Upheaval: A Disaster Thriller by Harley Tate

Author:Harley Tate [Tate, Harley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DAPHNE

“We’re almost there, Pamela. Come on. You’ve got this.”

Daphne clutched Pamela’s waist, encouraging her to keep moving as she gently guided her down the aisles of parked vehicles. Her left hip screamed in protest with every step, Pamela’s weight wreaking havoc on her joints.

“Which car is it?”

“That one, right there.” Pamela pointed straight ahead as she gritted her teeth in pain. “It’s that maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee.”

Daphne inhaled. It was only another fifty feet or so. They’d already managed to escape the office and half stumble, half scoot down the stairs, but limping down the ramp of the parking garage meant Daphne was Pamela’s only source of support. No handrail, nothing. Daphne took another step, but her knee threatened to buckle as Pamela shifted more weight toward her. She winced.

“I’m sorry, can you just—” With her free arm, Daphne reached for the trunk of the first car in the row, a low-slung sedan, and leaned against it. Pamela huffed herself onto the bumper and the entire rear of the vehicle lowered a few inches.

Daphne sucked in a breath. “I need a minute, that’s all.”

“It’s okay. I know I’m heavy.” Pamela dabbed at the thick sheen of sweat coating her forehead. Her chest heaved from exertion, blouse billowing up and down with every labored breath. “Thanks for helping me.”

“Of course. I wasn’t going to leave you on your own.” Daphne stared down the ramp, past the Jeep, toward the exit. Cracks lined the concrete piers and a few cars suffered damage from falling debris, but the deck appeared sound. No heaps of rubble or collapsed ramps. At least not that she could see.

She sucked in a breath. Fifty feet, and then a vehicle. They could make it another fifty feet. Each step they took bridged the gap a little nearer. She shoved off the sedan with a smile. “At least the garage is still intact. We may have a real shot at getting out of here.”

Pamela nodded as she prepared to push herself up to stand. “We have to count our blessings, yes.”

Daphne resumed her spot beneath the larger woman’s armpit and braced her one leg as she hoisted Pamela upright. “We survived a monster quake. We can survive the walk to the car.”

One step at a time, they closed the distance, finally reaching the dust-coated Grand Cherokee as Daphne’s back spasmed in protest.

Pamela pressed the unlock button on her key fob and the vehicle's lights blinked on and the locks released. She held the keys out to Daphne. “Thank you for driving.”

Daphne took the keys and waited as Pamela half-fell into the passenger seat before hurrying around to the driver’s side. She pressed the start button and the vehicle revved to life. It took all her self control not to cry out in relief. They were going to get out of the city. They were going to be all right.

She shifted into reverse, backing out of the parking spot before driving down the ramp. More debris greeted them on the lower levels, chunks of concrete huddled together like still lifes at the corners of each ramp.

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