ARES Virus (Book 2): White Horse

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ARES VIRUS: WHITE HORSE

Book II of Ares Virus

A Novel by John O’Brien

Copyright © 2016 John O’Brien

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without permission in writing from the author. You may contact the author at [email protected]

Cover art by: Dean Samed

Conzpiracy Digital Arts

http://www.conzpiracy.co.uk

Also by John O’Brien

A New World Series

A NEW WORLD: CHAOS

A NEW WORLD: RETURN

A NEW WORLD: SANCTUARY

A NEW WORLD: TAKEN

A NEW WORLD: AWAKENING

A NEW WORLD: DISSENSION

A NEW WORLD: TAKEDOWN

A NEW WORLD: CONSPIRACY

A NEW WORLD: RECKONING

A NEW WORLD: STORM

Companion Books

A NEW WORLD: UNTOLD STORIES

A NEW WORLD: UNTOLD STORIES 2

A Shrouded World

A SHROUDED WORLD: WHISTLERS

A SHROUDED WORLD: ATLANTIS

AUTHOR’S NOTE

It seems like every second book in a series that I’ve read, the purpose of the book was to set up for the next. It’s to make sure that the right people are in the right places at the right time for an explosive and exciting third and final book. I tried to escape this with this book and failed epically.

As with the last series, A New World, there are characters which were originally supposed to be place card ones, but who ended up rising to the front. And, there are those that I thought would be central to the story that ends up taking a back seat. I really don’t plan for these things to happen; it just does as my fingers are dancing across the keys. Although, dancing is perhaps the wrong word. It’s more like a game of whack-a-mole with my fingers stabbing at various random letters.

This book was supposed to be the second and final book of this particular series, but the story gained momentum and was ripped out of my hands. It twisted and evolved in ways I originally never intended, but I’m merely a conduit for the tale to be told. I wish I had more control over it, but the fact remains that I have very little. The one aspect I did want was to be about more than one central character fighting to survive in post-apocalyptic scenario. I wanted to portray differing viewpoints and situations and perhaps to give a larger point of view of the fight for survival. While there are individuals trying to survive in a dangerous world, it’s more about a group figuring out the best way to stay alive without making that one mistake that could end it all.

I lost a lot of sleep trying to figure this book out, attempting to sort through the details while having some sort of coherency. I’m not sure I achieved that, but here’s the story nonetheless. I will say that some of the locations within are entirely fictitious, while others actually exist. Building interiors and such are entirely contrived, so if you’ve been to these places, please take what I describe with a grain of salt…or several.

I hope you enjoy the second part of this story. If you do, would you be so kind as to leave a review. As I’ve mentioned before, I read every one of them. Your review help me to become a better writer, so thank you in advance.

Now, on with the story.

John O’Brien

Chapter One

West Point, New York

October 5

Sergeant Brown props his boots on the windowsill, looking out over the green fields of the baseball diamond, Daly Field, the tennis courts, and the soccer field. The high vantage point of his current office gives him a good view of the brownish blue-green waters of the Hudson River beyond. The buildings in view and light poles surrounding the fields cast long shadows from the morning sun about to crest. Normally, the parking lots and streets would be packed with arriving academy staff, the walkways crowded with cadets in their sharply pressed uniforms making their way to and from chow, and the occasional jogger running the roadway. However, with a large percentage of staff and cadets reporting in sick with the flu pandemic, classes had been canceled for another day. There’s really nothing for him to do except lean back in his chair and admire the view, slowly watching the shadows change shape and counting down the hours.

His breath is warm beneath the mask, which everyone was ordered to wear at all times.

Like that did any good, Brown thinks, folding his hands behind his head.

But he’s not about to take it off and join the thousands of others who are either occupying beds in the hospital and clinic, or sent home because of the limited space. Both the facilities were quickly overwhelmed, so there was nothing to do but tell those who called in sick to return to their homes or dorms and ride it out.

Of course I’d be sent here.

Brown had expected to serve out the remainder of his time in the cushy job he wormed his way into with the ROTC. Instead, he had to fight his way through a horde of infected intent on sinking their teeth into him. After being released from interrogation, he called and tried to get an assignment with another ROTC detachment. However, with classes beginning, all slots had already been filled. If he wanted to extend another year, there were several easy jobs available, but he wasn’t about to do that.