The Long Fall of Night: The Long Fall of Night Book 1 Read Online Free

to Seattle, he thought. Aloud, he replied, “I’m not staying in a room full of volatile chemicals, some of which need temperature control, while the building’s generator fails.”
    “Oh, but it’s safe enough for your lighter?” Dr. Hunt retorted.
    “Well, no. You told me it wasn’t,” Ash threw back. He flipped his notebook closed and shoved it down in the depths of the bag, beside the map of the state he’d swiped from Jared. He zipped the bag without packing the textbook.
    “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Elliot asked, trying to hand the book to him. He either hadn’t heard Ash tell him to get his shit together, or he didn’t want to.
    Giving his partner a last meaningful look, he shook his head. “No need for it anymore. You staying?” He didn’t have time to wait, but he gave Elliot a few seconds. When no answer came, he turned to leave.
    “Mr. Caine,” Dr. Hunt protested. “Hey!” Ash ignored him.
    “Asher!” Elliot called.
    Something in Elliot’s voice made him turn around. The whole class was staring.
    “I’m going somewhere safe. You all might want to do the same.” He banged out the door after giving his friend a pointed look.
    He was halfway down the nearest flight of stairs, the batteries in the emergency exit signs powering the eerie red lights which turned everything a ghostly, washed-out red, when the sound of rapidly descending feet reached him.
    “Ash, wait!” Elliot called.
    “Catch up!” he returned, not slowing as he ran lists in his head, the order of his next steps. He needed to get to Charlotte and Riley.
    “Where are you going that’s any safer than here?” Elliot asked breathlessly.
    “Almost anywhere else will be safer than this city in a couple days,” he answered cryptically, making the next landing down.
    “Will you wait a minute, Nostradamus?” Elliot snapped. Ash stopped, surprised by his insistence. He hadn’t realized the guy had it in him to bark. Elliot scowled at him through the thick frames of his glasses. “What do you know?”
    Ash sighed, grabbing Elliot’s elbow and pulling him along to keep moving.
    “The power’s out.”
    “No fucking shit,” Elliot said.
    “Whole city, dude. That’s not usually something that can be fixed in a day. So I’m getting out until it’s safe to return. You can come or stay, but I don’t have time to wait for you to decide.”
    “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Elliot said, his feet slapping on the tiles of the lobby.
    Ash pointed to the blackness beyond the windows. “Tell that to all of New York.” He kept going until Elliot smacked his shoulder with his abandoned chemistry book.
    “You left this.” Elliot’s voice was tinged with fear and denial, as well as a heavy dose of skepticism.
    “Thanks.” Ash took the book and dumped it in the nearest trashcan as he emerged onto the street. He tried not to care if Elliot believed him or not. It wasn’t his problem. His sister, nephew, and uncle were. As much as he’d sometimes enjoyed Elliot’s company, Ash had his priorities.
    “Are you insane?” Elliot harped.
    Ash wheeled around, sick of being held up. He kept an eye on their surroundings, noting the chaos, including traffic, was currently controlled, but for how long? Cars honked, but what else was new? Though he did see a stalled one nearby. He filed that away, the make and model of the dead vehicle. He grabbed Elliot’s upper arms, getting close and speaking clearly.
    “Don’t you get it? The power is out in the entire city. There’s a chance it’s more than just us, okay?” He realized how paranoid he sounded, but if he was right? He had to get out. Now. He kept his volume down, but the words were no less fierce. “It could be days, weeks, even months before it’s fixed. What do you think people are going to do while they wait? What did they do during Hurricane Sandy? Roast s’mores and sing Kumba-fucking-ya? I’m going. If you’re smart, you’ll come with me, but I don’t