by Jack Hunt
“I’m sorry, sir, that’s what we’ve been told.”
Sam pushed forward. “Well there has to be a mistake. Maybe she went under the name Helen Wade. I’ll go check on that.”
Two of the officers put out their hands preventing him from going in. “I’m sorry, sir, unless it’s a medical emergency no one gets in. We’ve had too much trouble over the last few days.”
“But I need to speak to them. Please.”
“We already have. I’m sorry.”
Sam wouldn’t take no for an answer, he pushed forward and they thrust him back. As the three tried to control his outburst, Anna slipped by them and ran into the hospital.
“Ma’am, come back here,” an officer called out as the other two tackled Sam to the ground to control him. What started out as a normal conversation turned into a shouting match as Chase, Mason and Amanda tried to intervene. Jail time was threatened if they didn’t keep back. Quickly they were subdued and pushed up against a cruiser.
When Anna returned, a nurse was with her. She spoke briefly with one of the police officers while the others kept them detained. Once he was done, the officer came over and released them from their handcuffs.
“Seems it’s your lucky day. You’re free to go.”
“Free to go?” Sam scoffed. “That’s it? You abuse us and then let us go? What the hell is this country coming to?”
“Dad, drop it please,” Anna said.
She pulled on his arm leading him away from the cruiser. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. Sam wanted to go back and argue but Anna changed his mind when she told him there was no point, they were right, her mother was dead. Without saying another word, she got into the vehicle and pleaded for him to get in so they could leave.
Sam stood there for a few seconds longer, the weight of it resting on his shoulders. Disbelief, pain, regret and anguish mixed together, a cocktail to which nothing in his career came close.
When he slipped back into his seat, Sam sat there with his hands on the wheel. The other three looked on but said nothing. Awkward silence prevailed. No one knew what to say. Sam brought the engine to life and pulled out of there heading for Breckenridge. He didn’t ask her where she wanted to go as he already knew.
Under any other circumstance he would have refused to go near Richard’s property but for Anna’s sake, and to get a better understanding of what had occurred, he had no other choice. They drove in silence along the dark roads hedged in by evergreen trees until they arrived at one of the wealthiest and most coveted neighborhoods in Breckenridge — Shock Hill.
Richard Underwood’s home was located on the bend of Iron Mask Road. A majestic mountain property with a view of the ski area and Baldy Mountain, the place had been built by a rich developer trying to make his mark. He did. There were less than sixty other residential lots in the area, and back when it was built, Richard was the first to buy. Sam’s stomach turned as he got closer. Memories flooded back; the good and bad times, the arguments and the final days before his departure.
Now here he was again.
Sam pulled into the driveway and saw the glow of light emanating beyond the windows. Anna got out while Sam remained in the vehicle with the car running.
“Aren’t you coming inside?” Anna asked as she came around.
“Probably best you speak with him.”
She frowned. “Are you leaving?”
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
She didn’t reply to that but inhaled deeply then told him to wait.
“Who owns this place?” Amanda asked.
“Her grandfather.”
“We’re not leaving, right?” Chase asked. “I mean, yet. It’s just I’m real tired and I thought we might spend a few nights here being as they seem to have some power, even if it is from generators.”
Sam partially heard him. He was focused on Anna. The front door opened and there he was, in his full glory. His eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around her tight. Tears flowed from both of them. Sam never once denied that her grandfather loved her but that didn’t make him a good person. He could see Anna talking to him before she turned and pointed towards the car. Richard squinted then the beam slowly left his face as his gaze fell upon Sam.
Richard nodded in response to something Anna said, then she jogged over.
She thumbed over her shoulder. “He said you could stay. There’s plenty of room.”
“Of course there is, seven bedrooms,” Sam said looking past her.
“Seven?” Chase blurted out. He didn’t need much convincing, he slipped out of the vehicle all ready to pitch a tent if need be.
“Is that what he wants?” Sam asked.
Anna looked at him and said, “No, it’s what I want.”
Sam turned to the others and they shrugged. “It would be nice to sleep in a bed if only for a night,” Mason said. Amanda agreed so Sam turned back to Anna and nodded. She gave a pained smile as he turned off the engine and they all got out.
They strolled up to the door and were warmly greeted by Richard in his usual fashion. He waved them in. “Come on, come in. Don’t worry about your shoes, just go on through. Thank you for bringing my granddaughter home, I appreciate it.” He shook each of their hands until Sam crossed over the threshold.
Sam was the last to enter. Richard didn’t thank him for bringing Anna home safely, neither did he shake his hand as he had the others, instead he looked at him with a blank stare, and gave him the cold shoulder.
Sam didn’t expect any less from him.
It was only one night. He could endure that. However, he didn’t know how long Anna would choose to remain but as long as she wanted him in her life, he would be there for her. He glanced outside one final time before closing the door shut. Winter would soon be upon them, and with it new challenges would arise. If the power didn’t come back on, and if the cyber attack had affected more than the United States, no one would come to their aid and it wouldn’t be long before even Breckenridge would fall.
THANK YOU FOR READING
As We Fall: (Book 1)
As We Break will be available at the end of August, 2018
Please take a second to leave a review, it’s really appreciated. Thanks kindly, Jack.
A Plea
Thank you for reading the final book As We Fall: Against All Odds Series Book 1. If you enjoyed the book, I would really appreciate it if you would consider leaving a review. Without reviews, an author’s books are virtually invisible on the retail sites. It also lets me know what you liked. It also motivates me to write more books. You can leave a review by visiting the book’s page. I would greatly appreciate it. It only takes a couple of seconds.
Thank you — Jack Hunt
Reading Team
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About the Author
Jack Hunt is the best-selling author of horror, sci-fi and post-apocalyptic novels. He currently has three books out in the War Buds series, four books out in the EMP survival series, two books out in the Wild Ones duology, three books in the Camp Zero series, three books out in the Agora Virus series, five books out in the Renegades series, one book out in the The Armada series, a time travel book called Killing Time, a science fiction book called Blackout, another called Darkest Hour, another called Final Impact and another called Mavericks: Hunters Moon. Jack lives on the East coast of North America.
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www.jackhuntbooks.com
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