Werewolf Suspense (Book 3): Outage 3 (Vengeance) by T.W. Piperbrook Read Free Book Online Page B

getting close to the shelter.
    Tom kept the rifle pointed out the window. Rosemary hung her pistol over the windowsill next to her. The moonlit buildings flitted by and dispersed. They'd entered a less dense part of town. The lack of buildings was relieving—it meant fewer places to conceal the beasts. If they were to be attacked again, they'd have more notice, but that didn't make Tom feel too comforted.
    He reflected on what had just occurred. What they'd survived .
    As expected, the beasts had been quick and vile. Tom was just grateful they'd been able to fend the things off. He prayed they'd left the worst of it behind, but he wasn't foolish enough to think that was the case.
    Rosemary fell into a reflective silence. Whether it was nerves, or anticipation of reaching the shelter, he wasn't sure. It was probably both. In their decision to leave, neither had spoken about the possibility that Jason and Jeffrey hadn't made it there. Any number of pitfalls could have waylaid them. The beasts were a sobering reminder of that fact.
    "How long have you lived here?" he asked Rosemary, hoping to calm her nerves.
    "Ten years," she answered, her eyes still glued to the outdoors.  
    "Where'd you come from?"
    "Windsor. Most of my family lives out of state."
    "How'd you end up in Plainfield?"
    "Ron's family is from Ashford, so we moved to Plainfield to be closer to them."
    "That makes sense. My wife and I did the same thing. Our parents are no longer with us." Sensing that his companion was hardly listening, Tom exhaled. "We're almost at the shelter, Rosemary. We'll find them. If they're not there, we'll keep looking until we locate them."  
    Tom knew he was telling her things she wanted to hear, but it felt like they were the right things to say. Rosemary's eyes shifted as she watched the road. He imagined her retrieving images of her family, clinging to hopeful thoughts.  
    If Tom had any family left, he'd be doing the same thing.
    While his companion was deep in thought, Tom delved into memories of his own. He stared out into the open parking lots around them. The last time he'd gone to the Knights of Columbus was several summers ago. The sun had been high in the sky and his wife had been sitting beside him. They'd gone for the fireman's dinner, met with the townsfolk, and conversed about town events. Tom recalled admiring the grasses that covered the abandoned lots on either side of the street. Now the open area resembled nothing more than a snow-covered tundra. The storm had paved over the landscape, much as it had paved over his nostalgia.
    His memories of Plainfield had been tainted, drowned by newer, horrifying images. He doubted he'd be able to look at the town streets the same way again.
    They were only a few blocks from the shelter. Several buildings cropped up at the road's edge, silent guides leading them to their destination. Soon they'd have a verdict; they'd know whether Rosemary's family had safely arrived. Tom prayed for their well-being. He assessed the area around them, looking for clues as to what they'd find.
    To his relief, the area was unaffected by the slaughter. The doors and windows of the nearest buildings were intact; no abandoned cars lined the roadway. He had the instinctive thought they might be able to use the buildings for later refuge.  
    He strained to see past the headlights. A few seconds later, the next block became apparent.
    And then he saw it. The shelter. He recognized the crest of the Knights of Columbus on a tall metal sign by the road, visible even through the falling snow. The sign was dull. The streetlights were off. He gripped the wheel as they approached, looking for signs of life.
    To his surprise, the parking lot was filled with cars.

PART TWO: THE SHELTER

Chapter Eleven

    "We made it," Tom muttered, almost in disbelief.
    The Knights of Columbus building stood alone in the parking lot. Tom stared up at the dimmed sign as they pulled in. The fact that they'd reached their