Read Online Z Children (Book 2): The Surge by Eli Constant, B.V. Barr - Free Book Online Page A

interrupted her, hoping she’d obey.
    For a
second, I saw her hands hovering above the door frame at the base of the
window, looking for a lock, something to depress and make her safer, but there
wasn’t one. Guess the Guard was brave enough not to need to hide behind a
secured door . Wait…Virginia. Think. Don’t be an idiot. JW had
shown us both how to lock the door, but in our panic we’d apparently both
forgotten.
    “Bonnie!
Look down! Combat lock!” I pointed down frantically and her gaze dropped from
the door’s upper ledge where a lock would be on a normal, domestic car to where
the single-movement combat lock was located on an older Hummer. It had been one
of the first things JW had taught us about the vehicle.
    The
hair on my arms and back of my neck were standing on end as I turned away from
Bonnie’s face in the window of the truck. I’d heard the bolts slide into place.
All the doors were locked. At least I thought they all were. I tried to think,
tried to count how many clicks I’d heard. Four. Had I heard four? Yes. Hopefully…
No, all the doors were locked. She was safe. I wasn’t. I didn’t want to stay
out here—there were still so many of them and Ranger was only one dog. Just
buy me a little more time, buddy.
    Laying
the gun across the top of the cart, I tried to ignore the danger. I wasn’t
successful. It was like asking a drug addict to ignore the prepped needle and
rubber banding two feet away from their twitching fingers and itchy skin.
    The
fuel access was next to the rear passenger door. Grabbing the first full milk
jug, I popped off the top and unscrewed the fuel cap. My hands were shaking so
badly—the sounds of war behind me—that I spilled half of the diesel while
pouring. Stop shaking, idiot. Fuck! We’d risked our necks to fill the
containers and I was wasting it. Dropping the first empty jug to the ground, I
picked up the next.
    Trying
to keep my hands steady as I poured this time, I craned my neck to see what was
happening behind me.
    Ranger
wasn’t going to be able to keep them away much longer. His movements were
beginning to slow, but I knew he wouldn’t stop—not until both Bonnie and I were
out of harm’s way.
    Second
empty container to the ground. Third container opened. This one still smelled
slightly of bleach mixed with the pungent odor of diesel fuel. A noxious combo. Steady. Steady.
    Half-way
finished with pouring the third, my body was pushed abruptly against the
Hummer. I gasped, feeling the jug slip from my grip and plummet to the ground.
Fuel began to pool at my feet and snake beneath the vehicle in a river. I
wanted to scream in frustration. But then I realized it was Ranger’s body
pushing mine. His scarred body was shielding my own from a Z adult who’s hands
were reaching out toward me.
    A
scratching sound from above me pulled my attention.
    This
time I did scream out loud.
    “Shit!
Ranger!” Grabbing one of the still-closed and full containers, I swung it above
my head and aimed for the Z girl perched on top of the Hummer. The bottom of
the jug caught her on the chin and knocked her off balance. Grabbing the gun
with one hand, I gripped the handle of the rear passenger door with the other
and swung it open so hard that I thought I might bust the hinges. I realized as
I clambered in that the door should have been locked.
    I’d
been wrong. Bonnie hadn’t been safe at all.
    Diving
into the vehicle like a graceless swan, I landed on top of the gun. The butt of
it jabbed into my stomach. I expected Ranger to follow in after me. He didn’t.
There was no brush of fur and burned skin against my legs. I felt a whoosh of
air as the Hummer’s door was pulled closed. Bonnie’s body was stretched over
the front seat, her hand still resting on the door she’d yanked inward.
    “You
didn’t have all the doors locked!” I gasped, my chest rising and falling
erratically.
    “Good
thing or you wouldn’t have been able to get in quickly,” she