Read High Pressure System: First Season Underground for Free Online Page A

up. “Screw computers.” Brandon pulled me into his chest and hugged me tight, his hand tangled in my hair as he held me close. He gave me a little peace with what he shared about my family. I was so sad for Jim. I couldn’t help it. I cried on his shoulder. I was reluctant to let go. Being in Brandon’s arms was far better than being alone.

2

6
In Hiding
    It had been a few days since I nearly killed myself, and quite possibly all of the people in the bunker due to my carelessness. Well, it wasn’t on purpose. I was trying to save a cat, and then my dog, and that about did us all in. I can’t quite forget the feeling in my chest when the air was sucked out of my lungs as I was pulled towards the door to the outside. The power of the storm was unbelievable. That extreme weather somehow killed all the people in the two bunkers closest to ours not that long ago.
    There was a knock on the door. I cowered under my blanket. The dogs wouldn’t stop barking to let me know there was a visitor they had to greet. How about I chase the dogs into their kennels for forcing me to answer it? Instead, I wrapped myself in my blanket and shuffled to the door, barely opening it a crack.
    Jim gave me a fatherly concerned smile. “You okay?”
    I rubbed my nose with a tissue. It wasn’t really runny. Just sore and red from crying. “I think I’m sick or something. Might be getting a cold,” I said with my best fake, stuffy nose voice.
    Jim took a couple steps back. “Should I get the doctor? They were all over the Martins when their kids caught the flu. Something about being all locked up together, they want to keep the crud from spreading.”
    “Really? I’ll just stay put. I’m sure it will pass in a few days.”
    “I’ll let them know. Can I get you anything? It kind of smells like you successfully burned your kitchen down.”
    “Does it? I’m not really hungry. Thanks though.” I really wanted him to go. I was having a hard time keeping the tears from spilling out of my eyes. “I don’t want to get you sick.”
    He studied my face until I looked down at the ground. “You know, it’s not that big of a deal.” Jim wasn’t my dad, but he sure had me figured out.
    “I just don’t feel good.” I rubbed my face with the blanket and pushed the dogs away from the door with my foot.
    “All right. I will tell the doctors what’s up. I miss seeing you around. So get better soon.”
    “Thanks.” I bit my lip. Being alone was getting easier as long as no one bothered me. I suddenly missed him too. I really missed my dad even more, but Jim was able to fill that hole a little. I slowly closed the door when he turned and walked away.
    There were plenty of reasons why I wasn’t leaving my apartment or sleeping well. Brandon, the big man in charge—wait, he wasn’t a big man, he was a young one, about twenty-six and only a few years older than me— was always on my mind, even when he ticked me off. He said he would tell everyone to blame me for the current change in status of being locked underground for the unforeseeable future. That wasn’t boding well with me at all. I was too ashamed to show my face to the others. Besides, he never gave me a job so I had nothing to do, and honestly, college classes had been pretty much pointless if I was going to end up here.
    I had no idea how many days I stayed in my apartment. Since there wasn’t any sunlight to determine day from night, I couldn’t tell and I didn’t care. I felt as if I was only taking catnaps in between the blaring music from the lock-downs when the storms passed over us. They were coming far too often.
The William Tell Overture
lock-down theme song became just like any other alarm. However, I shivered in terror, buried in my blankets when the flashbacks happened.
    Thank goodness my dogs Dobbers and Yodel helped comfort me by hanging out in my bed. I did take the dogs and Rocky the rescue squirrel just outside the apartment door occasionally for brief walks