Read Online Bone And Cinder: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (Zapheads Book 1) by Scott Nicholson, Joshua Simcox - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Scott Nicholson, Joshua Simcox
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Mackie touched her wrists gently. The zip tie bit deeply into her wrists, and her hands were red with pooled blood trapped inside and denied circulation.
“I’ll find something to cut this off with,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.”
He expected to hear Kara call after him, say something to the effect of “ You know I’m right, Mackie. You know what we have to do. ”
But the only sound was his feet echoing in the vast stacks.
9.
Plunk-plink-twunnng.
The strained notes resonated through the high-ceiling library.
Mackie found Herrera lounging on a sofa near the circulation desk. The bastard was awkwardly plucking a Metallica riff on Allie’s acoustic guitar. A railroad spike of cold anger pounded through his forehead, adding percussion to the atonal music.
“Put that down.”
Herrera looked up and grinned. His automatic rifle was beside him on the sofa. He continued plucking out the riff with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. The strings buzzed from the clumsy positioning of Herrera’s fingers across the frets. He stared off to the side as his fingers moved along the fretboard. “That’s the one thing I miss with the power off,” he said wistfully. “Music. Not a fan of ‘Enter Sandman,’ bro?”
“I said put it down. That doesn’t belong to you.”
Herrera’s hands went still. His eyes bore the calculating glare of a snake that had just spotted a salamander crawling through wet grass. From her seat at the circulation desk, Rebecca stared nervously.
“Well, sure, bro,” Herrera said softly. “Since you’re in charge and all.”
“Just put down the guitar, Herrera.” Krider stepped out of the office behind the circulation desk. “Let’s keep this friendly.” Herrera shrugged and tossed the guitar aside, his eyes never leaving Mackie’s. It landed with a hollow thud and the tinny resonance of vibrating strings.
Krider emerged from a wing of offices. “You think about what we discussed?”
“I want that zip tie cut from Kara’s hands.”
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea right now. She was pretty violent when we found her earlier.”
“Just cut her loose. I’ll make sure she behaves.”
Krider shrugged. “Okay, then. Take care of that, Herrera.”
Herrera stood, pulled a folding knife from his pocket, and then strutted slowly into the stacks.
“So, are you in?” Krider asked Mackie.
“I won’t help you hurt anyone. But if you’ll see that Allie is safe and cared for, I’ll stay and do what I can to help. Not for your benefit, but for hers. And the other people here.”
Krider nodded. “In that case, there’s just one more piece of business to discuss. If you’re going to stay, you need a clear head. No carelessness like before. No mistakes. I realize I gave you some potent shit last night, and I’m sure you’ll want more. But you don’t get more. No pills either.”
Mackie’s heart felt like it had fallen into his gut. “I can’t go cold turkey.”
“Starting now, you’re enrolled in the Lucas Krider rehab program. You want to be part of this community, then you need to prove you can be a productive member. You can take a few days to deal with the withdrawals if you need to. But from this point forward, you’re clean. No exceptions.”
“Macklin?” Mackie heard the voice coming from the stairs leading to the second floor. He turned and saw a familiar face on the stair case. Dr. Carl Lehman, head of the Evans-Lawson English department. Friend and mentor from better days.
“Dr. Lehman,” Mackie said. “My God.”
“What are you...you were here when all this happened?” Lehman’s bearded face carried a look of surprise that suggested he’d fallen farther down the rabbit hole than he’d expected. He reached his hand out to shake. It was a gesture that had served as an opening for many of their lengthy discussions in
“I’ll find something to cut this off with,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.”
He expected to hear Kara call after him, say something to the effect of “ You know I’m right, Mackie. You know what we have to do. ”
But the only sound was his feet echoing in the vast stacks.
9.
Plunk-plink-twunnng.
The strained notes resonated through the high-ceiling library.
Mackie found Herrera lounging on a sofa near the circulation desk. The bastard was awkwardly plucking a Metallica riff on Allie’s acoustic guitar. A railroad spike of cold anger pounded through his forehead, adding percussion to the atonal music.
“Put that down.”
Herrera looked up and grinned. His automatic rifle was beside him on the sofa. He continued plucking out the riff with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. The strings buzzed from the clumsy positioning of Herrera’s fingers across the frets. He stared off to the side as his fingers moved along the fretboard. “That’s the one thing I miss with the power off,” he said wistfully. “Music. Not a fan of ‘Enter Sandman,’ bro?”
“I said put it down. That doesn’t belong to you.”
Herrera’s hands went still. His eyes bore the calculating glare of a snake that had just spotted a salamander crawling through wet grass. From her seat at the circulation desk, Rebecca stared nervously.
“Well, sure, bro,” Herrera said softly. “Since you’re in charge and all.”
“Just put down the guitar, Herrera.” Krider stepped out of the office behind the circulation desk. “Let’s keep this friendly.” Herrera shrugged and tossed the guitar aside, his eyes never leaving Mackie’s. It landed with a hollow thud and the tinny resonance of vibrating strings.
Krider emerged from a wing of offices. “You think about what we discussed?”
“I want that zip tie cut from Kara’s hands.”
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea right now. She was pretty violent when we found her earlier.”
“Just cut her loose. I’ll make sure she behaves.”
Krider shrugged. “Okay, then. Take care of that, Herrera.”
Herrera stood, pulled a folding knife from his pocket, and then strutted slowly into the stacks.
“So, are you in?” Krider asked Mackie.
“I won’t help you hurt anyone. But if you’ll see that Allie is safe and cared for, I’ll stay and do what I can to help. Not for your benefit, but for hers. And the other people here.”
Krider nodded. “In that case, there’s just one more piece of business to discuss. If you’re going to stay, you need a clear head. No carelessness like before. No mistakes. I realize I gave you some potent shit last night, and I’m sure you’ll want more. But you don’t get more. No pills either.”
Mackie’s heart felt like it had fallen into his gut. “I can’t go cold turkey.”
“Starting now, you’re enrolled in the Lucas Krider rehab program. You want to be part of this community, then you need to prove you can be a productive member. You can take a few days to deal with the withdrawals if you need to. But from this point forward, you’re clean. No exceptions.”
“Macklin?” Mackie heard the voice coming from the stairs leading to the second floor. He turned and saw a familiar face on the stair case. Dr. Carl Lehman, head of the Evans-Lawson English department. Friend and mentor from better days.
“Dr. Lehman,” Mackie said. “My God.”
“What are you...you were here when all this happened?” Lehman’s bearded face carried a look of surprise that suggested he’d fallen farther down the rabbit hole than he’d expected. He reached his hand out to shake. It was a gesture that had served as an opening for many of their lengthy discussions in
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