The Zone: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (Infection Chronicles Book 1) by Tripp Ellis
Authors: Tripp Ellis
Ads: Link
shifted. Steele peered out the door, surveying the property. It looked clear.
Steele knelt down beside Chloe and helped her take off the gas mask. “Stay here with Parker, I’ll be right back.”
Chloe nodded.
Steele made two more trips, and by the time he was finished, Delroy was in the driveway with a Range Rover. He leapt out and dashed to the house, leaving the engine running.
Steele carried two bags and loaded them in the back of the SUV. Parker led Chloe to the Range Rover and put her in the back seat.
Then she and Delroy started with the bags. Between the two of them, they could only handle a bag at a time—and even that was a struggle. It was clear they wouldn’t have gotten very far on foot.
After a few trips, the titrillium was safely stowed. The SUV sank down on its shocks, fully loaded. 1200 extra pounds in the ass end made it look like a lowrider.
Steele shut the back hatch. “How much gas?”
“Half a tank,” Delroy said. “Should be more than enough.”
“Let’s move out.”
“One thing, sir. Parker and I have been talking.” Delroy exchanged a nervous glance with Parker.
Steele knew where this was going. “And?”
“We think a renegotiation of terms is in order,” he stammered.
“Do you?”
“Since the situation has changed—and our employer is no longer with us—we thought it would only be fair if we split things equally.”
Steele’s eyes narrowed. “Equally, huh?”
Delroy gulped and nodded.
“Fair enough.”
Delroy gleamed and ear to ear smile.
“Let’s get going,” Steele said.
“Yes, sir.” Delroy climbed into the driver’s seat.
Steele hopped into the passenger seat. Just as his door clanked shut, Chloe spoke.
“We can’t leave Mr. Carlisle,” Chloe said.
“Who’s Mr. Carlisle?” Steele asked.
“He’s a tiger and we can’t leave him behind.”
“Where is Mr. Carlisle?”
“Back in the bunker. He’s very valuable.”
“I’ll buy you a new stuffed animal when we get out of the zone.”
“I don’t want a new stuffed animal. I want Mr. Carlisle.”
Steele sighed. “Okay, you stay here, I’m going to go find Mr. Carlisle.” He never imagined that he would be rescuing a stuffed animal today.
Steele dashed back inside and down into the bunker. In the room where Chloe had been hiding, he found a dirty and matted stuffed tiger on her bed. He shook his head, snatched the animal, and ran back outside.
When he hit the doorway, he saw Delroy in the driveway, aiming his weapon at someone. Delroy was shouting at them to stay back.
CHAPTER 11
STEELE DROPPED THE stuffed tiger in the yard and drew his weapon. He angled around to Delroy, catching sight of who was coming up the driveway. A woman staggered toward them. She had two young girls in tow—one was six, the other eight. The eight-year-old was the same girl they had seen earlier.
The woman was mid-30s. She was pretty, but haggard and tired from months in the zone. Blue eyes, dark hair, full lips, and sculpted cheekbones. She’d look great in high heals and a cocktail dress, but there wasn’t much occasion for that in the zone.
A man followed closely behind. Probably her husband, Steele thought. They both wore wedding rings. He had dark hair, brown eyes, and a medium build.
“Please help us,” the woman said.
“I said stay back,” Delroy shouted.
Chloe saw the tiger lying in the yard. She pushed open the door and leapt from the SUV, darting for it.
Steele caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, distracting him for a split second. “Chloe, get back in the truck,” he growled. His eyes flicked back to the refugees who were still treading closer.
“Get back, or I will fire,” Delroy said.
Chloe grabbed Mr. Carlisle, then rushed back to the SUV.
“Please, take us out of here,” the woman pleaded. “We’re not infected.”
“I’m sorry ma’am, we can’t help you,” Steele said. “Now back away before someone gets
Steele knelt down beside Chloe and helped her take off the gas mask. “Stay here with Parker, I’ll be right back.”
Chloe nodded.
Steele made two more trips, and by the time he was finished, Delroy was in the driveway with a Range Rover. He leapt out and dashed to the house, leaving the engine running.
Steele carried two bags and loaded them in the back of the SUV. Parker led Chloe to the Range Rover and put her in the back seat.
Then she and Delroy started with the bags. Between the two of them, they could only handle a bag at a time—and even that was a struggle. It was clear they wouldn’t have gotten very far on foot.
After a few trips, the titrillium was safely stowed. The SUV sank down on its shocks, fully loaded. 1200 extra pounds in the ass end made it look like a lowrider.
Steele shut the back hatch. “How much gas?”
“Half a tank,” Delroy said. “Should be more than enough.”
“Let’s move out.”
“One thing, sir. Parker and I have been talking.” Delroy exchanged a nervous glance with Parker.
Steele knew where this was going. “And?”
“We think a renegotiation of terms is in order,” he stammered.
“Do you?”
“Since the situation has changed—and our employer is no longer with us—we thought it would only be fair if we split things equally.”
Steele’s eyes narrowed. “Equally, huh?”
Delroy gulped and nodded.
“Fair enough.”
Delroy gleamed and ear to ear smile.
“Let’s get going,” Steele said.
“Yes, sir.” Delroy climbed into the driver’s seat.
Steele hopped into the passenger seat. Just as his door clanked shut, Chloe spoke.
“We can’t leave Mr. Carlisle,” Chloe said.
“Who’s Mr. Carlisle?” Steele asked.
“He’s a tiger and we can’t leave him behind.”
“Where is Mr. Carlisle?”
“Back in the bunker. He’s very valuable.”
“I’ll buy you a new stuffed animal when we get out of the zone.”
“I don’t want a new stuffed animal. I want Mr. Carlisle.”
Steele sighed. “Okay, you stay here, I’m going to go find Mr. Carlisle.” He never imagined that he would be rescuing a stuffed animal today.
Steele dashed back inside and down into the bunker. In the room where Chloe had been hiding, he found a dirty and matted stuffed tiger on her bed. He shook his head, snatched the animal, and ran back outside.
When he hit the doorway, he saw Delroy in the driveway, aiming his weapon at someone. Delroy was shouting at them to stay back.
CHAPTER 11
STEELE DROPPED THE stuffed tiger in the yard and drew his weapon. He angled around to Delroy, catching sight of who was coming up the driveway. A woman staggered toward them. She had two young girls in tow—one was six, the other eight. The eight-year-old was the same girl they had seen earlier.
The woman was mid-30s. She was pretty, but haggard and tired from months in the zone. Blue eyes, dark hair, full lips, and sculpted cheekbones. She’d look great in high heals and a cocktail dress, but there wasn’t much occasion for that in the zone.
A man followed closely behind. Probably her husband, Steele thought. They both wore wedding rings. He had dark hair, brown eyes, and a medium build.
“Please help us,” the woman said.
“I said stay back,” Delroy shouted.
Chloe saw the tiger lying in the yard. She pushed open the door and leapt from the SUV, darting for it.
Steele caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, distracting him for a split second. “Chloe, get back in the truck,” he growled. His eyes flicked back to the refugees who were still treading closer.
“Get back, or I will fire,” Delroy said.
Chloe grabbed Mr. Carlisle, then rushed back to the SUV.
“Please, take us out of here,” the woman pleaded. “We’re not infected.”
“I’m sorry ma’am, we can’t help you,” Steele said. “Now back away before someone gets
Similar Books
