N87 Virus | Prequel |Outbreak Kadin, Karri (best english novels for beginners txt) 📖

gas like a dieter on a cheat day. The only gas station in town had a sign out front, “No gas”, and the pumps were blocked by cars so she didn’t bother stopping.

Within ten minutes, the Jeep roared onto the two-lane state highway that would take her the bulk of the way to her destination. The road was mostly deserted. Most evacuees must have chosen the interstate which was better maintained and had more lanes. She found herself going eighty and hitting the brakes when she saw the speed limit sign. A laugh escaped her lips when she realized what she had done, and then she pressed her foot on the gas.

“We should live a little before we die, Perrito.” Timber let out the equivalent of a dog sigh and looked out the window. Veronica rolled the window down halfway and he stuck his head out. His jowls flapped in the wind and he snapped at the air, trying to catch it in his mouth. Veronica laughed and Timber wagged his tail.

The surrounding fields were partially harvested. Large farm equipment sat in the middle of half processed fields, destined to never complete their reaping. Now and then she would spot a few figures off in the distance. It was impossible to tell if they were the sick or survivors. Trying to find out was too risky, so Veronica pressed on.

The highway was dotted with abandoned vehicles, but mostly it all seemed fairly ordinary. This wasn’t what the apocalypse looked like in the movies. Where were the hordes of zombies? Groups of scrappy survivors? Massive destruction? The sun was right above her now and her stomach growled. She reached in the back and pulled a can of Vienna sausage from her bag. As soon as she pulled back the tin lid, Timber’s face was back inside the Jeep; his big dark eyes jumped between the can and her. She tossed him a couple sausages before devouring the rest herself.

They passed a sign, “Walcaster exit 103.” Veronica glanced at the map and realized the first town they could not bypass was coming up soon. She rolled up Timber’s window despite his whining protest. She made sure the doors were locked, gripped the wheel with both hands, and focused on the road ahead. Timber was getting antsy. His paws danced on the seat as his butt wiggled. He looked out the window and whined.

“It is not the time to stop, Timber. No potty breaks until we are through the town.” She reached out and stroked his back until his jittering stopped.

Scattered buildings came into focus up ahead, and the speed limit signs counted down. They were almost there. Veronica slowed the Jeep as they passed by the carved wood “Welcome to Walcaster” sign surrounded by a patch of pink azaleas. The highway was more congested here, as it seemed to also be the main road in town. Vehicles parked in lines down both sides of the asphalt. Colorful tape surrounded a small lot, full of cars, with signs at the entrance, “$5 carnival parking.” A Ferris wheel that had seen better days stood a few blocks away. Dead bodies littered the sidewalks and streets. Some missing limbs, others were badly burned.

Veronica rolled to a halt at the only stoplight in town and gasped. Piles of rubble stood where buildings should be. A thick layer of soot covered almost everything. Footprints and other marks scattered across, leaving multiple intersecting trails. Colorful banners advertising funnel cakes and swirling rides still adhered to a few standing walls; twisted metal and blackened wood, the only reminders of the rides that had once been.

Her pulse raced. She drove over bits of rubble and around cars and other remnants of destruction. The further into town she went, the worse everything seemed. The carnival in the town square seemed to be the center of the blast radius. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned her head to look, whatever it was had disappeared. Timber’s fur stood on end and a low growl escaped his lips. More movement, this time to the opposite side. Veronica hit the gas, and the Jeep picked up speed.

She could see the edge of town when a woman suddenly jumped out in front of her. Veronica slammed both her feet onto the brake and the Jeep screeched to a halt. The woman smiled and held up her hands as she trudged to the driver’s side window. Timber kept his eyes locked on the woman and moved closer to Veronica. He was almost in her lap. The woman gestured for Veronica to open the window. Veronica moved forward again when the woman grabbed her door handle and pulled out a gun. Timber started barking at the woman.

Veronica’s stomach rolled, and she wrapped a shaky arm around Timber. She cursed herself for not pulling the gun from her waistband before she entered town. Four other people, all with guns pointed at her, quickly surrounded the Jeep. The only way out was to run someone over. Which she was not ruling out as an option, but would prefer not to. Veronica cracked the driver’s side window.

“Shut the damn dog up or I’ll shoot him,” the woman said. Veronica patted his side.

“Shh, Boy. Good Timber.” Timber’s barking ceased but his hackles stayed up and Veronica could feel the rumbles of small growls in his chest.

“Now, if you’d please step out of my new Jeep, I won’t have to shoot you. I’d really hate to dirty the interior.”

“Turn off the engine first,” one man said. Veronica didn’t see a way out without getting shot, and if she had to bet, she’d say everyone around her was an excellent shot. She killed the engine and popped open the door.

“Wait, wait, wait. You need to put that mutt on a leash. We can’t have him loose out here. He seems to have an attitude,” a burly man with a rifle said as he walked over and