Exodus: Book Two: Last Days Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page B

wrecked or abandoned, some with doors ajar. The only sounds were the eerie blowing of paper debris in the Chicago wind.
    “Was there a plague?”
    Marcus grabbed Reggie’s hand and walked her into the street. They looked up and down the long, empty boulevard.
    “Do you think they closed down this entire section of town?” Reggie asked.
    “I don’t think so. But it’s so quiet. Do you hear anything?”
    “Nothing.”
    Marcus took a deep breath and bellowed, “Hello!” His empty greeting careened off the empty streets and buildings. “Oh, shit. I’m in a bad remake of The Omega Man .”
    “Oh no, Marcus, tell me a plague didn’t wipe us out.”
    “Reg, a plague didn’t wipe us out. I’m positive.” He started walking. “Beside it wasn’t that long ago I texted Herbie. I’m sure he would have mentioned a plague.”
    “Oh, shit, Marcus,” Reggie said. “It’s creepy... listen to our footsteps.” Reggie banged her foot loudly. The stomp reverberated like a wrench hitting a pipe. “This is really weird. Hello!”
    “Let’s just head back to the Institute to get my car,” Marcus said, dazed.
    “Marcus, something terrible happened, didn’t it?”
    “I don’t know.” Marcus took a step, his feet scuffling through the scattered papers. “I just know that...” Marcus stopped talking when a newspaper blew up at his chest and stuck to him. “Something is not...” He grabbed at the paper and turned pale. “Reg.”
    “What?”
    He showed her the headline. FIRE FROM THE SKY! Chicago Prepares for Evacuation . “That’s why they stopped digging,” he murmured.
    Marcus shoved the page of newspaper in his back pocket. “We have to get out of here.”
    “What did it say?” Reggie asked, as Marcus pulled her down the street. “When’s the fire supposed to come?”
    They turned the block. “Westing is this way. Not far.”
    “Marcus, when?”
    “Today. At noon.”
    Reggie shrieked.
    “Westing.” They arrived on the Institute grounds. “Please,” Marcus pleaded, “please let my car be in the parking lot.” He pulled Reggie in the direction of the lot, but stopped in front of the main building. “Oh, will you look at that,” he said with disgust. “Only the apartment wing was destroyed. That sucks.”
    “No, you know what sucks? You made us take the escape route,” Reggie said, laughing.
    “I thought it was the best... yes!” Marcus spotted his car. “It’s here.”
    “If we would have just gone my way, which was the front door, we would’ve gotten out,” Reggie said, still smiling.
    “But what if the whole building exploded?” Marcus said.
    “It didn’t.”
    “But what if did.” He neared his car and bent down at the back end.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Getting my spare key.” Marcus unscrewed the license plate, reached behind it and retrieved the key that was taped to it. “Here.” Marcus moved to the passenger’s door and opened it.
    Reggie tossed in the briefcase, and then got in. “Hurry, Marcus.”
    Marcus raced around the car, tossed in the duffel bag and got in. He started it up, then pushed it into gear, motioning his head to the phone charger between the seats. “Grab my phone from the briefcase, plug it in. Call home.” Turning to look behind, Marcus peeled out of the parking spot.
     

Seville, Ohio
     
    “Oh, look at you,” said Eliza, as Kyle limped in the door. “You poor man.”
    “Thanks,” Kyle responded. “I can’t believe they shot me in the goddamn leg.”
    George shook his head. “They could’ve killed you.”
    “Does it hurt?” Eliza asked.
    Kyle grimaced at her, then heard the phone ring. “It tickles. Can you...”
    “Sure.” Eliza stepped to the table by the couch, lifted the phone, and handed it to Kyle.
    With a ‘beep’ Kyle answered it, “Hello. Reg?” he gasped and spun toward George and Eliza. “It’s Reggie. Reg, where are you? Are you all right?”
    “Fine, Daddy. We’re in Chicago, heading out,” Reggie