The Long Road Home

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Page was happy that the days passed with no drama or trouble. Ty called nearly every day again keeping her up to date on the events in the bunker. She was overjoyed to hear that the mix Theo was able to put together had saved Jones's arm and the man would make a full recovery.

Page's head was pounding and she popped two Advil with hopes it would help ease the pain. She peered at the thick woods lining both sides of the road. There were so many rippers hiding in the shadows of the trees, Page could see them from the open road. Conner, who had been a surprisingly good companion, was now pale and looked like he was going to be sick.

'We need to get off the road before dark.' She signed to the two. 'We can't stay out in this mess.' They nodded

'There is a place we can go near the next town.' Connor offered 'We will have to cut through a field to get to it, but it's like a fortress.' Page frowned confused. 'It's an old library. It's all stone and the narrow windows are like seven feet off the ground.' Page nodded and they walked on watching the woods and road ahead.

To Page's great relief, the pressure in her head started to let up an hour later. She hoped it was the rippers thinning out, and not because of the pills she had taken. Peering into the woods, she did not see a lot of movement. Then, as if someone flicked a switch, the pressure was gone. Connor motioned ahead of them and Page looked to see the end of the forest.

What looked like an old farm field was over grown and prime for hiding rippers. She felt none nearby however and it made her smile.

'Well this is a bit of good luck.' She said making the two males jump. 'I think we are in a safe zone.'

'Behemoth territory eh?' Connor said looking around for the creature. 'Safe or not, I would feel better with a roof over my head tonight. It's getting cold already and it's only the end of August.' Page nodded and they made their way through the field. Her ham shook making her jump. Page shook her head annoyed. She did not know why she was so jumpy. Maybe it was because of the mess they just left behind, or maybe because things had been going too good for them.

'Gallagher.' She answered

'Page,' Came Mouth's worried reply. 'I have you on satellite. You need to take cover now.' That stopped her.

'What's going on?' She asked looking around her for the threat.

'Every ripper in the area is massing around a five mile bubble. You are in the dead center of the bubble. I don't know what is keeping them back, but they are pressing closer.'

'How many?' She asked when what she really wanted to do was scream and swear cursing her dumb luck.

'Thousands Page.' He whispered sounding sick.

'Fuck me.' She sighed rubbing her eyes. She looked too Connor who looked shocked. 'How sure are you of this library being safe?'

'See for yourself.' He said confused as he motioned ahead of them.

Page moved the weeds aside and looked. Before them was a massive gray stone building. As Connor had promised, none of the first floor windows were near ground level. The doors looked to be made of good solid wood with metal supports.

'Okay Mouth, I think we have a place. Let me call you back.' She hung up and motioned the two to stay put. Page walked the perimeter of the building seeing two emergency exits and no sign of rippers. The front doors were open, but there was no smell of rippers inside the building. She did however spot a thick blood trail that worried her. When Kidd and Connor joined her, she motioned to the blood.