As the World Ends by Marian Lanouette Read Free Book Online

it a chemical fog? If so, what kind of damage to the body would it cause? Moving closer to Lauren he put his arms around her. They didn’t speak, only clung to one another.

CHAPTER NINE
    Coughing, Roan woke from a sound sleep. Something about the air had changed, he could actually see it. Not good, he thought. He grabbed his flashlight and headed out to the entrance to look around. The heavy, grey substance grew thicker as he approached the entrance. It wasn’t smoke, he determined, nor ash. The texture baffled him. Maybe a chemical fog of some sort or another though it had no taste or smell. That would make sense with things blowing up all over the place down there. If so, was it poisonous? Another thing he didn’t think of, a gas mask and oxygen. Unsure of the time, he looked down at his watch, seven a.m. It looked like twilight out there. Did Rob make it back to his cave last night? Today he’d at least make the effort to check to see if he had returned. If not, he’d need to track him. Was he still alive? Did he leave the mountain due to the smoke? Deciding it would be hard to track him in this mist, he decided only to check the cave today.
    Roan ate then dressed. He grabbed the 9mm, checked to make sure it was loaded then put it in the holster on his left side. Next, he grabbed the knife, stuck it in its sheath strapped to his right ankle. Now he was ready for his trek to Rob’s cave. Re-thinking his readiness he packed up some food and water before heading out.
    This time he cut the time in half and made it to Rob’s cave in less than two hours, but there still wasn’t any sign of the guy. He wondered if the grey mist had anything to do with Rob’s disappearance.
    Stop being ridiculous, how could the air have anything to do with Rob ? The environmental changes probably had something to do with the explosions and fires in the cities.

    Rob removed his arm from around Lauren’s waist so he could grab the binoculars to canvas the area one more time. Still nothing to see, the absence of sound spooked him more.
    Maybe that’s why the radios didn’t work? The cloud of grey was blocking all the signals.
    “I think it’s time to head back to the cave, Lauren.”
    “Okay. Do you think we should pack up everything in the cave and head down off the mountain?”
    “I wish I knew,” Rob grunted.
    “Rob, the stuff is just hanging there. Maybe if we get under it, we’ll be able to contact someone on the radio,” Lauren pressed.
    “It makes sense. Let’s think about it on the way back to the cave.”

    Lauren sighed. Stubborn bastard. When Rob got a bug up his ass about something there was no changing his mind . Most times, she introduced her ideas to him slowly, letting them simmer and then they became his ideas. She didn’t do it this time because she didn’t think they had the time.
    “Sounds like a plan,” she responded. Either way, she was going to head down the mountain after she collected her stuff. No use arguing about it now.

    For two and a half hours they hiked before arriving back at their cave, hungry and exhausted. Rob pulled at Lauren’s arm when she started to enter the cave.
    He whispered, “Someone’s been here or still is. Go wait in the woods. Make sure your gun is loaded and ready. I’ll come out if it’s clear.”
    “My gun’s been loaded and ready for days. I’m going in with you,” she whispered back.
    “No you’re not. It’s probably that guy, Roan,” Rob said, pushing her away.
    She shook herself free of his grip. “I don’t care. I’m going in.”
    Rob stared at her and nodded. “Be careful where you aim that thing.” Rob took a deep breath as he inched his way around the opening to the cave. He looked back to make sure Lauren hugged the walls. At the same time, he made sure his body covered hers. They both heard the noise at the same time and reacted. Rob turned, pushing Lauren to the ground, he raised a finger to his lips, then turned back to listen. A quick