Born and raised beneath the sea, Kayla has never been to the surface. She never really wanted to go. Now she has no choice. A deadly virus has invaded her home and the only hope for a cure lies above. With the hospital overflowing, she and Jason ar...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Abby rode with Cole, Kayla with the president and Jason got on the back of Jerry's bike for the return trip. The first order of business was to find a gas station and refuel. They were all running dangerously low. Jerry's brother, Big Ken, took the lead, as he had lived in Atlanta before the Collapse. He lead them to a Shell station about three miles away.
The pumps were all locked, so the Prez headed inside to see about getting them turned on. Gazing out the window at the bikes, the manager said,
"That'll be $20 a gallon."
"What? That's ridiculous! Gas is only $10 a gallon everywhere else," the President replied.
"Wall now, you ain't everywhere else, are ya? You're here and there ain't no other gas station for 40 miles. You got 40 miles left in them hogs?"
The President shook his head, disgusted and headed back outside to let the crew know the situation.
"Surely this can't be the only gas station for 40 miles!" Jerry exclaimed, followed by an echo of "Yeah's"
"I say we get a gallon apiece and head on down the road. I'm sure we'll find something else."
Everyone was in agreement, so the president gathered the money and paid for 15 gallons, trying his best to ignore the smirk on the manager's face.
"Best take one of m'cards. We do road assistance."
The president shoved the card in his pocket and walked out without saying a word.
It was Big Ken's idea to take the side streets and back roads and try to avoid the Sur 13. He knew his way around this section of Atlanta pretty well, and thought he could lead them through. He'd keep a look out for gas as well. They headed out with Big Ken in the lead.
As they rolled to a stop at an intersection, Big Ken sidled up to the Prez.
"Gas tank's getting mighty low, Boss."
"Mine, too. Let's try one of the main roads. It's dangerous, but so is running out of gas out here."
Big Ken nodded and roared away. Kayla clung to the president as he followed, and listened to the roar of the bikes all around her. How had the Sur 13 not found them yet? You could hear them coming a mile away.
10 miles passed, and still no gas station. Some of the bikes were running on fumes. They needed gas, and fast. Around mile 12, Ken started waving them off to the right. There sat a tiny little station with 2 pumps. Kayla looked around, wondering if they were even open.
A short man in dirty coveralls, wiping his hands on a rag came out of the small garage attached to the station.
"Hey, brother, we could use some gas," Ken said.
The man shook his head and moved the toothpick he was chewing to the other side of his mouth.
"Sorry, ain't had no gas in weeks. Delivery trucks won't drive in here any more, cause of the Sur 13. The only one around here with any gas is that Shell station 30 miles back. He has some kind of deal going with the bangers."
