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

behind the cab. Cora and Shannon held tight to the passenger seat as Carly remained at Ben’s side. They squinted into the night, but were all just as confused as Ben. “What is it? What are you talking about? I don’t see anything, just that other group coming in off Bridge Street.”
    “That’s it,” Griffin said. “They were already coming this way and don’t even seem to have noticed us. They’re filtering into this group, but also seem to be focused on something further down the street.”
    “Like Ethan?” Cora said.
    “That’s what I’m thinking. It could be anything or it could be nothing, but there’s a reason why both of those crowds are moving that way.”
    Ben slowly pressed the gas pedal, increased their speed to just above a fast walk, and glided back toward the curb. “But I thought Ethan was headed back to the bank? Wouldn’t that put him on the opposite side of town?”
    “Don’t know. If this is him, we need to get over there. If it’s not and he’s back at the station or the bank, at least we can assume he’s safe.”
    Carly leaned in. “Why would you think—”
    “Because it looks like every single one of those things found their way here. Right out there on that street. I mean, if there are more than a handful left anywhere else in this town, I’m buying you all dinner.”
    “Dinner?” Cora said.
    “Well, this thing has to end at some point. And when it does, I’m buying the biggest, juiciest steak I can find. And you’re all welcome to join me.”
    “Somehow,” Shannon said. “I don’t see that happening anytime soon. We need to get comfortable with this new reality.”
    “Wow,” Ben said, “what a buzzkill.”
    “Just being realistic. There’s no point dreaming about stuff that’s never going to happen.”
    “Never?” Carly asked.
    “Well, not anytime soon.”
    “Yeah right, how on earth would you know—”
    “Wait,” Ben said. “Oh my God—it’s him.”

10
 
    Sitting alone in silence for days at a time had his mind again playing tricks on him. Frank closed his eyes and listened for the truck to return. Even imagined it did. But ten minutes after hearing it pull away, it was quiet. More quite than it had been since the first night. Since he first realized that this is where he may take his last breath.
    Rolling onto his side, Frank reached for the bars and pulled himself up. He stood and walked back to the front of the cell. Light now poured in through the crack in the lobby doors and partially illuminated the hall. If his calculations were right, tonight would be a full moon. And his calculations were never wrong.
    Squinting, he slowly scanned the hall from one end to the other and then looked back around the cell. He was searching for something—something he could use to grab the small office trashcan ten feet away. The contents of which would get him out of his self-imposed prison. He may die the second he walked out the front door, but at least it would be on his own terms.
    He could fight. He wasn’t twenty years old anymore, but he also wasn’t the typical fifty-eight year old. Now he just wanted something he didn’t think he’d need five days ago. Tonight he only wanted a chance.
    The coat rack in the corner. Standing a few feet from the door, he hadn’t figured it would be of any use. But now, looking at it in a different light, he found that it may just be helpful after all. Two feet from the lobby doors, he wasn’t going to reach it without some luck and it would most likely take a good bit of time. But what else did he have to do?
    Removing his belt and his coat, he looped the sleeve of the coat around the end of the belt and tied a knot. Up against the cell door, Frank leaned in and reached between the vertical bars. He held the opposite arm of the jacket in his left hand and grabbed the weighty belt buckle with the other.
    Pulling it tight, he made sure there was no chance they’d come apart. He checked the distance, held the buckle