Page 77 of Desperate Creed

He left the Jeep and A/C running while they pulled their duffle bags and daypacks out. Anything attached to the bags, came out, too. Lightning spiked behind them and a boom of thunder blasted overhead. Both too close for comfort. But the rain was letting up.

Jason helped Scout down and attached his leash. The parking lot was mostly empty. The rain stopped and Creed noticed a sudden stillness. About halfway to the hotel’s front door, Jason pointed to the treetops on the other side of the interstate.

“I guess those birds wouldn’t be flying if the storm was close.”

Creed looked over his shoulder. Then he stopped and turned to get a better look. His stomach fell.

“Those aren’t birds.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s debris.”

55

“I’ve got to get Grace!” Creed untangled straps from around his neck and threw down bags, tossing them to the pavement. “Take Scout and go. Get inside. Take everyone as far inside as you can get.”

“I know the drill.” Jason was picking up Creed’s packs and stringing them over his shoulders.

“Leave it! Just go.”

The wind was already picking up. Trees swayed. He could hear a low rumble growing on the other side of the tree line. He could feel the vibration under his feet. A dark shadow started emerging, slinking into view.

“Go, Jason. Now!”

He started running for the Jeep.

“Creed!”

He stopped and turned.

“Take this.”

Jason threw a helmet at him. Creed pulled it on and snapped the chinstrap just as a gust tried to rip it off his head. He had to lean forward against the wind to run across the parking lot. Now, he could hear the roar as pieces of debris filled the air. He had to use all his weight to open the Jeep’s tailgate. He dived inside then twisted around and grabbed with both hands slamming it shut behind him. He double-checked that it was tight because the storm still sounded too loud inside the vehicle.

Grace’s ears were slicked back, and despite the noise he could hear her low whine.

“It’s okay, girl. I’m here. You’re okay. We’re gonna be okay.”

He laced his fingers between the back grate, and she immediately licked them.

A quick glance over his shoulder and he knew he was lying to her.

Power lines danced. Branches cracked and snapped. The sky had darkened even more. It was difficult to see inside the vehicle. The air was filled with bits of debris and dirt. There was no way he was going to make it across the parking lot and inside the hotel.

He grabbed a blanket, opened Grace’s crate from the rear. For a brief second he questioned the wisdom of a crate that opened at both ends. Convenience had been a selling point. Now all he could think about was two doors that could pop open, and his jaw clamped tight. He bundled her in it, even though it could make it too warm inside. She wanted to come out and he gently held her back.

“Stay here, girl.”

He stuffed a towel inside, too, cushioning her until she was snug and tight. Then he closed the crate’s door, making sure it was secure despite her whimpers.

Curtains of rain poured down. Wind gust shook the Jeep. Debris pecked at the windshield. Metal pinged as hail started falling. At first just a few stones, then it sounded like golf balls assaulting the roof and hood.

“It’s okay,” he kept repeating to Grace, trying to keep his voice calm.

He threw a blanket over the crate then he crawled up, inserting his body between Grace’s shelter and the ceiling of the Jeep. He draped his torso over the hard shell, hoping to shield and secure it and Grace. His head faced the windshield and he kept it down while his legs dangled toward the tailgate.

By now, the storm sounded like an angry beast. Creed’s ears popped. He couldn’t see Grace inside the crate underneath him, but he kept talking to her, hoping she was focusing on his voice and not the earsplitting noise roaring over them.