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)
Suddenly, I wish Aaron or Kellen were here. Me and my little brother aren’t exactly tactical dudes. I have no idea how this will go down.
“We can do this,” Jesse assures me, clutching my shoulder. “If I get it started, run back to the group and get them ready. I’ll make it over there to you guys and we’ll haul ass out of here.”
“If you can’t get it started?”
“We’ll move along to Plan C.”
“What’s Plan C?”
“Kill those guys and take their vehicle.”
I grimace at his new plan, which sounds horrible. I’m about to suggest my version of a Plan C, which involves going back to the group and getting the hell out of Dodge on foot, but my impatient brother is already hoofing it across the road before I can stop him.
Fuck.
I hustle after him, stopping just at the edge of the building. Miraculously, he makes his way across the road undetected. Aiming my shotgun at the guys, I wait, listening intently while my heart races in my chest.
I’ve never shot a gun before.
On one of our long walks, Kellen of all people, explained the basics of weaponry to me. It’s a little more than point and shoot, but I have a general understanding now. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, though.
Seconds turn into minutes and I start to worry. I would imagine if Jesse were caught, he’d raise all kinds of hell. But it’s been too quiet, which probably means he’s having trouble.
A loud rumble of thunder makes all the buildings rattle and beyond that I think I hear shattering of glass. The huddle isn’t running toward the Suburban, however, and are instead pointing at the storm lighting up the sky in the distance.
So far so good.
An eternity later, I hear the sound of the Suburban’s engine turning over. Then headlights flood the dark parking lot.
Holy shit.
He did it.
“Someone’s driving after curfew,” a man yells from close by. “We might have an escapee! Stop that vehicle!”
As much as I want to hang around to help my brother, I stick with the plan. Turning on my heel, I hightail it back the way I came, racing back toward our group.
Stovepipe Wells is a trap, and if we don’t get the hell out of here, we’ll no doubt meet the same fate as Kyle.
As for our women?
Something tells me these men won’t make the mistake of killing them and putting them out of their misery. They’ll keep them. And whatever that entails may be worse than death.
We have to get the hell out of here.
Kellen
A storm is coming.
I’m still traumatized by the last horrendous storm that took my city, business, and God only knows how many people. With every rumble of thunder, my anxiety spikes just a little bit more.
It also doesn’t help that both Tyler and Jesse went on a dangerous mission without backup.
I squint in the darkness, flinching when prickles of grit sting my chilled, exposed flesh. They’ll turn up soon. I just have to be patient.
Aaron, equally amped up, paces beside me.
“It’s taking too long,” he mutters. “Why is it taking so long?”
Since I don’t have an answer, I keep my mouth shut, trying to make out any sort of moving figure in the inky night. A flash of light in the sky spiderwebs and an epic boom follows the spectacle. It’s dark again, but I’m pretty sure I saw a figure moving toward us.
“I think I see them,” I say, nudging Aaron.
“I saw it too. One person, though.”
A sinking feeling settles in my gut. I wait for the lightning to illuminate the world around me. This time, I’m sure I see someone.
I think they’re running.
“Everyone,” I call after another deafening boom of thunder, “get ready to move. Now, people!”
Our exhausted group scrambles to their feet and starts gathering their bags. Another cacophony of thunder rattles the ground beneath us, making my heart rate ratchet up another notch.
It was just thunder.
Not an earthquake.
The figure running toward us comes into view the next time the light splinters across the sky.
It’s Tyler.
The relief I feel at seeing him alive and unharmed is squashed once I realize Jesse isn’t with him. But that’s good, right? Maybe he secured a vehicle.
There’s something frantic about Tyler, though.
I have the urge to start running too.
From what? To where?
Before I can contemplate the answers to any of those questions, Tyler’s voice carries over the wind that’s threatening to knock me off my feet.
“He got one! Jesse got one!”
Relief floods through me. He secured a vehicle, which means we’re getting the hell out of here. At the very least, we’ll be somewhat protected by the elements.
“Let’s gooo,” Tyler hollers as he nears us, snagging my bicep. “They’re in pursuit!”
He’s panting heavily but doesn’t stop running, this time damn near dragging me along. I pick up my feet to match his pace so he doesn’t have to haul me along. Chancing a quick look over my shoulder, I notice the bouncing flashlights of everyone in our group as they rush to keep up.