Christine Kersey [Kersey - Forced Exodus (Pandemic Book Two)

Matt Bronsons gaze slid from door to door to door as he drove down his street. The same red X was painted on the vast majority of his neighbors houses. It was the mark of death, meaning there was one or more bodies inside. A corpse dead from the bird flu. Nearly his entire neighborhood was dead, as was most of the world from what hed been able to gather before the grid had gone down.

And the stench of rotting corpses. It was a smell he didnt think hed ever get out of his nostrils.

It had been a little more than two weeks since the pandemic had exploded and he and his family had hunkered down, but since then their world had gone sideways. Even so, they were still alive, which was more than could be said for the vast majority of the population.

Frowning deeply, he forced his attention back to the road as he drove his truck, which was pulling their fifth-wheel RV, out of their neighborhood. He and his family had been through so much, and now they were at the beginning of a brand new journey. A mix of hope and trepidation washed over him, and he wondered if Jessica felt the same. He glanced over at her. She was staring out of the passenger window with her chin resting on her curled fist.

She turned to him with a melancholy smile. Do you think well ever come back?

Theyd loved living in their house for the previous two years and the idea that they would never see it again brought on a whole mix of feelingssadness, anger, frustration. Slowly shaking his head, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. I dont know. He didnt want to point out that thanks to the neighborhood cooperative, their house had burned to the ground, so even if they did come back, they wouldnt have a place to live. Besides, in all reality theyd never return. They were going to start fresh in California.

Softly sighing, Jessica went back to staring out the window.

Letting his gaze slide to the rearview mirror, Matt checked on Kayla, Brooke, and Dylan in the back seat of his truck. All three were wide awake and completely silent, their eyes scanning the neighborhood.

Nobodys around, Dylan said.

Its barely six oclock in the morning, Kayla said with a yawn.

The kids had hardly left the house since the pandemic had broken out. Except Brooke. Shed had to venture to their house on her own after both of her parents had died of the bird flu. Well, she and her dog Cleo. Matt looked over his shoulder to see what the German shepherd was doing, but he couldnt see her. Hows Cleo?

Shes sleeping on the floor, Brooke said.

Sorry its so tight back there, he said with a grimace. One of you can sit up here between mom and me if you want.

None of the kids volunteered to sit between the adults. Was that because they preferred to be parent-free in the back or because they were nervous about being closer to the potential line of fire in the front?

That thought led Matt to cut his gaze sharply to the houses they were passing. Which houses had the gang members moved in to? He had no idea. All he knew was that at least twenty dangerous gang members had taken up residence in their neighborhood, which was why theyd decided to bug out rather than find another house to move in to. And now they were headed to California with Derrick, Jeff and Emily, and Chris and his family.

Matts eyes went to Derricks truck, which led their little caravan. Derrick, an ex-military manas Jeff and Chris werewas watching for trouble ahead. All four of their vehicles had walkie talkies so they could alert each other before they found themselves in trouble. At least, that was the plan.

They rolled through the stop sign that led out of the neighborhood. With no traffic and no police, there was no reason to slow their momentum. Several minutes later they passed the Home Depot where Matt and Derrick had shopped a week earlier, then they approached State Street. They were almost to the I-15 on-ramp, the Interstate they would take on their journey to Central California.

The walkie squawked on the console between the seats and then Derricks voice came over the line. Roadblock ahead. Approach with caution. Over.

Matts heart pounded as adrenaline surged. Theyd barely left their neighborhood and already they were running into potential trouble.

I see the roadblock, Jessica said, her gaze riveted to the road ahead.

Yeah. Matt touched the .45 on his right hip to reassure himself that it was easily accessible. Me too.

Cant see around the RV, Jeff said over the walkie. Whats the roadblock look like? Over.

Matt glanced in his sideview mirror. He couldnt see Jeffs truck behind himhe was too close to the back of Matts RV. But he could see Jeffs small utility trailer. He could also see Chriss SUV, which brought up the rear.

Vehicles blocking the approach to I-15, Derrick said. SUVs and trucks. Men with guns standing behind the vehicles. No way around them. A brief pause. Turn right on State Street. Well try for the next on-ramp. Over.

Derricks truck hung a right. Matts gaze shot to the men who watched them from their protected positions behind their trucks. One man spoke into a walkie of his own.

Matt began the turn onto State Street, and as he focused on getting his rig around the corner smoothly, he said, Jess, tell the guys that one of the men at the roadblock just spoke to someone on a walkie.

She looked at him with fear in her eyes but did as he asked.

Copy that, Derrick said in reply.

Dad, Kayla asked with urgency as she leaned forward, whats going to happen? Are we going to be okay?

Torn between wanting to reassure her and wanting her to know the truth, he said, Were doing our best. Then, as the RV straightened and they began heading north on State Street, he threw her a smile. Derrick, Jeff, and Chris are the best. Im sure well be fine. He glanced at Jessica, who smiled at him as if to say I know youre trying to reassure her. Thank you.

Love for the woman hed grown to appreciate all the more over the previous two weeks swept over him. He reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing gently.