Wet: Aftermath, #2

By Linda Mooney

It has been raining for days on end all over the world. The inundation is causing blackouts, severe flooding, homes going underwater, as well as entire coastal towns disappearing.

 

When will it stop?

 

Wylie Barraga and his dad, Cesar, are hoping for the best but planning for the inevitable, packing up whatever supplies they can find and readying their bass boat to launch. When Wylie's girlfriend, Gwen, and her sister, Harper, call for help, Wylie and Cesar come to the rescue. Before long, water starts filling the house, and the group knows it's time to head for higher ground.

 

Supplies are dwindling and becoming harder to find with everything submerged in the quickly rising water. Emergencies bring out the worst in people, and it doesn't take long until it becomes survival of the fittest. But people have to work together to survive, and there are a few good ones left, ready to band together and look out for each other.

 

Who can they trust?

 

Is there a scientific explanation for the unending deluge, or is it divine intervention? Loyalties are tested. At times like this family means everything, or to some it means nothing at all. There's nothing like the possible end of the world to bring out a person's true feelings and personality.

 

Wylie and Harper are banking on love and humanity to win out.
 

Warning! Contains a lost walkie-talkie, rain rain rain rain and more rain, Star Wars bandages, lots of improvisation, the need for coffee, a stroke of luck, ewww oatmeal, a drum, and one man realizing his mistake in time to find the woman he truly loves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Mooney
• Release date: Sep 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781953797322

Linda Mooney

Linda loves to write sensuously erotic romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love. She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid's Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook "Eppie" Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance. In addition, she write naughty erotic romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, and horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith. For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website. http://www.LindaMooney.com

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Day 6

Wylie Barraga stomped his boots on the wire welcome mat before opening the door leading from the garage to the kitchen and going inside. Cesar Barraga looked up from where he was pouring himself a cup of coffee from the brewer.

Back already?

Wylie shook his head. Couldn’t get past Torrado. Street’s flooded. Police set up barricades, but most of those are almost underwater, too. Before his father could ask, he shook his head. I also tried to take Randalone, but it’s the same way. He sighed loudly. We’re slowly being hemmed in by all this rain. Unless it stops soon, we’re going to be in some serious trouble. He pointed outside. It looks like most of our neighbors have already left. I guess they were afraid of getting socked in. I only saw two other trucks moving around, and one of them was a flatbed eighteen-wheeler.

No rescue boats or EMS?

No. None. And I don’t blame them. They’re probably trying to take care of their own families.

Cesar agreed. I was watching the news, and they’re predicting this weather could go on for another week.

"Another week? Do they have any idea what’s causing this?"

That’s not all, the man continued without answering him. This rain is happening all…over…the world.

Wylie stared at him in disbelief. Cesar nodded at the unspoken question. And here’s the kicker. All this rain, with the dark clouds rolling in and all. According to the scientists and weather people, it all began at the same time. The US, China, Antarctica, Russia, Europe, Africa. They’re all experiencing this downpour just like us. It’s like the whole earth has been covered in a massive cloud. If you think the flooding is bad downtown, you ought to see the pictures they’re showing from other places.

Wow, Wylie softly responded, then gestured at the coffee maker. Is there enough left for me?

Not really. His father held out his cup. Here. Take mine. I’ll brew a fresh pot.

Taking the mug, Wylie thanked him and made his way into the living room where the TV was blasting the latest information on the weather. At the moment, a man from the National Weather Bureau was being interviewed.

—point we believe this unusual weather pattern may be caused by an unusual number of large solar flares coming from the sun.

The guy on the screen suddenly muted, and Wylie heard his father’s snort of derision from where the man stood behind the sofa.

And another so-called expert says it’s because of all the cloud seeding that’s been done recently by the government. And another scientist claims it’s possible fallout from the nuclear tests they did over in the arctic. Tossing the remote onto the couch, Cesar pointed to the TV. No matter what station you’re watching, somebody’s got a different opinion. And you know how I feel about opinions.

They’re like assholes because everybody’s got one, Wylie chorused with his father and chuckled.

But nobody’s got proof, Cesar continued. Not a single damn shred of evidence to support their theory. Nobody!

"Do you have an asshole?" Wylie drily queried, earning him a stern eye of rebuke.

Yeah, I do, smart ass. I think the good Lord is finally wiping all the vermin off this world.

Ummm… Wylie rubbed the cleft between his lower lip and chin, noting the stubble since he hadn’t shaved in a few days. Didn’t that already happen? I somewhat remember from my Bible classes that He claimed He would use fire the next time he wanted to do a deep cleaning.

Lord’s got the privilege of changing His mind, Cesar pushed back.

Or maybe this isn’t His doing, Wylie suggested as he watched his dad go back into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of the freshly brewed coffee. The smell of it filled the room with its heady scent.

Go ahead. I’m listening, the man said.

Wylie pointed to the TV. I don’t have an answer, or even an idea, but I don’t think this phenomenon is caused by just one thing. Or that it’s spiritually related. It could be none of those, or maybe it’s several of them happening all at once. Or maybe it’s being caused by something no one’s even aware of or thought of yet.

He glanced back at the screen where a picture of a town underwater was plastered next to the commentator. Above the photo was the headline, COASTAL CITIES DISAPPEARING.

If this shit keeps going, how much longer will we be able to stay here?

His father took a seat on the sofa. What do you mean?

Sighing, Wylie clasped his hands around his mug and faced the man. What if it never stops raining?

Cesar poo-poohed the idea. It’ll stop. It always does.

Thunder rumbled overhead. Outside they could hear the rain coming down harder. The dark clouds blanketed the sky to the point where they blocked out all light from the sun, making it appear to be the middle of the night.

Don’t you think it would be wise to start making plans in case it doesn’t? Wylie insisted. I mean, what if it keeps raining for another week? Or two weeks? Or a month? He gave his father a hard look. A lot of people are probably thinking what you’re thinking. That it’s not going to last much longer. But what if it does?

Setting his mug on the TV tray in front of him, Cesar gave him his full attention. What are you suggesting we do?

I’ve been thinking, Wylie admitted. We need to be prepared.

You think we’re gonna be flooded? Cesar waved a hand to indicate the outside. We’re in the middle of the state, several thousand feet above sea level, and more than a day’s drive to the nearest coast. The worst that could happen is Lake Tappler overflowing, and that won’t happen because the Merrol Dam is downriver.

Meanwhile, we have streets flooding because the sewer system is overflowing, Wylie informed him. "People are being cut off from hospitals and stores and businesses. Yes, it’s only been raining for a week. Or not even a week. But we’re seeing a minimum, a minimum of nine to twelve inches a day. I just checked the rain gauge outside before I came in. I emptied it last night before I went to bed. It’s just after eight o’clock, and it’s already overflowing! If that keeps up just another week, we’re going to be in deep shit-soaked water."

You’re talking survival mode, Cesar commented. Survival food. Non-electric lights and all.

You damn right, I am.

His father snorted. Aren’t you getting a little dramatic, son?

Wylie expected his father to be somewhat recalcitrant. Okay. I agree. I sound melodramatic. All ‘end of the world’ bullshit and all. But wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry? If this does end, say in a couple of days, there’s still gonna be all that clean-up to do afterwards while we wait for the water to recede. Then it could be weeks before the trucks can get in to restock the stores and all.

From the expression on the man’s face, Wylie could tell he was getting across to him, and pressed the issue. We need to go out there and stock up like we do when we go camping. Load up the bass boat. Fishing poles and all.

I can tell you’ve been thinking long and hard about this. We’ll need to gas up the outboard.

We can do that…I hope. If we can get to a gas station that’s still open.

Cesar threw a thumb behind him. What about the Gas-n-Go over on Stapleton?

Wylie thought about it. The place was in the upper part of town. The only trouble was getting to it. He got to his feet. If we do this, we do it now. Not later. Later might be too late. He threw his father a smile. If the rain stops in a couple of days, we’ll at least be okay for a while until things get back to normal.

And if they don’t? Cesar asked.

We’ll be better off than most of the other people around here. At least supplies wise.

The older man glanced at the TV. Grabbing the remote, he turned it off. I always said you got your common sense from your mother. Come on. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can breathe a little easier.

Relieved that his father saw the wisdom in his suggestion, Wylie got up to follow the man out to the garage. As he reached up to turn off the kitchen light, he heard a loud crackle coming from outside. The next instant, the house went dark as the power went out.

CHAPTER 2

CALL

Wylie drove while his father kept an eye open. It was bad enough the rain was coming down so hard that the windshield wipers couldn’t keep up. Also, there was a lot of junk floating around. Stuff that had gotten loose or swept away. It was especially perilous because of the damage it could do to the truck, particularly underneath the surface where they couldn’t see what was covering the road.

Looks like this area’s lost its power, too, Cesar remarked as they came up to a stoplight that no longer functioned.

Wonder if it’s city-wide? Wylie wondered, going through the intersection. Fortunately, traffic was light or non-existent. Here and there they spotted cars halfway or almost entirely immersed.

I wouldn’t be surprised.

Wylie grimaced. His father must have seen it and rightly deduced what was on his mind.

She’s just fine, the man assured him.

The gas station was located on top of a small rise, at the corner of a land development leading into a new subdivision. As expected, the electricity was out here, as well.

Shit, Cesar grumbled. Might as well head over to the SuperSave.

They won’t have power, either, Wylie said.

It won’t hurt to check, just in case, his father argued.

The usual fifteen-minute drive took them nearly an hour. All the way there, they saw telltale signs of power outages. So it wasn’t a shock to discover the supermarket had suffered the same fate. Except…

Cesar pointed ahead. Are those people coming out with bags?

Wylie peered through the deluge as he pulled into the parking lot. Sure seems that way.

Let’s go ahead and see if we can’t score a few things, his father suggested.

Knowing it wouldn’t hurt to check, Wylie parked as close to the front as possible. Slipping on their rain ponchos, they exited the truck and sloshed inside.

The store manager met them at the entranceway. We lost power, the man explained.

We know. Wylie gestured behind them. Looks like the entire city is down.

We just need to get a few things, Cesar explained.

The man nodded. It was apparent this weather was taking a bigger toll on him than most people. You can shop, but we only take cash, and we can’t make change. If you’re good with that, come on in.

Thanking the man, Cesar turned to Wylie. You grab a cart.

Inside they went straight to where the bottled water was located. Why water? Wylie asked almost in amusement. Isn’t there enough of it outside? He was teasing his father, but the older man didn’t take it that way.

That shit floating around is going to contaminate the water supply, if it hasn’t already. Anybody drinking it’s gonna get sick and possibly die before they’re able to reach a doctor or hospital.

Wylie started to tell him he was joking when another thought struck him. How much money do we have?

They both pulled out their wallets and counted. Between the two of them they had a little over a hundred and ten dollars.

Let’s get only what we absolutely need, Cesar stated.

Next, they hit the canned goods aisle and grabbed what they could. They also took a couple of bags of ground coffee.

I gotta have my joe one way or another, Cesar muttered.

Wylie stopped him. I know we got that old percolator, and that French press. But if there’s no way to make a fire to heat the water…

What do you mean?

Where are we going to get firewood? The stuff’s too wet to use.

Cesar nodded. Good thinking. Let’s go get a bag or two of briquets.

As his father tossed a couple of bags underneath the cart, Wylie kept tabs on how much they were spending using the calculator app on his cell phone.

What’s the damage? his father asked as he straightened.

Seventy-eight seventy-seven. I say we keep going as this may be the last time we get to go grocery shopping.

Cesar grinned. Then let’s grab some sweets over in the dessert section.

Sounds good. Let’s not forget to pick up a little fresh fruit, too, while we’re in that area.

After another pass through the store to pick up a few odds and ends, Wylie announced they’d reached the one-hundred-dollar threshold. Let’s get another couple of those jugs of water, he suggested. Cesar agreed, and they added them on before heading to the front.

The bedraggled cashier stared at their cart almost in dismay. Wylie felt sorry for her and held out his phone for her to see.

We kept tabs. All this totals one hundred nine dollars and eighty-one cents.

Is that with tax? She looked up at him.

Silently cursing himself, he shook his head. No, damn it. I forgot. We only have a hundred and ten.

The woman waved off his apology. I’ll take your word for it. I’ve seen you in here before. You’re one of our regulars. Hand me the hundred and ten, and we’ll call it even.

Thanking her, they wheeled the cart around to the side to bag the items, as the place was very short staffed. He gave her another word of thanks as he and his father wheeled the loaded basket out to the parking lot.

That was nice of the lady to let us slide like that, Cesar commented and shook his head. I feel sorry for those people, having to work in these conditions.

Wylie agreed.

They were about to get back on the road to go home when Wylie’s phone went off. Glancing down at the dash display, he saw the single name.

GWEN

He punched the button to answer.

Yeah, babe. What’s up?

Wylie! Our power went out! She sounded more frantic than afraid.

It’s out all over the city, he told her.

Can you come over and fix it?

I can’t fix something like that, he told her.

"Well, what am I going to do? I need electricity to do stuff!" she whined.

Gwen…

"You have to come over and do something! It’s dark in here!"

Well, go get a flashlight! You have flashlights, don’t you?

I don’t know!

Well, ask your dad. He probably knows.

He’s not here. He and Mom left this morning to get some stuff and they’re not back yet. Wyleee!

Cesar leaned forward. Gwen? This is Cesar. Are you all right?

It’s dark in here! she wailed.

It’s dark everywhere, the older man barked at her. I asked you if you’re all right. Are you hurt or injured?

Obvious sniffing sounds. No.

Are you alone?

No. Harper’s here. But I gotta have some light in here!

Then use the light on your phone.

Then I’ll run out of power!

Wylie glanced over to see his father rolling his eyes at him, and knew exactly what the man was thinking.

We should be so lucky.

Wylie picked up the conversation. Gwen, take a few deep breaths. It’s going to be okay. As soon as your folks get back, I’m sure your dad will find a few flashlights so you won’t be completely in the dark.

But what about later?

What about later?

I won’t be able to use the microwave to heat up my dinner!

Gwen, don’t open the refrigerator, Cesar broke in. Don’t open the fridge, or all that food will spoil.

"But I’m hungry!"

Then fix yourself a sandwich!

But you said not to open the fridge, and the baloney’s in there!

Use peanut butter, then! It doesn’t need refrigeration.

But I gotta have jelly on it, and that’s in the fridge!

Wylie broke in. I’ll call you back later, Gwennie. I’m trying to drive through this shit.

Well, why didn’t you say so when I called? the woman sarcastically replied and hung up.

Cesar groaned. I don’t know what in the world you see in her.

Wylie managed a smile. You get used to it after a while.

You’d be a lot better off if you spent some time with Harper.

Dad…

I mean it. Harper’s more stable. She’s funny and smart. And the best part is, she’s nothing like her older sister.

That’s just it. She’s Gwen’s baby sister. Wylie snorted. I can’t dump Gwennie and start going out with Harper.

Why not?

"Because I just