Sometimes We Ran (Book 2): Community Read Online Free Page A

Claire and I hit the ground and tried to make ourselves as small as possible. My ears rang from all the noise. Claire was yelling directly at me, but her voice was muffled. We both dove for cover behind a nearby silver sedan.
    From our hiding place, I took in the destruction. Most of the first group of Red-Eyes coming from behind us was splattered all over the interstate. The remainder had their legs and arms blown off and were now crawling around trying to escape the rain of hot lead. As I began to wonder what happened, the mystery weapon spoke again in its loud voice.
    This attack was directed at the other group of Red-Eyes which had been approaching from the other direction - the ones we were all set to run through to freedom. It had been a more complete attack. The Red-Eyes that had been coming through the wreckage were disintegrated. Nothing remained. The zombie threat had been eliminated. My ears began to clear up so Claire’s voice became clearer.
    “What the hell happened?” she said, looking around. Small bits of insulation and debris, stirred up in all the gunfire, were settling in her hair like fine gray snow.
    Before I could answer, I heard a strange noise behind us on the highway. It was a noise I hadn’t heard in a great while. It sounded like a big diesel engine with turbos winding up. Gears changed, and the sound rose and fell as the vehicle approached. It was a large, rectangular, off-white truck with six big wheels. It had a metal plow-like device attached to the front. Painted on the side was “UN” in big black letters, crossed out in spray paint. As it approached, a mount on the roof, loaded with a very sinister-looking large caliber machine gun, folded itself down and disappeared. The zombie-killer had done a good job.
    Instead of stopping at the vehicular carnage on the overpass, it crashed right through. The plow in front cut through cars like they were children’s toys. Claire and I cringed as several Red-Eyes were run over without remorse. The odd-looking vehicle rolled onto the overpass and stopped, air brakes screeching in protest.
    Nothing happened at first. “These guys sure know how to make an entrance,” Claire said.
    “Yeah. It’s marked for the United Nations,” I said. “Didn’t know they had trucks like these. I wasn’t aware that peacekeepers needed zombie-destroying, roof-mounted guns.”
    We stood there for a few more seconds. Our saviors just sat there, diesel engine burbling at idle. Something was about to happen. I could feel it. For a moment, I thought maybe Claire and I should run away.
    A door opened from the side, and several uniformed troops poured out. They were in city camo, with American flags, helmets, and gas masks. All carried serious looking rifles. It was an army straight out of the end of the world. They went from car to car, taking positions and eliminating remaining zombies. One of the soldiers had a small radio, and seemed to be talking to headquarters.
    Claire and I walked to a clear spot on the overpass to meet the soldiers. One approached me. He looked like the squad leader. His gun was down, but ready. I extended my hand in friendship.
    “Thanks, guys. You came -,” I started to say.
    “Hands up!” The soldier raised his gun.
    We stood dumbfounded at the command. “Hands up! Now!” the soldier said, with a little more anger in his voice. Claire and I obeyed.
    “Have you been bitten?” he barked at us. We shook our heads no in unison. He turned and waved two more soldiers in our direction. “Search them. Make it snappy. We’ve got to get outta here.”
    The two soldiers started to search us. They took our weapons and went about searching our pockets and bodies for more. After that, they lifted our shirts and checked our stomachs and backs for zombie bites. They also checked our arms and legs. We didn’t resist. I think we were in shock. “All clear, sir!” one of the soldiers said to his superior.
    “Get them in the truck.” He turned