The Survivalistas: Book 3.5- Ava Read online



  The Survivalistas- Teaser

  Book 2.5- Mica

  By Shandy Jo

  Copyright 2014 Shandy Sanford

  Cover art created by Shandy Sanford

  Graphics from 123RF.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. While the places maybe real the author has used creative license.

  Author's Note: In order to offer you my work free I could not afford to have my work professionally edited. If you find any misspellings, grammar issues or problems in general with this work please let me know. I look forward to hearing what you think, feel free to email me at [email protected] or just lay it all on the line and leave a review.

  Chapter 1

  Ava’s head jerked up at the sound of a blaring siren, her eyes danced over the gages and screens in front of her. One caught her attention, as it dropped rapidly. “Dad, we’re losing coolant fast.” She called over her shoulder.

  Moments later her father was peering over her head. “Shit.” He swore and took off for the control room door. “Get a suit on and be ready to evacuate.”

  “What about you?” Ava asked, heading to where they kept the protective suits.

  “If the cooling pool catches fire, I won’t make it out.” He paused, “You know where to go and what to do?”

  She nodded, “Take the case to The Rev up in Big Moose.”

  He smiled, “Good girl I know I can count on you.”

  Ava watched him leave, tears in her eyes as she pulled on the suit. She’d worried when this whole thing started. Staying to keep the Nine Mile Nuclear Plant from melting down. They’d shut down the reactor within the first few days, but the cooling pool was another story. Her parents had been recruited to help rebuild due to her father’s job at the plant. If the plants blew, they would cause damage and contamination that the party couldn’t afford if they were to rebuild. Ava knew her Dad would do what he could to limit the damage, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

  After preparing herself and the metal case she was to take with her, she sat at the panel and watched the gauges and the screens. On the screen for the camera in the cooling pool she watched her dad work feverishly to fix the valve that had become stuck open.

  Her heart pounded as the coolant dipped lower and lower, when the top of the cores began to peek out she knew it was a lost cause. Keying the intercom, Ava said, “I’m leaving, Dad. I’ll be at the boat.”

  He waved at the camera, and blew her a kiss before turning back to the job. As she got up to leave, Ava saw a flicker of light in the bottom of the screen and picked up her pace. Racing out to the car, she knew her dad was a lost cause. The plant was in meltdown. Tossing the case inside, she jumped in and sped out of the parking lot, hitting the remote to open the gate she didn’t wait for it to open fully when she slammed on the gas. There was a screeching metal on metal sound as the car hit the gate. She side swept several zombies knocking them down as she barreled down the road. Careening into the dock parking lot she slammed the car to a stop and ran to the small boat that would take her across the lake and hopefully far enough away from the radiation.

  A wail sounded in the distance, and she glanced back to see dark smoke billowing from the cooling towers. Jumping in the boat Ava untied it from the dock, and cranked the engine. She paused for a moment, searching the road she had just driving. Praying to see her dad barreling toward her in another vehicle. But to no avail. The road was clear save for a few zombies heading toward her in their slow never ending shuffle. Revving the engine she pulled away from the dock heading out toward the middle of Lake Ontario.

  Behind her there was a loud explosion and she was tossed forward losing her grip on the controls. Her head smacked the deck and the visor cracked against her forehead. Ava’s vision danced, another explosion sounded behind her causing the boat to rock and keep her off balance. Above her the engine cut out and the boat continued to shift. Climbing to her feet, Ava fought to keep her balance, but failed again she met the deck. Her head smacked the inside of her helmet and she gave up laying on the bottom of the boat until the waves calmed. Cautiously she got to her feet, looking back toward the plant. Black and red plumes of smoke belched into the air. Flames licked the building, eating up the surrounding area, like hungry red demons.

  Swallowing down her tears, Ava turned restarted the engine and kicked the boat into high gear trying to get as far from the fallout as she could.