Fatal Breach by Emily Kimelman

Author:Emily Kimelman [Kimelman, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emily Kimelman

My hip hits the marble floor hard, shooting pain through my body. The air is thick with gray dust. I choke on it, blinking as it burns my eyes. Blue’s wet nose touches my cheek, and I turn to him. He sneezes. I pull my neckerchief up to cover my nose and mouth, making it a little easier to breathe. I shift, getting ready to stand, when another explosion rocks the building.

A section of the ceiling crashes down behind us, splinters of wood zinging through the air. Blue and I scramble forward. Robert reappears at my side—materializing from the thick fog while also seeming to be a part of it. His hair, skin, and clothing are all covered in the same fine powder that hangs in the air, burns my throat, and clouds my vision.

“Help!” a woman’s voice croaks out. Robert and I both turn to the sound, coming from where the ceiling just fell.

“There is no time,” Robert says. “We have to go. Now!”

“I’m not leaving anyone to die,” I say, my voice muffled from the silk neckerchief.

“Find!” I say to Blue, not waiting for Robert’s permission. Blue begins to lead the way back into the destruction. Robert grips my arm. I yank free, following Blue. Robert crawls after me. The electricity is out, and flickering flames, obscured by dust, provide the only light.

I follow Blue through the swirling clouds of debris. The moaning grows louder. The dust parts—Sandra is on the ground, her legs caught under a large chunk of ornate ceiling tiles.

She’s covered in the same fine dust as us; blood oozes out from under the wooden structure pinning her to the floor. Sandra’s face is twisted in pain. Robert bends to move the weight from her legs. Veins stand out on his neck as he struggles. I get on the other side. Together we shift it enough for Sandra to drag herself clear.

Tears create tracks of exposed skin on her cheeks. Her left leg is crushed horribly, a mess of blood and bone. Sandra’s beautiful suit is ripped and stained, and both her shoes are gone. Your world can change in an instant. A moment ago, Sandra personified elegance and order. Now she teeters on the edge of total ruination.

Blue taps his nose to my shoulder as I bend to help Sandra stand. Robert gets on her other side and at the count of three we lift her together. She screams in pain.

The crack of a rifle freezes us. “Shit,” Robert coughs. His eyes meet mine in the apocalyptic light. There is a sniper outside, taking out survivors. Blue’s nose taps my hip, and I look down at him. He’s a gray ghost in the dust-thickened air.

Blue turns and I shift to follow him, Sandra sandwiched between me and Robert. Robert doesn’t speak, just lets us lead. It does something to me, his willingness to follow Blue…to follow me. He’s one of the most powerful men in the world and he trusts me to lead him. Don’t think now.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.