Tainted Reality (The Rememdium Series Book 2) by Ashley Fontainne Page B

a clear view of the woman’s lower leg. The tan khaki pants rose up enough she could see the imprint of scratch marks on Mrs. Singleton’s ankle.
    Roger, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me for letting her turn into such a thing.
    “Susie, are you hurt? Did she bite or scratch you?” Regina asked.
    Susie jumped as Regina’s hand touched her back. “I…I…don’t know.”
    “Here, let’s take a look, okay? Breathe, honey. Just breathe,” Regina urged. “Talk to me. What happened?”
    Susie sniffled and leaned back against the metal gate. The poor girl was shaking so hard her teeth chattered. Regina set her backpack to the side while studying every inch of Susie’s body for signs of contamination.
    Through her tears, Susie said, “I woke up and my jaw hurt. She was sitting there staring at me and didn’t say a word when I tried talking to her. You know, to ask her what was going on, where I was, and where you were? I thought she was just a scared, old woman and too frightened to respond. I was thirsty and noticed the water fountain and went to get a drink. When I turned back around, she was on the floor, shaking. I…I…saw that cop and my aunt do the same thing so I knew what was coming next. I looked around for a weapon and found the tire changer thingy.”
    “Looks like you got a good lick on her,” Kyle said. He set his gun down next to him, reaching inside to offer a comforting hand to Susie.
    Regina grimaced at Kyle, thinking his remark was the wrong thing to say. “Did she touch you at all?”
    Susie’s eyes clouded over with fear. Red-rimmed from crying, they were almost swollen shut. “No, but some of her blood got on me when I hit her. See?” Susie pointed to droplets on her shirt. “Oh, God! Does this mean I’ll get sick and turn…into…one…of…them?”
    Regina looked up at Jesse as Susie dropped her head down and wept. Jesse returned the gaze, her own eyes welling up with tears. Regina didn’t want to risk Susie flipping out further so she answered, “No, honey, I don’t think so. From what I’ve seen, you have to sustain a bite or scratch. You’re clear, so come on, let’s get out of here.”
    “I want my mom,” Susie whimpered. “And I want to go home. Away from all this mess!”
    “I know, sweetie. I know. Here, let me put this away and we’ll get you outta here.”
    After lifting the tire iron from the girl’s grip, Regina stood and set it on the counter. Jesse and Kyle continued to murmur words of encouragement to the distraught girl. Knowing they needed to hurry and get to the back of the store before the others arrived, Regina decided to open the gate rather than take the stairs. Just as she reached the button behind the counter, Regina heard Kyle scream, “Susie, don’t!”
    Spinning around, Regina let out a gasp. Susie had moved away from the gate, out of reach of Jesse and Kyle. Regina’s mind spun with a million thoughts as Susie put the barrel of Kyle’s service weapon against her temple. Their gazes locked. Regina saw the look of resignation in Susie’s eyes.
    “I want my momma!”
    Regina lunged, legs pumping at full speed. Kyle and Jesse tried to reach through the slats to stop Susie, but she was too far away. The sound of the gunshot paled in comparison to the internal heartbreak inside Regina’s mind.
    Unable to control herself or stop her trajectory, Regina cried out, “Oh, my God! No!”
    Regina’s body collided with Susie’s and they slammed into the floor. She heard the clank of Kyle’s gun as it flew from the dead girl’s hands. Hot, sticky gore from Susie’s head sprayed across Regina’s face and chest. Regina’s head smashed into the slick concrete on the same side as the gash. The impact made the bright interior of the store dim, coinciding with loud buzzing inside Regina’s head.
    Susie’s torso twitched once as blood pooled around her head from the gaping hole where the bullet exited. Regina welcomed the moment of blurriness, for she