Broken Ties: A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World (Broken Lines Book 3) by James Hunt Read Free Book Online Page B

of gunfire they were doing now.
     
                  Kalen took the time to reload the magazines she had and made sure the two pistols were loaded as well. A few moments later the gunfire lightened and she jumped up, rifle in hand, and squeezed the trigger. She was able to hit two of the bikers, killing one while the other dragged himself behind a car.
     
                  Then, before she could duck back down, she felt the sharp pain of steel and metal slice through her arm. The force of the bullet pushed her back, and the rifle fell from her hand.
     
                  Kalen fell to the floor, pressing her hand against her arm. The blood was warm, sticking to her fingers and shirt as she tried to stop the bleeding. She tried moving, but each time she did sent stabbing pain through the left side of her body.
     
                  Kalen could see one of the pistols on the ground. She stretched out her good arm, her fingertips almost touching the composite of the handle, when a boot pressed down on her hand.
     
                  When she looked up, Frankie had his pistol aimed at her head.
     
                  “Game’s up, sweetheart,” Frankie said.
     
                  The rest of the bikers converged on them and dragged both girls to the motel. Neither of them screamed or resisted. Kalen simply kept pressure on her arm, trying to staunch the bleeding.
     
                  All of the tortures she was about to experience raced through her mind. When she made the decision to do this she knew this could be one of the outcomes.
     
                  No matter what happened though, she wouldn’t scream. She wouldn’t cry for help. They wouldn’t get the satisfaction of hearing her beg.

Day 13 (the Cabin)
     
                  Whatever doubts Ken had about Mike in regards to their deal dissipated when he saw the amount of ammo he had stock piled.
     
                  There were enough rounds to keep them hunting for the next decade. Mike agreed to give Ken the boxes up front, but he made Ken agree to bring them hunting tomorrow.
     
                  “I need fresh game and I need it soon,” Mike said.
     
                  “Okay. Meet me at the trailhead that leads down to the road in the morning.”
     
                  Mike looked at him surprised. He specifically took Ken the way he did to avoid the trailhead entrance at the highway.
     
                  “I’ve been hunting this land for more than forty years; you really think I didn’t know about the road entrance to your cabin, did you?” Ken asked.
     
                  “I guess not.”
     
                  “Six a.m. We’ll need to get started before the sun comes up.”
     
                  Before the two men could shake on it, Freddy came running into the basement. He almost tripped over himself coming down the stairs.
     
                  “Dad! You have to hear this! Come upstairs!” Freddy said.
     
                  “What is it?” Mike asked.
     
                  “There’s someone on the radio!”
     
                  Upstairs the entire household was gathered in the living room, circled around one of the radios Freddy had found the day before, protected from the EMP by the faraday box Mike made to store them in.
     
                  It was a woman’s voice coming over the radio. Mike couldn’t tell if it was a recording. The sound kept breaking in and out.
     
                  “We have food, water, shelter, medical attention, and protection. We have our operations up and running and we are restoring power to our area. If you have the ability to arrive, please know that we can help. We can offer assistance. We can keep you safe.”
     
                  “She’s not saying