Grip of Fury: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (After the End Book 3) by Sam J Fires

Author:Sam J Fires [Fires, Sam J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fire & Brimstone Press
Published: 2023-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

14

Pat

Pat looked down at the woman’s body, his mind racing as he considered his options. He couldn’t just leave her there, exposed to whatever—or whoever—might pass by. But a burial on the bridge was out of the question. He could backtrack to West Salem, but then what? Would they ever find her? The haunting prospect of her family’s endless wondering pulled at him. It couldn’t end like this. His thoughts drifted to the elderly couple he’d found dead in their car that first night, and to their young grandson in the back seat. Two lives lost. A family devastated. Ideally, he’d track down the family. But time wasn't on his side. With few options left, he resolved to do the next best thing.

In the jumble of vehicles scattered across the bridge, one of them had to be the woman’s. Pat’s eyes settled on a crushed red SUV and a champagne-colored Camry sitting beside it. Instinct told him the Camry was hers. Something about it seemed to fit her. After a moment’s thought, he lifted her body up and carried her to the car, hoping he’d chosen correctly. Time was running out—he had to get back to his kids, and Holly.

The door opened. Gently, he tucked her into the crumpled driver’s seat. The weight of silence pressed in on him as he stood beside her body. It seemed wrong to leave her with no last words or gestures. But then how many had died in the last few days, their deaths unnoticed and unmarked? He knew he couldn’t grieve over a stranger. His heart wouldn’t allow it, for he’d never recover. He’d learned that lesson well, early into his first overseas deployment years ago.

“May you finally find peace,” he whispered.

The stillness of the morning was ruptured as a snowmobiler roared past him, paying no attention to him or the others who had risen to their feet. Nobody had blinked at the woman’s final moments, yet one man on a snowmobile had everyone up and in motion. Pat’s hand slid to his belt, momentarily resting on the gun holstered there. He didn’t draw it, but its presence offered him comfort—a silent assurance of protection.

Retreating from the car and the dead woman, a mix of anger and disappointment warred within him. People cared only for themselves. He was no stranger to human selfishness, yet it was so frustrating to see it so blatantly. How much easier this would be if people worked together instead of ignoring one another?

Lost in thoughts of annoyance, he headed to the truck. Part of him expected to find it either gone or tampered with. But as he approached, he was relieved to see that he was wrong. There it sat, undamaged. Dylan was busy brushing away the snow while Holly and Piper were hunkered inside.

“Hey, bud,” he said.

Dylan glanced at him, offering a small smile. “Did you take care of … the woman?”

“I did.”

“Okay,” Dylan began. “We met a snowmobiler on the way here. He was kind of an ass to Holly and Piper.

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