Page 111 of Sinners Reunion

My eyes bulge. “How⁠—”

“We have no idea, and we find it’s best not to look at it for too long.”

Dust flies as Grim spins around. We duck down as they speed by again, heading back the way they came.

“How do they even know about these trails?” I whisper. “I thought you said they were secret.”

He runs his hand down his face. “I might have accidentally given the entrance location over the radio.”

“What is it with old people and technology?”

“Yes, well, this old person just gave you a few of the best orgasms you’ve ever had, so you should probably⁠—”

“Oh no.” I grunt as the shitnado watch becomes a shitnado warning.

There is no time left.

Hell is upon me.

“Please go to a different patch of bushes immediately,” I say, and why do I speak like a fucking robot when I’m in panic mode? “I must be alone now.”

“Josie, I can’t go out there. Grim and⁠—”

“I must be alone now!” I scream.

King scrambles out of the bushes and runs to the other side of the trail. He dives into the thick scrub, right as the engine grumbles over the hill again. A headlight turns onto our path, and flesh zips past moments later. If they had turned to their left, they’d have seen a very terrified woman praying she gets her shorts down before the worst happens.

I don’t care if they know we’re out here. They already know we’re out here anyway. What they don’t know is that I’m about to shit in the bushes.

My eyes slam shut as I envision the impending explosion. I can only be thankful that Grim and Rosie are coming my way once more. That tin-can engine is sure to drown out whatever sounds I may make.

They come around the corner, and I let it go. It is not my proudest moment, but I’m beyond relieved when I realize it wasn’t the explosion I envisioned. Instead, it was more like the cork popping out and letting off pressure. As he said, I just needed to let off some steam.

“It was only gas,” I say across the road as the ATV taillights disappear up the hill.

King starts my way, but he’ll live to regret it if he gets much closer. It might have been gas, but it smells like I’m leaving something behind. Something dead.

“No, stay over there!” I say, flailing my hands at him as I try to stop him from getting much closer. But it’s too late. The buzzing engine is coming back around, and he’s moving even faster toward me.

I squat down and try to blow the stink away, but it’s no use. It lingers like a cloud. A very stinky cloud. So much for having him fall in love with me. The earth can swallow me up now, thanks.

He hurries behind the safety of the branches and leaves, and how unfortunate that he’s so out of breath from running back and forth. It only takes one good intake of air before he starts to cough. The gentleman that he is, he first tries to pretend as if he’s merely catching his breath. That doesn’t last.

“We may need to call a doctor for you,” he says, followed by a discreet gag. “Or perhaps a coroner. I believe you’ve already died.”

I bury my face in my hands. This can’t get any worse.

The engine buzzes over the hill again, and we hunker down for what has to be the final time. I can’t take much more of this, and those hot dogs aren’t finished with me yet. This was a false alarm, the lull before the actual storm. Shitnado is coming, and I’ll be better prepared this time.

But as I’m planning to make a break for the restrooms just over that hill, the ATV takes the curve a bit too fast, and the vehicle rocks onto two wheels. Grim manages to set it back down, albeit violently, but the rear end fishtails and sends Rosie flying off the back.

Grim brings the four-wheeler to a stop and snatches off his helmet—the only piece of clothing they wore.

“Josie, I need to help them. Can you make it to the bathroom on your own?”

“Yes, go.”

“Head for the RV when you’ve finished. I still have something I need to talk to you about.”