Edge of Defiance (Edge of Collapse, #5)

by Kyla Stone

The light wasn’t a bulb, but a plastic two-liter pop bottle filled with water and a bit of bleach to keep algae from forming inside the bottle. Bishop had sawed a small hole in the roof, stuck the bottle halfway in the hole, and sealed the exposed edges. Sunlight entered through the top of the bottle, refracted in the water, and brightened the entire room. It was a clever contraption.

Within a few minutes, a dozen volunteers had constructed the simple gas masks. They cut a U-shape into each two-liter bottle, lining the edges with duct tape for comfort and to help seal the mask to the user’s face. They cut the elastic bands from the dust mask, then taped the dust mask into the bottom of the bottle, sealing it on all sides. The plastic bottle acted as a face shield, the top of the bottle now the bottom of the mask. “It’s primitive, and it won’t do much for long,” Gran warned as she cut two holes into each side of the mask, attached the elastic bands, and sealed it with duct tape.

few cans of coconut water. “Molly sent these with us. Once Milo wakes up, we can add some salt for oral rehydration and to regulate his electrolytes.”