Reset: A Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Fantasy (Contaminant Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was looking out the window, but his mind played a time-lapsed reel of civil collapse.  Anarchy was all around him, innocent people being struck down mercilessly.  Enraged citizens were running at him full force, slow motion, with their guns and melee weapons.  Michael was frozen in his waking nightmare.  Roaring in his face was the center-most assailant, a veiny, muscular, scary-looking, white male.  Sweat, thick and odorous, poured down his face and his hot breath smelled like rotten citrus fruit, sour and putrid.  In a deep, gravel-y, murderous voice, he said, “We need to stop and refuel.”
    ***
    “Hey, space cadet!” Anna called out, “We’re running low on fuel so snap out of it.”
    Michael blinked a few times, returning to reality, “What?”
    “We need to stop and refuel.  We need you alert.”
    They soon exited the interstate and drove a little further into the city.  They went from corner to corner, going over the plan to get in and get out quickly before they were found out.  The next corner they rounded held a plethora of abandoned vehicles.
    Peter drove right up to where they intended to go and left the car running.  It was quiet.  Leaves and trash could be heard scurrying about the ground.  Michael grabbed at the hose and gas can and hopped out of the car.
    Anna pointed with her head, “You ever syphon before?”
    “No, but I understand how.  I’ll find you if I need help.”  Michael turned to the first car near him and popped the gas door with the bent screwdriver.
    Peter and Anna began searching the cars for food or water or weapons or anything they could use.  They stayed together and didn’t go far.  By the time they returned, Michael had gotten enough to refuel their car.  He was filling up for a second time.
    Peter went around to the driver side of the car and popped the trunk, where Anna was waiting.  A couple duffle bags, about a dozen bottles of water, a few protein bars, extra clothes, a bag of chips were dropped off by the time Michael lugged the gas can over.  He swung it up and over the bumper and dropped it in the trunk. 
    Anna looked at her watch, “We made good time, guys.  You want me to drive, so you can get some rest?”
    Peter answered her by sitting down in the driver seat and closing the door.  “I’ve got a few more hours in me.”
    The other two climbed in and shut the doors and soon, the little blue Taurus was going eighty on the interstate.  Everyone seemed to relax more the further away they got from the earlier events of the day.  But Michael had a question that had been nagging at him ever since that morning.
    He sat up in his seat so that Peter and Anna in the front could hear him over the roar of the wind, “I have this question that’s been on my mind.  If it was so dangerous out here, why did you two risk it?”
    Peter only half-looked back at Michael, “They told us that they had the area secured and that nothing more than street gangs roamed about, protesting.”
    Michael looked confused, “The report was emailed...”
    Anna gave an irritated sigh, “Because nobody wants to eat synthetic food without a face to blame.  We gave our pitch months ago.  People were still thinking that this was temporary and wanted to hold off on a ‘radical’ approach.  We made our decision based on a government that was still in control…” She looked around her and grunted, “What matters now is getting that food out.”
                “Does your facility ever have to deal with mobs and stuff?”
                Peter looked at Michael through the rear-view mirror, “Yeah.”
    Michael sat back in his seat.  He felt satisfied, his curiosity, quenched. 
    Peter glanced back, “Can we get that phone from you?  Now is a good time to check in.”
    Michael didn’t protest.  He dug it out the front jacket pocket and handed it over, “1314 is the code.”  And with that, he locked his door and leaned back into the corner,