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, we managed to get the hell on the road without casualties. Wayne, who opted to drive, Elise, and Hope took the front bench seat while Dan, Judy, Hailey, and Silas took the back. The rest of us guys piled into the bed of the truck. The plan when we stop at the general store is to send us guys in to raid for more food and water but also to grab jackets for everyone. The sudden drop in temperature is alarming.
As soon as Wayne pulls up to the store, we all hop out. The building is in worse shape than yesterday, no doubt from all the tremors. The windows in the front are shattered and debris flies out of the store, skittering off with the wind.
I take the lead, stepping through the broken glass door and into the building. The floor is sticky from broken soda bottles and I’m not sure, but I think I get a whiff of gas.
“We need to get in and out,” I bark out. “Half of you grab the jackets. The rest of us will grab water and food.”
“I smell gas,” Gerry says. “You smell it too?”
“Like I said. In and out.” I gesture for him to move quickly. “Let’s go.”
The group of us make quick work scrambling around to grab what we need. If there’s a gas leak, all it’d take was another earthquake to ignite the gas and start a fire or cause an explosion. I want to be far from here if that happens.
I stuff my pockets with protein bars and little bags of nuts before grabbing a case of water near the broken drink coolers. Jesse rushes past me on my way out the door, arms full of various jackets. Looks like he just scooped up the entire rack.
I’m just loading the truck when the ground begins to shake again.
Fuck.
“Everyone out!” I bellow toward the building as Kyle comes out, arms loaded with canned goods. “Hurry!”
Kyle picks up speed with Gerry lumbering behind him. Aaron darts out next, more camping supplies in his grip. I wait for Tyler to emerge next.
And he doesn’t.
“Tyler!” I yell. “Now! We don’t have any more time—”
My words are cut off when the building begins to crumble. I let out a choked sound as Aaron and Jesse both start for the building.
Ka-boom!
We’re all knocked to our asses as the explosion detonates. I’m vaguely aware of bits of glass and splinters of wood biting into my flesh. As soon as I’m sure the worst is over, I jump to my feet, squinting against the inferno billowing from the remains of the building.
Tyler.
He was still inside.
No!
Aaron lets out a pained cry, so mournful and horrible I feel it deep in the very marrow of my bones.
He’s not dead.
He can’t be. Not after everything we’ve survived thus far.
Seconds turn into minutes and Tyler doesn’t emerge from the flames.
This cannot be happening.
Tyler
I’m dead.
But dead people aren’t aware that they’re dead, right?
So maybe I’m not dead…
A raspy groan escapes me as I try to make sense of my surroundings. It’s warm—no, hot. Really hot. Like standing too close to a campfire and the heat singes your eyebrows off kind of hot.
Why is it so hot?
I blink away the dazed cloud inside my brain but still can’t see. We were in the store, an earthquake struck, and then a deafening boom.
Around me, I can hear loud popping and crackling sounds as a fire burns out of control. Unfortunately for me, I’m in it. Or near it.
I painfully turn my head to the right and the glowing orange of the inferno lights up my vision. I’m definitely on the ground. I can smell the earthy dirt my cheek is pressed against. Did I escape in time?
An attempt to crawl away from the heat is put on hold when I realize I can’t move. My legs are pinned beneath something heavy. A beam of wood or some other piece of the building.
Did everyone else make it out? My brothers? Kellen?
Panic sets in as I start clawing at the dirt. Whatever has me pinned is keeping the flames off me, but it’s still hot as fuck. If I don’t get out of here soon, I’ll cook to death.
“Help,” I croak out, praying those still in the truck can hear me.
My voice is worthless, though, and barely carries above the crackling fire. I grunt and dig my fingers deep into the ground, hoping to pull myself out of this mess I’m in.
Nothing.
As hysteria infects my every cell, I clear my throat and put all my energy into yelling for help. My view ahead is smokey, but if I had to guess, I’m somewhere on the backside of the building since I was standing near the back of the store at the time of the explosion.
They have to hear me.