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)
Jesse barks out a laugh, drawing my attention. He’s animatedly telling a story to Judy, Hailey, and Silas. Pretzel is snugly sleeping in Jesse’s hoodie, his tiny head poking out of one side of the long front pocket.
I saved that dog and the thanks I get is betrayal.
I fight a smile. I’m not mad at all. It feels like Jesse is finally getting the dog he always wanted. Even if the end of the world was the only way he could get it.
Sound behind me catches my attention. Kyle coughs, his back to me, and pisses against a tree. Hopefully, he’ll be in a better mood today. Losing his friend was hard on him, but we need everyone to be on their toes if we have any hope of making our way to a FEMA camp or shelter.
Kellen’s smooth, deep voice dances in the air, earning my attention once more. I can hear him suggesting the best route to potential safe locations and why he thinks they’re an option. I’m about to join him to offer my own two cents when I hear tires screeching.
The entirety of our group turns to watch the road where the sound came from in the distance. Within seconds, two jacked-up Chevy pickups come hauling toward the campground parking lot in front of the office and two cabins.
More people!
Maybe they’ll be able to tell us where to go.
The two trucks squeal to a halt and almost immediately, three burly men step out of the vehicles. All three are carrying weapons—two shotguns and a heavy-duty rifle, an AK-47 perhaps. Relief at finding other survivors is snuffed out as unease settles in my gut.
“Hello, fellas,” Dan greets, coming to stand beside me. “Nice to see other faces around here.”
The three men approach but keep about fifteen feet distance between us. They’re red-faced, wearing pinched, angry scowls clearly meant to intimidate. I stiffen my spine and clench my teeth, careful to let them say their piece before I pop off rudely at the mouth. I’m not Jesse after all.
The older of the three, a blond man with a scruffy beard and potbelly, spits a wad of something disgusting to the ground at our feet. It takes everything in me not to react or step away.
“Nice shirt,” the man states, gesturing at me. “What else did ya steal?”
I bristle at his acerbic tone.
Dan lifts both hands in a placating manner. “Sir, we’ve come a long way—”
The youngest of the three—they’re all identical aside from slight age differences, so they must be brothers—says, “Sir? Gunter ain’t a sir. He’s not fancy enough for that.”
The older man, or Gunter, spits another wad of what I’m now assuming is chewing tobacco at my feet. “Mike,” Gunter warns. “Keep his trap shut.”
Mike, the middle of the two, elbows the younger man. “Cut the shit, Nicky.”
“I asked you a question,” Gunter growls, eyes narrowing on Dan. “What else did you steal from our daddy’s store?”
“We’re grateful,” Dan says in a diplomatic tone, “for the supplies and food, which is why I left my credit card and a note—”
“He’s eighty-two years old,” Gunter interrupts. “An old fucking man. You feel right stealing from the elderly?”
Dan, bless him, doesn’t lose his cool. I’m seconds from planting my boot in this asshole’s junk.
“I understand your frustration,” Dan says, “and you have every right to be unhappy with us. However, we’re hoping you’ll extend kindness our way as we’ve lost people and are barely surviving. My credit card should more than be enough to cover the—”
“Your credit card means shit when there’s no electricity,” Gunter snarls, his grip on his shotgun tightening. “You’ll pay for what you took some way or another.”
Dread coils inside me. With my back to our group, I’m not sure how they’re handling the situation. So far, everyone is quiet, clearly intimidated by these three pissed-off pricks with guns.
“I have a Rolex,” Dan says, shoving his sleeve up to reveal the expensive timepiece. “It’s yours. Even if you pawn it, it’ll earn you a pretty penny.” He looks over his shoulder. “Judy. Your jewelry?”
She walks over to Dan and slides off her massive diamond wedding ring. “This is worth a lot as well. We don’t want any trouble, sir.”
Nicky snorts again, clearly amused at his older brother getting called sir.
“That your daughter?” Gunter asks, nodding past us. “The young ‘en?”
Dan stiffens, ignoring the question. “I’m sure between all of us, we can come up with some sort of payment with our jewelry—”
The booming sound of the shotgun going off makes several people scream in surprise. Gunter smirks at us as leaves from the tree above us flutter around our heads.
“Answer the damn question, man,” Gunter growls.
“Or what?” Jesse demands, voice hot with anger.
Fuck.
He storms over to Judy’s side, standing slightly in front of her. I can hear Hailey whimpering from behind her and Silas is quietly crying. Pretzel quivers from inside Jesse’s pocket, ducking his head inside to hide from the tense situation.