Everyone had a camera, so coverage wasn’t an issue. Charles would be happy. Turning my entire focus to the flooded road, I tried to see through the sheets of rain into the distance. Visibility was compromised. I saw a couple of hundred yards at best before everything became too obscure. Shapes blended with the horizon. I could vaguely make out dry land where the road rose again.
No sign of Olivia.
I waded into the water until it reached the top of my sneakers. I kept going until it was midway up my shins, dragging and slowing me down.
Lightning crackled across the planes in blinding spears. Thunder boomed.
In the distance, trees whipped their branches as though yelling at God Himself. The ground was littered with broken limbs. They tumbled and rolled across the fields, catching on fences or bushes, and blowing into the road. A dilapidated barn in the distance looked like it had suffered more than its share of nasty weather and was skeletal, missing so many beams there was no way it was in use. One of these days, the thing would collapse.
Maybe today.
I hunkered against the wind and rain and continued until the flooded road nearly hit my knees. This was nuts. I doubted the downward grade was noticeable on a regular day, but it formed a basin, and I wasn’t sure how deep it got at its center.
I kept walking until someone called my name. Peering back, I caught sight of Vern shouting and waving his arms from the edge of the water. “What the fuck are you doing? Get out of there.”
He was right. This was idiotic. Finding Olivia wasn’t going to happen. Charles would be pissed, but at least he was getting storm footage. I glanced one last time into the distance and was about to turn around when a flash of color caught my attention.
I squinted against the blinding rain, blowing it off my lips and swiping it from my eyes. The wind plastered my hood against the side of my face, so I ripped it off. Was that color, or was I imagining it? No.
It was… bright green like… Was it a neon green Jeep?
My face broke into a wide grin, and I almost laughed. That fucking thing was a beacon. Did Gale know that? Maybe the Wind Riders were over there. How far away was it? I couldn’t tell.
“Oz!” Vern called again. “Do you want to die? You’re going to get electrocuted.”
I pointed down the road. “I see something. I’m going to check it out.”
Vern examined the water rose to my knees and shook his head.
Lightning filled the sky, followed by an earth-shatteringboom.
“Oz,” Vern shouted.
The storm was overhead, and we stood on a flat plain with few buildings and scattered trees. Taking a swim in a flooded road was not a wise decision. In fact, it was a terrible and dangerous decision.
But I’d never much cared for my physical well-being. I liked taking risks. Tempting fate. It was why I did what I did. Again, the voice in the back of my head whispered,You need fucking therapy.
Charles had given me a task, and although I was certain he didn’t mean for me to be an idiot, I wanted to be the hero ofthis story. Maybe the Wind Riders had run into trouble. More specifically, maybe Gale had run into trouble.
I pointed along the road at the distant Jeep. “That’s Olivia’s crew. They might be in trouble. Tell Lex to get the team and drive around this mess. Pick me up on the other side.”
“Are you crazy?”
Another flash of lightning shattered the sky. Another deep rumble shook the earth.
“Absolutely.”
“Oz. Get out of there.” I’d never heard Vern so hysterical.
Instead of arguing, I pretended not to hear and continued wading through the flooded road. A hundred yards or so from my point of entry, the water hit mid-thigh before growing steadily shallower.
My headcam recorded the trek, and as I waded through the flood, I prepared a speech for when I reached the other side and confronted Olivia and her crew.Are you okay? The road is washed out. I wanted to check up on you. The guys are driving around. You’re safe now.
I was the friendly team player, always looking out for the smaller guy… or gal.
What I found on the other side of the washed-out road was not what I expected.
17
