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)
“T-There are others, b-but I’m not sure where,” she says, her entire body quivering. “We have to help them.”
I give her a sharp nod. “Stay here with Kellen. I’ll go find them.”
The water is chilly but not unbearable as I make my way back under the surface. This time, I swim through the door and into the reception area. I realize there’s a small pocket of air above me, so I take a second to take a breath and regroup.
“Anyone there?” I call out.
Several voices reply at once, seemingly eager at the prospect of rescue. Unfortunately for them, it’s just me. No police or coast guard or guardian angels. It’ll have to do.
I dive back under the surface, swiping papers and other debris out of my way as I swim toward where I think the people are. I see several legs treading water on the other side of the elevator.
Popping up at the surface, I quickly survey the survivors. I immediately recognize the geek, the asshole, and the old woman from the elevator. There’s also a man and two other women. All of them are soaked and terrified, looking at me like I’m their savior.
“Kellen and Frannie are in Kellen’s office,” I explain, breath as choppy as the water around us. “There’s a pocket of air between here and there. There’s room to sit in his office. Follow me.”
Not waiting for anything else, I dip back down after a deep breath. Turning, I make sure they’re following before swimming through the reception area. I stop to suck in more air near the door, hearing several others behind me do the same before swimming through the doorway.
Kellen is still hugging onto Frannie when I make it back into the office, my bag secured in his iron grip. I crawl out of the water and then start tugging people onto the carpet. Eventually, everyone is safely out of the water and huddled together on the small patch of space that’s not underwater.
“Anyone else on this floor?” I ask, eyes darting to Kellen.
He frowns and shakes his head, uncertainty in his voice as he says, “I don’t think so.”
“No,” a blond woman says firmly. “This is everyone.”
Eight pairs of eyes land on me, assessing me as though I have the answers as to what’s next. Truth is, I have no idea. I’m just as lost, terrified, and confused as they are. Difference is, I’ve spent a lifetime hiding those fears—first with my parents and then later in foster care. Even now, I’m just faking adulthood, hoping no one notices I’m as clueless as they are.
“What do we do now?” the asshole asks. “We’re royally fucked.”
Kellen bristles but says nothing.
I let out a heavy sigh, realizing once and for all that no one is going to step up. It has to be me. “Yeah, it appears we’re fucked. But we can survive this. I’m Tyler.”
“I’m Frannie,” Frannie says. “This here is Kellen as you know.” She points out the others, starting with the geek, the asshole, and the old lady from the elevator. “Brian, Kyle, Barb.” Then she points to a guy about Kellen’s age, a sobbing brunette, and the fierce-looking blonde. “This here is Gerry, Elise, and Hope.”
“Great,” I say, nodding slowly. “We need to gather supplies. Anything useful. We don’t know when this water will recede or when help will arrive. Things could go south quickly and we don’t want to be sitting ducks.”
Kyle sneers. “Not really the time for cute puns.”
Ignoring him, I reach over to take my bag from Kellen. “I have a couple of protein bars and a bottle of water in here. Does anyone have any snacks or bottles in their desk drawers or somewhere we could get to?”
“I have stuff in my desk drawer,” Frannie offers.
“Me too,” Hope chimes in.
Elise, with her chin wobbling, whimpers. “Is…Is everyone else in the building dead?”
“What do you think?” Kyle growls. “The building is under fucking water!”
The group erupts into a cacophony of grumbled agreements and admonishments for Kyle being cruel. I stop them with a wave of my hand.
“We don’t have time for this,” I spit out. “Frannie, Hope, let’s go see what we can find. Kyle, can you swim over to the windows and see if you can assess what’s going on out there. The rest of you can move any furniture out of this corner so we have more room.”
“Who died and put this kid in charge?” Kyle asks, lip curled in disgust.
“Kyle,” Kellen grunts. “Stop.”
Kyle’s nostrils flare, but he gives Kellen a clipped nod. “Fine. Brian, you’re coming with me. I’m not going alone.”
Brian grimaces but nods. “Yeah, sure, man.”
I hand my bag back to Kellen. Knowing that I have supplies in it, he seems to grip it tighter than before. Now that we have our duties, me, Frannie, and Hope slip back into the water. I lead the way, pausing at the next air pocket.