Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Thankfully, the massive monster wave is gone, but the water continues to rush around the building, not receding any more than the bottom of the top floor.
I can’t hear anything beyond my office aside from the gushing water, creaking of the building, and occasional earth rumblings. Did my staff perish in the wave onslaught?
The floor below us never had a chance. If, for some reason, they managed to hit the stairwell and head up here, they might’ve survived, but considering the lack of voices, it’s doubtful.
Frannie.
I force myself not to think of what’s happened to her. I won’t mourn her until I see her body. Until then, I’ll believe she’s fine. I need something to believe in right now.
“What do we do now?” Tyler asks, voice quavering slightly.
I wish I were like my father in this moment, or even Knox. I wish I could look this kid straight in the eyes and lay out a plan to rescue him from this madness. I wish for a damn boat while I’m wishing.
Of course, none of that comes to pass.
“I don’t know,” I admit with a strained grunt, the stress of our situation finally crashing into me with the weight of a thousand tons. “I don’t fucking know.”
Tyler
They’re gone.
There’s no way the Angler-traz could survive that monstrous mutation the sea has become. The boat would have capsized or the waves swallowed it. Aaron is a good captain, but he’s not that good. He’s not invincible.
Pain lances in my chest, carving out a hole where my heart once was. My brothers—the only family I have—are dead and there’s nothing I can do about it.
I should have been there with them. I almost was. Instead, an elevator held me captive and miraculously got caught up arguing with Kellen. Had those things not happened, it’s definite that I’d be floating through the city, nothing but fish food.
At least I’d be with my brothers.
Someone wails in the distance, dragging me from my own self-pity. It’s not Kellen. He’s staring at the water lapping at our shoes, eyes wide with terror.
“Help,” the woman cries out. “Someone please help.”
Again, I wait for Kellen—clearly the boss of everyone here—to snap into action. He doesn’t flinch. I’m pretty sure he’s in shock. I sure as hell am.
We can’t just sit here and do nothing, though.
Aaron, and even Jesse, wouldn’t sit around, waiting for help. No, they’d snap into action to help people. If anything, I can honor my brothers by being like them.
“Hold my bag,” I croak out, slipping my backpack off my shoulders. “Do not drop it into the water.”
My harsh instruction has Kellen flinching. He eyes me warily but takes the bag, gripping the straps tight as he pulls it to him. Once I’m sure he’s not going to lose it—both the backpack and his mind—I scurry across the drenched carpet toward the area I believe was the doorway.
It’s underwater.
Fabulous.
I’m rethinking my decision when I hear muffled voices and more sobbing. I take into consideration the slant of the building and the windows of Kellen’s office. If only one corner of his office is above water, it means the others on this floor may not have much air. If they’re injured, too, they may only have a matter of minutes. I have to help.
Sucking in a huge breath, I drop into the cold water, sliding along the floor until I’m completely submerged. It stings to open my eyes, but I need to see where I’m going. The water is dark and murky, but I soon find the outline of his office door. I swim toward it. A filing cabinet is sitting on one side, pinning the door down.
“Kellen, are you in there?”
The water muffles the voice, but it’s definitely a female. Soft thumps on the door can be heard below me.
My lungs start to burn, so I push up to the surface for air. “Hey, lady, can you hear me?” I yell through the wall. “Me and Kellen are safe. What’s your status?”
“It’s Frannie! I’m Frannie. We have some pockets of air, but every time a wave hits—”
Her words are drowned out and then I can hear coughing on the other side.
“There’s a filing cabinet on the door,” I holler. “I’m going to move it and then get the door open. Be ready to swim. I’m going to get you out of there.”
I don’t wait for a response and then dive back into the water. The filing cabinet is heavy now that it’s full of soaked papers and files, but I manage to dislodge it. Before I can grab the handle, it’s pushed open and an older woman pops through. I take hold of her arm and drag her in the direction of relative safety. Once we emerge and she sees Kellen, she starts to cry.
Finally, he wakes from his fog and scrambles forward. I’m grateful to see he still has hold of my bag, even as he takes her hand, helping her to the floor beside him.