Chapter 13

As we got closer I could hear muffled cries and made out the word help. I inched closer to what was still most of a chimney. The ground was littered with bricks, pieces of wood, half a couch, part of a table, torn linens, clothing, dishes, and other soon to be trash or artifacts from the present day. Up until now the air had smelled fresh and very clean, if weird, which I knew was ozone. But now, this close to the house, I could smell gas. It was getting stronger, too.

I wanted to run back to the car, even if just to get Elvis, but Busted was still whining and looking back at me. He was also digging into the trash heap, between an upturned kitchen chair and a something that looked like half a toilet. What made me gasp with horror, though, was a small broken doll, lying upside down in part of a bush. Biting back my fear, I climbed over to where Busted was digging, and started throwing whatever I could lift, behind us.