Road to Clover (The Breanna Raven Series) by Katarin Haley Pope Page B

Enlightened,” I say as I start reading the paper again.
    He nods and says, “We need to keep going.”
    I fold mine, as well, and I stick it in Agni’s backpack. It’s easier than taking mine off, unzipping it, putting the piece of paper inside, zipping it again, and then putting it back on. Just thinking about doing all that is exhausting.
    Before continuing, I pick up Miss Kiki. She doesn’t fight me, which I’m surprised. She usually barks at me if I even try to reach for her, but she relents today. I guess because my mom and Chloe aren’t around, she realizes I’m the next best thing to family as she’s going to get.
    We notice as we go further down the road that there are a lot less dead bodies. I hate looking at them, anyway. All of those poor people are just gone, dead on the side of the road, and no one to bury them. There has to be another way to get to our destination. Calla Lily is the only road, but there’s a more scenic route to take.
    “Hey, Agni, ” I call to him. “There used to be a path in the woods to our left that will take us to Allium Center. Is it still there?”
    “ Yeah, Fuji Mum Trail, but we have to go through the brush to get to it. It’s not that far away.”
    “I think we need to take that route. I’m going to have nightmares if I continue walking next to all these dead people. Not to mention, it smells awfully bad out here.”
    “There’s an opening up ahead about a quarter of a mile that will lead us to the trail. We’ll get off the road up there.”
    Good , and I can’t wait to get there. I decide to let Miss Kiki walk. There’s still plenty of propaganda flying around, but I’m dragging her along hoping to keep her attention ahead.
    As we’ re approaching the clearing, I notice all of the doors facing inside of the road are opened. Agni is glancing in each car, but he isn’t stopping. I’m trying to keep up with him, but it’s taking me a little longer to look in each one. It’s creating a huge gap between us.
    Right after he rounds a red car and head towards the clearing, I happen to see a cooler in the backseat of a SUV, and it’s the only vehicle with the doors closed. I can’t help it. I have to try the handle. I pull on it, and to my disappointment, it’s locked. I try the front side driver’s door, and it’s locked, too. I refuse to go to the passenger side near the grass. I don’t want to get close to the bodies.
    Miss Kiki starts barking and pulling at the leash. I snap at her, but she’s furiously barking and lunging. I look up and see a guy coming towards us, and he’s running with a bat in his hands. He looks like a maniac with his eyes wide open, and I can hear his heavy breathing. I pull Miss Kiki back to me, grab her, and I run around the SUV trying to get away from him.
    The next thing I hear is the shattering of glass. He’s taken the bat to the driver’s side door, and before I realize it, he’s already inside. The SUV is rocking as he’s going through it and tossing things around. I’m so scared out of my mind that I have no idea if I should run, hide, or simply watch.
    The man glances up at me quickly and just as fast returns to what he’s doing. He looks to be in his fifties, but I have nothing really to base his age on. It’s just a guess. One thing for sure is that he has short light brown hair. His skin is pale, and he has the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen.
    Agni and King are coming back towards me. He’s yelling my name, and I wake up. I take off for Agni. I feel like a gazelle as I cross the street in between the cars, and I nearly knock him off his feet when I run into him. King is growling and has a protective stance. He isn’t pulling on Agni, but I can tell if that guy comes at us, King will show him we’re not to be messed with.
    “Are you alright, Breanna?” He asks as he looked me up and down.
    “I’m fine.”
    “Did he hurt you? Did he say something to you?”
    I take in a deep breath before answering,