Free The Survivor Chronicles (Book 2): The Divide by Erica Stevens

retorted.
    "Happy thoughts John, happy thoughts." Riley slapped him on the shoulder as she moved closer to the edge of the overhang. "Let's go."
    Before Al could say anything more, she plunged into the rain and raced toward the truck. Carl was close on her heels; John cursed loudly, ducked his head, and dashed into the rain behind them. They were soaked before they made it three feet, but they didn't hesitate as they heedlessly crashed through the puddles.
    Lee stepped beside him as Carl threw the doors open and Riley scrambled into the back of the truck. They remained silent as bags were tossed forward and Carl and John scurried back and forth to the car. "I hope it's not nuclear fallout," Rochelle muttered.
    "It's too late for all of us if it is," Lee told her.
    "That's reassuring."
    "Sorry," he apologized as he tugged at his hair.
    Riley appeared again at the back of the truck and nearly fell out of it as one of her feet skidded on the wet wooden bed. Carl seized hold of her arm before she could topple to the ground. Whatever words he said to her were buried beneath the ceaseless crescendo of the rain on the vehicles and roof of the motel. Black ran down them in rivulets, their clothes were stained gray and darkening by the second as they were pelted by the relentless water.
    He'd used black mulch in his yard once, and as he watched them Al was reminded of the mess it had made. His hands and clothes had been dyed black by the time he was done spreading it, and it had stained the old pair of boots he'd been wearing. After the first rain storm, even the weathered gray shingles on his house had been stained by the stuff. It had looked sharp in his beds, but he'd vowed never to use it again as his hands were black for a good week. He swore they'd dyed the mulch with charcoal, and as he tilted his head back to look at the sky, he thought that perhaps it was charcoal falling over them now.
    They splashed back toward them, carrying two bags and a case of water as black puddles and rivers splashed over and around them. Riley stumbled in first and doubled over as she rested her hands on her knees. John dropped the case of water as Carl stumbled and fell against the doorframe.
    "Are you ok?" Lee demanded. He reached out for Riley but seemed to think better of it as his hand fell back to his side. "Riley?"
    She held up a hand as she panted for a few more seconds. "Fine, I'm fine," she assured him.
    "You look like someone rolled you around in coal or ash, or a bucket of squids."
    "Squids?" she retorted.
    "You know what I mean."
    She straightened up and held her arms out before her; she twisted them over as she studied her darkened skin. "Who knew having a ton of water dumped on me would make me feel dirtier," John muttered.
    Carl took off his baseball cap and scowled at the now black material. "This is my lucky hat."
    "And now it's crap," John told him.
    "I'm not getting rid of it."
    Black water ran down from his head as he squished the hat back into place. "It's almost like ash or soot or something," Lee said as he studied Riley with a curled upper lip.
    "Gives credence to that whole super volcano theory," Riley muttered.
    "Yeah, or maybe it is nuclear fallout," Lee told her.
    "It's good to know you're a glass half full kind of guy Lee," John said.
    "Let's get you guys cleaned up." Al gestured toward the office door. "Maybe there's an apartment or something back there that the manager or owner stays in."
    "Let's hope," Rochelle said as she quickly stepped away from John. She squealed as he thrust his hands in her face and waved them around.
    "Oh scary!" he taunted.
    "You're gross."
    "Not arguing with that," Carl agreed.
    Al led the way toward the back of the office, the smell was starting to clear out, but it was still potent enough to make his gag reflex kick into overdrive. "Did anything get ruined?" Rochelle asked nervously.
    "I'm sure a few bandages and maybe some food, but I think we managed to save most of the stuff in boxes,"