Dark Despair - A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Invaded Book 4) by Kellee L. Greene

Author:Kellee L. Greene [Greene, Kellee L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

The dense clouds hung low in the sky, casting a gloomy pall over the landscape as Atlas and I set out on foot toward Earl’s property. The damp air clung to my skin, making me shiver slightly despite my jacket and knit cap.

An eerie silence blanketed the woods, not even the faintest buzz of a roamer breaking through the stillness. Not a single insectoid creature scurried across the dead grass or empty country roads.

As we reached the edge of the trees surrounding my dad’s house, Atlas held up a hand and looked out in every direction. The only things moving around in the area were us.

I scanned the countryside carefully, eyes narrowed against the flat gray light. There wasn’t a single insectoid hill in the area, which had to be a good sign.

“What are you looking for?” Atlas asked, his voice low.

I shook my head. “Just looking around. Did you notice there aren’t any nests around here? Only in the city.”

“For now,” Atlas said, his eyes on the sky. “We still have to be careful about random ones that pass through.”

The crunch of our boots against the gravel driveway seemed thunderous compared to the near-dead silence. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, my eyes constantly sweeping from side to side.

“Where are the traps?” I asked in a whisper.

“In the grass and trees,” Atlas said, his body stiffening as we approached the house. “Last time, we didn’t take the driveway.”

I froze, holding up my hands as Earl emerged from his front door, a shotgun gripped tightly in his rough hands. The barrel pointed directly at Atlas and me.

“Stop right there,” Earl said, his voice tearing through the silence like a rusty blade. “Strange seeing you folks here when I essentially warned you about coming around here.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly raised my hands in surrender. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Atlas mirroring my movements, his expression stoic, but his jaw clenched tight.

“Earl, we’re not here to cause any trouble,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. “We need your help.”

“My help? What can I do for you?” Earl said, his nose wrinkling as if he smelled a skunk.

Atlas cleared his throat. “Our friend was injured and is in desperate need of antibiotics. We were just hoping you might have some you could spare.”

“You two have got a lotta nerve, huh?” Earl said, chuckling.

“She’s hurt really bad, and we’re not sure she’ll make it without some serious medicine,” I said, slowly lowering my hands.

For a tense moment, Earl just stared at us, the shotgun trained on Atlas’s chest. “And tell me again how she got hurt? It wasn’t snooping around here stealing from me, was it? You know, I had to reset a bear trap. Know anything about that?”

I pressed my hands together. “Please, Earl⁠—”

“Mr. Perkins,” he corrected, his eyes dark.

“Mr. Perkins, we need your help,” I said, taking a step forward.

He shifted the gun at me. “Well, you’re just as

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