The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(85)

Katie sighed and shook her head. "Everything we do comes with such a great risk."

Travis also sighed and leaned back against the railing. "We have a great opportunity right now to get ourselves secure before we get slammed with a bunch of those things again. I feel them coming, don't you?"

"Everyday," Katie answered truthfully.

Travis nodded. "Once the gate is fully operational, we'll extend our search out a few more blocks."

"We may just lure more back here," Katie warned him.

"I know, but I have a feeling any survivors out there are quickly running out of time."

Katie turned her gaze toward the reinforced truck perimeter. It had been built up higher and now spikes rose up before them. If there was a push to get to the trucks, the zombies in the back would end up impaling their comrades in front of them.

"We need to get into the hotel, too. Things are getting cramped in here.

We're up to a hundred survivors."

Travis made a face. "We don't have enough men, Katie. "

"Then teach the rest of us how to do it. I can probably help build that entrance to the hotel you are talking about."

Travis studied her and laughed. "Yeah, probably."

"Jenni is going out on rescue missions. Jason and Curtis are trying to figure out how to make new weapons. Belinda is working hard to become a self-taught doctor. Peggy runs inventory like a general. Give me something to do, Travis." She gave him an intense look. "And stop protecting me."

He looked startled at her comment. "You got hurt."

"Yeah, but I'm healing."

"I just thought…"

Katie raised an eyebrow.

Night was settling over the fort and people were lighting lanterns on the tables set up in the "residence" area of the site.

Travis just stared at her. "Okay, okay, I'm trying to protect you."

"Why?"

Rubbing his face, the tall man sighed. "Um…because…look, I need you to help me figure all this out. I can't risk you getting… You've been hurt twice…You…"

Katie held up her hand. "Okay, obviously, you're being a total girl right now. Just out with it, Travis."

"I don't want to lose you to those things. Or to some dumbass going after you because you are gay. Yeah, I'm keeping you back from some stuff until you're okay. You did break down the other night; you did get the shit beat out of you. Sorry if I shouldn't be so protective, but I might as well tell you…"

Katie didn't want to hear his next words. She quickly hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek. "Okay, okay. But I don't need a big brother. I need to work. To keep busy."

Travis blushed a little. "Yeah, well." He seemed to consider going on, telling her the truth they were both avoiding.

"Uh huh. No worries." Katie said briskly and deftly avoided looking at him. Instead she looked toward the new entrance and watched the gates open and close in short jerky movements. "Things are getting better, but more complicated, aren't they?"

"It's the way of life," Travis decided. He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. "Let's get some dinner."

"Sounds oh so exciting," Katie joked.

"Yeah, I hear it’s Dinty Moore beef stew night!"

"Yummy. Ah, fillet Mignon, I miss you so."

"Hamburgers…gawd…I miss those," Travis said with a little sigh.

Katie laughed and they walked down to join the others for dinner.





3. Promises





Katie glanced up from her meal of Dinty Moore beef stew and freshly baked cornbread to see a very pale and pensive Jenni sit down across from her.

"What's wrong?"

Jenni shrugged and used her spoon to poke apart the bits of beef in her stew.

"Jenni?"

"It's just not fair, you know? It's not fair that this thing splits up families.

It's not fair that my kids are dead. It's not fair that your wife is dead. Why can't entire families survive together? Why can't they just make it through as a whole? Why is that so f*cking hard?" Jenni finished her rant and shoved a bunch of stew in her mouth and chewed furiously.

Katie blinked, then slid her hand across the table to gently pat Jenni's free hand. It rested on the table in a tight fist. "What happened?"

Jenni shoved more food into her mouth and shrugged again. Her eyes were angry and not focused on anything or anyone in particular.

Katie looked toward the entrance to the dining room to see Peggy talking to a distraught looking man who had his arms draped across the shoulders of a teenage girl and young boy.

"You rescued a family," Katie said.

"Half a family. The Mom and the little girl…zombies…or on their way…when we got there." Jenni stabbed a potato with her spoon until it was mush. "They were bit two days ago. If we hadn't gotten there in time the whole family would be dead right now."

"But you did save some of them and that is something," Katie said softly.

"Is it? Really?" Jenni covered her face with one hand. "Katie, the only thing I even feel a little good about is that I killed the mother and kid so they aren't out there running around. How f*cked up is that?"