Chapter 2

"If you heard it, you weren't the target."

The explosions coupled with the rumble of thunder overhead rattled the entire shelter. Rowan and about 30 other people hunkered down in the reinforced bunker, but the concrete walls were only so thick. There was nowhere to run, so the only option was to hide. As the explosions came closer and closer, Rowan began to wonder if he would die here, cowering inside an old, Cold-war era nuclear shelter that could collapse at any minute. While it was supposed to be able to keep the people inside safe from a nuclear blast and fallout, Rowan wasn't sure if it could stand up to this amount of punishment.

A shell suddenly hit directly above them, and the lights dimmed for a second. Dust fell onto Rowan's shoulders, and a few people screamed. He tried to make himself the smallest target possible, but what good would that do? If the Thunderers made it into the bunker, he would be taking his last breath in there. Tex saw the fear in his eyes and nudged him. Rowan looked over. "I don't wanna die here, man. I've come too far to die here." Tex put his arm on his shoulder and said "Hey man, we're gonna be okay. It's okay." "Fuck, man. There's no way we're gonna get out of here. There's no way." Tex tried to say something, but there was nothing to be said. Rowan was right; there was essentially no possibility of escape.

The opposite wall suddenly had a large crack in it as a shell impacted it. "We gotta get out of here. Now!" Tex grabbed Rowan's arm and pulled him to the exit. "But how? They've surrounded the bunker!" Though Rowan knew that they needed to escape to survive. "We can get to the garages. They'll be focused on the bunker, not a single car driving away." Rowan and Tex ran to the exit door out of the reinforced area and opened it just as the wall gave way and a tank drove right into the bunker amidst screams.

Rowan dashed through the hallway when Tex turned around. "Wait. I can't just leave everyone else to die." Rowan yanked him on. "Come on! If we turn back we're gonna die too! Let's go!" Just then they both heard the screams and an ear-splitting explosion coming from the room they were just in. Tex turned around, but hesitated. "We have to run! NOW!" Tex turned back around and said "Right, let's go." Both of them raced to the garages where the transports were.

They reached the garages and jumped in one of the transports. Rowan hopped into the driver's seat and switched on the ignition. Tex opened the garage door and Rowan stepped on the gas pedal, but the moment they were outside the bunker one of the Destroyers turned their turrets in their direction. It fired - and missed. Tex yelled at Rowan, "When I say now, you swerve it!" "Why?" Rowan shouted back. "Just do what I say!" Tex turned around and watched the Thunderer. "5...4...3...2...1...now!" Rowan swerved the transport just as the tank fired again. Tex continued counting. "7...6...5...4...3...2...1...now!" Rowan swerved again just as the tank fired. "7...6...5...4...3...2...1...now!" Rowan yanked the steering wheel again, but the Hunter didn't fire.

"It didn't fire. It didn't fire!"

"Shit!"

"Fucking shit! It's gonna fire any time now!"

"Bitch is gonna get us!"

"Step on it, you idiot!"

"My foot is to the floor!"

"Shit!"

Just then, the Thunderer fired.