From The Wreckage - Complete Read Online Free Page A

ya around, Buff." West chuckles and sends her a small salute as he slides down from the picnic table.
    Jules can feel Katie's curious eyes boring holes in her back, and she turns with all intentions of grabbing Tanya and leaving when all hell breaks loose. 
    Across the lot, Tanya's angry screams pull their attention. Tommy and Carter are on the ground rolling around, each one taking swings as Tanya stands over them trying to kick at their backs. The rest of the team stands by, watching. Perhaps they are waiting to see who has the upper hand so they can join in and help if needed.
    Jules hears West mumble something about "Stupid pricks" behind her before she and Katie start towards the fight. They don’t have time to take a single step before a shrill siren sounds into the night and everyone freezes. Fifty teens stand in a gravel parking lot and watch as the lights down the street, toward the more saturated downtown area, flicker on and off. Somewhere an emergency management message starts blasting on someone's car radio, but it is the loud, early warning siren that catches the most attention. In the oppressive wet heat of a late August night, the wind picks up again and Jules looks at Katie, whose face has turned pale, and they both recognize what is coming.

     

Jules stops talking to the camera for a moment; pressing a palm to her chest as her pulse begins to race. Her heart pounds as if she’s living that moment again. She's had enough nightmares over the months to recall every last detail. Confusion turns into complete panic as people start to put two and two together. Shouts of "Tornado!" and "Run!" swirl around her. 
    Jules closes her eyes and remembers the thick heat in the atmosphere. Opening them, she speaks to the camera. 
    "People ask how in this day and age a storm could catch our town so unaware. For those who weren't here, you have to know — there was no rain, no thunder or lighting; nothing that would have warned us of the fury heading our way. I think for the first minute when the sirens sounded, most people just assumed it was a false alarm."

    Jules and Katie stand rooted to the ground as a strong gust sweeps by them, kicking up dust and flicking their short skirts. In the distance a loud pop sounds, and the Shack is engulfed in darkness as the power goes out. Turning, Jules realizes the entire downtown area is black. In the parking lot, headlights flip on as people jump in cars. Their wheels spit up gravel as they try to exit the parking lot, and the mass exodus causes a sudden gridlock while horns blare.
    The sudden movement of the vehicles pulls them from their frozen state. Katie yells at Jules and clasps her hand tightly. "Come on! Let's go!" 
    In a panic, Jules moves to follow her when a hand wraps around her other arm. Her head whips around to see West's silhouette; his head shaking vigorously. 
    "No! We need to find a safe shelter. You can't outrun a tornado!" he shouts and starts to tug her the opposite way.
    "Katie!" Jules cries. She looks over the scene before them and takes in all of the other patrons and schoolmates who scatter resembling ants at a picnic by either foot or car. A deep rumbling sound begins to fill the night air. 
    "Come on!" West pulls her arm again and Jules follows, dragging Katie behind her. 
    "Tanya!" Katie shouts. "Jeff!"
    Bodies run everywhere. Screams of terror, shouts for help, people trying to tell others what to do. 
    "Get low!" Ruben shouts; coming up behind them and grabbing Katie's free hand. They are now a human chain.
    "What?"
    "Get low! Remember the safety instructions? We need a ditch or basement."
    The wind whips everything around. Jules’ skirt flies up and her hair slaps across her face. She looks at Katie, she reminds her of Medusa now, her hair flying all around.
    The trees in the area groan and snap as fierce gusts tear through them. The tornado, wherever it is, is getting closer. Jules hears the telltale sound of a train chasing after them.