The Seven Cities Saga (Book 0): Survival in the Seven Cities Read Free Page A

walked up to the ambulance and was ushered inside.
    "Alright, I'll meet you there,” she said to Roger. “Love you, babe."
    "Love you too."
    The ambulance doors closed and Gloria headed to her car.
    As she backed out of her parking place and started for the hospital, Gloria pulled out her phone.
    "Mom, you're not supposed to use your phone and drive. It's dangerous," Abby said from the backseat.
    Gloria ignored her, waiting for her mother's familiar voice to come on the line.
    "Hey how was your day at the beach?"
    "Not good, Mom. I don't have a lot of time to explain, but we’re on the way to the hospital. Everybody is okay but Roger got hurt. Can you meet me there and take the kids?"
    A flurry of objections came from the backseat. "But Mom!"
    Gloria half turned toward Izzy and Abby. "Not now girls." Her daughters looked out the window sullenly. Bobby kept playing with some matchbox cars he had brought in the car. The cuts along his forearm looked red; she decided she would bring him into the hospital with her instead of sending him with his grandmother. He had the crazy man's blood on his arm. It would be best to get those scratches cleaned up right away.
    After a few minutes the hospital came into view. She took the corner faster than she normally would and heard the tires of the old Dodge minivan screech. Sometimes she was surprised it was still running. Even the fake wood paneling was starting to peel.
    After about fifteen minutes waiting in the parking lot, she saw her mother drive into the parking area.
    "You three stay in the car for a minute while I talk to your grandmother."
    Gloria stepped out of the van and waved to her mom.
    "Hey mom. Thanks for coming."
    "Is Roger alright?"
    "This crazy guy at the waterfront bit him. And then-" Gloria glanced back to make sure her kids weren't outside the car "The police came and fought with the man and they shot him." She didn't know why she felt the need to whisper; the kids had been there.
    "Oh my God.” Her mother put a hand to her mouth. “Did the kids see?"
    "They did. I don't know what they’re going to ask you. Roger got bitten up pretty badly. I’ll talk to the girls about it later. Tell them whatever you think they need to hear."
    Her mother nodded. "I will."
    "The same guy scratched Bobby’s arm. I'm going to take him inside to get it cleaned up, so it’ll just be the girls."
    "How are they handling it so far?"
    "They haven't really said anything. It all happened in the last half hour or so. I think they're still in shock."
    "I'll do what I can if they ask me questions.” Her mother paused, then nodded decisively. “Alright, we’ll see you later."
    Gloria walked to her car and opened the sliding door a little too fast.
    "Alright girls, you’re going with your grandmother. Bobby, you're coming inside with me."
    Abby's eyes lit up with indignation. "Why does he get to see Roger?"
    "Abby, first of all, what did I say about whining? Secondly, Bobby got hurt-"
    Bobby looked up from an explosion he was making with the cars. "It’s just a few scratches, Mom. I'll be fine," he said, unconsciously mimicking Roger's earlier response to his own concern.
    Gloria shot Bobby a look. "Not now, Bobby."
    Bobby immediately stopped his protest.
    "Look girls," Gloria changed her delivery from chastising to concerned mother in a heartbeat. "I know what we saw down at the beach was awful. It was upsetting for me too and it's okay to be upset. But we'll talk about it when I get home, okay?"
    The girls looked serious. Gloria nodded, satisfied. "Alright, go jump in Grandma's car. Bobby, you come with me."
    The girls unbuckled their seatbelts and gave her a hug, a tighter hug than she’d gotten in a long time. What was it about kids? When they were little you got a strong hug with all of their might a few times a day. As they got older those hugs happened with less frequency and with far less intensity. But now it felt like they were five years old again, trying to make her head