Six Feet From Hell: The Lost Chronicles (Book 1) by Joseph A. Coley Page A

county and began lighting up the radio channels. By the time the two Star Ambulance employees were enroute to the mine accident that they were dispatched to it was nearly impossible for them to sign out on the radio. Reports were flying in from different corners of Buchanan County and they could only piece together what was happening. As near as they could tell, a mine accident was wreaking havoc on the affected miners.
    “What the hell is goin’ on? Sounds like this is a big ass problem. Wonder which one we should go to?” Josh said as he listened to the radio squawking away.
    “Well, Buck One is the one they sent us to, I say we head that way,” Steve replied. “God only knows what they’ve got into over there and it sounds like the shit is hittin’ the fan somethin’ fierce.”
    Steve wheeled the Dodge Ram ambulance down the road at breakneck speed as more reports of mine accidents across their small area of Virginia flooded in. Pike County, Kentucky and McDowell County, West Virginia were doing the same as Buchanan County. Steve unexpectedly pulled the ambulance off the side of the road and turned the siren off. Josh looked at him quizzically.
    “What the hell are you doing? We got some major shit goin’ down here; we don’t need to be pullin’ off the side of the road to wait on the cavalry.”
    “That’s just it, man. Where the hell is our backup? Start makin’ some phone calls and get us some help down here. See if the crew in Vansant is busy and see if we can get some people. Text ‘em, call ‘em, whatever. The radio sounds like it’s going to be useless anyway. Just get us some damn help down here,” Steve said, never taking his eyes away from his front.
    Josh nodded and picked up his phone and sent out a mass text to everyone that he knew to be working or were coming in. It said:
    ALL HELL BREAKING LOOSE IN GRUNDY
    He did not want to give away too many details because honestly, he did not have the details. If he could send out a text that would get people’s attention then maybe they would call in and try to find out what was going on. Josh completed his text and stashed his phone back in his pocket.
    “Okay, let’s see what we get. We still need to head up there and find out what…” A utility truck that pulled up in front of them interrupted Josh, coming from the direction of their intended destination. Before the men ever got out of the car, Josh knew what they were there for. The miners were not one for being extraordinarily patient when it came to getting aid for their fellow man. When they needed help, they went and got it, they did not wait for it to come to them. The truck skidded to a halt in front of them and the driver jumped out.
    “And here we go. Now we find out what the hell is goin’ on,” Steve said as he unlatched his seatbelt and got out of the truck.
    The driver looked as if he was worse for wear, but not an uncommon look for the mines. Men came out looking more like they had rolled around in the coal instead of harvesting it for a living. The telltale reverse raccoon look was also not uncommon, evidence of the safety glasses the driver had worn. He did not bother closing the door on the truck as he jumped out and began waving his arms wildly at Josh and Steve. Josh followed the lead of his partner as he calmly approached the injured miners.
    “You gotta help ‘em! The damn mine filled up with some kinda fuckin’ gas after some damn explosion blew the shit out of us! I was the only one who was able to drive and I can’t see for shit!” The injured driver hobbled over to the passenger’s side of the truck and flung the door open. His injured friends moaned and groaned from inside the cab of the truck, obviously in great pain. The two miners in the back seat looked as if they were burned on their faces, but it was impossible to tell the difference between the black of the coal and the black of the burn. The charred smell of burnt flesh was an unmistakable smell that