himself of the others. Hamsikker would be the last to go. He was useful, certainly. Back at the gate, if he hadn’t shown up when he did, Javier knew he might have a death sentence or worse right now, but Hamsikker had saved him with that damn axe of his. He would save Hamsikker for last, have some fun with Dakota, and then enjoy watching the life drain from their bodies.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Pull up behind Gabe, but keep the engine running. I’ll have a quick word with him. If we’re stopping, I’ll give you the nod. Stay alert.”
Jonas asked Erik if they knew where they were, but he had to admit he was lost. He didn’t recognize any features on the land, and the town names meant nothing. From that, they took it they were heading out of Kentucky. They had been driving for just over an hour, and they were getting nervous the further they drove. With no way of contacting Gabe, Jonas and Erik had followed, hoping he was leading them away from Jeffersontown. They had no wish to go back there, and Jonas couldn’t think why they would. There was nothing there for them anymore, nothing but the dead.
They had taken small back roads for a while, skirting past towns and villages, keeping their distance from the main developments and built-up areas. It felt like they were heading north, but the storm had taken a while to die down, and the sun was hidden behind a bank of dark, grey cloud for a long time. Even now, the sky was a hazy shade of blue, and the air was cool.
Jonas jumped out of the SUV and scuffed his boots into the ground. The earth was soft and salty, but almost dry. Evidently the storm had largely avoided this area. For the last few minutes they had driven very slowly, and there was no sign of the dead. Erik had followed the white van down a small side street on the outskirts of a small rural town, and eventually they had pulled up next to a soccer field. The nets were still up, and the lines across the pitch painted white, but they were mostly hidden by overgrown grass. Jonas looked around. He had to admit it felt like a safe enough place to stop. Other than the rumbling engines of the van and the SUV, there were no other sounds present. There were no voices, no birdsong or dogs, and no groaning sounds indicative of the dead. He saw no movement, and, therefore, no reason to panic. He approached the driver’s side of the white van and looked into the cab.
“How you holding up, Hamsikker?” asked Javier with a slight grin. “I think we’re in the clear now.”
Jonas rested his axe on his shoulder and looked back at the SUV. A mere nod of the head told Erik all he needed to know, and the engine stopped. Jonas watched as Quinn, Terry and Dakota got out, and they all began stretching their legs.
“Let’s just take five minutes. Seems clear. You did good, Gabe. Thanks. I bet your passengers need a break.”
“You got that right,” said Peter.
“How’s everyone inside?” asked Jonas as he watched Peter climb out of the back of the van. He held open the rear doors, and out came Pippa with Freya hanging onto her anxiously. Mrs. Danick got out slowly, and Peter helped her out.
“No windows, just a sunroof to let the air in. It’s no fun, I can tell you that much,” said Mrs. Danick as she rubbed her legs. “You want to trade places, Hamsikker? Jump on in, and try sitting on a box of Gatorade for the next hour. I’ll go sit up front of that nice SUV you got there. Honestly, I don’t mind.”
Jonas rubbed Mrs. Danick’s back as he watched Gabe and Mara get out of the van. “How’s the ankle? Better? I’m thinking we can stop here a while, so maybe walk around on it, and get the blood flowing.”
“You can ride in the SUV,” said Terry as he approached the van. “I’ll swap with you, Mrs. Danick.”
“Thanks,” said Mrs. Danick. “I thought we were through with running. It never gets any easier, does it?”
“Hey, be careful will you?” Erik called out to Peter who was taking
CHAPTER FOUR
“Pull up behind Gabe, but keep the engine running. I’ll have a quick word with him. If we’re stopping, I’ll give you the nod. Stay alert.”
Jonas asked Erik if they knew where they were, but he had to admit he was lost. He didn’t recognize any features on the land, and the town names meant nothing. From that, they took it they were heading out of Kentucky. They had been driving for just over an hour, and they were getting nervous the further they drove. With no way of contacting Gabe, Jonas and Erik had followed, hoping he was leading them away from Jeffersontown. They had no wish to go back there, and Jonas couldn’t think why they would. There was nothing there for them anymore, nothing but the dead.
They had taken small back roads for a while, skirting past towns and villages, keeping their distance from the main developments and built-up areas. It felt like they were heading north, but the storm had taken a while to die down, and the sun was hidden behind a bank of dark, grey cloud for a long time. Even now, the sky was a hazy shade of blue, and the air was cool.
Jonas jumped out of the SUV and scuffed his boots into the ground. The earth was soft and salty, but almost dry. Evidently the storm had largely avoided this area. For the last few minutes they had driven very slowly, and there was no sign of the dead. Erik had followed the white van down a small side street on the outskirts of a small rural town, and eventually they had pulled up next to a soccer field. The nets were still up, and the lines across the pitch painted white, but they were mostly hidden by overgrown grass. Jonas looked around. He had to admit it felt like a safe enough place to stop. Other than the rumbling engines of the van and the SUV, there were no other sounds present. There were no voices, no birdsong or dogs, and no groaning sounds indicative of the dead. He saw no movement, and, therefore, no reason to panic. He approached the driver’s side of the white van and looked into the cab.
“How you holding up, Hamsikker?” asked Javier with a slight grin. “I think we’re in the clear now.”
Jonas rested his axe on his shoulder and looked back at the SUV. A mere nod of the head told Erik all he needed to know, and the engine stopped. Jonas watched as Quinn, Terry and Dakota got out, and they all began stretching their legs.
“Let’s just take five minutes. Seems clear. You did good, Gabe. Thanks. I bet your passengers need a break.”
“You got that right,” said Peter.
“How’s everyone inside?” asked Jonas as he watched Peter climb out of the back of the van. He held open the rear doors, and out came Pippa with Freya hanging onto her anxiously. Mrs. Danick got out slowly, and Peter helped her out.
“No windows, just a sunroof to let the air in. It’s no fun, I can tell you that much,” said Mrs. Danick as she rubbed her legs. “You want to trade places, Hamsikker? Jump on in, and try sitting on a box of Gatorade for the next hour. I’ll go sit up front of that nice SUV you got there. Honestly, I don’t mind.”
Jonas rubbed Mrs. Danick’s back as he watched Gabe and Mara get out of the van. “How’s the ankle? Better? I’m thinking we can stop here a while, so maybe walk around on it, and get the blood flowing.”
“You can ride in the SUV,” said Terry as he approached the van. “I’ll swap with you, Mrs. Danick.”
“Thanks,” said Mrs. Danick. “I thought we were through with running. It never gets any easier, does it?”
“Hey, be careful will you?” Erik called out to Peter who was taking
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