would be okay, I should go with the men, and that she’d see me later.”
    Oh God, she’s dead, and Emily doesn’t even know it.
    Brent felt sick, seconds from vomit, but he had to keep his composure.
    Emily’s eyes began to well with tears as she looked up at Brent. “What’s wrong?” she said. “Are you okay?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. Can you point out the man who brought you here?”
    Emily looked around the room, then pointed to an impossibly tall, barrel-chested Guardsman with a red beard and curly red hair standing next to the front door. Brent remembered seeing him a few times, a tough Irish man named Morris. Brent remembered the name easily since the guy was a redhead, like Morris The Cat from the 9Lives commercials.
    “Wait right here, okay, Honey?” Brent said, kissing Emily on the top of her head.
    “Okay, Mr. Brent.”
    Brent stood, swallowed his rising acid, then headed toward Morris.
    Morris was peering out a slit in the door, keeping watch.
    “Excuse me,” Brent said.
    Morris turned, and with seemingly no recognition, said, “Yeah?”
    “You see that little girl over there that you brought in?” Brent nodded toward Emily. She was staring at them.
    “Yeah, poor thing. You know her?”
    “Friend of the family. What happened to her mom?”
    Morris looked down, then at Emily before looking back at Brent. “She was infected.”
    “And? What does that mean? Emily said someone went into the house after they left, to ‘take care of her.’ Was she brought to the Facility?”
    Morris shook his head, and met Brent’s eyes. He didn’t need to say another word.
    Brent asked anyway. “Did you kill her?”
    “Not me, my partner. The island is on lockdown and orders from above are to kill infected on sight.”
    Brent closed his eyes, to hide the tears and squelch his rising tide of anger.
    “Why?” Brent asked.
    “Excuse me?” Morris asked, clearly annoyed that someone would deign to question the “orders from above.”
    “Why are they killing people on sight? I thought they, I thought we, were bringing the sick to Level Seven.”
    “Not when there’s a lockdown.” The Guardsmen shook his head. “Two of the infected escaped, and infection is spreading fast. It’s them or us, and no time or space to set anyone aside now for a maybe cure later.”
    “That little girl thinks her mom is still alive. That she’s gonna see her again!” Brent was unable to control the swell inside his voice. He could feel the eyes multiply on his back as his sudden volume made him the most popular