Page 31 of (Sur)real
“Gabby is telling me it’s clear, and this tank needs gas,” Jim interrupted. “I’m pulling into the next station.”
Any hint of humor left Liam’s expression, and I could tell by his scent he was struggling to keep his emotions positive. I understood his concern.
How clear?I sent Jim.
She said they are still in the same city. There are a few around here, but nothing close. Grey will keep me posted.
“A gas station is good. Paul made me hungry for some man-food with all his princess talk,” I said. Paul snorted, and Liam giggled from behind his hand.
“Perfect,” Jim said. “You two princesses can take the cubs to the bathroom and grab some road food. I’ll fill the car.”
Any update on Dad?I asked silently.
Winifred has been listening to the news. There were reports of the fight but so far there’s nothing being said about anyone having been captured. Your Dad’s still not answering, but I can feel him.
I almost wished Jim couldn’t feel him. That he wasn’t answering meant that someone had him and he didn’t want us to know who and try to get him. Whether human or Urbat, there was only one reason to keep Dad alive. Information. And he wouldn’t ever give any. No matter how they tried to pry it from him.
Jim found a quiet place in the middle of a country community. Pulling up to the vacant pumps, he winked back at Liam.
“Get me some Twinkies, okay?”
Liam grinned and nodded. Paul opened the door for him and stayed close while I woke Aden and took him inside. The clerk called out a friendly hello, only looking away from the TV mounted behind the counter for a moment.
I said hello in return and steered the boys toward the back. They went in together with a promise to be quick and wash with soap. I didn’t care about the soap, just the speed.
While Paul stood by the door to wait for them, I started loading up on some food items. Nothing looked good. I doubted anything would for a long time. But, I knew we all needed to eat. So I grabbed things at random and took them up to the counter just as the clerk’s show was interrupted with a breaking news update. The reporter talked about a werewolf and Urbat sighting north of us. The screen switched to show a parking lot of a familiar fast food place. Glass and blood smattered the blacktop. My chest ached at the sight and anger boiled in my veins.
“I still don’t believe that shit’s real,” the guy said, not looking away from the screen. “I mean, how could another race possibly exist without a hint of anyone knowing?”
“I don’t know,” I said calmly. “Where else would all those legends have come from?”
“True,” the guy said, turning toward me. “Paying for the gas, too?” he asked.
“Yep.” I pulled out my wallet. Mom and Dad had split money between all of us in case we were separated. Thanks to Michelle and her lawyer, there was plenty of it.
While I counted out bills, the reporter on the television went on to ask for help finding the van that fled from the attack. They believed the “family” of one of the “victims” fled in fear and stole another car. My pulse jumped, and I looked up at the TV. The screen showed a house with an open garage and an older woman with a picture of the car we now drove. The clerk looked up at the TV, following my gaze. He frowned and glanced out the window where Jim now filled the car, then he looked back to the TV.
“Shit,” he breathed softly.
Our eyes met.
“They killed my mom, took my dad, and are after the rest of us. I’m sorry about this.”
Using my speed, I grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face down onto the counter, knocking him out. I checked his pulse before letting him go. He slowly slid to the floor.
I just knocked out the clerk,I sent Jim.
I hope you had a good reason,he sent back.
The TV had a picture of our car and was asking for anyone with any information to call in.
Are there cameras inside?
I glanced at the wall behind the register, my stomach sinking.
Yes.
Hurry up.
