Inferno Road by K. Lucas

Author:K. Lucas [Lucas, K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

18

Such a waste of time. I can’t help but be angry with myself for getting distracted trying to be some kind of hero. What made me think anyone would listen? Of course they’re not going to take the word of some random injured stranger walking out of the forest. They probably think I’m either crazy or one of the baddies.

Frustrated more with myself for wasting time trying than with them for not listening, I head back the way I came, so I can continue in the same direction the road takes. Voices erupt behind me as I step away from the group. They argue among themselves, actually taking what I said into consideration.

It surprises me, but I’m glad I got through to at least a few of them. The idea of them being victims to those people sends chills down my spine.

That’s exactly why I tried to convince them.

My temper begins to ease when I hear someone call out. “Hey, wait a minute.”

I spin back around to see Jace jogging to catch up with me.

“Don’t go yet,” he says. “I’m sorry we were so rude.”

“No. It doesn’t matter. I’m just trying to keep anyone else from getting killed.”

“It’s just—we’re all tired and scared, and seeing you”—he motions toward my injuries—“it really freaked some of us out.”

My eyebrows dip down. “I’m trying to warn you guys so this doesn’t happen to any of you.”

“We know.” He sighs. “Please, will you come back? A few of us have some questions.”

I hesitate. What other questions could there possibly be? Either they’re going to put out the fire and move or they’re not…

Reluctantly I take a step toward him. “I’ll answer what I can, but I’m serious when I say time is an issue here.”

Jace nods. “Understood.”

When we return to the others, I notice the fire put out, and it brings a wave of relief. These people may have acted like they didn’t want to hear a word I was saying, but in less than five minutes, they actually did take my warning to heart. Maybe it wasn’t such a waste of time after all.

Jace looks around the group before addressing them. “He took a chance warning us. He didn’t have to do that.” He turns back to me. “Thanks, man.” He holds out his hand to shake. “I’m Jace.”

“Ben,” I say, shaking his hand. “I see you put the fire out. That’s good. What questions did you all have? We should get going right away.”

The woman whose last nerve I scratched earlier steps forward. “Ben, I’m Heidi. I want to know, if these people are so dangerous, how did you make it out alive? Are you really here to warn us, or are you here for something else?”

I look to Jace, who gives me a nod with a faint smile, then back to Heidi. Her open, unblinking stare is unnerving and irritating. How can she look at the condition I’m in and actually ask me these questions with a serious face?

“I hid, and I ran,” I say simply.

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