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)
As we all do our business in the frigid cold air, snowflakes dotting our hair and faces, I silently dread the road ahead. We have no idea what to expect, which has everyone anxious and on edge.
“So, um, guys,” Dan says slowly, voice gruff. “Judy’s ankle is flared back up after the run last night. I rewrapped it for her, but she’s in pain.”
I glance over at Judy’s pinched face and notice she’s keeping her weight off her injured ankle.
“I have some pain relievers in my pack,” I offer, starting to pull my bag off my back.
Judy waves me off, shaking her head. “No. We all know the injuries out here can be far worse than a sore ankle. I’d rather conserve them for someone who may need it more.”
I think of Elise and her ruined hands.
Ibuprofen is probably better suited for Judy’s problems than someone like Elise’s, but I keep my mouth shut and shoulder my bag.
Aaron and Hope take off ahead of everyone else with Dan and Judy pulling up the rear. Wayne offers to carry her, but she says she’ll go as long as she can before she’ll take him up on that.
An hour later, all we encounter is heavier snow and harsh winds. I almost wish we could have stayed at the rest stop a day longer, but without adequate supplies, we’d trade one problem for another.
As darkness ascends, I smell the distinct scent of smoke. It could mean people nearby and a fire. Fire could mean food. I try not to let excitement course through me, though. Another half hour of traveling and Aaron stops, map in hand as Hope points ahead. Me and Kellen exchange a look and trot over to them. I follow where Hope’s pointing at and see an endless, gridlocked line of abandoned cars.
Where are all the people?
I shudder as I recall every zombie movie and show I’ve ever watched. A place like this should be crawling with the undead. Thankfully, God or the universe or whoever’s in charge of this fucked-up game we’re playing decides to give us a break. Zombies would end us.
“See that orange glow?” Kellen says, nudging me. “I think that’s fire. More than a campfire.”
It’s as though the empty vehicles are all pointing toward the source. Las Vegas. The lightning storm came from Vegas’s direction. With all the high buildings, I can only imagine the damage the city’s received. If it caused fires, it wouldn’t take long with the wind to raze the entire damn place.
“Start checking the vehicles for supplies,” Aaron instructs. “And see if any of them still have gas or keys left in them. I’m assuming they’re all useless or the people who had them wouldn’t have left them here. We’d be stupid not to check, though.”
Everyone breaks up into their usual teams. However, Wayne sticks with Jesse this time since Gerry is gone. There’s no rhyme or reason, but we start ransacking unlocked vehicles. The people who left them took whatever supplies they had left. I’m assuming they went out on foot toward Vegas.
We must go a mile or two, only finding a random bottle of water or two or a pack of gum. Wayne finds some cigarettes and chain-smokes through the entire pack in record speed.
No people, dead or alive.
It’s creepy.
Still better than zombies.
As the road continues, it gets more and more treacherous. Sinkholes have capsized the road, taking cars and semis along with it into their cavernous maws that stretch sometimes two hundred feet down. We keep having to trek around them, steering clear from the edge to avoid sliding down along with them. The scent of decay—human flesh decomposing—assaults my nostrils. The people who met their demise in those sinkholes didn’t appear to survive and I’m not about to try to rummage through the remains of both the dead and the vehicles for a leftover water bottle or a candy bar.
Kellen is rounding a scraggly bush when I see movement. Beyond the wind, I hear the distinct sound of a rattle.
No!
Before I can cry out a warning, I watch in horror as a rattlesnake strikes at Kellen, sinking its teeth into his ankle. He roars with terror, trying like hell to kick the thing off. The venomous reptile is flung about eight feet from him and before it can do any more damage, I aim the shotgun at it and fire.
Ka-boom!
Light blinds me from the muzzle flash, but I put another round into where I saw the snake last. Several people rush over to us and I can hear Wayne grunting. By the time I blink away the light spots, I can see Wayne has finished off the snake with his ax.
Kellen.
He stands there stunned, gaping at the snake.
It bit him. The snake fucking bit him. Without anti-venom, he’s toast. I can’t lose him over a damn snake bite.