Tonight The World Dies Read Online Free Page A

Billie’s and Dean’s heads as they worked it out.
    “Fine.” They said together.
    I opened the bag, relishing in the stale scent. All three of them kneeled at my feet, sniffing at the bag. I felt like their mother, handing them a small snack to calm them down before dinner.
    “We have to keep moving.” I told Dean, who promptly walked back to the driver’s seat.
    We rocked forward, the speed demon at the wheel again. Pulling my battered old deck of playing cards from my clothing bag, I whistled at Sully.
    “I want to play a game.” I said in my best ‘Jigsaw’ voice. He raised an eyebrow at me. “Black Jack.”
    “The stakes?” He asked.
    “Winner gets top bunk tonight, loser has watch duty.” I smiled.
    “You’re on.” He said, sitting down across from me.
    “How do you play?” Billie asked, sitting next to me.
    “Watch, learn, and don’t eat my cookie.” I told her, setting down my half eaten treat to shuffle and deal the cards.
    The cards dealt, Sully glanced at his hand and gazed at me, his best poker face firmly in place. “Hit me.”
    In a rare moment of perfect timing, Billie and I both reached over and smacked the side of his head.
    “Ow, that’s not what I meant,” He said.
    “I know,” I said, grinning. I pulled the first card off the deck and flipped it over. It was a five. “I’ll stay.”
    I peeked at my own cards, a solid fifteen. Chances were, he had a better hand, so I risked it and took another card, a six. “Dealer stays. What have you got?”
    “Eighteen” He said, smiling. “Do you want to go again, or admit defeat early?”
    “You should be asking yourself that question.” I said, flipping my cards over with a sickly sweet smile.”
    “Damn.” He frowned. “I’m not going down easy. Deal again.”
    I gathered the already played cards and set them aside.
    “Wait, I don’t get it.” Billie looked between us. “What’s the point?”
    “Black Jack is also called Twenty One. The point is to get as close to twenty one as you can without going over. If you do, you bust and automatically lose.” Sully answered.
    “Oh,” Billie said.
    I dealt again. “Hit or stay?”
    “Stay.” Sully answered.
    I glanced down at my cards. Crap. I had twenty two. “I’m bust. We’re even.”
    He grinned. “So what do you want to do cupcake? Best two out of three, or three out of four?”
    “Don’t call me cupcake.” I glared at him. “And I could go all night. Sweetheart.”
    Sully and Billie laughed. I handed the deck over to Sully, still glowering. I still didn’t want to think of those…feelings…that stirred themselves into agonizing existence when he held me.
    We kept going for half an hour, with me losing spectacularly. I cracked a joke about him stacking the deck, and he slapped the side of my head playfully.
    “Alright, I admit defeat. Get to bed.” I said.
    “Are you sure? You look like you could use some sleep.”
    “I’ll be fine.” I smiled and walked up to Dean, telling him to pull over for the night.
    The road cut through an open field, the overgrown grass dry and yellow. Dean and Billie happily fought over the other top bunk, Sully having already staked his claim. Dean won after he yanked her away from the beds and scrambled up before she could find her footing again. She punched him once, hard, and crawled, grumbling into the bottom bunk. They both yanked the curtains closed around themselves and Sully slid silently down, treading quietly to me as I reached for the door.
    “Where are you going?” He whispered.
    “I was going to climb on the roof. It has a better vantage point.” I said.
    “You’ll freeze out there.”
    “I’ve got a jacket.” I shrugged.
    “Please don’t go out there alone.” He grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards him.
    I melted a little at his touch.
    “I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself just fine.” I whispered.
    “If you insist on staying out there, I’ll go with you.” He said, the sweet