Storm Runners by Roland Smith

Author:Roland Smith [Smith, Roland]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780545323260
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: 2011-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

07:20PM

Their location popped up on the little screen, but it meant nothing to Chase. As he turned to ask Nicole for her address, a gust of wind lifted the bus completely off its tires. Just as suddenly, the bus slammed back on the road and started to tip.

“On the floor!” Chase shouted above Rashawn’s and Nicole’s screams. He reached out and grabbed an arm — he couldn’t tell who it belonged to — and pulled one of the girls to the floor. “Brace yourselves!” He wrapped his legs and arms around the steel seat rods, hoping Nicole and Rashawn had done the same. If they were lucky, the bus would simply land on its side.

They weren’t lucky.

The bus rolled three times, maybe four…. It was impossible to tell in the dark with the deafening sound of screeching metal, shattering windows, and terrified screams — including Chase’s own.

The bus came to a stop, but only long enough for Chase to reach out and grab his GPS. He glanced at the screen and saw a single black line surrounded by blue.

The bus started to slide. Front end first.

“We’re going into the water!” he shouted, hoping someone was alive to hear him. “Stay on this end of the bus! We’ll use the emergency exit!”

No one responded. They were either too frightened to speak, unconscious, dead, or had tumbled to the front of the bus.

The bus hit the water like a torpedo, pushing Chase’s face into the seat frame. He felt a front tooth snap, followed by the coppery taste of blood. Frantically he felt around for his go bag. He’d need the first aid kit and everything else in the bag if they survived the crash.

He grabbed a handful of hair.

“Ouch!”

Chase spit out a mouthful of blood. “Nicole?” “Yeah.”

“Anything broken?”

“I don’t think so. You?”

“Front tooth. Where’s Rashawn?”

“I’m next to Nicole,” Rashawn said.

“My go bag,” Chase said.

“I have it,” Nicole said. “We’re sinking.”

“Give me the bag.”

Chase pulled a headlamp out of the side pocket, turned it on, and slipped it over his forehead. Nicole looked pale in the bright light.

“You and Rashawn go through the emergency door and get to shore. It can’t be too far.”

He pulled a second headlamp out and handed it to her.

“What are you going to do?” Nicole asked, putting the headlamp on.

“I’m going to check on the driver.”

They looked down the length the bus. Water was gushing through the cracked windshield.

“I’m a better swimmer,” Nicole said.

“I’m sure you are,” Chase said. “But I’m stronger.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, get Rashawn to shore. I’ll be right behind you. Go!”

The water was rising fast. The bus would be completely submerged within minutes. He made his way down the steep, slippery aisle, wondering how he was going to get the driver back up the aisle if the guy was unconscious.

The driver was unconscious, slumped over the steering wheel. Chase pulled him up. There was a deep, ugly gash on the man’s forehead oozing blood.

Chase shouted at him, then tried to shake him awake.

No response.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.