Zoe was staying with and how he ultimately killed Jerome when he tried
to hurt her. Then he told her why he was in prison.
“What
do you mean you killed your wife?” Rebecca asked in shock.
“I
mean exactly that. I walked in to find that she had killed our baby. I just
lost it after that. I stabbed her to death. I didn’t even remember doing it
until recently. I want you to understand that I’m not some crazy serial killer.
I’m just a guy who lost it when he saw his little girl dead. I think that’s why
I helped Zoe. I couldn’t save my little girl, but I had a chance to save
someone else’s. Maybe that’s stupid.”
“No,
it’s not. It doesn’t matter what we did in the past anyway. We’re in uncharted
territory now, but just for the record, I don’t know if I blame you. I never
had children, but if I had and someone hurt one of them, I probably would’ve
done the same thing.”
“Thanks
for that. Can you tell me your story now?”
“I
worked to move up the ladder at my job from the time I was twenty-two. I was in
marketing, and I put all of myself into advancing. I was the youngest vice
president in our company’s history. I was so proud. The funny thing is that all
the work I put in means nothing now. When Ira hit, all I could think was why
didn’t I find someone to spend my life with and have a family? My legacy means
nothing, but even if I die, that would’ve meant something. I guess it’s too
late to cry over it now, though.”
“I
think we all wish we had lived it differently now that the end is here.”
“Do
you think that’s what this is?”
“Probably.
I don’t say it in front of Zoe, but if this isn’t the end of the world, then I
don’t know what is.”
Before
she could respond, they heard several loud pops and felt the truck shaking as it turned sideways. Then the vehicle flipped over
onto its side and slid into a guardrail. Max didn’t know what had happened, and
it didn’t seem to matter. It was over now. As he was losing consciousness, he
heard footsteps coming toward them. He had failed to protect them all.
Chapter 6
Family
Max
woke up to see a white ceiling and feel the full heat
of the day. He could hear a fan running in the background. When he tried to sit
up, he noticed that he had been tied to a table.
“I
wouldn’t struggle if I were you,” a man said.
“Who
are you, and where am I?” Max asked.
“You’re
safe, and who I am isn’t important. This is about who you are. We rescued the
women with you. Rebecca Stiles had an ID on her. The girl didn’t, but she’s
only a child. We can’t be suspicious of people like that. You, on the other
hand, were in a prison transport truck, and you had no identification. That
means you could be dangerous,” the man said and stepped beside the table.
The
first thing Max noticed was that he was wearing a policemen’s uniform. Nothing
made sense to him. They had mysteriously crashed, and now someone who was
supposed to be one of the good guys was holding him captive.
“I’ll
tell you my story, if you explain why our truck crashed and who you are,” Max
said.
“My
name is Tate, and I was a police officer here. It crashed because we set out
road spikes under some brush. We needed supplies, and you had them.”
“Who is we ?”
“My partner and I and a few others we’ve
taken in. The station has a backup generator, and we’ve been surviving there
since the incident. We’re willing to take in outsiders, but we have to know
they can be trusted. Now, who are you?”
“I’m
Max. I was a prisoner before the world went to hell. I can be trusted. You, on
the other hand, I’m not so sure about. You act like you’re taking people in,
but offering to after you rob them isn’t much charity.”
“Big
talk for a man who just got out of prison. It’s funny. When I asked the women
you were with, they acted like you were just some regular Joe they met on the
road. I’m sure you told them the truth,
to hurt her. Then he told her why he was in prison.
“What
do you mean you killed your wife?” Rebecca asked in shock.
“I
mean exactly that. I walked in to find that she had killed our baby. I just
lost it after that. I stabbed her to death. I didn’t even remember doing it
until recently. I want you to understand that I’m not some crazy serial killer.
I’m just a guy who lost it when he saw his little girl dead. I think that’s why
I helped Zoe. I couldn’t save my little girl, but I had a chance to save
someone else’s. Maybe that’s stupid.”
“No,
it’s not. It doesn’t matter what we did in the past anyway. We’re in uncharted
territory now, but just for the record, I don’t know if I blame you. I never
had children, but if I had and someone hurt one of them, I probably would’ve
done the same thing.”
“Thanks
for that. Can you tell me your story now?”
“I
worked to move up the ladder at my job from the time I was twenty-two. I was in
marketing, and I put all of myself into advancing. I was the youngest vice
president in our company’s history. I was so proud. The funny thing is that all
the work I put in means nothing now. When Ira hit, all I could think was why
didn’t I find someone to spend my life with and have a family? My legacy means
nothing, but even if I die, that would’ve meant something. I guess it’s too
late to cry over it now, though.”
“I
think we all wish we had lived it differently now that the end is here.”
“Do
you think that’s what this is?”
“Probably.
I don’t say it in front of Zoe, but if this isn’t the end of the world, then I
don’t know what is.”
Before
she could respond, they heard several loud pops and felt the truck shaking as it turned sideways. Then the vehicle flipped over
onto its side and slid into a guardrail. Max didn’t know what had happened, and
it didn’t seem to matter. It was over now. As he was losing consciousness, he
heard footsteps coming toward them. He had failed to protect them all.
Chapter 6
Family
Max
woke up to see a white ceiling and feel the full heat
of the day. He could hear a fan running in the background. When he tried to sit
up, he noticed that he had been tied to a table.
“I
wouldn’t struggle if I were you,” a man said.
“Who
are you, and where am I?” Max asked.
“You’re
safe, and who I am isn’t important. This is about who you are. We rescued the
women with you. Rebecca Stiles had an ID on her. The girl didn’t, but she’s
only a child. We can’t be suspicious of people like that. You, on the other
hand, were in a prison transport truck, and you had no identification. That
means you could be dangerous,” the man said and stepped beside the table.
The
first thing Max noticed was that he was wearing a policemen’s uniform. Nothing
made sense to him. They had mysteriously crashed, and now someone who was
supposed to be one of the good guys was holding him captive.
“I’ll
tell you my story, if you explain why our truck crashed and who you are,” Max
said.
“My
name is Tate, and I was a police officer here. It crashed because we set out
road spikes under some brush. We needed supplies, and you had them.”
“Who is we ?”
“My partner and I and a few others we’ve
taken in. The station has a backup generator, and we’ve been surviving there
since the incident. We’re willing to take in outsiders, but we have to know
they can be trusted. Now, who are you?”
“I’m
Max. I was a prisoner before the world went to hell. I can be trusted. You, on
the other hand, I’m not so sure about. You act like you’re taking people in,
but offering to after you rob them isn’t much charity.”
“Big
talk for a man who just got out of prison. It’s funny. When I asked the women
you were with, they acted like you were just some regular Joe they met on the
road. I’m sure you told them the truth,
Similar Books
