Justin Cronin - The Twelve

“Because that’s what heaven is,” said Amy. “It’s opening the door of a house in twilight and everyone you love is there.” She hugged him tightly to her. “It’s time for you to go home, Daddy. I’ve kept you as long as I could, but you have to go now. They’re waiting for you.”

“Who’s waiting, Amy?”

On the porch a woman had appeared, holding a baby in her arms. Amy backed away and touched his tearstained cheek.

She said, “Go see.”

She awoke to the cold and a vision of stars. Stars by the hundreds, the thousands, the millions. Stars in their slow turning, pinwheeling over her face, and some of them were falling. Alicia watched them fall, counting off the seconds. One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand. She tallied the durations of their descents as they plunged across the heavens, and in so doing she came upon the understanding that the world was where she’d left it and she was still alive.

How could she be alive?

She sat upright. Who knew what time it was. The moon had set, dipping the sky in blackness. Nothing had changed; she was just the same.

And yet:

Alicia, come to me .

The sound of her name, whispered on the wind.

Come to me, Alicia. The others are gone, you will be my one. Come to me come to me come to me …

She knew whose voice this was.

Alicia climbed from the culvert. Fifty feet away, Soldier was grazing on a frosted stand of weeds. At the sound of her emergence, he lifted his head: Ah, there you are; I was beginning to wonder. His great hooves tossed clumps of white as he ambled toward her with his powerful gait.

—You good boy, she said. She caressed his muzzle, his breath filling her palms with a scent of earth. You splendid, noble boy. How well you know me. I guess we’re not done, after all.

Her pack was lying in the culvert. She had no gun, but the bandoliers were there, blades tucked into their sheaths. She pulled the leather straps over her chest and cinched them tight to her frame. She climbed on Soldier’s naked back and clicked her tongue, turning him east.

Come to me, Alicia. Come to me come to me come to me…

You’re damn right I will, she thought. Leaning forward, his great mane filling her hands, she heeled Soldier to a trot, then a canter, and finally a gallop, wild through the snow.

You bastard. Here I come.

Tim Fanning, a.k.a. “The Zero.”Professor of biochemistry, Columbia University. Infected by CV-0 virus on scientific expedition to Bolivia, Feb 21, 20XX.

1. Giles Babcock (deceased). Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder, Nye County, Nevada, 2013.

2. Joseph Morrison. Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder, Lewis County, Kentucky, 2013.

3. Victor Chávez. Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder and two counts of aggravated sexual assault with a minor, Elko County, Nevada, 2012.

4. John Baffes. Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder and one count of second-degree murder with depraved indifference, Pasco County, Florida, 2010.

5. Thaddeus Turrell. Sentenced to death for the capital murder of a Homeland Security officer, New Orleans Federal Housing District, 2014.

6. David Winston. Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder and three counts of aggravated sexual assault, New Castle County, Delaware, 2014.

7. Rupert Sosa. Sentenced to death for one count of vehicular homicide with depraved indifference, Lake County, Indiana, 2009.

8. Martin Echols. Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder and one count of armed robbery, Cameron Parish, Louisiana, 2012.

9. Horace Lambright. Sentenced to death for two counts of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault, Maricopa County, Arizona, 2014.

10. Julio Martínez. Sentenced to death for the capital murder of a peace officer, Laramie County, Wyoming, 2011.

11. William Reinhardt. Sentenced to death for three counts of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 2012.

12. Anthony Carter. Sentenced to death for one count of capital murder, Harris County, Texas, 2013.

Bernard Kittridge, a.k.a. “Last Stand in Denver.”A survivor.

April. A survivor.

Timothy. Her stepbrother.

Danny Chayes. A school bus driver.

Lila Kyle. A doctor.

Lawrence Grey. A janitor, Project NOAH.

Horace Guilder. Deputy director, Division of Special Weapons (“The Warehouse”).

Major Frances Porcheki. Officer of the Iowa National Guard.

Vera. A Red Cross nurse.

Ignacio. A janitor, Project NOAH.

Nelson. Chief technical officer, Division of Special Weapons.

Shawna. A prostitute.

Rita Chernow. A police detective.

Pastor Don

Wood

Delores

Jamal

Mrs. Bellamy

Joe Robinson

Linda

Robinson

Boy Jr.

Curtis Vorhees. Foreman of the North Agricultural Complex, Kerrville, Texas.

Delia “Dee” Vorhees. His wife.

Boz Vorhees. His brother (deceased).

Nitia and Siri Vorhees. Daughters of Curtis and Delia Vorhees.

Nathan Crukshank. Brother of Delia Vorhees; a Domestic Security (DS) officer.

Tifty Lamont. A Domestic Security officer.

Tyler Vorhees family

Withers family

Dodd family

Apgar family

Cauley family

Francis family

Cuomo family

Martínez family

Wright family

Bodine family

KERRVILLE, TEXAS

Amy Harper Bellafonte. The Girl from Nowhere.

Lieutenant Peter Jaxon. Officer of the Expeditionary, Army of the Republic of Texas.

Lieutenant Alicia Donadio. Officer of the Expeditionary.

Colonel Gunnar Apgar. Officer of the Expeditionary.

Major Alexander Henneman. Officer of the Expeditionary.

Lieutenant Satch Dodd. Officer of the Expeditionary.

Lucius Greer. A prisoner.

Hollis Wilson. A bouncer.

Dunk Withers. A criminal.

Abram Fleet. General of the Army.

Victoria Sanchez. President of the Republic of Texas.

Sister Peg. A nun, in charge of the orphanage.

Sister Catherine. A nun.

Caleb Jaxon. Nephew of Peter Jaxon, son of Theo Jaxon and Mausami Patal.