Free The Last Outbreak (Book 2): Devastation by Jeff Olah Page A

“Get this thing turned around. We’re out in ten seconds.”
    Ben shifted into reverse and backed up over the first row of parking blocks. He briefly looked back at the women and then grinding the gears, slammed the truck back into drive. Looking out the passenger window, he watched as Griffin and Ethan connected near the driveway and fought off a small group of advancing Feeders.
    Stepping on the gas, Ben maneuvered the truck around to the right and away from a group of four abandoned cars. Angling back toward the drive, he could see the larger horde splitting off into two groups. The closer of the two turned in off Bridge Street and were entering through the downed gates.
    Moving to the passenger side rear window, Carly noticed the same thing. She gasped as Ethan and Griffin ran away from the horde and were chased toward the truck. “Ben hurry, they aren’t going to make it.”
    Pushing the pedal to the floor yet again, the armored vehicle lurched forward. Glancing off the late model sedan to his left, they moved out into the center of the lot and drove straight toward their friends.
    With thirty yards to go, Cora jumped into the passenger seat and grabbed the pistol from the dash. She dropped the magazine out, shook her head and slammed it back. Reaching for the door handle, she turned to Ben. “Slow down.
    “Why?”
    “Slow down, they need help.”
    “No, there isn’t time, you can’t help them.”
    “Oh yeah?” Cora opened the door and began to step out. Ben slammed his foot down on the brake and Cora leapt out away from the truck. Closing the door, she ran to a spot twenty feet away and leveled the weapon.
    “Two shots,” she said. “Make them count.”
    Ethan and Griffin were running when she lined up the first shot. At least three dozen Feeders were in close pursuit and she choose the heavyset man out in front. Her internal debate of where to place the bullet lasted less than a fraction of a second.
    Breathing out slowly, she sighted the injured left leg of the pursuer as it appeared to move with a shorter range of motion. She pulled back on the trigger and watched as the bullet penetrated the beast’s kneecap and then exploded in a red mist out through the back of its leg.
    Before she lined up her next shot, the obese Feeder fell to the left and took down four others. A domino effect ended up taking out six more as they piled in from behind and dropped to the asphalt.
    Ethan and Griffin had now pulled away and would make it to the truck untouched. As they continued to run and nodded in approval, Cora moved back to the truck and climbed in through the passenger door. Placing the weapon back on the dash, she smiled at Ben. “Next time you drive a little better and I won’t have to save your ass… cool?”
    He didn’t answer.
     
    Ethan moved quickly to the open rear door and climbed in. Griffin followed. They were both out of breath as they closed the door and sat in the rear cargo area. “Thank you,” Ethan began. “You guys really saved my—”
    Carly leaned in toward the men, reached back, and slapped Ethan. “What the hell was that?”
    Standing over him, Carly was furious. Madder than he’d ever seen her and he knew why. He looked up at her, but didn’t immediately respond.
    Her face was bright red and she was breathing harder than he was. “Explain yourself,” she said. “Right now.”
    “I’m sorry, but I didn’t think—”
    “No, you didn’t think. Not at all, you not only put yourself in danger, but the rest of us too. So, the next time you have some idiotic plan to go out on your own… don’t.”
    Ethan paused form a moment.
    “Well?”
    “I went to bury David.”
    “I can’t believe—” She stopped herself and took a deep breath, allowing what he’d said to wash over her. She waited a few seconds and then attempted to start again. “David would have been proud of you, Ethan, but he would have also told you to ask for help.”
    “It was something I needed to do