Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Something scrapes against my leg and I shudder to wonder just what all is floating around beneath the surface. There could be jagged pieces of metal or hunks of concrete or massive glass shards. Not to mention dead bodies and sharks. In the water is not my favorite place to be, but I can’t leave the poor dog all alone.
If Jesse were here, he’d get that dog.
I’m doing this for my brother.
The swell of another wave sends me hurtling to my destination but quicker than I expect. I hit the side of the concrete on the building, knocking the breath out of me. Something hard bangs into my arm.
That’s going to leave a bruise.
Grunting with exertion, I fight against the waters as I’m tossed continuously against the side of the building until I reach the fire escape. The dog is on the landing another level up. When I finally climb from the water, I’m battered and exhausted. I don’t know how in the hell I’ll make my way back with a dog in tow. Didn’t really think that one through too well.
“Tyler!”
Kellen is pissed based on the way he stalks up and down the ledge of the roof like a ferocious lion. So much for apocalypse partners. Guilt niggles at me for going rogue. I really fucked that one up.
The dog howls pitifully and scratches at the metal, trying to get to me. I take my focus off Kellen and use the last of my energy to climb the ladder until I reach the landing. I step over the railing and don’t even have to bend all the way down to pick up the dog. It launches itself several feet from the ground right into my arms. A laugh bursts out of me as it starts licking my chin and jaw.
“Hey there,” I say, grinning at the happy pup. “And just yesterday, I didn’t think you liked me in the elevator.”
The dog yaps, tongue lolling out before licking me again. I squeeze it to me, kissing the top of its furry head. Its collar jingles, drawing my attention. I grab hold of the metal circle hanging from the soaked collar to look for its name. Pretzel.
“Pretzel? Is that your name, buddy?”
Pretzel howls and whines. I snuggle him to me. Since his owner is nowhere to be found, I’d say it’s safe to assume she perished when the tsunami hit. There’s no telling how long this poor dog was here, exposed to the elements without food or water. My heart aches knowing he was all alone.
“Not anymore,” I murmur. “You’ve got me now.”
“Tyler!”
I point to Kellen. “Him too, Pretzel. He’s super pissed I rescued you, though.”
Beyond Kellen’s yelling and cursing, the whistles of the wind and sloshing waves, and Pretzel’s barking, I hear something else. A rumbling sound. A motor perhaps?
I attempt to shush the dog, but he’s too happy to be rescued. I’m scanning the horizon when something rounds the side of the building.
A boat!
This one is manned, too. I can see people on it. Kellen has stopped yelling my name and is now waving wildly toward the boat. Pretzel yowls and I also wave to the newcomers.
We’re going to be rescued.
This nightmare will soon be over.
As the boat comes into view, I recognize it. My heart hammers double time inside my chest. Is this a dream? This can’t be real.
Voices holler from the boat.
Voices I know.
Voices I love.
Holy shit.
“Aaron! Jesse!” I bellow, hot tears filling my eyes and causing me to choke on my words. “Here! Over here!”
The Angler-traz’s motor cuts off and then it drifts with the waves until it’s bobbing between me and Kellen. Jesse launches out a floating life ring that’s attached to a rope. I scramble down the ladder and into the water with Pretzel tight in my grip and then grab onto the life ring. Clinging onto it with one arm and the dog in the other, I let Jesse reel me in. When I reach the side, a teenage girl materializes in time to pull Pretzel from my arms. Then both of my brothers are there, grabbing my biceps and hauling me onto the boat.
“You’re here,” I croak out in awe as my brothers take turns squeezing the life out of me. “You came for me. How?”
Aaron takes my face in both of his hands, grinning at me. “I knew you were in the financial district when the waves hit. If anyone could survive, it’d be you.”
We hug again, this time for longer. Both of us tremble as tears of joy escape us. Once composed, he pulls away to look at me again.
“When the rain stopped, we came looking for you. I heard someone yelling your name, so we followed the sound. And then, there you were. Randomly holding a dog in nothing but your underwear on the side of a building in typical Tyler fashion.”