A Glimpse of Decay (Book 3): Lost in Twilight by A.J. Santiago Read Free Book Online Page A

mean.”  He flared his nostrils to emphasize his warning.
    “We’re just trying to figure out what to do,” Shondra said.  “Vincent wants to try to go and find his parents.”
    “Where’s that at?” Nick asked.
    “Out off of Judson and Thirty-Five.”
    Nick let out a whistle.  “Man, that’s a long way away from here.”
    “I know.  That’s why I have to plan it out.  Shondra said that she wants to tag along with me.”
    “Well, I want to try to make it to the evacuation station at Port San Antonio.  My wife should be there.”
    “But how do you know if that place is even still around?” Vincent asked.
    “I don’t,” Nick said, his voice gruff.  He was offended at Vincent for suggesting that something might have happened to the station.  “How do you know your family is still at their house?”
    Sensing Nick’s anger, Vincent realized the carelessness of his words.  “Sorry man, I didn’t mean to make it sound like that.”
    Nick caught himself and knew that he must have sounded pissed off.  “It’s alight man, I didn’t mean to sound like a jerk.”
    “Nay, you didn’t sound like a jerk.”  Vincent swiveled in his chair and looked at Shondra.  “These are crazy times for all of us, it’s understandable that we’re all a little edgy.”
    “Yeah,” Shondra agreed, “it’s not every day that you get to live through the end of the world.”
    “You really think that’s what’s going on right now…the end of the world?” Nick asked.  In his mind, Shondra was over exaggerating.  Sure, there was some crazy shit going on, shit that couldn’t be explained, but there was no way that this was going to lead to the end of the world.
    “Well, maybe not like end of the world nuclear war style, but end of the world as we know it.  Before Jamel left, he did talk about some stuff…stuff like power and water shutting down, phones and internet going off-line, grocery stores running out of food and hospitals closing down.  If that stuff happens and the government can’t turn it around, you can bet that things are gonna be different around here.”
    “I didn’t think about it like that,” Nick said.  After pondering Shondra’s words for a moment, he said, “All I know is that I want to get over to the shelter and see if I can find my wife.”
    “Well, let’s see if we can refill the car and figure out what we’re going to do,” Vincent said.  “If we go our separate ways, you can take the patrol car if you want and Shondra and I can take one of those trucks.”
    “You think we should separate?” Shondra asked.  “I think we stand a better chance if we stick together.  Maybe we can go check on Nick’s wife and then maybe head out towards your parents’.”
    Vincent took in a deep breath and cupped his hands together as he twiddled his thumbs.  He knew that Nick was desperate to check on his wife, but Vincent didn’t want to take a side trip on his way to see if his parents were still alive.  As he weighed his options, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a distant rumbling.
    Shondra, hearing the same rumbling, sat up in the sofa.  “You hear that?”
    “Yeah, what is that?” Nick asked.  “Sounds like an engine or motor.”
    “And it’s getting closer,” Vincent noted.  As the three stood up, the sound of a loud booming filled the room.
    “Shit, that’s gunfire!” Shondra yelled.  “Heavy weapons gunfire!”
    “What?” Vincent asked.
    “Yeah, I’ve heard it before, when I was in the Army.  It’s a heavy gun, probably from a vehicle.”
    Excited to find out what was going on, Nick darted out of the office and made his way back towards the bays.  With Vincent and Shondra following, Vincent yelled, “Don’t go running out there, you’ll get your ass shot.”
    “I’m just gonna peek and see what’s going on!” Nick yelled back.  As the three neared the closest bay door, the chatter of machine gun fire filled the garage and several