The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(6)

She would be his perfect wife, his perfect companion, and that he would never have to say a negative word about her.

Somehow, she had failed him. No matter how hard she had tried, she had failed him. At first his lashings were verbal and fierce, then it was the back of his hand, and, eventually, it was his fists. But she had continued to try. She had struggled with her inadequacies, done everything he asked of her.

Toward the end, she had known in her heart it would come to this. She would either die at his hand or he would kill the children as he had threatened to do so many times before.

"But he was a zombie in the end," she said softly.

"What?"

Jenni blinked, not realizing she had spoken aloud. She turned slowly to gaze at the woman beside her.

The driver of the truck was a very pretty lady with golden blond hair that fell just to her shoulders in tousled curls. She had a strong, pretty feminine face with cat-eyes and a sensuous mouth. Jenni was sure that the driver was the sort of girl who was the homecoming queen and head cheerleader and student council president all rolled into one. The smart, pretty girl who was actually nice. Jenni felt comforted by this. She had always been on the fringe of the popular girls. She understood this type. They lead, you followed. It was simple.

Her name was Katie. That was right. Katie.

"I was dreaming," Jenni answered.

Katie nodded. "You didn't miss anything. After the last traffic light on the edge of the neighborhood it was smooth sailing."

"No one comes this way anymore. Not since the highway was built. I like it out here. It's peaceful." Jenni didn't feel so cold anymore. She still felt awfully numb, but it was a pleasant sort of numb.

"I'm not sure where we are going," Katie said after a beat. "I'm just driving."

Jenni looked at the phone resting on Katie's lap. "Did you talk to your Dad again?"

Katie shook her head, pressing her lips tightly together for a moment.

"No, no. There's no signal." She motioned to the radio. "And that doesn't work."

Jenni nodded, understanding. They were alone, detached from the rest of the world. Strangely, this was how she often felt. It was almost comforting.

Besides, she was sure Katie would figure things out. She looked strong and very capable.

"We'll need gas soon," Katie said. "Know if there are any stations out this way?"

"Yeah. There are. One is coming up soon. About two hills over." Jenni slid her fingers through her hair and sat up a little. "Maybe those things aren't out here?"

"That's what I'm hoping for."

Jenni laughed a little, her voice sounding odd to her ears. "You know, this isn't supposed to happen."

Katie glanced over at her and nodded just a little. "I know, but it is happening, whatever this is." Then she added quickly, "Zombies, or whatever they are, just shouldn't exist. Maybe it's some sort of terrorist weapon.

Something like that."

"They aren't supposed to be so fast. They're supposed to be slow. Very slow." Jenni sighed and pouted a little.

Running down the stairs, trying to evade Lloyd, that had been terrifying.

There had been no time to think, just run. It was sheer luck that he didn't seem to know how to open the door and had just banged against it.

"How do you know that?"

"Movies. Lloyd always watched those movies. I was afraid but he made me watch." Jenni chewed on her bottom lip. "If the movie is right, we can't let them bite us." She looked over at Katie warily. "You're not bitten, are you?"

Katie looked at her for a long, frightening moment.

"No, no. Are you?"

Jenni sighed, relieved. "No. I'm not."

But she almost had been. Lloyd had almost grabbed hold of her when Mikey had turned back and yelled, "Leave Mom alone!"

She covered her face with one hand. She tried hard not remember the horrible fear she had felt "Run, Mikey," she had screamed and run out the front door.

How it slammed behind her, she didn't know. Maybe she closed it.

Maybe Mikey did. Maybe when Lloyd had grabbed her son he had shoved it shut. But the front door had slammed and she had been alone.

"How did you find me?"

Katie briefly glanced over at her and sighed. "I got lost in your neighborhood trying to get off the highway. I heard you screaming. I pulled up behind you just as-You didn't seem to notice me so I yelled."

That easy. That simple. Why hadn't she heard the truck pull up behind her on the lawn? Well, she had been screaming and MikeyJenni leaned toward the window and studied her reflection in the tiny side mirror. Her eyes looked too big, too wide. Her face was very pale.

"I think I'm in shock," she said to Katie.

"Aren't we all," Katie responded in a somewhat harsh voice. Thinking better of her comment, she said in a much softer tone, "Yeah, I think you are, too. It was hard to see my wife like that. But your husband, your children…"

She reached out and gripped Jenni's hand tightly. "I can't imagine."

Jenni clung to her hand desperately, grateful for the kindness. She really didn't care about Lloyd being dead…undead…whatever. The children. That was harder. Much harder. She didn't want to think about it.