Schism Read Online Free PDF

she opened her mouth. “We were here first. This food is ours,” she declared unapologetically and leaving little room for argument.
    “Just because you got here first doesn’t mean you can take everything that’s in there,” Jim countered.
    This only angered the girl more, but her friend stopped her before she could protest further. “We can share. There’s plenty in there for all of us.”
    Moments later a boy came out of the store carrying four or five plastic bags full of food. He headed directly to the minivan.
    “What, you taking everything?!” Jim scoffed as he watched the boy place the bags inside the van. Meanwhile, Ben drew a step closer to the group. The blond reacted by grabbing the brunette’s arm protectively.
    Ben examined the three strangers carefully. “What are two girls doing out here alone?”
    “They aren’t alone!” the boy called out as he slammed shut the rear door to the van.
    Ben squinted at the boy’s face. The resemblance to the brunette was undeniable. “You two related?”
    The boy gave a faint nod. “She’s my sister. Who are you?”
    “Ben…this is my cousin, Jim.” He looked directly at the blond as he spoke. Her unflinching gaze stared back. He tilted his head and said to her, “You guys aren’t from around here, are you?”
    “What does that mean?”
    “Especially you two.” Ben gestured toward the brother and sister. “Your accent. It’s different.”
    “Charlie and I are from England,” Morgan replied calmly in an attempt to ease the tension. “I’m Morgan. And this is Andy. She’s American.”
    Ben laughed at the word. “American? There’s really no America anymore.”
    “Yeah, we saw the Washington Monument,” Andy replied with biting sarcasm. “Now, we’ll share the food, but only if you can tell us where or how to find gas around here.”
    “This is the third vehicle we’ve driven in today, and it’s almost out of petrol…again,” Charlie added.
    Both Ben and Jim looked surprised. “You were lucky to find any car with gas,” Jim replied.
    “We’ll help you find gas, but it won’t be anytime soon,” said Ben.
    “Why’s that?” asked Andy.
    “Because there aren’t any airports nearby.”
    “Airports?”
    “Best secret ever. You’ll see.”
    Andy glanced at her friends with a look that said, should we trust these guys ?
    “We aren’t psycho killers or anything,” Jim assured. “We’re just heading west through Tennessee.”
    “What’s in Tennessee?” asked Charlie.
    “We’re just driving through. We’re not stopping there except to get gas,” Ben answered vaguely.
    Andy looked again at Charlie and Morgan for their thoughts. Both indicated that they should accept the offer. They had no plan, and their efforts to get out of DC had taken them far off course and onto a lonely stretch of highway in western Virginia.
    Andy turned back to the cousins. “Alright, we’ll follow you. But in case you’re lying, just know that we’re not just carrying these guns for the hell of it. We know how to use them.”
    Ben smiled back. “I have no doubt that you do.”
    ***
    “They’re pretty,” Jim said to his cousin once back in their truck.
    “Who, those girls?”
    “No, the trees on the side of road,” he retorted. “Yes, of course those girls. The tall one reminds me of Karen.”
    Ben’s hand clenched tightly around the steering wheel at the sound of the name, and Jim quickly changed the subject. “I wonder what their story is. Where do you think they’re from?”
    “England and America,” Ben said in a mocking tone.
    “Yeah, but where have they been? Something happened to her…Morgan. That bruise around her eye definitely has a story to it.”
    Ben nodded. “Somebody must’ve smacked her pretty hard.” After another moment, he said, “Hey, didn’t the other one say something about the Washington Monument? And now they’re headed south?”
    A mixture of concern and bewilderment slowly appeared on Jim’s face.