men have been working hard to make sure all the cars have their keys in the ignition and are fully gassed up for emergencies like this one. Well, maybe they didn’t predict a situation just like this, but close enough.
Once in a car, I plan to honk that horn like nobody’s business and drive as far away as I can. Hopefully, the hellions will follow me.
I have no idea what I’ll do if they don’t. Or if I get caught on the way to the car. Or how to escape once they’re swarming around me. But that’s too much to think about in this panic.
And what about Paige and Mom and Raffe?
I shake my head. Focus.
A man starts screaming to my left.
If I keep running, the man will probably die. If I stop to help him, I’ll lose my chance to draw hellions away from everyone else. No good choices left in the World After.
I hesitate but keep on racing into the parking lot. Pooky Bear bumps against my leg on her straps, as though demanding to be part of the action. But I need to get to a car as soon as possible and start drawing the hellions my way.
I throw open the door to the nearest car. I can’t help but look behind me.
There are shadows already flying after me, getting closer with every heartbeat. Behind them, people are running every which way near the building.
I jump in the car and shut the door, hoping there’s a key. Hellions slam into my door and windshield.
Thank everything left that’s good in the world for Obi’s paranoia and preparation. The keys are there.
The little red Hyundai starts immediately. The engine roars to life.
I screech out of my parking spot, dislodging the creatures on my car. More pile on, though, as soon as I stop.
I honk the horn.
The hellions who hadn’t noticed me before stop chasing people to look my way. I’m tempted to run them over and smash their creepy bat faces under the tires.
But my job is to draw them away, not to waste time playing with them. I crack open the windows and scream, ‘Hey, you! Dinnertime! I’m over here, you scabby rats! Come and get me!’
The Hyundai is rocking with hellions as they pile on. I’m about to screech out of the lot – or at least make donuts until all the hellions head my way and leave the rest of the people alone – when I feel a thump. The car drops on one side. Then I see the shredded rubber of a tire being flung over the hood.
That was the front tire.
I stare dumbly at the ripped-up tire as it flops and wobbles to a standstill in the parking lot.
Then so many hellions pile onto my car that I can’t see the tire anymore.
I stroke the fur of my teddy bear. It’s all I can think to do.
Pooky Bear can’t help me in a vehicle. Not a lot of room to slice and dice.
That means I need to exit the car if I want a chance at getting out of this.
I sit in the car.
I wonder how long a person can stay in a vehicle.
But then, of course, the hellions begin pounding on the windshield.
Their bat faces and needle-sharp teeth scrape against the windows. How much force can a windshield take?
If they pound their way in, I’ll be in close quarters and won’t be able to use my sword or run. If I open the door, they’ll be on me before I can get my foot on the ground.
One of the hellions hops onto the hood, shoving the others aside. It’s one of the beefy ones who followed me from the Pit.
He’s carrying a rock.
He heaves the rock above his ugly head and smashes it against the windshield. The glass cracks into a million lines webbing across my vision. I take a deep breath as he lifts his rock again. I put my hand on the door handle and get ready to sprint my way out of here.
As the rock smashes down on the windshield again, I slam my door open as hard as I can.
All the hellions’ attention was on the rock, and I catch them by surprise. I manage to smack several creatures out of the way with my door. That gives me a sliver of room to run.
As soon as I get my foot on the asphalt, claws grab me. All teeth and spittle, it’s the
Once in a car, I plan to honk that horn like nobody’s business and drive as far away as I can. Hopefully, the hellions will follow me.
I have no idea what I’ll do if they don’t. Or if I get caught on the way to the car. Or how to escape once they’re swarming around me. But that’s too much to think about in this panic.
And what about Paige and Mom and Raffe?
I shake my head. Focus.
A man starts screaming to my left.
If I keep running, the man will probably die. If I stop to help him, I’ll lose my chance to draw hellions away from everyone else. No good choices left in the World After.
I hesitate but keep on racing into the parking lot. Pooky Bear bumps against my leg on her straps, as though demanding to be part of the action. But I need to get to a car as soon as possible and start drawing the hellions my way.
I throw open the door to the nearest car. I can’t help but look behind me.
There are shadows already flying after me, getting closer with every heartbeat. Behind them, people are running every which way near the building.
I jump in the car and shut the door, hoping there’s a key. Hellions slam into my door and windshield.
Thank everything left that’s good in the world for Obi’s paranoia and preparation. The keys are there.
The little red Hyundai starts immediately. The engine roars to life.
I screech out of my parking spot, dislodging the creatures on my car. More pile on, though, as soon as I stop.
I honk the horn.
The hellions who hadn’t noticed me before stop chasing people to look my way. I’m tempted to run them over and smash their creepy bat faces under the tires.
But my job is to draw them away, not to waste time playing with them. I crack open the windows and scream, ‘Hey, you! Dinnertime! I’m over here, you scabby rats! Come and get me!’
The Hyundai is rocking with hellions as they pile on. I’m about to screech out of the lot – or at least make donuts until all the hellions head my way and leave the rest of the people alone – when I feel a thump. The car drops on one side. Then I see the shredded rubber of a tire being flung over the hood.
That was the front tire.
I stare dumbly at the ripped-up tire as it flops and wobbles to a standstill in the parking lot.
Then so many hellions pile onto my car that I can’t see the tire anymore.
I stroke the fur of my teddy bear. It’s all I can think to do.
Pooky Bear can’t help me in a vehicle. Not a lot of room to slice and dice.
That means I need to exit the car if I want a chance at getting out of this.
I sit in the car.
I wonder how long a person can stay in a vehicle.
But then, of course, the hellions begin pounding on the windshield.
Their bat faces and needle-sharp teeth scrape against the windows. How much force can a windshield take?
If they pound their way in, I’ll be in close quarters and won’t be able to use my sword or run. If I open the door, they’ll be on me before I can get my foot on the ground.
One of the hellions hops onto the hood, shoving the others aside. It’s one of the beefy ones who followed me from the Pit.
He’s carrying a rock.
He heaves the rock above his ugly head and smashes it against the windshield. The glass cracks into a million lines webbing across my vision. I take a deep breath as he lifts his rock again. I put my hand on the door handle and get ready to sprint my way out of here.
As the rock smashes down on the windshield again, I slam my door open as hard as I can.
All the hellions’ attention was on the rock, and I catch them by surprise. I manage to smack several creatures out of the way with my door. That gives me a sliver of room to run.
As soon as I get my foot on the asphalt, claws grab me. All teeth and spittle, it’s the
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