The Long Way To Reno by Michelle Mix Read Free Book Online Page B

I’d
lost.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
               
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
     
    I
sat in the darkness while Harley used my flashlight to go look for his own
supplies on this level. I felt slightly better knowing I wasn’t alone, even if
it was just Harley Troy. I guess I shouldn’t knock on him too badly – he
might be my only ride back to Reno if I couldn’t find my damn keys.
     
    I’d
asked him to keep a lookout for them – a car and house key with an anime
character keychain – but I guess he hadn’t found them yet. I couldn’t
help but give a start at the rustling sounds that happened every so often
throughout the warehouse. I didn’t see any lights anywhere, no other survivors
making themselves known. It wasn’t those things, either, because they hadn’t
gotten all snarly and rabid – I gave a start, feeling inspired. I found
my name for them – the Rabid. They were all frothy and dangerous, and
they sounded all like how I guess animals on rabies would, so the name made
sense.
     
    Harley
dropped something, and it made my entire body jerk. I was seated against some
totes near the conveyor, where I faced an equipment elevator. If somebody
rushed at me, I could run comfortably in either direction without hitting
anything; I could take the stairs down, I could run down that aisle –
hoping that there were no abandoned carts in my path. Once I settled myself
back into my seat, exhaling heavily, I continued to think about my parents.
     
    Harley
came back, holding an armful of things. He set his things down next to me,
handing me my flashlight. I illuminated his actions as he dumped it all into
the backpack, with no real organization. He was going to regret that later, if
he found himself in a situation where he needed something real quick and he
couldn’t find it because he was messy. Maybe his home looked the same way.
     
    “Thanks
for this,” he then said, indicating the backpack.
     
    He
had found some gummy bears, and opened the bag to dig out a handful and stuff
them into his mouth. Then offered some to me, but I didn’t feel like eating at
the moment. He then sat down in a similar position as mine, and I used the
flashlight to touch on some of the things that I knew was there. Overturned
carts and spilled totes lay nearby. Blood stains on the conveyer and ripped
clothing caught my attention next.
     
    It
was silent between us for awhile. I didn’t know what to say, my mind overrun
with all thoughts and possibilities, trying to convince myself to do something
right. I didn’t know what he was thinking about, and I kind of didn’t care. In
invasions like these, it was hard to make friends – who knew who was
going to betray who, and leave who, and who gets killed in the next act? It was
an all for one situation.
     
    I
thought about those girls Jeff had gathered and wondered if I knew them. That
situation didn’t make sense to me, because that sort of thing always happened
weeks later, when the survivors realize that there was no hope and colonies or
groups had to be established. I wondered if I should do something – tried
to put myself in their position. I’d want someone to rescue me. I knew I couldn’t
do it myself. I was incapable of such things. I did so many horrible things to
survive thus far – what if I was able to do something good to overcome
the bad, ensure my way into heaven? If my parents were already there, I needed
to be on the same route.
     
    “Did
you know Jeff?” I whispered, wincing at the volume of my own voice within the
thick stillness.
     
    Harley
ate some more gummies. Did a shrug and shake of his head thing. “Acquaintances.
I knew this guy that was friends with him, and – well, that’s how I know
him. I didn’t hang out with him or anything.”
     
    I
examined my nails before saying slowly, “Should we do something? About it?”
     
    He
had an awful habit of shrugging, because he did it again. “I