Free Broken Roads: A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World (Broken Lines Book 2) by James Hunt

said.
     
    “I’m busy,” Mike said, grabbing one of the lanterns from the Burger King counter.
     
    “Please, wait.”
     
    Jung put his hand on Mike’s chest stopping him and blocking his path.
     
    “Let my family come with you,” Jung said.
     
    “Jung, I don’t have anywhere for your family to go.”
     
    “The cabin, right? You’re going to the cabin?”
     
    Nelson.
     
    “Look, Jung, whatever it is you think I can help you with I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t,” Mike said and then moved to the side and ran past him.
     
    Jung caught up with him as Mike headed back to the weapons depot where Clarence had shown him the rifles.
     
    “We were heading back home to China when everything stopped working.”
     
    “Isn’t your wife American? Doesn’t she have family here?”
     
    “She does, but they’re in Florida. We were here on vacation.”
     
    “You wanted to go vacation in Pittsburgh?”
     
    “New York. We were here as part of a layover.”
     
    The deeper they went into the airport the darker it became. Mike flicked on the lantern. The flame ignited casting an orange glow around the two of them and lighting their path.
     
    Clarence and the rest of the group hadn’t ventured into the dark portions of the airport because of the bodies. When they came out of the TSA security room after the rioting started they searched for supplies, and the only thing they found deep within the terminals were corpses.
     
    You could barely see them in the darkness, but the smell was overpowering. The rotting flesh baking for the past week in the unventilated, un-air conditioned depths of the airport sent a fowl stench in the air. The sour, bitter musk hit you like a brick wall.
     
    By the time Mike and Jung reached the weapons holding both of them were gagging, covering their noes and mouth, with their shirts, but it did no good.
     
    The inside of the weapons holding was practically barren when they checked it earlier. Most of the weapons had been picked over, but a few rifles, a stack of boxes with ammunition, and a cleaning kit still remained.
     
    “Grab those rifles over there,” Mike said.
     
    “Mike, please. My family can’t stay here. If there were help coming it would have been here by now. If we can’t get somewhere safe we’ll end up like those people out there.”
     
    The lantern swung in Mike’s grip. The light danced across Jung’s face, which was filled with desperation, a look he’d seen too often over the past week.
     
    “You pull your weight, each of you. Everyone has a job. No one gets special treatment. Understand?”
     
    Jung nodded.
     
    “Good. Now, grab the rifles.”
     
    ***
     
    The To family, Nelson, Sean, Tom, Clarence, and Mike sat around one of the tables in the food court. The sun had gone down and they were swallowing down cans of ham and black beans. Fay was on watch.
     
    Mike chose to tell the rest of the group about the cabin. They all jumped at the chance. Mike instructed each of them to pack enough food and supplies for a two-day walk. Everyone dumped any luggage they had and immediately started packing.
     
    “After we leave in the morning it’ll be important for us not to stop. I want to make sure we get there as quickly and safely as possible,” Mike said.
     
    “Will it really take two days?” Tom asked.
     
    “Yes, and it could take more if anything slows us down,” Mike answered.
     
    “What’s it like out there now?” Jenna asked.
     
    “The road? Dangerous,” Mike answered.
     
    “Do you think we’ll get mugged like you and Nelson?” Clarence asked.
     
    “Not if we stay smart,” Mike answered.
     
    “Guys, we’ll be fine. Mike knows what he’s doing. Trust me,” Nelson said.
     
    Trust him. Mike looked at the faces staring at him and a pang of guilt shot through him. The last time he helped people they turned against him and separated him from his family. He wasn’t going to let a gang of bandits stand between him and his