United States of Z - Book 3: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller by Olin Lester

Author:Olin Lester [Lester, Olin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Pelican Publishing
Published: 2025-12-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Death is Unavoidable

Chief Petty Officer Luke Williams—AKA California

508 West Grape Street

San Diego Bay, California

Thunder rolled in the distance, while lightning flashed overhead, bouncing within the clouds surrounding the storm headed further east. In the flash of light, Luke’s night vision nearly blinded him, causing him to pause as he pushed the front door closed. Its buckled and broken wood left a gap at the bottom, between the edge of the door and the door seal itself.

Blinking, the halo of dark shadows shifted within his vision until he closed his eyes and counted to three. He could still hear the footsteps smacking the wet sidewalk, closing in on him.

At the top of the door, a bullet zinged through, impacting the plaster wall behind and above Luke. While his back was braced against the same wall, he used his legs to force the broken door’s latch bolt to seat within the hole covered by the brass strike plate. Drywall dust drifted down on him like a winter’s first snow. In that moment of chaos, he found the white dust amusing.

Luke could hear voices now. They were coming for them. He thought about sitting exactly where he was and firing through the door on the men. But he knew that was of little value. Sure, he’d kill a couple, maybe even three, but the others would level him. All they had to do was return fire a little lower than normal, and without a doubt, he’d be struck.

No, he had to stay with his original plan. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was the only option he had left. So Luke rolled to his side and rotated his upper body to the bottom of the door, where the edge had been pushed in, creating a three-inch gap between the bottom edge of the door and the door seal. He eyed the space and thought it was perfect, then he heard the men again. This time they were arguing and no more than ten or fifteen feet away.

In the back of the town home, Luke could hear Von, and it gave him relief. It told him Von was doing as he was told. Keeping his friend safe was his priority. He cared zero for own wellbeing as he pulled the pin on his grenade. Luke held it upside down, firmly, spoon facing his palm as he now slipped it into that three-inch space between the door seal and the edge of the door.

It fit perfectly. The edge of the door provided just enough pressure to hold the spoon in place. Luke smirked, knowing that his plan was working, allowing him to briefly exhale. But he had to hurry. He could hear the voices on the other side of the door again. He flipped his body around. The trap was set, and all he had to do was to crawl away to join Von and make their escape out the back door.

Luke crawled at first, then stood and stepped around the corner. Once he was in view of Von, their eyes met.

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