The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(17)

"That's Tucker. He won't mind the pup. He's too old." Ralph shook his head sadly. "Damn shame to happen on my birthday. Damn zombies."

"Car coming, Ralph," Nerit said.

They all drew close to the edge and saw a very fine silver car pull up. A man climbed out and looked around frantically. He was completely oblivious of the hungry zombies in the store behind him.

"Hello!" He spotted the people on the roof and started waving.

"Shit, it's the guy from the store," Katie said to Jenni.

Jenni narrowed her eyes. It was obvious she remembered the man who had been such an ass earlier in the day.

"Six-figure guy," Jenni murmured.

"Yeah," Katie said. "Wonder how he made it out here."

"Hello! I'm looking for Madison! The radio says that there is a rescue center there!" Six-Figure Guy kept waving at them, stirring up the zombies even more in the store behind him. He remained oblivious to their presence.

Ralph raised the bullhorn slowly. "Are you bit?"

Katie noticed the man's forearm was heavily bandaged. She looked at Jenni. The dark haired woman was staring at the man with a blank expression.

The guy looked at his arm. "I have lots of money! I can pay you for your help! I need to get to Madison and get medical attention." He took out his wallet and waved it around with his injured arm.

"Are you bit, son? If you are, my wife here can help you out," Ralph said.

"Well…" the man hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, but it is slight. I'm sure-"

The crack of the rifle made Katie flinch.

The man stood with a shocked look on his face for just a moment, then fell forward, revealing the exit wound of a nicely placed shot on the back of his head.

"He wasn't turned. We just can't do that," Katie protested.

Nerit looked at her. "Yes, we can."

"And you're going to have to," Ralph said softly. "If you're going to survive."

Katie stood, eyes blinking rapidly, and shook her head. "Oh, God." It was one thing to kill the ones who had already turned, but innocents who were infected? Could she do that?

"His head just kinda popped," Jenni said in awe.

"Anyone who is bit is going to be one of those things. Gotta shoot them and put them down. Only way." Ralph stood with his hands tucked into his jean pockets looking somber. "Only way to keep safe and keep their numbers down."

Katie thought of Lydia once more and shivered.

"Now come on downstairs for a bit to eat. Sun is about to start down and we don't wanna have empty stomachs," Nerit said and walked past them with her rifle.

"She cooks good food. First we eat, then look at guns, maybe shoot a little, then sleep."

Jenni sighed contentedly, obviously relaxing. "I'm so happy we are here.

It feels good to be around real people, not dead ones. Or stupid ones. We saw a few of those on the road."

"I'm sure you did," Nerit said sadly.

Ralph smiled at Jenni and put a gentle arm around her shoulders. "Glad to have company. Glad to help you two out."

The three of them walked back down the stairs leaving Katie standing in quiet contemplation. She looked down at Jack and returned her gaze. If she had a choice, to die quickly or turn into one of those things, which would she prefer?

Letting out a soft sigh, she rubbed her forehead.

"Jack, has the world gone crazy and everyone in it?"

Jack slightly whined She nodded. "Thought so."

Together they followed the others down the stairs.





3. The World Ends





Katie followed the others down the stairs, Jack faithfully following her.

Nerit and Jenni veered off into an old fashioned kitchen while Ralph continued down the hall to a comfortable living room. If not for the enormous flat screen TV it would have looked like the Norman Rockwell version of the perfect grandparent's home.

On the screen scenes of violence were playing while in the corner in big green lettering it read "MUTE".

"Got tired of watching. Too much talk, too little information," Ralph told her.

Katie stood mesmerized as the scenes of mayhem played out. Dutifully recorded by the media, visions of destruction and violence played. A reporter came into view, motioning at the city, obviously standing high above street level and out of the range of the violence. It looked like New York City.

Throngs of bloodied, crazed people were running down the street, attacking cars, buildings and the people within. The army was firing at will into the crowd.

"This morning they called it race riots. When it hit more cities, they called it mob violence. Early this afternoon they started calling them "the infected"." Ralph sat down in a comfortable, over-stuffed chair.

Katie sat slowly on a flowered sofa with big crocheted doilies decorating the back and armrests. Jack sat at her feet and yawned.

"I never saw or heard the news," she said softly. "I was attacked during early morning rush hour. A man…he tried to rescue me but they got him.

Jack belongs-belonged to him. On Jack's vet papers it says the owner was the Reverend William Hampton. He saved my life."

Ralph nodded. "And you saved the girl with you."