A loud pop sizzled through the air. A bright burst of light and fire leapt high into the air over the burning glow behind the store. A propane tank perhaps? I tried to recall the buildings in the area of the bridge. There was the IHOP, a hotel; no there were two hotels, a laundry mat, convenience store, gas station, funeral home, tourist traps, woods, and plenty of homes. There were so many things to spread the growing flames, things that would rapidly catch fire without anyone to stop the flow of the fire.
And the aliens would not stop it. Not when they knew it would flush out the remaining people like rats fleeing a flood. And thats exactly what we were now, trapped rats that they would narrow in on quickly. Especially if we continued to head toward the water.
My heart flip flopped; I tore my attention away from the hated flames. Was that the real reason the aliens had destroyed the bridge? Had they wanted to ruin any chance of escape, and set fire to the land in order to draw us out?
I wanted to cry, I didnt dare. We still had some hope, some time, no matter how small it was. We just had to get away from here before the flames reached us.
I was so intent on my thoughts that I didnt realize the ground had begun to level out. Molly came into view, standing at the bottom of the hill. She was dirty, disheveled, and her bottom lip was bleeding but she appeared otherwise unharmed. We raced across the street, fleeing into the backyards of residential homes, staying parallel with the railroad tracks that ran near the beach. The tracks followed the water and the roads, yet the trees surrounding them offered us enough protection to stay hidden from anything above.
Our breathing grew labored, my lungs were burning from the arid air, but no one asked to stop. No one said they couldnt go on. It simply wasnt an option right now. I dont know how long we ran for, pounding over unseen ground, trying to escape the dark ash and deadly flames. I didnt dare look back, I didnt want to know how close the fire was, didnt want to know how much time we had left.
This way, Aiden gasped.
We followed silently as he took a sharp right; he darted through someones yard before stopping at the edge of the woods. I stared out at the dark parking lot before us. Dread filled me at the thought of running out there. We would be exposed, vulnerable.
Aiden and Cade dropped the equipment they had been carrying. They shuffled between each other, muttering softly, and then a small flashlight clicked on. Aiden! I hissed.
His mahogany eyes were dark, piercing as he gazed at me over the beam. I was pinned by that stare, frozen within its desperate depths. Do you want to use this crap or not!? he demanded.
I bit my bottom lip as I finally turned back to the hungry fire. Above the tree line I could make out the angry glow of the flames. We had gained some time, but there was too much kindling and fuel in between the fire, and us, to think that it had been much. We had an hour, maybe two, before those flames came far too close for my liking.
Why are there only four tanks?
My head snapped around at Jennas question. I strained to see into the box that Cade had been carrying, hoping that I had missed something, hoping that fear had caused me to lose my ability to count right. One, two, three, four No, no, there had to be more. One, two, three, four
But no matter how I turned that box, no matter how I twisted it in my head, I still only saw four tanks within it. They were the only ones, Cade said softly.
I saw at least ten tanks in that store! Jenna retorted fiercely, terror causing her bitchier side to reemerge in front of Bret. But then again, I was feeling pretty damn terrified and bitchy right now too.
Cades dark eyes were piercing; Jenna recoiled slightly from him as he leveled her with his hard gaze. They were the only ones with oxygen in them, Cade elaborated.
My heart plummeted; my legs suddenly became so weak I could hardly stand. I slumped to the ground, despair filling me, tears burning my already burning eyes. The ash was not as thick here, but it would be soon. I stared out at the parking lot toward the glimmering, beckoning ocean beyond. There were still some boats floating out there, bobbing silently on the small waves that lapped against
them. They taunted me with their presence; they would be so useful right now. One of them could save us. But to climb on one, start it up, and use it would be certain death. We were trapped, stuck, and staring at the things that could rescue us.
What are we going to do? Abby breathed.
Share them, Molly answered simply as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
I swallowed heavily at the suggestion. It was such a long swim to be sharing tanks, especially when most of us didnt have a clue as to what we were doing. I turned to Cade, trying not to give way to my panic. His eyes burned into mine. Though he wasnt within reach, I could feel the soothing caress of his presence on my raw soul. Simply looking at him gave me strength.