Page 98 of Waves of Fury

Another hour ticks by and we’re at the next decently sized town, Limon. Like Elizabeth, though, it’s been boarded up. Aaron drives up close to the boarded-up service station to read a sign.

Head West to Denver for closest FEMA camp.

So much for that.

The rain continues to beat down on us and we travel through more flooded areas. Thus far, we haven’t had to backtrack or go around any flooding on the road, but I’m not sure if our luck will hold out. Our track record says we’re due to run into some trouble soon. I’m not being a pessimist. I’m being a realist.

Aaron makes another stop in Flagler to fill up with the last of our gas cans, but like the other towns we’ve passed through, this too is boarded up with instructions to head for Denver.

We’ve barely been on the road no more than ten minutes or so when Aaron slows to a stop. A quick glance through the windows shows more water on the road. Slowly, he begins inching his way across the flooded roadway as rain keeps dousing every single thing in our path.

Rumbling starts to shake the truck and the water around us begins sloshing. An earthquake in the middle of a flood. Fantastic. I’m about to state as much when I hear a roaring sound. It’s so reminiscent of the tsunami sound back in San Francisco that I freeze with sudden panic. Tyler’s eyes meet mine and we barely register what’s happening until something crashes into the side of the truck.

A wave of water swells over the side of the truck and fills the bed. Our entire group is in such shock that all we can do is emit startled cries as we attempt to figure out what’s happening.

The truck turns sharply to the right. I quickly realize it’s not turning, but the water is sweeping it away. Clutching onto the side of the truck bed, I try to make sense of our surroundings as we spin uncontrollably. We’re rushing with the flow of the water off the highway and down the embankment, heading to who the hell knows where.

Bam!

I’m jerked hard when the truck T-bones a thick tree. Crunching metal and the groan of protesting wood can be heard above the rushing water. Then, to my horror, instead of the truck going around the tree, it topples over it, which then flips us as well.

As soon as I’m sucked beneath the cold, muddy water, I freeze. Not just because it’s cold, but because I’m reminded of the stairwell in my building—when I’d nearly drowned.

I thrash, unsure which way is up and unable to see through the filthy water, trying to make my way to the surface. Debris scrapes past me and pounds into me as I tumble through the water, useless to stop myself. My lungs burn with the need for air.

Help!

Panic claws at me faster than I can claw my way to draw a breath. Pain burns in my chest as water rushes down my throat and is sucked into my lungs. I frantically thrash, choking on nasty water. Something smacks me in the head and everything goes completely black.

I come back to because I’m vomiting. I’m no longer being dragged through water and am beached beside the rushing flood. Disgusting floodwater spews out of me as I struggle to catch my breath. When I’ve retched it all out of me, I blink away the stars and start searching for the others.

Tyler!

Tears burn at my eyes as I survey the area around me. It’s still pouring down rain, making it difficult to see three feet past me. I can hear someone moaning in pain close by. Giving my head a shake to clear away my daze, I begin crawling toward the sound.

Hope is on her back, cradling her arm to her chest as she whimpers. I scramble over to her, sick with worry.

“Hope,” I rasp out. “Tell me what hurts.”

She chokes out a sob and looks down at her hand. “I think I broke my arm. God, it hurts, Kellen.” Another sob. “Where’s Aaron?”

The panic in her voice sets off my inner panic. I quickly scan our surroundings, looking for anyone from our group.

“Tyler! Aaron!” I croak out, voice hoarse from throwing up muddy water. “Dan!”

No one responds.

Fuck.

“Come on,” I instruct. “Let’s get you to your feet. We have to find everyone else.”

Hope grimaces as I help her stand. We’re both slightly swaying. She holds her arm to her chest and I absently touch the side of my head that’s throbbing. My fingers come back bloody, but the rain quickly washes it away. No time to inspect our injuries. We have to find the others.

The next thing I hear are Pretzel’s howls. His body is buried halfway in the muck beside the water. I quickly squat down to scoop the mud away from him and free the poor pup. He licks at my face until I bark at him to stop. I tuck him under my left arm and wrap my other around Hope to guide her.

After several minutes of walking, we come to the truck sticking out of the newly made river. I set Pretzel down to inspect the vehicle. The cab of the truck is under the water, which makes my stomach twist with worry.

Please let Aaron and Dan have gotten out of there.

---