Torin (Hope City #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,58

forced her pace to increase, and they were soon side by side again. “You okay?”

She nodded, but her voice was winded. “Yeah. Glad I got to see them but have to admit that little bit of extra exertion was an ass-kicker.”

Words were now used judiciously as they approached the eighteenth-mile marker, and the fatigue was almost overwhelming.

“Bananas,” he grunted, inclining his head forward after checking the race map on his smartwatch.

They had sipped more water with their gel packs, but he wanted to make sure they kept their stomachs settled along with the concentrated energy water additives. Erin didn’t comment but he figured she’d eat one if he went to grab two from the volunteers at the nutrient station tent by the side of the street.

“You keep going, and I’ll move over to get them,” he offered, and without waiting for a reply, he maneuvered between runners toward the side. The table was filled with bananas, more boxes stacked next to them. He couldn’t imagine how many bananas had been delivered or were consumed during the race. Reaching both hands out, he called, “Two.”

The volunteer already had one in her hand, and she turned to grab another. She whirled back around and handed it to him, calling out her encouragement. He nodded his appreciation as more bananas were being dumped onto the table. From the boxes surrounding the table, it was easy to see the race organizers were prepared. Looking to his side before re-entering the runners, he spied Erin moving toward him. He grinned and held up both hands with a banana in each. She grinned in return and held up her phone to snap a picture. We’re going to do this. We’re going to make it through the last eight miles and cross the finish line together.

Suddenly, a boom roared through his ears, and the world rocked under his feet, throwing him forward, his body flying toward her.

Then nothing.

17

Erin watched as Torin caught her eye, grinning widely with both hands holding a banana. Being with Caitlyn, Bekki, and Brianna for a few minutes had given her the necessary boost to move past denial and depression to where she hoped she could finish the race. Her phone in her hand, she held it up and snapped a picture. Shoving the phone into her running pack, she continued jogging toward him, careful of the mass of runners between them.

A deafening roar and a plume of billowing smoke exploded just behind Torin, throwing her backward onto the pavement. Her head hit the street, pain radiating throughout her entire body.

She lay on her back, blinking her eyes open, staring as a few white puffy clouds floated by in the blue sky. Ringing mixed with the sounds of faraway screaming filled her ears. Screaming. Why is there screaming?

Uncertain of where she was, she rolled to the side, wincing in pain as she pushed to a seated position. Her legs were stretched out in front of her, covered in bloody abrasions. Unable to hear, she slowly moved her head, but her brain seemed unattached to her eyes and ears. Some people were running, their mouths moving, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. Others were lying on the ground… the street. Why are we on the street?

The scent of something burning filled her nostrils. Burning?

Swallowing deeply, she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing. Lifting her hand, she touched the back of her head, feeling a sticky knot. Pulling her hand away, she saw blood coating her fingers. Using her other hand to swipe the sweat rolling down her face, those fingers came back bloody as well. Looking to her left, her gaze landed on a running shoe. Continuing to stare, she realized the object next to the shoe was a leg.

Just a leg.

The mental fog shifted as the sight caused her breath to halt. “Oh, God!” She scrambled to her knees, barely able to hold up her head, but through her wooziness could see people running and screaming. Others were lying in pools of blood, some crying out, some not moving at all, and the sounds of sirens filled the air.

Another explosion sounded close by, and she screamed, her arms instinctively curving over her head as she curled into a fetal position. She lay a moment, but no other explosion was heard. Christ almighty… what happened? Slowly unfurling her body, she fought to drag oxygen into her lungs, willing her fuzzy brain to engage. She looked around, seeing many others just coming