Earth's Survivors: Apocalypse / Earth's Survivors (ePub)

Earth's Survivors Apocalypse follows survivors of a worldwide catastrophe. A meteorite that was supposed to miss the earth completely, hits and becomes the cap to a series of events that destroy the world as we know it. Police, fire, politicians, military, governments: All gone. Hopes, dreams, tomorrows: All buried in a desperate struggle to survive. From L.A. To Manhattan the cities, governments have toppled and lawlessness is the rule. The dead lay in the streets while gangs fight for control of what is left. Small groups band together for safety and begin to leave the ravaged cities behind in search of a future that can once again hold promise... ... It was the most tired I had ever been. I laid my head down and I was gone for a little while... The sun is down all the way here. I went back upstairs. Nothing on the horizon. That time of evening when the sun is down and the moon has yet to rise. Very dark. Can't see anything in any direction. Thought they must be all sleeping in the barn, but I heard some movements out near where I... Never mind what I did there, I'll get to that soon enough, I guess. I only heard it once, but I know damn well it's one of them... Some of them... I don't believe the whiskey is going to make it to daylight, but I have a feeling I'm not going to make it to daylight either... Feeling funny now, not myself... I'll try to get this done... It was the 15th when I came awake in that truck. Hot, but desert heat... September 15th It was late afternoon when Johnny awoke. Somewhere in the day Lana had wound up beside him. He lay still, unwilling to let her go, his hand was curled protectively around her. Lana moved and he felt the sleep leave her body. One moment soft and willing, the next a live wire. "You didn't cop a feel did you?" Lana asked in a mumbled half sleepy voice. "Lana, can't you ever just say something like, good morning?" She twisted her head around and smiled. The secret smile she rarely ever gave out. "Good late afternoon," she said and the smile slipped away. There was still something there, but it wasn't that secret, vulnerable glimpse into her heart that it was usually. She stretched, yawned, and her feet came up against the door. "Next vehicle we get is an SUV so we have some place to sleep too." "I don't know, I kind of liked this," Johnny said before he could shut his mouth down. Lana laughed and it was the unguarded Lana once more. "As long as you know what the deal is." She twisted her head once more, and then her entire body so she was looking directly into his eyes. "I... I know the deal," Johnny said. The press of her body was maddening. "We really don't need to talk it out?" Johnny shook his head and looked away. "I'm a little too old for you, Lana. I know." Her eyes became sad. "Let me just say these few things." She took a deep breath and then began to speak. "I am attracted to you. I considered sleeping with you before you became my friend, before I knew it couldn't work between us. I even considered it after... Maybe ten minutes ago too, but it would cost me a friend because it wouldn't mean to me what it would mean to you. It has nothing to do with age or anything else." She held his eyes as if willing him to understand. "It's like you see me as this fragile little princess, and I am so far from that, Johnny. So far. I can't see why you try to see me that way." She laughed. "It's a thing men do. Like... Like that is love, you see? Instead of love just being about all the other stuff... The things I admire about you, you about me. The things in common, the things that we share, the parts of you and me that are real that end up in the mix... But no, I'm a princess, unattainable beauty, something to worship, and it has nothing to do with what I really am at all. I have lived that way, tried to live up to that. It's not possible... The man I need is out there, I hope. Just someone that looks at me as me." She watched his eyes...