Call of the Six (The Preston Six Book 2) by Matt Ryan

Author:Matt Ryan [Ryan, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: 32 Novel Publishing
Published: 2015-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

She felt arms from behind her, wrapping around her like a bear, carrying her. Bouncing in those arms, she heard words yelled, but they were distant sounds to her. She battled to get the smoke out of her lungs, while trying to not breathe in new smoke. Both ends, she failed.

Then she heard a familiar humming sound, a sound that meant they were going home.

POLY OPENED HER EYES.

Charred branches of oak trees spread across the sky. Wisps of smoked fluttered through them and disappeared. She breathed deeply but coughed it all back out. She smashed her face into Hank’s chest.

“We made it,” he said between coughs.

Poly moved her leg and Hank lowered her to the ground. She hunched over in a coughing fit and struggled to stand straight, as she took in her surroundings. Julie coughed as she leaned next to Lucas, embracing her. Harris staggered near the edge of the circle, holding out a dagger, gaze darting around.

This can’t be home. The bushes were burnt sticks, the trees were blackened and leafless. The air, while clear, held the smell of smoke. Not the rancid smell of plastic, but the sweet smell of a campfire.

Julie screamed. Poly spun to face her. A few feet in front of Julie, a dead Arrack lay. Flies buzzed around its body.

“What’s going on, Harris?” Poly asked in a fit of coughing. “Where are we?”

Harris looked her in the eyes before his own rolled back. He staggered backward and fell hard on the ground—soot flying out from around him as he landed. Poly and Hank ran to his side. His pale face didn’t move. She clasped his hand, happy to see his chest moving up and down in slow breaths. Closer to him, she saw his black shirt had concealed the several bullet holes in his body.

“It’s the kids.”

She knew the voice and turned as Rick ran into the circle. A bow and quiver bounced around on his back. Black rings hung under his eyes and bandages wrapped his arm. The smile on his face didn’t match his appearance. She saw Rick counting them, stopping on his son’s face.

“Lucas.” He ran and wrapped Lucas in a big hug. “You made it, my boy.”

“It’s good to be back, dad, but we didn’t all make it.”

“This is . . . everyone?” Rick asked, his brief happiness turning to grief.

Minter ran into the clearing next, skidding on the ash littered ground. With a gun in each hand, he scanned their faces. “Where’s Joey?” he asked.

Poly’s heart sank. She had to live it, seeing Joey carted away with Max, but telling his father what happened brought the feelings to the surface. “Marcus has him,” she said coughing, tears running down her soot-ridden face.

Minter fell to his knees, his distraught face pointed at the sky. Poly’s coughs mixed her sobs. She looked into Hank’s blood-shot eyes and dirty face and then back to Minter.

“I’m so sorry,” Poly said.

Minter closed his eyes and slumped forward. “Why couldn’t you protect them, Harris?” Harris didn’t respond and Minter moved next to him.

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