From The Wreckage - Complete Read Online Free Page B

She hears the pops of generators off in the distance and Katie’s scream when something explodes nearby. Car horns blare.
    They look back to see the damage and Jules makes out something large being hurled through the sky towards them. It crashes to the ground and the metal scrapes along the street, which causes sparks to fly as what looks to be a car barrels into a tree across the street with a deafening crack. 
    The Ice Shack is situated on the outskirts of town, off the main highway but on a straightaway section that contains mostly fields and farmland. There are two houses on this side of the street, and they run towards the closest; a sprawling farmhouse that has been vacant for years. Jules looks around her again to see the shadows of others running with them towards the house. 
    The sky is almost pure black, and with all the city lights out, they are barely able to see anything as they run. West grabbed her hand when they first started running, and his strong fingers squeeze hers until they are almost numb. Her left hand feels empty and she realizes Katie let go.
    "Katie!" she screams and looks to her right, which causes her to stumble when her foot hits a hole in the ground. Immediately West yanks at her arm and keeps her on her feet. 
    "I've got her, Jules! Keep running!" shouts Ruben from behind them. She sees Katie reach out her arm for Jules and she pulls back from West, just a little, to grasp her best friend.
    "Don't you dare let go, Buffy! We need to run!" West warns and pulls her back and into his side.
    "I can't leave Katie!" 
    "We're not leaving her; she's with Ruben. Now come on!" His arm wraps around her waist, but he slows for a moment. It is enough to allow Ruben and Katie to catch up. West grabs Katie's hand and they pick up speed again.
    The white house comes into view and they run towards the front porch.
    "This way!" West shouts over her head. She can tell he yelled, but over the noise behind them it sounds almost like a whisper. She looks around to see shadows of people continuing to run past the house and others following after them.
    All of the glass is boarded up on the first floor, and Jules watches as several guys run up and start banging on the plywood; trying to break it down.
    "What are we doing?" Jules asks when West loosens his hold on her and starts kicking the front door with his heavy boot.
    "There's a basement here," he informs her. He grabs her arm as she spins around and watches everyone try to find a way into the farmhouse. "Stay by my side! Don't leave!" he shouts at her.
    "How do you know there's a basement?" cries Katie; hugging Jules with both arms now.
    "I just do! Ruben, help me!" He punches Ruben's arm. 
    Debris begins to rain from the sky and Jules finally remembers all of those tornado documentaries she's watched. She looks back to where they ran from, only to see a mass of swirling black dust, clouds and debris. Around her, people shout and fists and bodies are thrown into the wood blocking the windows. Ruben and West ram their shoulders into the front door time and time again, with no results.
    "We're gonna die." She didn't mean to say it out loud; it escapes from her lips accidentally and Katie moans.
    She hears someone call out for help. "Help me! I've got it loose!" 
    West and Ruben push past the few others and rush forward with Jules and Katie on their heels. Someone has managed to pull the corner of the large piece of plywood on the corner window back enough so they can get their fingers under it. Working together, hands go around the edges of the board and start to yank. Several people join in and try to pull and break the wood or wrench the nails free from the window casing. 
    "Watch the nails!" 
    They work together forming a human crowbar as they get their hands under the wood and pry it back, pulling until several nails squeal and loosen. Finally they peel back a hole large enough for some of the smaller people in the crowd to crawl through.
    "Katie!