Frankenstorm: Survivors Read Online Free PDF Page B

back and forth at top speed and the wind jostled the SUV as she drove, but all Latrice could hear was the grinding of her own teeth.
    She had crawled and climbed out of Giff’s demolished house, reminding herself over and over that she wasn’t in a nightmare. But that was what it had felt like, a frustrating nightmare that was enraging her, making the inside of her skull vibrate with anger. Crawling through the rubble and climbing over beams and collapsed walls, soaking wet from the rain, she’d tried to ignore the agonizing screams of one of the children coming from somewhere in the wreckage.
    Instead, she focused her thoughts on her own children and her mother waiting for her at home, probably worried sick, maybe following coverage of the hurricane on the news. Tamara and Robert were the reason Latrice had come to Eureka, especially Robert. If it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have to crawl out of a tree-crushed house in a hurricane. She’d be safe at home, warm and dry, nice and relaxed in front of the TV, or sitting at the kitchen table talking quietly with Mama over tea. The kids should be in bed now, but they weren’t, she was sure, because Mama hated to be the villain by prying them away from the TV and making them go to bed.
    If it weren’t for Robert’s mystery condition, she wouldn’t have needed that five thousand dollars Leland had promised her. It would have been useful, sure, but it wouldn’t be so desperately needed. She would have been able to pay so many bills with that money, would have been able to get some nasty, tenacious bill collectors off her back, have some much-needed repairs done on the Highlander and around the house. But it would have to go toward whatever tests Robert was going to need. And medical costs were so outrageously high that even then, five grand probably wouldn’t be enough.
    If she’d never had the kids, of course, her life would be very different. Less stressful, for one thing. She wouldn’t be under such a load of debt. She’d have more time—hell, nothing but time for herself. And most important of all, she would not have to crawl out of the remains of a demolished house in a fucking hurricane! She would have a life, her own life, and she could do just about anything she wanted. She’d have no one to worry about but herself.
    She’d thought of all the money and time spent catering to them, wrapping her whole life around them. Then what does Robert do? He gets sick with some kind of mystery illness and she would have to spend even more money on him.
    “Little shit,” she’d muttered. “Don’t know who the fuck he thinks he is . . . like I got nothing better to do with my goddamned time and money . . . Jesus Christ.”
    She had climbed out of what was left of a window. As strong as it was, the wind felt good on her face after crawling through that nightmarish obstacle course. She looked around and spotted her Highlander. The deputy’s car was still parked behind her, but she didn’t care. She’d take care of that.
    She’d gotten into the Highlander then and fished the keys from her pocket. There was an unpleasant sound inside the SUV, a thick crunching sound. She was grinding her teeth together. When she became aware of it, she stopped, but seconds later, she was doing it again.
    She’d started the engine, put her seat belt on, then put the Highlander in reverse and stomped on the gas pedal. The SUV rocketed backwards and slammed into the deputy’s patrol car. With the gas pedal on the floor, the Highlander shoved the car over the mud. She’d turned the SUV around as soon as she had room, but not without hitting the rear of one of the other SUVs parked in front of the house.
    “Cocksucker!” she shouted as she headed down the bumpy, narrow road. There was devastation on each side—trailers overturned, trees down. She had to drive off the road to go around a fallen tree. When she reached Emerald Canyon, she turned left.
    She decided she would go home.