Chaos Evolves: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (After the EMP Book 6) Page 8

  “Why not keep searching for diesel?”

  “We’ve canvassed at least a mile in every direction. We’re in the middle of a residential area. There aren’t any trucks to siphon.”

  Larkin set down the empty jug and picked up the next one while Colt held the funnel ready. “If we find some diesel on the road, we can mix it. That’ll buy us more time before everything gums up and quits.”

  “I thought you could run a diesel on vegetable oil no problem.” Doug walked out of the restaurant carrying an armful of water bottles. “One of the firefighters I used to work with was always talking about how he wanted to drive around smelling like a French fry.”

  Colt answered without turning around. “The engine can handle it, but the intake valves and the filters can’t. To run unfiltered oil like this, the Humvee needs an adaptor kit we don’t have. Like I said, it’ll run, just not forever.”

  Dani watched Colt and Larkin pour the rest of the used oil into the tank in silence. They couldn’t leave without another vehicle. Not if they wanted to take the food from the restaurant, the water, and the empty containers for fuel.

  She glanced behind her at the street in the early morning light. After Colt’s run-in the night before, the sooner they hit the road, the better. She pulled the rifle off her shoulder and walked up to Colt. “I’m gonna scout for a car.”

  He stood up and wiped his hands on a rag. “Are you sure? Larkin and I can handle it.”

  “I’m going crazy standing around. Let me do it.”

  After a moment, Colt nodded. “All right. But as soon as you see something promising, come back and let us know.”

  She nodded and headed toward the road without another word. Melody and Will stood off to the side, watching Colt and Larkin finish up. Black circles cast deep shadows under Melody’s eyes, and Dani wondered if she’d come to terms with what happened in the parking lot. Dani didn’t doubt the necessity of Colt’s actions. If he believed those kids were a threat, then he should have shot them.

  Their world wasn’t an insulated, comfortable bubble anymore. It was rough and dirty and meaner than all get out. She used to wish her life was like Melody’s. A nice house, plenty of food in the fridge, a little dog to keep her company. But now she was almost thankful for her mother.

  If she hadn’t grown up part scavenger, part orphan, she would never be able to make the hard choices now. She would be too much like Melody. When confronted with her own safety, Melody could make the tough choices. But when someone else held the power, she couldn’t accept the same outcome. Dani hoped the woman would come around.

  She left the restaurant on the corner behind and darted across the road. The house across the street appeared vacant, with foot-tall weeds in the front yard and a broken front step. Dani skirted the house, hugging the siding as she tucked in between a bush and the exterior wall. The street turned residential fast, with nothing but houses as far as she could see.

  One of them would have a car.

  Taking off for the next house, she paused at the edge of the driveway. A single-car detached garage lurked in the back corner of the lot. Dani hustled toward it, ever mindful of her exposed position. She took cover behind the edge of the structure and searched for a window. Nothing.

  If she wanted inside, she would have to open the door. She glanced up. The house appeared dark and quiet, but not obviously empty. No trash strewn about. No broken window or porch swing. To open the garage door, she would have her back to the windows.

  Too risky. She pushed on, passing four or five more houses without success. At the next block, another garage caught her eye. The house it accompanied suffered more than the rest. Peeling paint. Cracked concrete, a basketball hoop without a net.

  Dani eased around the rear of the building, skirting a knocked-over trash can and pile of decomposing garbage. The air hung thick around her like a wet wool blanket, and she covered her nose against the stench. At least the rain held off.

  She ducked low, head barely clearing a row of bushes, and ran for the garage. The door was shut and Dani groaned in frustration. What were the chances a car still sat on a driveway in this neighborhood? From the looks of it, slim to none.

  The thugs who took on Colt the night before didn’t seem the type to discriminate between houses and restaurants. If something of value remained on this street after the power went out, it was long gone now. She sucked in a breath.

  I’ll have to risk it.

  Dani crouched low against the side of the garage and assessed the danger. Three windows on the back of the house, all dark and apparently empty. Line of sight from the garage door to the street and the house opposite. The wood fence running along the driveway obscured her approach from the house next door, but that didn’t bring her much comfort.

  I’ll be a sitting duck.

  With a deep breath, she pushed the rifle on her back and went for it. Darting to the door, she grabbed the black-painted metal handle and pulled. Paint flecked off in her hand, but the door only creaked in protest. She crouched low and tried again, putting her legs and back into the effort. The ancient wood groaned and shook and rose about a half an inch before Dani lost her grip.

  She staggered back and gripped her jeans above the knees. Air sawed in and out of her lungs.

  One more try. That’s all she would allow herself. Dani sucked in a breath, clenched her abs, and heaved. The door wobbled, rose an inch or two, and threatened to fall. But Dani refused to let go. Yanking with all her strength, she shoved the door up high enough to grab the bottom before it fell. With her shoulders and back joining the effort, the lumbering beast finally lifted.

  As it rocked back into place above her head, Dani sagged to her knees. Her lungs burned, her legs ached, but her eyes widened with hope. The grill of a rusty old pickup sat a foot from her face. She lurched upright and stumbled forward, gripping the dusty front fender for support as she eased around the vehicle.

  It hadn’t been driven in weeks, maybe months. A thin layer of dust and grime covered every inch. Dani wiped the crud off the dashboard with her sleeve. All dials, no computers. Had to be way older than her. Maybe older than Colt. She slid over and poked around the driver’s seat. No seatbelt.

  No keys.

  It didn’t matter. Lack of keys wasn’t much of an obstacle. She had to get the thing started. No way was she leaving it here for someone else to find while she ran back to get Colt or Larkin. She clambered out and glanced around the garage. Please be here, please.

  All she needed was a tool chest. Dodging cardboard boxes and piles of frayed towels, she found a cabinet in the back and tugged it open.

  She dug through the tools inside, shoving aside pliers and hammers until she found what she needed: a flat-head screwdriver. Dani almost whooped, but managed to keep quiet. She rushed back to the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat.

  With a good dose of brute force, Dani shoved the edge of the screwdriver under the plastic housing around the ignition and worked it back and forth. The housing popped off, exposing the inner gears. She jabbed the screwdriver into the hole in the center and twisted with all her might.

  Come on, come on. The truck turned over but wouldn’t start. She pumped the gas and tried again. Yes! It coughed and sputtered as it rumbled to life. Dani put the truck in drive and eased out of the garage.

  Screw waiting for Colt and Larkin. She could get them a car all on her own. With a grin on her face, Dani pulled out onto the road. She wasn’t the most talented driver, but she’d been behind the wheel more times than she could count thanks to her mom’s benders. The car theft came courtesy of one boy who thought they could bond over a life of crime.

  Never had she thought it would come in handy until now. Dani hit the gas and the truck rumbled down the block, across the street, and into the parking lot at Chili’s.

  Meandering over the speed bumps, she pulled the truck in at an angle next to the Humvee and killed the engine. Colt lowered his rifle as she opened the driver’s-side door
.

  Dani’s smile faltered as she hopped out. “What’s wrong?”

  “I almost shot you.”

  “I found us a vehicle.”

  Colt’s frown deepened. “You aren’t old enough to drive.”

  “Pfft. Says who? I’ve been driving since I was thirteen.”

  “Parking skills need some work.” Larkin walked around the truck from the other side. “But good job, kid. Where’d you find it?”

  “In a garage a few blocks from here. It was the only vehicle around.”

  Colt brushed past her and climbed halfway inside. “Where are the keys?”

  Dani shrugged. “I don’t know. I just popped the ignition. Works in beaters like this all the time.”

  Larkin raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  Colt poked around the seats before climbing back down. “You should have stuck to the plan and waited for us.”

  “I didn’t want to take the time. Besides, I never would have gotten the garage door back down. Someone else could have stolen it. It was the right call.” Dani didn’t know why Colt was acting like this. She thought he’d be happy. Proud, even.

  At last, he exhaled. “All right. Let’s pack up. We need to hit the road.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  DANI

  Highway 58

  Northwest California

  4:00 p.m.

  At fifteen years old, Dani had finally left the state of Oregon. So far, California looked a heck of a lot like her home state. Tons of trees, mountains that swooped and swelled, curvy two-lane roads. It wasn’t the glamorous escape she saw on TV.

  It wouldn’t ever be that again. According to Larkin, the cities were in chaos. Sacramento had been barricaded and left to burn, San Francisco was worse. There would be nothing left of Hollywood.

  She leaned forward in the Humvee and squinted. Colt drove the pickup in front, with Harvey, Gloria, and Will crammed in the bench seat beside him. Dani sat in the front of the Humvee with Larkin behind the wheel and Melody, Doug, and Lottie crammed in the back along with a couple jerry cans for fuel and all the weapons.

  Thanks to the pickup bed, they were able to bring the salvageable restaurant food and water along with a ton of other useful items. Everything from dish towels to silverware.

  The only problem was the Humvee’s filters. Thanks to the vegetable oil, the vehicle clunked and sputtered and the gap between them and Colt widened throughout the afternoon. Now Colt cruised about a half a mile ahead. They caught glimpses of him now and then, but the gap made Dani uneasy. Larkin didn’t seem to mind.

  She stared at the trees ahead. “How far are we from Tahoe?”

  “About a hundred and fifty miles. We should be coming up on Lake Almanor soon.”

  Dani glanced at Larkin. “Will we make it?”

  He sat up in his seat and examined the dashboard. “Maybe.”

  “Should we stop and let the Humvee cool down?”

  “No. I’m afraid if we kill the engine it won’t start up again. We’ll have to drive until it gives out.”

  Great. Dani turned back to the window. Were road trips always like this? Miles and miles of never-ending forest with nothing to do but stare out the window? She propped her chin in her hand and her gaze wandered.

  She blinked. The first time she only caught a glimpse and figured she must be imagining things. The second time, she bolted upright and squinted into the trees. “There’s another road! Just through the trees!”

  Larkin shrugged. “Probably a logging road.”

  “I don’t think so. There’s a car on it. It’s keeping up with us.”

  “You’re seeing things. Probably just a reflection off the mirror.”

  Dani shook her head. “I know what I saw. There’s a car over there. Silver or gray. It’s tailing us, Larkin.”

  He glanced over, but didn’t take his eyes off the road long enough to confirm her suspicions. “Keep watching. Tell me what type of car and what they’re doing.”

  She spun on him. “I can’t see anything but a blur. We need to warn Colt.”

  Larkin’s lips thinned into a line. “If someone’s tailing us, then it’s too late. Anything I do will put whoever’s over there on notice.”

  “So?”

  “Right now they’re just watching. If they know we’re onto them, it could escalate fast.”

  Dani slumped back in the seat. “So you’re going to do nothing? Colt’s in a beat-up old truck. At least we’re protected.”

  Larkin snorted. “No we’re not. This isn’t an up-armored Humvee, Dani. It’s regular issue.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s a metal can on wheels. We have no protection.”

  Dani swallowed. All this time she thought they were basically driving a tank that could go through anything. Bullets. Fire. A throng of angry people. Turned out she was wrong.

  Melody scooted forward and popped her head between the front seats. “Why does the army drive this thing if it isn’t protected?”

  Larkin puffed out his cheeks as he exhaled. “A million reasons. Budget, mostly. But time to produce, weight to transport, ease of use, too. Long story short, we’re no better off than Colt and Harvey up there. Maybe a fair bit worse.”

  Melody retreated into the back and Dani turned her attention to the tree line. The false sense of security she’d held onto for the entire drive disappeared. Unease and fear took its place. She squinted, hoping to catch a glimpse of the foreign car.

  Nothing.

  Settling into a scrunched-up ball with her knees on the seat, she kept her face an inch from the window. After another thirty miles of nothing, she gave up. “Whoever I saw is gone. Either the road curved away from the highway or they left.”

  “Good. Because I’ve got to take a leak.” Larkin hit the horn three times and slowed the Humvee. He pulled it over into the grassy shoulder and put it in park. “Keep it running, will you?”

  Dani nodded as Larkin hopped out.

  “I’ve got to stretch my legs.” Doug clambered out onto the edge of road.

  “Lottie needs to go, too.” Melody thrust the little dog out the open door and Doug took her before helping his sister.

  Dani stayed inside. She focused on the road up ahead. Colt should be turning around. He had to hear the horn. He wouldn’t leave them behind.

  “Come on, Lottie. I know you need to go.” Melody’s voice carried through the open doors, but Dani tuned her out.

  Where is Colt? She stood up and leaned across the driver’s seat. “Can any of you see the pickup?”

  Larkin traipsed out of the tree line and batted at the overgrown weeds. He stopped on the edge of the road. “Not yet. But I hear it, don’t you?”

  Dani couldn’t hear anything over the rumbling, choking engine of the Humvee. “Is he coming?” Something about the entire situation put Dani on edge. She needed to see Colt, alive and well, driving the pickup truck right back their way. “Anything?”

  Larkin stepped closer to the road. “Not yet.” He motioned to the others. “Get back in. We need to hurry in case he didn’t hear us.”

  As Melody hoisted herself up into the back, the first glint of sunshine on paint caught Dani’s eye. The pickup truck bounced into sight, four heads illuminated by the afternoon sun. She exhaled in relief. They were okay. They were coming back.

  Larkin waved once to let them know they were safe and heading out. Colt slowed the pickup. He waved in response and swung in a wide arc, turning the truck around.

  As Doug eased into the back, Larkin swung the driver’s-side door shut. He fell inside with a smile. “Let’s see if we can keep up this time, shall we?”

  He punched the gas pedal and the Humvee lurched forward. They trailed Colt’s pickup by about a hundred yards. As the truck rounded the corner in front of them, it disappeared behind the trees. Larkin cranked the wheel, following Colt as best he could.

  Dani eased forward in the seat, the momentary reprieve of seeing Colt now gone. The Humvee grum
bled around the corner and the trees thinned. Two hundred yards ahead, another road crossed the highway. Colt barreled along toward it, the pickup chugging along despite the four passengers and gear in the back.

  Larkin cursed under his breath and pumped the gas pedal. They slipped further behind. “Can’t you make it go any faster?”

  “Nope. This is it and we’re getting slower.”

  He focused on the dash as Dani turned back to the road just as the sun hit chrome. “Larkin!” She jabbed a finger toward the trees. “The other car. It’s back!”

  “Where?”

  “The cross street and coming fast.”

  Larkin hit the horn. Beep. Beep, beep, bbbbbeeeeeeepppppp. Colt’s brake lights lit up.

  Dani shook her head. “He can’t stop in the intersection! He’s got to stop now!”

  Larkin pressed down on the horn again, holding it on as he pushed the Humvee to catch up. It wasn’t enough.

  The silver car that had tailed them for miles burst into the clearing. Everything slowed. The breeze. The tires chewing up asphalt. The sleek silver muscle car as it headed straight for the pickup.

  Colt cranked the wheel. The muscle car screeched.

  Too little, too late.

  The car entered the intersection from the right while Colt banked hard to the left. The front fender of the car hit the truck smack in the middle. Metal crumpled. Backpacks and water bottles flew into the air. The truck’s tires came off the ground, but the car didn’t stop.

  It drove on like a battering ram, upending the pickup and sending it rolling and flipping over the ground again and again. Every time the wheels hit, the truck bounced, up and over, flip after flip.

  Dani stared in horror.

  Crumpled hunks of metal and food flew off in every direction. A jug of water. A can of apples. The tailgate.

  The trees finally stopped the truck’s relentless roll. It slammed into a stand of evergreens with a sickening crunch and dropped to the ground.