Broken Roads: A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World (Broken Lines Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

him. He could only hear the shuffling of feet and the murmur of voices.
     
    “This is all they have?”
     
    “Yeah, I searched these two and that’s it.”
     
    “What about the other guy? What’s he got?”
     
    Before the man could get close Mike kicked the man’s knee sending him to the floor with a thud.
     
    “Goddamn asshole!”
     
    “Grab his legs, Tim.”
     
    “Screw it. It’s not worth it. Let’s just grab the rest of this shit and go, man.”
     
    Tim sent a nice right cross to Mike’s cheek before he left. Mike’s ears rang. His mind went foggy with pain. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to orient himself.
     
    The sobs coming from Mike’s left gave him a point to focus on. They grew louder until they completely replaced the ringing caused by the punch. He looked over at Sean who was struggling to free himself.
     
    “Sean, are you okay?” Mike asked.
     
    “I can’t move my arms,” Sean replied.
     
    “Just hang on, buddy. Nelson,” Mike said. “Nelson!”
     
    Nelson didn’t move. Mike jerked his wrists attempting to free himself, but it was useless. He bent over and started tearing the tape with his teeth. He picked at the tape over and over until he finally had a tear. He tore the piece, splitting the duck tape in half. He yanked his hand free and peeled the tape off his other wrist.
     
    Sean was squirming, trying to get free. Mike had to climb over Nelson to reach Sean whose tears were streaming down his face.
     
    “Dad! Dad!” Sean cried.
     
    “Hold on, Sean.”
     
    Once Sean was unbound Mike pressed his fingers against Nelson’s neck to check for a pulse. Mike leaned in and listened to see if Nelson was breathing. Nelson was breathing and Mike could feel the faint beat of a pulse.
     
    “Stay here, Sean,” Mike said.
     
    Mike tore out of the emergency exit and glanced around in the darkness, but the attackers had vanished. Lightning streaked across the sky followed by a deep, rolling thunder.
     
    When Mike entered the plan Sean was resting his head on Nelson’s shoulder, hugging his dad.
     
    “Sean,” Mike said.
     
    Sean ignored him. Mike reached his hand, placing it on Sean’s arm, but Sean jerked it away violently.
     
    “Leave me alone!” Sean said.
     
    It wasn’t any use trying to argue. The kid was scared, tired, and the one person who could help him was lying unconscious right in front of his eyes. Mike walked back over to the entrance of the plane to keep watch. He pulled the gun from the back of his waist and clicked the safety off. In between the cracks of thunder he could hear Sean’s faint whimpers.
     
    ***
     
    “Dad?” Sean asked.
     
    Mike’s attention switched from the water dripping from the plane’s emergency exit frame back to Sean and Nelson.
     
    “What happened?” Nelson asked.
     
    “How are you feeling?” Mike asked.
     
    Nelson touched his finger to touch the outline of the lump on the left side of his head and winced when he made contact.
     
    “It was a rough night,” Mike said.
     
    Nelson, still disoriented, turned to his son.
     
    “You all right, buddy?” Nelson asked.
     
    Sean wrapped his arms around his father, burying his face into his shirt. Nelson cradled the back of his son’s head as he rested against him. His eyes looked up into Mike’s.
     
    “Did they take everything?” Nelson asked.
     
    “All of our packs are gone,” Mike answered.
     
    “Well, I’m glad you two are okay. What are we going to do now?”
     
    Mike had thought about that all night. He thought about how they were going to finish the trip to the cabin that was at least another three full days of walking without any food or water. He knew the further they traveled into Ohio where the cabin was located the fewer towns there’d be to try and gather supplies. Right now the only place that was close enough to do them any good was the one place Mike wanted to avoid.
     
    Nelson noticed Mike glancing back toward Pittsburgh International