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Juh the air Ar body onward A roar ripped froainst the back of the van, grunted, grappled on top for a hold His feet braced on the rear bumper Shit… This looked easier in the movies

The van peeled around a corner, dah slipped sideways, al pistons He slapped the side, found a fire rack

His brain raced as fast as the tires No way could he make it to the front He didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of cliured out he was holding on, they would soon It wouldn’t take ainst a brick wall

He needed to open the back and fling hi it fro the van drive aasn’t an option Given the island’s current state of disorder, locating this vehicle later would be all but impossible And he couldn’t let himself think about ould happen to Amelia and Joshua in the meantiht time to make his move

Aainst a crate in the van as the vehicle squealed around a corner She clutched Joshua to her chest, struggling to keep her balance

Thank God, their kidnappers were letting her hold hih that made it impossible for her to open a door and leap out onto the pavement, which may have been their intent Not that she would have left without Joshua anyway

She leaned against a spare tire, the road buuy drove, the woer seat The s in the air She scanned the packed space, glass rattling, and found boxes labeled as water and juice

So much had happened so fast She’d barely had time to process the violent shift in her life Why the hell had she been so proud and stubborn in walking away froh out of some crazy fear he would walk away first? The man and woman had escorted her out of the school/hospital at knifepoint As she’d walked down that hall and into the parking lot, she’d known that once she landed inside the van, her chances and Joshua’s would be reduced dra her neck, she had screaain--just before the man backhanded her so hard she’d lost consciousness for a few ain as she’d been thrust in the back of a van Seconds later Joshua was shoved into her arained her balance before they roared out of the lot, tires squealing

Her hands shook as she took reassurance froled to stay calm, but her reserves were already depleted Her body just wouldn’t pony up any y For now, she kept her ears tuned in to the couple in front, hoping to find out so, that could help her escape Thus far, she’d only learned their names were Oliver and Tandi

Were they low-level opportunists, preying on the current crisis? Or did they have deeper ties to soanization from earlier, before the earthquake? Either way, the odds were not in her favor or Joshua’s Exhaustion and defeat left her on the edge of tears

A thuled nerves

Oliver looked over his shoulder sharply "What the hell?"

Tandi pulled a gun fro with the weapon "Drive faster"

A her back toward Tandi, toward the gleaust of night air rolled inside before a body blocked the opening Ah? Oh God, it was really hi in his arms as he clutched the sides

Tandi shouted, "Swerve, Oliver Jerk the van around Do so"

The woman squeezed off a shot into the back The bullet ricocheted inside theher body around Joshua

Liquid spurted frounshot scent stung her nose along with an increasing fruity sh and Joshua

Big and alive and unhar to the back even as the van lurched

Oliver back handed Tandi "Stop shooting, bitch You’re going to kill us all I’ve got this"

The van swerved again, so fiercely she feared the vehicle would roll Oh God, she didn’t knohat to do If Hugh fell off, he could die If he made it in here, he could die as well… The deteriving up Either way, he would die trying

And for Joshua, she had to take whatever help she could

She risked letting go of the baby for a flash, setting hirabbed a handle bolted to the side, then flung out her other ar hi

"Da on Oliver, we have to do so"

The woman started to cli on the deserted road Tandi fell back in her seat with a shriek Hugh was flung sideways, but he held strong