EMPulse2 by Deborah D. Moore

Author:Deborah D. Moore [Moore, Deborah D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | Dystopian
Publisher: Permuted Press
Published: 2017-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

“We’re down to a quarter tank,” Chet announced.

“At 28 is a really small town, Lucy Crossing, and I know there are two gas stations there.”

“Two stations for a small town?” Jeff questioned.

“I think that’s because it’s a major crossroads and there isn’t anything for miles in any direction,” Adele explained.

They stopped at the four-way stop sign at Highway 28, turned east, and immediately spotted the first station. As Jeff began the pumping process, Adele stretched her back and touched her toes.

“Anyone want a half a sandwich?” she asked, digging into the cooler and passing out bottles of water. Jeff stored the siphon hoses after filling the spares and took one of the offered sandwiches.

A shot rang out that sent Adele spinning. Chet and Jeff dove for cover, pulling Adele with them.

When no more shots came, Jeff sat up cradling Adele. Blood gushed from her left shoulder, soaking her T-shirt and jacket. Chet shed his jacket and pulled his T-shirt off, folded it several times, and stuck it under her shirt to absorb the increasing amount of gushing blood.

“Keep pressure on this!” He slipped his jacket back on and stood cautiously to grab the medical kit. Before he could pull it from the back of the truck, another shot rang out and dinged off the bumper. Chet ducked back down.

“We need to get out of sight of the shooter.” He looked around. “There’s a storefront. Can you carry her? I have to get the med kit! I’ll be right behind you.” Chet knew he had several packs of QuikClot in the bag and it might be the only thing that would save Adele, if it wasn’t too late already.

Jeff ran as fast as possible carrying a hundred and twenty pounds of dead weight. When he reached the door, he turned his shoulder to it and let the momentum carry him through the closed door, busting the latch. Once inside, he quickly found a room with only a small window, presumably the store office, and laid Adele down on the dark brown vinyl couch. True to his word, Chet was right behind him.

Chet ripped her shirt, exposing her shoulder, and replaced the saturated makeshift bandage with some gauze that instantly turned red. He dug through one of the pockets of the bag, produced the QuikClot, and tore it open with his teeth, pressing it in place. “Hold this,” he instructed Jeff. “I’m going back for water to wash the wound. I can’t see for all the blood.”

“I’ll go; she needs you here.” Jeff ran low back to the truck. All was quiet as he jumped in the driver’s seat and moved the truck closer to the building, removing the keys. Then he grabbed a case of water and ran back inside.

“See if you can find blankets, sheets, anything to soak up the water and blood,” Chet instructed. He removed the QuikClot packet and opened a bottle of water and poured it over Adele’s shoulder. She groaned. He brought out a syringe and gave her a shot of painkiller.

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