World on Edge: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (World on Edge Book 1) by Chris Pike

World on Edge: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (World on Edge Book 1) by Chris Pike

Author:Chris Pike [Pike, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-19T22:00:00+00:00


~ ~ ~

Joe hadn’t planned on being stopped and questioned, and the walk was taking longer than expected. He had two choices—either walk straight down Main Street or cut through the medical complex and take a backroad to the zoo to save time. He decided on the latter.

When he came to Holcombe, he took a right, leading to the hospitals. The world-renowned medical center housed a variety of hospitals catering to patients from all over the world stricken with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Normally bustling with activity with cars whizzing by, buses spouting exhaust, and people walking from building to building, the area was uncharacteristically quiet. Joe wove his way around deserted cars and buses rendered inoperable due to the EMP. Anything dependent upon electricity or electrical components ceased working. Joe occasionally witnessed an old car puttering down the street, weaving around stalled cars.

He strolled past the massive parking garages then came to the emergency room entrance. An ambulance had its doors open so Joe peeked in.

A crow pecked at the face of a corpse strapped into the gurney, and when it saw Joe, the bird squawked, flapped its wings, and flew out of the cramped space. Joe ducked. The horror show didn’t end there because the valet parking area was littered with abandoned bodies, some in hospital gowns. Joe didn’t dare step foot in the hospital for fear he’d get shanghaied and forced to work. If there were any living patients left in the hospital, they’d die soon. They just didn’t know it yet.

Joe emerged from the tree-lined street and as he rounded the corner into the open, he stopped. Across the side street was the entrance to a ten-story parking garage, and waltzing down the ramp were four thugs.

Each carried a pillowcase, busting at the seams and loaded down with their haul. From the shattered glass near the cars, it was obvious the thugs had been breaking into cars and stealing valuables.

Outnumbered and unarmed, Joe’s options didn’t leave him much leeway.

The four spread out, surrounding him at twelve, three, six and nine o’clock. Six o’clock worried him the most, taking a position behind Joe.

Twelve o’clock asked, “What’s in your backpack?”

“Nothing of value. I don’t want any trouble,” Joe said. “Had enough already for one day.”

“I’m taking a shining to your backpack. Always wanted one,” three o’clock said. “Empty it out, or I’ll empty this into you.” The thug whipped out a Glock and pointed it directly at Joe’s head.

“There ain’t nothing in it. It’s empty ‘cause I’m looking for supplies.”

“Don’t waste your ammo on him,” nine o’clock said.

Without any more haranguing, nine o’clock charged Joe and swung a freshly stolen Astros souvenir bat like the police baton it resembled. Joe sidestepped at the perfect moment, the bat missing him by inches. Nine o’clock’s momentum caused him to lose his balance and fall flat on his back against the sidewalk. Helpless from having the wind knocked out of him, nine o’clock struggled to re-inflate his lungs while he tried to stand.



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