Ahead, the sky was darker. Not from night—from more fire. Another city burning. Toledo? Columbus? He couldn’t tell anymore. They all burned the same.
Kael had a destination, though it sounded like a joke: Zone Ingress Protocol. ZIP. A rumored evacuation corridor still open out of Norfolk, Virginia—the Navy’s last deep-water port, protected by ships that still had fuel and guns that still had bullets. Everyone said it was a lie. But lies were better than prayers, because lies at least moved you forward. hell or high water as cities burn zip
Then came hell.
Then at least he went walking. With his sister’s face over his heart and the taste of canned peaches on his tongue and a three-bullet pistol riding his hip. Ahead, the sky was darker
He hadn’t found her yet.