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)
“I, uh, I c-can’t,” I stammer out with a shudder. “Tyler, I can’t.”
Rather than showing frustration with me, he turns to survey our wrecked group. With a sigh, he beckons for Hope. Her blond hair is matted to her head and her breasts are nearly obscene-looking in her white, now transparent blouse, but she has a fierceness about her that I’m lacking in this moment. She’s a much better choice than me.
“Me and Hope will move the bodies to…” he trails off, rubbing at his temple. “Where can we, uh, contain them?”
Hope bounces on her bare feet as if to work some warmth into her body. “Conference room. It’s an interior space. We can close the door.”
Tyler gives her a nod of approval before turning his deep brown eyes on me. “Give me and Hope fifteen minutes and then you and Frannie need to get everyone out of here to the stairwell.” He points at his backpack. “Can you bring my pack? I don’t want to risk losing it while dealing with the bodies. The little supplies we do have are too precious.”
“Of course,” I grunt. Before he can retreat, I grab onto his bicep. “Thank you for doing this.”
His intense expression softens briefly and then he’s gone, Hope dipping under the water along with him. I glance over at the people sitting huddled on the far corner of my office. They’re all beat down and terrified. This is not at all how any of us expected the afternoon to go down. I pull my phone from my pocket out of habit to check the time.
Dead.
Completely waterlogged.
My thoughts drift back to my brother and dad. Would they have heard the news by now? Are they trying to reach me? Do they even care? I try not to think about the latter. Knox may be pissed I bolted after Mom died, but he’s still my brother. I have to believe he’s worried sick about me.
Dad, on the other hand, probably thinks I brought this on myself somehow. Punishment for leaving him and his legacy high and dry.
With a quick shake of my head, I toss my useless phone into the water with a splash. I pull the straps of Tyler’s backpack over each shoulder, tightening the straps so it won’t get lost in the dive. Finally, I take stock of what’s left of my office. Nothing of value remains. Just the people.
“Listen up,” I state, hoping to inject some confidence into my words. “We’re going to be moving to the stairwell. It’s safer than in here.”
As though to punctuate my words, a swell of water comes rushing past my feet all the way to my knees, nearly submerging those who are sitting on the floor. Elise squawks in surprise, clinging to Gerry so she doesn’t get pulled back with the wave when it retreats. Everyone scrambles to their feet, eyeing me warily. No one wants to stay here and I don’t blame them.
“Frannie, lead the way,” I instruct. “I know we all know where the stairwell is, but since it’s all underwater, it may be confusing. Frannie will take one group—Gerry and Elise. I’ll follow with my group—Barb, Brian, and Kyle. Tyler and Hope will meet us there. We good?”
Everyone nods, eager to move along to the next place.
Frannie, Gerry, and Elise all disappear under the water. We give them five minutes or so and then Kyle leads the way with Barb behind him. Brian goes after Barb and I’m last.
I really fucking hate water.
Ever since I was a little kid and fell into a water hole at the ranch, it’s spooked me. I can thrash enough to keep my head above water, but actual swimming is something I never learned how to do because of my fear of it.
And now my worst nightmare is sloshing around my ankles.
Just hold your breath, paddle, and use walls or furniture to propel yourself.
My little pep talk does little to calm my erratic heart, but it’s enough to have me dipping into the water. With a huge gulp of air, I drop beneath the surface. The doorway to my office is open and I see Brian’s legs kicking as he goes through it. I push off the floor, using the force to send me surging toward the doorway. When I reach it, I grab hold of the frame and pop up on the other side. Brian is bobbing in the small pocket of air and gives me a grim smile. He sucks in a breath and then goes under. I mimic his actions and follow after.
Even with my eyes open, the reception area is dark. Furniture floats amidst scattered paperwork. I search the murky water until I see Brian up ahead. Using the doorframe, I shove off it, rocketing toward where I last saw him. The door to the stairwell is open and I kick my legs as I reach it. My lungs are starting to burn, so I hope I’ll be there soon. I can hear muffled voices above me. My hand slaps at what I think is the surface, but I don’t hit air. For a moment, I panic that I won’t make it.