August Burning (Book 1): Outbreak by Tyler Lahey Read Free Book Online Page B

balls
retracting into my body. Change this music.”
    “Amen. What are we feeling? How about
that Shania Twain song? The one from the sad dog commercial. That commercial is
my favorite.” Jaxton said.
    “It’s Sarah Mclaughlin. And no, we’re
not putting that god awful shit on,” Bennett shook his head.
    Liam suddenly rose, touching Harley on
the shoulder. Before anyone could speak, he took her hand lightly and they
stalked into the family room. The remaining four chuckled softly, sharing a
moment of realization.
    “Wait, turn it down!” Troy leapt
excitedly to his feet like a school-boy and not the bearded menace he was. He
pressed his face to the glass window, craning his neck to look up into the dark
clouds. The muffled thumping of helicopter blades droned faintly in the musty dorm
room.
    “The local news chopper. A thrilling
development for the resident ape,” Jaxton said sarcastically. He grinned to
himself, pleased people knew him for refusing to abide by political
correctness.
    Troy frowned, backing away slightly.
“No, actually there were a few of them. Little Birds, with operators on the
sides too.”
    Adira laughed gaily. “One minute he’s
lost in Taylor Swift’s words of wisdom, next he’s a serious warrior.”
    Troy’s face held a mixture of
amusement and concern. He felt something, a certain itch, but it wasn’t
anything he could quite place his finger on. “Yeah let me know if you ever need
to be rescued out of a tower, damsel. No it’s just a bit strange, to be flying
night exercises over this part of town.”
    Jaxton felt his own face twitch
slightly, and his pulse quickened. There was a scattering of footsteps in the
living room, and Liam returned with Harley in tow, looking decidedly more sober.
“Something’s going on in New York.” Jaxton saw she was leaning on Liam for
support.
    “What do you mean?” Adira stood, hands
white from gripping the table.
    “The news just started reporting New
York is in some sort of blackout, like electronically and physically. There’s
no cell service or lights or anything.”
    “The fuck?” Jaxton stood, suddenly
feeling excited. Jaxton’s heart was suddenly thumping, though he hadn’t noticed
it before. He scratched his own beard distractedly and leaned in. “When’s the
last time anyone heard from their parents?” He did his best to affect a casual
demeanor, knowing they would respect him less if he seemed too invested or
panicked.
    Liam snapped forward, suddenly losing
all of his casual drunkenness.
    “Same story as this afternoon. Maybe
two hours ago, my parents and brothers were still stuck on the highway coming
south.”
    Jaxton rose to his feet, his eyes
darting around the room, trying to shake the effects of the whiskey. “I tried
calling my mother coming down a bit ago, and it went straight to voicemail.”
    Bennett looked at them in bemusement,
“What are you guys even saying? There’s a ton of people coming into town for
all the universities that have graduation ceremonies. Everything is probably
just moving a little more slowly.” He looked to Adira for support, but found
none.
    Troy frowned, caught between his
suspicions and not wanting to overreact. Adira laid her piano fingers on this hairy
skin. “Is there anyone you can call? Find out if something is going on?” Her
dark eyes pleaded shamelessly.
    “I’m just in ROTC, I’m not really
sure-“ He started. Then he gathered himself, feeling moved to action by Adira’s
plead. “Let me call a friend.” Without another word he strolled into the
hallway, any prior sign of indecision gone.
    Bennett leaned forward, looking
incredulous. “What are you guys so worked up about? What Liam is saying would
be, ya know, like an EMP.” He laughed, but it sounded forced.
    “I’m telling you what I just saw on
the TV.”
    “What stations were reporting it?”
    “All of them.”
    “Everyone try your parents again.”
Jaxton said sternly. He tried his mother and brother, both