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Back Seasons of Chaos Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. Epilogue
  66. Acknowledgments
  67. About the Author
  68. Books by Elle Cosimano
  69. Back Ad
  70. About the Publisher

I run, tripping over the ties. I don’t look back as the waterspout spins over the side of the bridge. The force of it pulls me, dragging me backward into its path. I lean forward, pressing ahead to get clear of it. Doug’s shouts are muffled in the roar. When I can’t resist the pull anymore, I throw myself down on the tracks, grab the rails, and hold on.

The spout rattles the track. I turn to look over my shoulder, certain I’m about to be crushed by a train. The funnel twists across the bridge, tearing up ties. I can’t see Doug behind it.

“Now, Jack! You have to move now!” Fleur’s voice is hard to hear over the crack of shattering wood. I push myself to my knees, then to my feet, my head bowed against the wind. A fire flickers in the distance.

I’m close.

The creek bed disappears. There’s a warehouse to my right. An access road to my left. The wind slows as the funnel disperses.

“Sommers!” Doug’s voice feels farther away. Beaten. Exhausted. Angrier than before.

I stumble off the tracks, following the light, veering left over the edge of the rail onto the narrow road that runs parallel to it. I tell myself to run, but my body won’t listen. I stagger through the deep puddles, clutching the cramp in my side, every labored breath burning.

A pair of blinding white headlights cut sharply toward me. I raise my arms, shielding my eyes as a car skids to a stop. The window rolls down.

“Get in.” Lixue grips the steering wheel, frowning at the train tracks. Her wipers slap at the rain, flinging water at me. “What do you need? An engraved invitation? Get in the damn car!”

“It’s okay,” Fleur assures me. “She’ll take you to Auggie’s. We’re on our way. I have to go. I’ll meet you there.”

My earpiece goes silent as the connection shuts down. I gape through the rain at Lixue. Her knuckles are white around the wheel.

“Last chance,” she says, inclining her head toward the bridge.

With a muttered swear, I slide into the seat behind her, glaring at her in the rearview mirror as I slam the door. Maybe she’ll think twice before she gets any bright ideas about killing me and dumping my body.

She throws the car in reverse, wet tires squealing as she backs down the access road. Her headlights cut through the fog. Doug parts it like a curtain, watching us from the end of the bridge as we speed toward Auggie’s house.

57

He Must Seek Me

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DOUG