Ended Earth - A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Kellee L. Greene

Author:Kellee L. Greene [Greene, Kellee L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

My eyes strained to adjust to the darkness in the apartment, but the figures surrounding us remained shadowy outlines. With each flash of lightning, I got only a quick flicker of how many others were in the room.

“We don’t want any trouble,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

The man holding the gun was a hulking silhouette with a voice like gravel. “Not us. We can handle a little trouble, and I don’t think you three will bring us much.”

I felt Atlas stiffen beside me. “What do you want?”

“I’m feeling kind today,” the man said as a flash of light illuminated his older face. His skin looked like leather as if he’d smoked since he was fourteen. “I’ll give you a choice.”

“What kind of choice?” Atlas asked, anger deepening his tone.

“A generous one,” the man said, shifting his weight. “You can leave your goodies with us, and I’ll let you walk out of here, or you can put up a fuss and get shot. Either way, we get the supplies.”

His four buddies chuckled.

Atlas took a brisk step forward, an inch away from the barrel of the gun. “Go ahead then.”

The man with a gun flicked a look over his shoulder. “What the hell is this? You don’t think I will do it?” He pressed the gun to Atlas’s forehead. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone underestimated what I’m capable of.”

“Think about it,” Atlas said, his voice a low growl. “One shot, and you’ll have every last one of those things swarming this place. You’ve seen what they do to people, haven’t you? It won’t just be me lying dead on the floor. It’ll be all of us.”

Silence stretched thin, with only the sounds of our captor’s uneven breaths filling the air. Atlas must have known he had them.

“That’s what will happen,” Atlas continued. “Bang! Not just a noise, it’s a dinner bell for the hungry creatures.”

The armed man hesitated, his firearm quivering subtly as he pondered Atlas’s words. A strange electricity in the room, not from the lightning outside, prickled my skin.

“All right, smart guy,” the leader’s voice cracked like thunder. “You’re either right or just really stupid talking big when you’re the one staring down the barrel.”

“I’m right,” Atlas said without flinching, “And I’m not stupid enough to get us all killed over a few cans of food.”

Jasper’s frightened eyes were stretched wide, reflecting the faint flashes and flickers coming from outside. He clutched one of the bags of supplies against his chest, hugging it as if it were a protective shield.

The leader’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he was going to pull the trigger. But then, with an annoyed breath, he lowered the gun.

“Fine,” he growled. “Consider this your lucky day.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Atlas grabbed my hand and led me to the door.

“Next time, you won’t be as lucky,” the man called after us.

“Hope we don’t catch you snooping around our territory again,” another added just as the door was closed behind us.

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