Badlands Trilogy (Book 2): Beyond the Badlands Read Online Free PDF

the ceiling.
    Lying on her back, she blinked, slow to wrap her head around this complete upheaval of her senses. She sat up and looked around, locking eyes with a dead woman. The woman’s neck twisted in an unnatural angle, a trickle of fresh blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
    Trish’s head throbbed as her vision blurred. She closed her eyes. It took only a few moments for awareness to return. The bombs, the train, the crash. Her head…she must have smacked it hard.
    Opening her eyes, she stood. The world spun around her. She felt sick. She gripped one of the seats hoping it would pass. It didn’t.
    She needed to find Ed and the boys. Focusing herself, she searched the car. Moments later she spotted a small body lying amongst the debris.
    Jeremy.
    Eyes closed and unmoving.
    Fighting the dizziness, she walked to the boy. Fearing the worst, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gently shook him.
    He didn’t respond.
    Oh, God, no…
    Then his eyes fluttered. He opened them and looked around. “What happened?”
    Relief overwhelmed her. “We crashed, honey,” she said, smiling despite how bad she felt. “We need to find your brother and father now.”
    Jeremy nodded, pulling himself up slowly. He sat for a moment before standing.
    Around them, a few more survivors came around. Those on their feet clamored to get out of the car. A few of the injured passengers moaned from the floor.
    As she glanced toward the back of the car she saw just how bad the destruction was. It looked as if the entire back end of the passenger car had been crumpled by a giant.
      Her head pounded worse now, the pain threatening to overwhelm her. She lifted her head to look for Zach, but instead saw Jeremy standing halfway up the length of the train car.
    “He’s here!” Jeremy cried, waving and pointing. “I found Zach!”
    Trish took a step toward them, the dizziness seizing her. She looked down to see a dead man’s fingers beneath her foot. He stared back at her with empty eyes. She closed her eyes and waited for the dizziness to pass.
    When she opened them again Zach was sitting up. She could see a small cut on his cheek, but he otherwise appeared unharmed. With his younger brother’s help he got to his feet and walked back to where Trish stood.
    “Where’s Dad?” Zach asked.
    Trish looked around. She saw lots of debris and more than a few bodies. Ed was nowhere to be seen. “I don’t know.”
    “We have to find him,” Jeremy said, the concern obvious in his voice.
    Trish nodded. “We will, baby. We just need to-”
    The shrill cry of a carrier echoed inside the passenger car.
    Zach audibly gasped. Another piercing screech ripped through the car, drawing their attention to the door. A carrier limped in through the opening and lunged at the nearest passenger, burying its teeth into her face. The few passengers still inside the car shrieked, racing away from the attack. Behind the carrier chewing on the woman another appeared, quickly pouncing on an injured man. Skin and blood few, coating the wall.
    Trish felt a hand grip her arm. She turned to see a guardsman in black. Tall and dark, he towered above her.
    “We need to leave,” Tall Guard said, tugging on her arm.
    She pulled away. “I can’t. I have to find someone first,” she said. “The boys’ father...he’s...”
    He shook his head. “There’s no time for that! Deadwalkers are all over the place.”
    “I can’t leave him!”
    “We have to find our dad!” Jeremy yelled.
    Tall Guard glanced at Zach and Jeremy. “If you stay here those boys will die. Then finding their father won’t matter.”
    Trish stood, confused but defiant.
    “You need to come with me right now . Our guys will be behind us. They’ll find him.”
    That helped convince her. No matter how much she didn’t want to leave Ed behind, Trish knew she couldn’t risk the boys’ lives. “Okay.”
    “No!” Jeremy wailed.
    Trish shook her head; splitting pain and nausea followed.