Splintered - Shock Point Book 4: A Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series by DC Layton & Mike Kraus

Author:DC Layton & Mike Kraus [Layton, DC]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muonic Press Inc
Published: 2022-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Alma Garcia

Late Afternoon, Southeastern Utah

Alma snaked across the lattice of cracks in the tarmac. The van bumped and juddered over the uneven highway out of town, and the hot wind buffeted it on the open road. But Eric’s yell refused to fade.

She was grateful for the lack of witnesses to her slow and steady escape from the scene of her horrendous crime. The van’s similarities to the forklift were few, but she kept the van and them on the road. Matias sat by the window, and Emelia put her feet up on the dash. The seats didn’t match. Someone must have fitted a bench seat so that the guards didn’t have to travel in the back with the kids. It was hardly worth it. Matias and Emelia fitted, just about; grown men would struggle. They were heading to Phoenix. They would find their parents. Nothing could stop them now.

Alma tapped Emelia’s leg. “Feet off.” There was no response. “I mean it. If we crash and the airbag goes off, you’ll get hurt.”

“If you crash? What are you going to crash into?” Emelia quickly sat upright and braced herself against the dash. “Mind that sign, it’s going to jump into the road.” She laughed. “Come on. The van was meant to be quicker than walking, right?”

Thousands had evacuated in the mad rush, now they were alone. It was just as she liked it. Keeping Matias and Emelia safe would be easy from here. Avoiding downed power poles and the web of cracks slowed her down, but she could handle it. If Mama and Papa were in Phoenix, she would find them. She had stashed the papers with their address in the rucksack, with the passports and all the cash. With the mass of population fleeing, her parents might even be heading in her direction. Any moment they might appear at the horizon. But the highway stretched out empty of any life; no cars, no people, no animals.

The map app on Eric’s phone had shown one major highway through Southeast Utah down to Arizona. If her parents were heading to Encircle Energy’s private school, the prison house, they would use the same highway. She could be confident and concentrate on the straight route. There was no need for her to plan any farther ahead. They would need to pass a few towns, but those places were likely to be deserted, like the one they’d escaped. The phone sat on the shelf above the radio and the screen was dark with the charging cable plugged in. It was right to take it and steal the van. With the supplies stashed in the back, they had all they needed. For the first time in days, Alma was in control. She snickered to herself: literally ‘in the driver’s seat.’

“What?” Emelia was on her like a hawk.

“Nothing. Just thinking.”

“I thought you’d forgotten how to laugh.”

That stung. She had no answer. She pushed the button for the radio. Static fuzzed in the speakers.

“Let me do that.” Emelia batted Alma’s hand away.

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