Aftermath (3/4)

CHUCK

Chuck quickly glanced back towards the phenomenon, while remaining focused on the road. Ron turned to him, his face grim.

"Tell me I didn't dream that, Chuck... That was a nuclear explosion, right?"

Chuck tried to keep his eyes fixed on the road ahead, so as not to be caught off guard and end up like that damn tanker truck. He sniffled nervously.

"Unfortunately, you didn't dream it... Given the size of the cloud, I'd say it happened more than a hundred miles west of here..."

"Isn't that Albany over there?"

"I'm afraid so... I was planning on catching up on my delivery there... I'd be dead by now..." Chuck realized.

"Do you think we're under attack?" Ron asked feverishly.

"I don't know what to believe," Chuck replied, dazed.

"From what I remember, there's no nuclear plant in Albany..." the wounded man muttered to himself.

"I feel like I'm in a nightmare," Chuck continued. "The accident, the shootout, now this explosion... Shit! I just want to understand... Maybe we're under attack, maybe it's an accident, or maybe it's just a damn collective dream, I don't know!" He glanced across at Ron, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Ron," he said. "It's all beyond me... For now, we'll try to get you out of here."

After long silent minutes on the road, Ron started to sway nervously in his seat.

"I... I don't feel very well…"

His skin was slick with sweat, and his body shook uncontrollably. Ron lifted his shirt, revealing a gruesome wound, from which blood flowed unrelentingly. The tremors shaking his body grew more intense, and Ron quickly pulled his shirt back down.

"I can't feel my belly," he exclaimed, his words coming out in a panicked rush.

Then, Ron began to babble incoherently, and before anyone could react, he slipped into unconsciousness.

"Ron?" Chuck asked anxiously, his voice laced with fear. "Ron! Stay with us! Damn it!"

Chuck shook Ron's shoulder with his free hand, trying to rouse him. But despite his rough handling, Ron's head hung forward, like a cannonball.