Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning by Alex Andrade Read Free Book Online Page B

the covers. Blood, there was so much blood; Alex screamed but no sound came out. Blood covered her hands as tried to wake her sister.
    She couldn’t hear it but she knew, knew she was screaming her sister’s name. Why couldn’t she hear her? Why wasn’t she waking?
     
    “Alex! Wake up!”
    Alex reached for her machete but thankfully it was nowhere near as Maggie’s face came to view. It had been a dream. Her sister’s blood was a dream. Her body shook with fear, it had been a dream; she repeated over and over in her mind as she attempted to listen to Maggie’s words.
    Eventually she had to ask her what she had said, what had her so excited.
    “Petey did it! He fixed the radio.” Maggie cheered.
    Alex jumped up almost knocking heads. She raced over to his head almost slipping with her socks; she didn’t notice her shoes were off. She watched as he leaned close to the radio. It was all lit up like Christmas tree and emitting static; who knew such a sound would sound so sweet.
    Petey looked at her briefly, his energy beaming with pride and she couldn’t help but feel proud as well.
    “I’ll keep the radio going. I want you to speak and hope someone answers.” He said.
    He handed over the walkie and Alex began a flow of ‘hellos’. As she spoke her words started to sound like a prayer to her. One you repeat over and over before you go to sleep, hoping to wake up in the morning. She supposed it was a prayer that she begged silently for someone to answer, it didn’t matter whom, just someone.
    They didn’t know how long they tried. Alex had slipped to the floor leaning against the chair her voice hoarse from her calls. Petey’s fingers ached from gripping the knobs harshly in excitement now it started to slack into despair.
    Alex had looked up seeing Petey had stopped fiddling with the knobs. Instead he had crossed his arms on the table and rested his head. She looked across the bunker to see Maggie had lied down on the ground where she was sleeping just moments ago.
    Alex let her head fall back against the chair and Petey’s thigh. She shut her eyes and pushed the button on the side of the walkie one last time. A quiet hello she uttered and let go.
    It was silent once again.
    “Hello?”
    Their heads shot up at the sound. The voice had been too deep to Alex’s voice. She stood up and stared at the radio intensely. Fearing it just a trick of a desperate mind. They leaned in closely waiting for the voice again.
    “Is anybody there?” A man’s voice broke through the static.
    Alex gripped the walkie and fell hard against the table as she felt her knees weaken. Petey patted her back softly encouraging her to speak. She took a deep breath in and stood up.
    “Hello.” Her voice was so unsure.
    “This is Warrant Officer Dumas, whom may I speaking with?” He introduced.
    “My name is Alexandra Armijo.” She said joyfully.
    “Are their any other survivors with you, Ms. Armijo?”
    “Yes, there are two other. Their names are Peter Allen and Maggie.” Alex realized she didn’t know Maggie’s last name.
    “Do you know your location?” He asked.
    Her eyes drifted towards the maps that littered the walls above them. There were too many she couldn’t pin point. She couldn’t see which one was Seattle or the world, they all looked alike. Petey stood up, the chair scraping the floor loudly.
    His fingers traced the maps before slamming down hard on one. He tapped aggressively at a pattern of numbers that were written at the bottom. She looked over to him and he nodded; that was all she needed.
    “We’re at 47.717471 and -122.287642.” Her fingers scraped along the number ending at Petey’s hand. “We’re in an underground bunker in the backyard of the house.”
    “Give us a moment to map your location.” He said.
    The trio let out a breathy laugh; relief filling them. Alex took Petey’s hand turned it and kissed his knuckles as a silent thank you. It was because of him that they might have a chance.