Ragnarok Rising: The Awakening (Book One of The Ragnarok Rising Saga) Read Online Free Page B

leaving what is precious, but I´m not going alone. The Gods are with me, in all the dark places.”
    I opened my eyes as she was returning to the table. Then I gratefully took a cup from her and began to sip. My wife makes the best coffee. She poured herself a cup and we sat in silence for a few minutes, savoring the flavor. Well, I savored the flavor. She ruined hers with milk and sugar.
    “I think you should take the kids and go to your sister’s place at the lake,” I said, frowning.
    “What about school?” she asked, scowling at me.
    “The boys never miss school. It’ll be fine to take them out for a couple of days.”
    “But why go to my sister’s place?”
    “It’s in the middle of nowhere, babe. If the riots start here, you’ll be safer there. I’d feel better if you guys were away from here.”
    “What if they come there? You said it’s happening everywhere.”
    “Good point,” I said. “Go to the lake and load up the boat. Take it out to deep water and drop the anchor. You should have enough supplies to last a week or more. Longer if the boys catch any fish. I’ll come for you as soon as I get off work.”
    She thought about that for a moment before agreeing, frowning.
    “Alright,” she said, giving me the look . “But I hope all this isn’t really necessary.”
    “I do too, babe,” I said, softly.
    I helped her get the kids up and dressed. Then I loaded all the camping gear and most of the food we had in the cabinets into the back of the Blazer. We even loaded up our two dogs, Odin and Thor. I kissed them all and told them that I’d see them soon. The two youngest boys went right back to sleep. Erik was my middle son and Evan was my youngest. My oldest was Elliott, and he just sat there with a worried look on his face.
    “What’s going on, Dad?” asked Elliot.
    “Hopefully, nothing,” I said, but he could see right through me.
    “The riots.”
    I noted it wasn’t a question.
    “Yeah, son, I’m pretty sure it is.”
    “You’re afraid they’ll get us,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.
    “Yes, I am. I’m worried about you guys. That’s my job.”
    There was no sense lying to him. He was smarter than me and very mature for his age. Sometimes it felt like he was fifteen going on thirty. He could carry on very mature conversations on a variety of complex subjects. Other times, he was very much a teenaged kid. Like when he fought with his brothers or got excited about a video game.
    “Hang on a sec,” I said, and ran back into the house.
    I came out with my Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun with the Mossy Oak camo pattern and my 9mm Taurus. I handed the pistol to my wife and the shotgun to my son. Then I handed him a large duffle bag.
    “That’s all the ammo I have for both of those. The nine is loaded with hollow points and the twelve is loaded with buckshot.”
    Before my wife could argue, I shook my head.
    “I know, honey,” I said. “Gods know, I hope I’m wrong. He’s as good a shot as I am with the shotgun and you’re pretty damned good with the 9mm. That leaves me the .45. My deer rifle’s in the bag, too. It’s loaded.”
    “But, hon…”
    “I know, babe,” I interrupted. “Just go to the lake and take the boat out. Let the boys catch fish. If this all turns out to be nothing, you can be mad at me later.”
    We kissed and said our see-you-laters . I refuse to say “good bye” to the people I care about. Those were the last words I said to my mother before she died, and it still haunts me. Then I watched them drive away. I had a sick feeling in my stomach that I should be going with them, but I couldn’t think about that. I had a job to do. Like it or not, my duty was clear. With my family heading for safety, it was time to suit up and get to work.
    I went back in side long enough to grab my bug-out-bag. It was a backpack that held extra ammunition and gear, as well as emergency supplies I might need. Checking to be certain that a round was in the chamber, I