Nano Z by Brad Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

cellar. The last thing Mack saw before closing the doors were a set of what looked like metal teeth coming at him. As scary as it was, they were safe. At least for the time being.
     

Chapter 3 : Clean Up
    The storm cellar was cold and depressing. Every wall was gray concrete. There was very little space and a good portion of it was occupied by piles of canned and pickled goods. A lone light bulb hanging on a thin chain was the only light source. In one corner was a metal toilet that provided no privacy. Not that Mack or Amber cared. Outside there were more dangerous things than mild embarrassment.
    Mack sat on the rickety wooden stairs right below the storm cellar doors. When they first went down into the shelter, he held them closed. It wasn’t from fear of the meat puppet dog but from their resurrected owners who had hands. If caught in the cellar, he and Amber would have no chance of escaping or surviving.
    “This shit is gross,” complained Amber as she ate some of the paste from a MRE (made ready meal). She turned the brown wrapper over. “How is this Salisbury steak?”
    “Gross or not, you need to eat, girlie. You need your strength. Who knows what’s waiting for us up there.”
    “Here’s an idea, how about we don’t go outside? I mean we got all we need here. Food, water, hell there’s even a toilet.” Amber gave Mack another one of her fake smiles.
    You have no idea how much I’d like that. There’s no meat puppets or kill squads. All I’d have to do deal with is you. “Tempting as that is, we need to keep moving.”
    “Why? Look around you. We can survive down here.” Amber motioned with her hands like she was presenting the storm shelter.
    “Eventually someone or something will find us.”
    “But they said on TV to…”
    “Whenever someone tells you to stay calm and in your home, you should do the opposite.”
    Amber pouted a bit. She obviously didn’t agree. But it had been nearly twenty four hours since she met Mack. And it was clear to her that she needed the big Viking. Whatever he decided to do or wherever he went, she’d follow. As sad as it was, he was all the family she had left.
    No one spoke in the storm cellar for almost an hour. They sat in silence, Amber staring at the wall, Mack guarding the door. Both of them listened. Any little sound made their hearts race. Eventually the teenage girl got some sleep.
    Mack gathered his courage and decided to take a look outside. He opened one of the heavy storm cellar doors just an inch or two. Night had fallen. From his limited perspective he didn’t see or hear anything. It seemed quite.
    “I think it’s safe to move,” informed Mack as he slowly closed the storm cellar door. He was talking to himself. Amber was asleep. So he walked the handful of feet over to her.
    How can you sleep at a time like this? Wish I could. I’m jealous. With a gentleness that he rarely used, Mack tried to wake her.
    “Wha…are they here?” asked Amber, groggy and half awake.
    “I need you to get up. We got to move.”
    “Can’t I just?” Amber started to lay back down on the storm shelter’s only cot.
    “No, it’s time to leave.”
    “Ugh, fine!” Amber managed to roust herself up to the edge of the cot. “Oh, hey look what I found before passing out,” she reached under the uncomfortable portable bed and grabbed an olive green backpack.
    “It’s got a flashlight and some pill thingies inside. And a water bottle,” said Amber as she handed the green backpack to Mack.
    “Thanks. I can really use this,” said Mack with a smile.
    “Are we taking any of this stuff?”
    “Definitely.”
    Amber surveyed the stacks of canned food and MREs. Having tasted the foul ready-made meals, she chose to ignore those. Instead she loaded her bag with some corn, spam, corned beef and vegetable medley. Despite her advanced maturity, she also grabbed some of the hard candy and chocolate.
    Mack filled his newly acquired backpack with gear. There were