Devastation Erupts Page 5

  My stomach churns with nervous anticipation as I scan the screen. We’re only twenty minutes away from Jasmine’s house. And Aidan. I hope.

  Chapter 15

  We pass a few cars and trucks as we drive, but we’re too focused on our plans to pay them much attention. Now that we have clear directions, Riley’s mood turns inquisitive.

  “So, Aidan, Jeff, and Jasmine are all college friends, right?”

  “Yep,” I affirm. “They were heading south on Route One when the earthquake happened. So they were stranded like us.” She nods.

  “Yeah, I remember now. So it will be Jasmine, Aidan, Jeff, and then Jasmine’s parents?” she continues, biting her lower lip.

  “No one ever mentioned if Jasmine has any siblings, but I think one version of Jasmine running around in the world is enough. Oh, and don’t forget Chris. You didn’t meet him, but he should be there too. He’s ten and he’s kind of a pain but he should be Jasmine’s parents’ problem now. They’re adults. They’ll know what to do with him.”

  She nods, keeping her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Quinn, how are we going to explain the car and supplies to everyone? I mean, we’re sworn to secrecy but of course they’re gonna ask how we suddenly have the means to get home.”

  I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Which actually isn’t very far ahead now, considering we have less than half an hour to figure this out.

  “Well,” I start, thinking as the words tumble out. “Maybe we can just be vague and tell them as little as possible.”

  “I know!” Riley exclaims. “We’ll park the car a street away and walk to Jasmine’s house. Then if we can just get the guys and leave, we’ll tell them about the car and lead them back to it. We don’t have to tell Jasmine’s whole family about any of it.”

  “Yeah, I like that,” I nod. “I really just want to head north as soon as we can. And, we’re going to have to explain to the guys why we’re stopping in Maryland to give someone a satellite phone!”

  “Yeah, Bowen knows we’re trying to find our friends so that we can all head home together. He must know we can’t keep absolutely everything he said a secret.” I silently nod in agreement, crossing my arms. I didn’t really think about all this when I was being sworn to secrecy.

  Silence engulfs the car for just a moment before Riley whispers, “Where do you think Jim is?” Thoughts swirl through my mind, just beyond reach when I attempt to grasp conclusions. With everything happening and the rush of leaving the base, I almost forgot that Jim is out there somewhere. I wonder if he knows I’m the one they brought Riley to see. If he does, he’s probably pretty ticked off at me right not.

  “I really don’t know,” I admit. “I never thought he’d just up and run. I figured he’d stay at the base with Dan. Maybe he actually figured out that kidnapping is a crime—even when the world goes to crap.”

  I glance out the window, as if Jim might magically appear because we’re talking about him. Instead the city has faded into outskirts. Convenience stores and fast food restaurants crop up intermittently, interspersed among apartment buildings and boxy brick houses. Riley’s voice pulls me from the scenery.

  “When I was with them,” she says slowly. “Dan told me that Jim is in love with me.” She shoots me a side eye to gauge my reaction. My stomach churns as I process her words. I fight the urge to grind my teeth and ball my hands into fists. She doesn’t need my anger, but it’s blazing just below the surface.

  “Seriously?” I question. “That asshat doesn’t love anyone but himself!” I brace myself for the guilt she typically wields when I’m rude, but she surprises me with a short burst of laughter.

  “You’re right, Quinn. I think you were right about a lot of things when it comes to Jim.” She pulls her eyes from the road to meet mine momentarily. I’m stunned silent. Right about now, the Riley I know would be lecturing me about only seeing the worst in people. This new Riley isn’t so bad. When I don’t respond, she continues.

  “I bet he’ll stay near the base, near Dan.” The slight flicker of her eye confirms that she believes that statement about as much as I do. I’d like to agree with her theory, but the chill slinking along the nape of my neck says otherwise.

  Changing the subject, Riley quietly asks, “Does it bother you that the sergeant is rushing us so much? If the guys are still at Jasmine’s house, we have to convince them to leave really fast.”

  “Honestly,” I shrug. “All I’ve wanted since this whole mess started was to go home. The sooner we can get there, the better. And without the sergeant’s offer, we’d still be sitting on that base wishing for a way home.”

  Keeping her eyes fixed on the road, she slowly nods in agreement. We fall silent as the robotic GPS voice commands our next moves. Following the directions, we wind our way over back roads and down neighborhood streets. The closer we get to Jasmine’s house, the stronger my nerves jitter. I doubt Jasmine will be happy to see us, but obviously Aidan wanted me to find him again. I wouldn’t even know where they were if he didn’t write down Jasmine’s last name so that I could look up her address.

  Although dusk has fallen, and the streets are quiet, a sense of near-normalcy hovers just beyond our windows. A woman walks a leashed dog on the sidewalk. Vein-like cracks wind through the concrete. I’m guessing those are courtesy of the earthquake, or maybe the aftershocks. The pair pauses so he can saturate a collapsed fire hydrant. She waves as if we’re neighbors. I hesitantly return the gesture.

  Only small hints of destruction linger. Either this area wasn’t hit as hard as the northern states or they were able to repair some damage rather quickly.

  Two-story homes with lush green lawns line the street. Occasional patches of upturned grass suggest that something crushed the previously-healthy landscape, but has since been cleared away.

  Beds of blooming wildflowers intersperse between streetlamps along the sidewalks. Most are lit, but some appear to have shattered. No glass shards rest at the base, confirming that whatever dropped there was tended to, even if the bulbs have yet to be replaced.

  As we roll past the occupied homes, I catch glimpses of normalcy within their walls. A family gathers for an evening meal. White light emanates from a static-filled television. A cat lazily glances out a window.

  Jealousy tinges my thoughts. Were these people even remotely impacted by the earthquake that devastated so many others along the East Coast? Like us.

  Most houses appear to have electricity. The people in this neighborhood have mostly restored their homes to order. Although we don’t pass many cars or people on the streets, it’s clear that life is chugging along just fine here.

  The female guidance system voice cuts through the silence. “Your destination is just ahead on the right.” Riley throws me a knowing nod and proceeds past Jasmine’s house. We park the car around the corner a block away and stash our supplies in the trunk.

  I lead the way to 16 Larkspur Lane. Depressing the circular doorbell, I step back and inhale a deep breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the movement of Riley’s wringing hands.

  Chapter 16

  Movement blurs behind the rectangular stained-glass center of the navy-blue door. Shadows swallow the warm background light as a figure approaches. The handle twists a moment before the door swings inward.

  Surprise washes over a familiar face as her eyes widen and her mouth drops. In this moment, all prior misgivings are forgotten. Jasmine was never my favorite person, but finding her brings me one step closer to finding Aidan and Jeff. And once they walk through this door, we can set off on our journey home together.

  A smile tugs at her lips. “You found us.”

  I return her smile and nod my head. “We did. And we found each other.”

  “Who is it?” a deep male voice calls from inside the house. Ignoring it, Jasmine remains planted in place, focused on her unexpected guests. She shifts her attention from me.

  “Riley?” A smile blazes across Jasmine’s face. “It’s really you?” R
iley nods shyly.

  As if suddenly remembering proper etiquette, she swings the door open wide and waves her hand as if presenting her home to us. “Come on in, the guys are still here. And you can meet my parents.”

  Her parents. A twinge of jealousy slices through my initial feeling of triumph at having found the others. Riley and I take two hesitant steps over the threshold when the owner of the deep voice that called to Jasmine earlier appears.

  “Jasmine, are these the friends that went to Langley?” he asks, towering over us. I’d guess he’s nearly 6’ 6” tall. His intimidating frame is balanced by a welcoming broad smile.

  “Yeah, Dad,” Jasmine answers, turning toward him. “This is Quinn and Riley.” Tilting her head back to us, she adds. “And this is my dad.”

  His dark complexion mirrors Jasmine’s, yet he radiates a genuine friendliness that his daughter does not. At least not upon first impression. He runs a hand over his bald head before extending it toward us.

  “It’s nice to meet you girls. I’m Lucas. I heard how you stuck together to get down here safely. That was a smart move.” He begins to mutter under his breath before Jasmine jabs an elbow into his ribs, abruptly stopping the flow of words. “And a certain young man’s been talking about one of you almost nonst—”

  “Dad!” Jasmine warns, shooting him a threatening glare. Releasing a chuckle, he runs a hand over his head again. Maybe that was a nervous habit from when he had a full head of hair.

  “Right, anyway, come on in,” he offers, beckoning us further into the house. Like magnets, my eyes are drawn to Riley’s in a side glance. We don’t have time for this. I just want to get the guys and get on the road. As I’m about to explain that we can’t stay, clomping footfalls echo through the hallway before us.

  “Quinn!” Smiling eyes peek out from behind shaggy blond bangs. Chris hurtles toward me and throws his arms around my waist. I recover from the momentary surprise at his warm welcome—I barely know the kid. He appears to be the same unpredictable ten-year-old that barely bid me farewell a few days ago at the base.

  Glancing around self-consciously, my tension melts when I see Jasmine and her dad smiling at Chris warmly. Riley just watches raptly. She never met Chris. Aidan and I had found him at the trailer park when we were looking for Riley.

  “Hey, Chris,” I begin, “this is my sister, Riley. You didn’t get to meet her yet.” Riley bends down to his level, but before she can say anything, he grabs my hand and pulls me down the hallway, calling back.

  “I know that’s your sister. Come see Aidan and Jeff!” In an effort to ensure that my shoulder remains in its socket, I loosen my instinctual resistance and let the kid drag me away.

  Chapter 17

  Although the surroundings are mostly a blur as Chris tugs me down a hallway and around a corner, I catch snippets of vibrant colors and modern décor. He stops abruptly when we reach a sunken living room.

  Unfortunately, my legs receive the message a little too late, and my body crashes into his, sending us both stumbling down the hardwood steps. We both catch ourselves, thankfully, before either of us collide with the glass coffee table.

  As I catch my breath and smooth the hair out of my eyes, a familiar voice confirms my suspicion that an audience had witnessed our grand entrance.

  “There’s the graceful girl I remember! Quinn, how the heck are ya?” Jeff jumps up from an indigo, wrap-around couch, springing to my side.

  My cheeks scorch to a deep crimson. “Hey, Jeff, good to see y—” he pulls me into a bear hug, practically squeezing every last molecule of oxygen from my lungs. When he releases me, I take an unsteady step backward to maintain balance and take in his appearance. His short brown hair is starting to grow out, reaching a slightly unwieldy length. His hazel eyes radiate happiness as he shifts focus.

  Jeff brushes past me to approach my sister. “Riley?” His eyes twinkle with amusement while a smirk dances across his lips. She nods shyly and he rests a hand on her shoulder. “It’s great to see you again too.” She flashes a toothy smile in response.

  “Quinn…is that you?” My stomach flutters and my cheeks flush. It’s only been a few days, but I’d know that voice anywhere. I slowly turn toward him.

  Aidan and a middle-aged version of Jasmine teeter on the top step leading into the living room. Their arms are loaded with snacks: a bowl of popcorn, a plate of chocolate chip cookies, and a platter of cheese and crackers.

  The woman hops down the two hardwood steps and plops the refreshments on the coffee table. Aidan follows and quickly empties his hands too. They face us, wearing matching expressions of curious disbelief.

  “Well, hello,” she says, reaching out for a welcoming hug. “I’m Jasmine’s mom, Celina. I’ve heard a lot about you girls,” glancing at my sister, she adds, “both of you.” After a brief but warm embrace, she sidesteps to Riley and does the same.

  Aidan takes her place before me. The smile spreading across his lips reaches his blue eyes, which blaze with wonder. My insides twist with nervous exhilaration. He leans in close and speaks softly, as if his words are meant only for me.

  “You did it. You found your sister and you found us.” He shakes his head in mock disbelief. Pride swells within me, painting a goofy smile that must dominate my face.

  “Well, you know, I had a little bit of help along the way,” I remind him in a near-whisper. In that moment, the room and everything in it fades away. The only sounds come from within: a deep thudding in my chest and the rapid exhalations escaping my mouth.

  A strong arm wraps around my shoulder, yanking me from the dream-like trance.

  “Hey, guys,” Jeff announces. I notice his other arm is draped over Aidan’s shoulder. “You know, there are like six other people here! Maybe you could take a detour to Couplesville later and join the rest of us now.”

  Once again, my cheeks flush crimson and the adrenaline rush commands me to seek an exit. The long orange-and-white paisley curtains dangle just over the hardwood floor. If there was some sort of distraction, maybe I could dash behind the bright swaths of fabric and hide for the rest of the night.

  When Jeff retrieves his arms, Aidan and I both take an instinctual step backward.

  Without hesitation, Jasmine’s mom breaks through the awkwardness with animated gestures. “Everyone, sit. Sit down and relax.” Her hands fly through the air faster than her words, motioning everyone toward the lush couches and recliners. We scramble to sit, as if the tune was just cut off in a game of musical chairs.

  I land on the middle cushion of the sofa, planted between Riley and Jeff. Jasmine’s parents lead the conversation, asking us about our time on the base. Riley and I answer as vaguely as possible, but each answer leads to another question.

  Chris scamps about the room, swooping toward the coffee table every few minutes to swipe a cookie. But otherwise, he doesn’t pay much attention to the discussion. I can’t mask the smile tugging at my lips as my eyes trail his gleeful movements. He looks genuinely happy, in complete contrast to the uncertain, lonely kid Aidan and I first met at the trailer park.

  For a moment, I wish my biggest concern was how many cookies I could stuff into my mouth before my stomach threatened to revolt. I shake my head, willing myself to return to the adult conversation.

  Jasmine’s dad is explaining that he’s a doctor, and he’s not too pleased to hear about the required vaccination for anyone entering the base. The whole topic sends rushes of heat through my core, seemingly spiking the temperature in the room to an unbearable level. My palms slicken and my forehead beads with perspiration.

  I hate knowing the truth and not being able to share it. These are obviously good people and withholding what I know feels like lying. Like a betrayal. But telling them would break my promise to the sergeant. And without his help, we wouldn’t be here right now. And we wouldn’t be one step closer to getting home.

  I’m yanked from my internal struggle when the voices around me rise. Jasmine’s dad questions her. I ge
t the feeling this scene has played out several times over the past few days.

  “Did they tell you what they were injecting you with?” he asks impatiently. “Did they ask if you had any allergies? Because that’s the first thing to consider.”

  “Dad, they didn’t really ask. They just told us we were getting the vaccine,” she explains.

  “For what purpose?” he demands.

  “I told you already. They said that they had to protect all the people on the base, so they didn’t get sick from being exposed to all kind of germs from people showing up.”

  “But you specifically told them you weren’t going to stay, so why would they still vaccinate you?” he questions. Jasmine’s mom steps between them, placing a gentle hand on her husband’s arm.

  Guilt sinks in my gut like lead. My gaze drops to the floor in a lame attempt to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes. I know we can’t tell them what the sergeant told us. I barely know Jasmine’s family, but they deserve to know what their daughter was injected with.

  “Lucas, that’s enough. She’s already told you what she knows.” He rubs his face with the palms of his hands. Visibly relaxing, he steadies the tone of his voice.

  “You’re right,” he agrees. Turning to Jasmine he says, “I’m sorry, honey. It just bothers me so much that they did that, and we don’t even know what it is or what the potential side effects are.”

  “There’s nothing we can do about it now,” Jasmine’s mom says quietly. Placing his hands on his hips in an attempt to look stern, he shakes his head in defeat.

  “I have half a mind to go down there myself and demand to know what they’re injecting people with,” he says.

  Jasmine rolls her eyes. “Do that and they’ll inject you too!” Her words shatter the tension and the room erupts in laughter.