They'd barely finished tightening the last lug nut when the low, distant rumble of engines echoed across the desert. It started faint, like a murmur under the wind, but quickly grew louder, deepening into a steady, ominous roar. Morgan's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she stared toward the horizon, the tension in her face palpable.
Jean looked up from his work, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What's that sound?"
Morgan's jaw tightened, her gaze hardening as the distant shapes of several vehicles appeared against the haze of the desert heat, their silhouettes dark and menacing. Dust trailed behind them in thick clouds as they sped closer, the customized vehicles glinting under the harsh sun.
"Shit," Morgan muttered, glancing back at the group. "That's trouble. Everyone, get on the bus—now."
Luca blinked, wide-eyed, his earlier bravado evaporating. "Uh… are you serious? Who the hell are they?"
Morgan didn't answer. She turned to Ms. Heather, who was already at the driver's seat. "Heather, start the engine and keep it running. We don't have time to waste."
Ms. Heather nodded, her face pale but determined as she slid into the driver's seat, her hands trembling slightly as she fumbled with the ignition. "Everyone, hurry up and get on board!" she called out, her voice tight with fear.
Jordan snorted, though he looked just as scared as the rest of them. "Damn, guess we're not the only ones out here trying to survive the apocalypse."
Brittney rolled her eyes, shoving him toward the bus. "Can you save the commentary for when we're not about to get shot at?"
One by one, they scrambled onto the bus, the nervous energy crackling through the group as they glanced nervously back at the approaching vehicles. Morgan climbed onto her motorcycle, gripping the handlebars and checking her pistol holstered at her side.
Evan hesitated, looking between Morgan and the bus. "Morgan, are you coming with us or what?"
"I'll be right behind you," she said, her tone flat and calm despite the urgency in her eyes. "I'm leading them off. You just stick with Ms. Collins and keep your heads down."
Chloe glanced at her, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And what, you're just gonna play Mad Max with these freaks?"
Morgan smirked, a dark glint in her eye. "Something like that. Now get moving."
The bus engine roared to life, and Ms. Heather's hands gripped the wheel tightly as she looked back at the group. "Alright, everyone, hold on. This isn't going to be a smooth ride."
Jean, sitting near the front, peered through the windshield, watching as the dust clouds in the distance grew larger, the vehicles charging toward them with a terrifying intensity. "They're getting closer," he said, his voice a mix of awe and panic. "Like, way too close."
Luca glanced out the back window, his face pale. "Holy shit, they're customized. Look at those spikes and armor. Are they actually, like, raiders or something?"
Morgan, now on her motorcycle, revved the engine, her eyes cold as she looked toward the approaching vehicles. She turned to Ms. Heather, giving her a nod. "Go. I'll keep them off as long as I can. Don't stop for anything."
Ms. Heather's gaze flickered with fear, but she nodded, her voice steady. "Got it. Good luck, Morgan."
With a final nod, Morgan took off, her motorcycle roaring as she sped toward the side, planning to draw the vehicles away and buy the bus a few precious seconds. She weaved across the desert sand, kicking up dust as she swerved, positioning herself as a distraction.
The bus lurched forward as Ms. Heather hit the gas, the tires kicking up sand as they barreled down the empty road. Inside, the teens braced themselves, gripping the edges of their seats as the bus rumbled to life, speeding away from the makeshift repair site.
Evan looked over at Brittney, his face tight with worry. "Do you think Morgan can actually keep those guys off us?"
Brittney shook her head, her expression grim. "I have no idea, but we don't exactly have a choice."
Luca peered out the window, watching as Morgan sped ahead, her motorcycle weaving in and out of sight among the dust clouds. "Damn, she's actually doing it. I mean… she's, like, a badass."
Chloe crossed her arms, her face pale but determined. "Yeah, well, don't get too excited. Those guys look like they're out for blood. Let's just hope she knows what she's doing."
The approaching vehicles were now close enough that they could make out the details—spiked grills, armored exteriors, and drivers clad in leather and gear that looked straight out of a post-apocalyptic nightmare. The lead car revved loudly, the driver leaning out the window and whooping as he waved a makeshift weapon in the air.
Jordan gritted his teeth, gripping his revolver tightly. "These guys are actually freakin' crazy. Who the hell rolls around in spiked death traps in the middle of nowhere?"
"Survivors," Brad muttered, his voice grim. "The kind that don't care who they run over to get what they want."
Ms. Heather kept her gaze focused on the road, her hands white-knuckled on the wheel as she navigated the rough terrain. "Everyone stay seated and stay calm. We're not letting anyone get close."
In the distance, they could see Morgan's motorcycle zigzagging in front of the pursuing vehicles, her bike kicking up thick clouds of dust that made it harder for the raiders to keep a direct line on the bus. She fired a quick shot at one of the lead cars, the bullet sparking off the armored plating. It did little to slow them down, but it only seemed to make the raiders more excited, their shouts echoing across the desert.
"Come on, just a little closer," Morgan muttered to herself, glancing in her rearview mirror as she led them further away from the bus.
Back on the bus, Akira was clutching the edge of her seat, her face pale. She looked over at Jean, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think… do you think she'll be okay?"
Jean swallowed, his face tense as he kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "I… I don't know. But she's tough. If anyone can keep those guys off us, it's her."
The bus hit a rough patch, jolting as it sped over uneven ground, causing everyone to grip their seats harder. Jordan muttered under his breath, "This is insane. We're actually in a freakin' car chase with desert bandits. Who even does this?"
Brad shot him a glare. "Shut up and hold on, unless you want to be out there fighting them yourself."
Ms. Heather kept the bus moving as fast as she could, her eyes darting between the road and the rearview mirror, where the dust clouds of the pursuing vehicles grew closer despite Morgan's efforts to lead them away.
Evan, watching through the back window, muttered, "They're still following us. She's trying, but they're not taking the bait."
Brittney shook her head, frustration and fear etched into her face. "If they catch us, we're screwed. There's no way we can hold them off."
Luca, clutching his Glock, let out a shaky breath. "We're just gonna have to trust Morgan. She's out there risking her life for us, so we better not waste it."
The dust cloud continued to grow behind them, the low roar of engines inching closer with every second. The teens clung to whatever they could as the bus careened down the rough desert road, Ms. Heather's hands steady on the wheel as she pushed the bus to its limits.
Morgan, still weaving through the sand on her motorcycle, glanced over her shoulder, her gaze dark and determined. She knew she had to keep them off the bus for as long as possible, and she was willing to risk everything to do it.
As the chase unfolded, the bus barreled forward, its passengers holding on tight as the desert stretched out endlessly before them, the dust and noise of the oncoming raiders closing in like a storm.
Q: Have you watched Mad Max Fury Road before?