Affliction Z: Abandoned Hope (Post Apocalyptic Thriller) Read Free Page A

realized that she had
left her luggage at the hotel. A panicked chill passed through her body. She
resolved herself that there was nothing she could do about it. When she landed,
she’d try one of her co-workers and ask them to retrieve her bag for her when
they left the hotel.
    If they left.
    She pushed the thought from her mind.
    Kathy and the other passengers settled in for takeoff as the
plane began to taxi. They came to a stop and the captain spoke.
    “Folks, this is Captain Steinberger. It looks like our
takeoff is going to be delayed.”
    That was it. He gave no estimated time limit. He offered no
apology.
    A new form of panic set in as Kathy’s worst fears took root.
Things had escalated further and faster than they had mentioned on television.
Now, she and a hundred or so other souls were trapped inside a
seven-forty-seven, bound for Chicago, now on a one-way trip to hell. She
clutched her bag tight to her chest. The seats to her right and left were both
empty. She found herself wishing someone had sat next to her. At least then she
would have some emotional support.
    Captain Steinberger continued, “We were supposed to be next
in line, but we’ve just been informed that there are ten planes in front of us.
So sit tight for another ten minutes and then we’ll be on our way to Chicago.”
    Kathy exhaled a ragged breath as the sweat that covered her
forehead felt like it turned to ice.
    Just get me home, she thought. Please, get me back
to Sean and Emma.
     

Chapter 3
    Sean reached down and ensured that his pistol remained
secure under his seat. Emma seemed to be shaken, and he feared that if she saw
his handgun, she’d grow more distraught. He knew that she was aware he had the
M9, a relic from his days as an Air Force PJ. And his hunting rifles were in
plain view, albeit locked up. But if she saw the weapon now, in the midst of
this crisis, she might realize how grave of a situation they faced.
    “What’s going on, Dad?” she asked a second time.
    He didn’t respond.
    Cars formed an intricate puzzle around them. He had to find
a way out since someone had blocked off his escape route.
    “Dad? People were saying there’s a nuclear attack
happening.”
    Sean shook his head.
    “David said he heard that an EMP had been detonated over
Chicago. Do you know what that means?”
    He did, but he decided against telling her.
    “He told me that means everything will stop working. Planes,
cars, even electricity.”
    “Only some cars,” he said. “Older cars, ones without fancy
electronic controlled engines, will work fine.”
    “So that’s what it is then? An EMP?”
    Sean ignored the question. He saw an opening wide enough for
his truck, and he took it. A white mini-van backed into his rear passenger
fender, causing his vehicle to jerk to the right. He kept going, managing to
narrowly avoid hitting a woman carrying a baby.
    “And I heard someone say the Canadians are invading.”
    Sean turned to his daughter, laughing at the absurdity of
her statement. “Canadians? Canada? Are you hearing yourself, Emma?”
    She shrugged. “I just want to know what’s going on.”
    “You heard me when we got in the car, right?”
    She nodded.
    His mouth opened to repeat the phrase, The Apocalypse ,
but stopped himself. Perhaps she had blocked what he’d said for a reason. If
so, he didn’t want to upset her any further. They had a twenty minute drive
ahead of them if the traffic remained light. Judging by the insane scene at the
school, the chances of that were small.
    The roads were thick with cars and trucks and SUVs. Sean
figured that I-64 was packed, which resulted in a surge of drivers exiting and
taking the highway instead. Every couple of minutes he honked the horn or
slammed his open hand against the steering wheel out of frustration. And panic.
They weren’t safe out in the open.
    “Calm down,” Emma said, following it up with something her
mother always said to Sean. “You’ll give yourself a