Riding The Apocalypse Read Online Free PDF

his hair was black and curly. Max actually looked like his name.
    When I called, Max had no idea what was happening. He had been at the garage since the wee hours of the morning using my tools to work on his Ducati motorcycle, his usual Sunday ritual. News media are not often heard on the iPhone I bought him as a gift and for work logistics. In fact, I am not sure he has ever used the internet access I pay for every month. If he was listening to anything while wrenching his beloved Italian Ducati motorcycle, it would be a cassette of eighties rock music playing on the last remaining boom box in the Western Hemisphere.
    “S’up, Rem?”
    “You watch the news today?” I asked.
    “Naw, man, just—”
    “Lock the fucking gate!” I shouted louder than I originally intended to.
    “Dude, I won’t forget, man, I was just tired last—”
    I interrupted him. “Shit’s going down. Before you go outside, look around, make sure the yard is clear. Then lock the gate. Oh, and take a tire iron outside when you go to the gate. If you see anyone walking around, don’t confront ’em. Just get inside after ya lock the gate. Lock the gate and stay inside. I got my key and will be there in a bit. And turn on the fucking office TV”—I glanced at my TV—“channel 245.”
    “What the hell, Rem? You sound—”
    “Just do it! Two forty-five!” I snapped. Damn, I hated raising my voice to Max. “I am on my way.”
    My phone rang seconds after I hung up with Max.
    It was Emily.
    My heart skipped a beat. That heart fluttering was disconcerting, unexpected, and unwelcome. Damn it, this was going to make things complicated.
    “Remy, I am on my way to Mom’s. Oh my God, it’s crazy out here. There are police and military everywhere,” she said, almost whispering.
    “Probably National Gua—”
    “Remy, I saw one,” she murmured.
    I sat down. “Where? Are you safe?”
    “It was on Page Mill, it was trying to get into the car in front of me. It…she…was a woman, I think? She was so pretty, but—” Emily had to catch her breath. “But, but she was trying to get into the car. She was moaning so loud and clawing at the windows.” Emily started to cry.
    “It’s okay, Em, just take a deep breath.”
    “Then the car just took off and hit the side of the car in front of it. It clipped the bumper and kept going. It was so loud! She…it…turned toward me, Rem. She was right in front of me. Her eyes were so black. I hit the gas and went into the grass and drove around her. She had blood all over her blouse, and her face was so pale. I might have nicked her on the way around, I don’t know.”
    “Just relax, concentrate on your driving. How close are you to your mom’s house?” I asked.
    She muttered something unintelligible between sobs and that’s when I said it. Oh brother. I didn’t want to, didn’t plan to, but there it was. I was shocked as the words came out of my mouth. “You and your mother should not be alone. Do you want me to come get you and her? We are going to hole up in the garage till this gets under control.”
    “Oh, Rem!” She cried harder.
    “I can get there, I know the back roads. We have a bathroom at the garage, and you and your mom could stay in my office. It’s fairly isolated and well fenced.” I could not believe I was saying this. “Just give me a few min—”
    As I started to lay out the framework in my mind’s eye of how I was going to get there, get them, and make it back, Emily broke into my thought process.
    “Rem, thank you but we will be okay.” She spoke in a controlled voice. “We will not be alone, my friend, he—”
    “Got it,” I cut her off, relief and jealousy surging within me.
    I had a feeling she was seeing someone else. I could tell by her demeanor of late. But who was I to judge? And anyway, it never stopped us from seeing each other before.
    “That is your decision; if you reconsider, call me.”

Chapter 4
     
    “No worries, Rem, loud pipes save lives,