Chapter 2 - The Explosion
Clare grabbed the money and shoved it into her purse.
She grabbed Lily by the hand and practically dragged her toward the diner exit.
Lily complained that she had not finished her pie.
Clare ignored her and pushed open the heavy glass doors into the cold parking lot.
The freezing rain stung her face as she frantically scanned the rows of cars.
She saw Daniel walking slowly toward a massive black SUV parked under a broken streetlamp.
Clare yelled his name over the sound of the pouring rain.
Daniel stopped and turned around with a look of genuine confusion.
Clare ran toward him, screaming that he needed to get away from the car.
Daniel took one step toward her to ask what was wrong.
That single step saved his life.
The black SUV erupted into a blinding ball of orange fire.
The shockwave threw Clare and Lily violently to the wet asphalt.
Car alarms blared instantly across the entire parking lot.
Thick black smoke billowed into the dark Thanksgiving sky.
Clare ears were ringing loudly as she frantically searched the ground for her daughter.
Lily was coughing but unharmed, sitting up with wide, terrified eyes.
Through the smoke, a figure staggered toward them.
It was Daniel, his expensive coat singed and his forehead bleeding.
He grabbed Clare by the arm and hauled her to her feet.
He demanded to know where her car was parked.
Clare pointed a shaking finger toward her rusty green sedan.
Daniel practically carried Lily to the car and shoved her into the backseat.
He ordered Clare to drive as fast as she possibly could.
Clare fumbled with her keys and started the engine.
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As she slammed her foot on the gas, three unmarked black vans swerved into the parking lot.
Heavily armed men in tactical gear poured out of the vans and immediately raised their rifles.
