"Casey?" Derek whispered.
I tensed, glancing back to find Derek and Thomas standing directly behind me."Damn. Don't do that!" I whisper yelled still holding onto the knob. Frankly, I was afraid if I let go the maniacs would swarm out and shout for their friends.Derek was at my back, carefully taking the two extra guns from me."Hey, you're hurt. I can carry those." I wondered if his eye hurt as bad as it looked."I'll be fine." Derek handed the second gun to Thomas.Thomas wiped the blood off his brow, which appeared to be slowly streaming from his hairline. Thomas grabbed the gun from Derek like he'd held a gun a million times before.They made eye contact and nodded at each other. What was going on?"How are we getting out of here?" I whispered, breaking up their little moment.Derek gently pulled me away from the door, pressing my back to the wall. Thomas moved to take my position at the door.Derek pulled my attention back to him when his hand graThe ride back gave me time to process the events of the night. None of us had anything to say.The reverberation of rubber tires rotating over asphalt haunted the silent cab. I'm not sure what the guys were thinking about, but between Mike, Candi, and the kids, my brain was stuck on instant replay mode.So yeah, fear was taking hold. Not only were we about to see a very sick Mitch, but Derek and I were about to head back to my house while Thomas stayed with his dad... grandpa... crap... how did I not know?"Is Mitch your dad?" I'm sure there was a much better thing to talk about but damn, I needed to get my sanity back somehow. Basic questions seemed like a good place to start.Peeling his gaze off the road, Thomas sent me a quick glance. "Stepdad.""Mitch is a good guy." Derek pulled my hand off my bouncing knee and threaded his fingers through mine. Warm tingles rushed over me.I tightened my hand. His thumb caressed mine. My legs calmed their bounce as I snuggle
SuzieI've never been so mad in my life. Dad gave my bedroom to some strange lady and her family. Yeah, I have a queen sized bed, and Casey only has a twin, but what the heck, Dad? As if giving up my room wasn't enough, Dad instructed me to clean up and prepare his mattress while he washed Mom.Mom... I closed my eyes tight, pushing the fear away. Dad seems to think there's some miracle cure for whatever this is, but I saw a sickness like this on some television show Grant talked me into watching. It wasn't exactly the same, but the people all died and came back to life as zombies. So, in my head, the odds weren't exactly in our favor.Speaking of Grant, he was finally inside my house, but under the circumstances, it really sucked.When I was in fifth grade, boys made fun of me because my ex-BFF told everyone I got my period like it was totally logical to spread the news. I was the first girl in fifth grade to get her period.The day the boys first called me Bloodstai
CaseyWatching my relieved father walk into the house pierced a hole through my heart.I had to face the truth. Mom wasn't going to be okay.Swallowing back the ache in my throat, I approached Derek. "We need to be prepared for what might happen next. I mean, if the medication doesn't work."Derek's gaze swept over my face before he glanced over my shoulder at Matt, then down at my sister. "Don't worry. We'll deal with whatever happens, okay?"Suzie moved to my side, grabbing my hand. It'd been years since Suzie had been so wanting of my attention. With Mom sick and Dad losing his mind to worry, I could only imagine what my sister was going through. She'd also mentioned Grant was getting worse. I squeezed her hand and didn't let go. Suzie was going through a lot. She needed me, and I wouldn't leave her again."What're you guys talking about?" My sister glanced between us as she wiped her eyes.Thomas looped his arm around Derek's neck. "No worries, little sis. Y
Once I hit the foyer, I went straight to the kitchen, glancing around for a weapon of any kind. My thoughts were reeling out of control and I couldn't seem to figure out what I was looking for.It didn't help that Mrs. Cunningham was still screaming bloody murder. The entire neighborhood was probably thinking someone was actually being killed, and they'd be right.Get it together. Come on. What was I looking for?Just as I remembered the best knives were in the dishwasher, Derek ran past me, ripping open drawers, stopping at the cooking utensils. Spatulas and tongs clattered to the floor as he riffled through them."Where're the damn knives?" Thomas opened the drawer full of eating utensils and pulled out a steak knife."Here." I yanked open the dishwasher door and pulled out the lower rack to grab our largest knife. I'd just used it last night to cut veggies for Mom.I held an agonizing sob back as the awful ache cut through my heart. Mom and I had been laughing i
Staring blankly at the dead woman, I held my breath, hoping I was wrong. She didn't move.It was my fault.I should've been paying more attention to Mrs. Cunningham rather than watching my guys kill a zombie.I could've worked harder to slow down her bleeding. Yeah, I'd been pressing down really hard, but I should've done more for her."Is she dead?" Dad's voice came from a black hole somewhere in the distance.Tears blurred my vision. Dad had given me one job, and I'd failed.Releasing the hold on her neck wound, blood barely flowed now, trickling down to a huge dark red stain invading her blouse."What're you doing?" Derek's voice coming from the same black hole as Dad's. Tears tumbled down my cheeks. She was dead because I couldn't keep my crap together long enough to keep her alive.Suddenly, Mrs. Cunningham's eyes burst open.I gasped in relief. Mrs. Cunningham was alive. I'd been wrong about the major blood vessel. She would be just fine."Are you
SuzieCasey's screams ripped a hole through my heart as I watched Dad open her ugly bite marks while Derek filled them with alcohol.This was all too much. Mom. Grant. Casey. The sickening scene that played out in my room.As Casey let out another scream, I covered my ears. I couldn't listen anymore. What if she was going through all this just to die?My shoulder hit Thomas as I backed up. His eyes were wide with terror, but when they landed on mine, Thomas gave me a tight grin before he whispered, "Go on. I won't tell anybody."I nodded, trying to hold back my never ending tears. I couldn't help but feel the ball of guilt building inside. She didn't deserve this. Casey was the good one. She did everything right. I'd always been a little envious of how easy everything came to her, but that didn't mean I could stand by and watch her be willingly tortured.Another scream bounced off the bathroom walls.Wand
CaseyLeaning my cheek against the shower tile was the best feeling in the world. It was so much colder than I remembered. It was as if heaven was welcoming me home.My stomach rolled inside and out, and I was back in hell again.I shouldn't have taken a drink of that soda. I didn't know if I should try to sit up and aim for the little shower drain, or if I should try to make it to the toilet.Someone bellowed from far away, ripping through the depths of my painful reality.It sounded like Dad.Another yell tore through the house.I moved to get up, but my energy was completely depleted, and my muscles were weak and mushy.Footsteps pounded outside the door. They vibrated through the floor like frigging wild animals, but no one came in.I could barely separate the cries from the shouts because everything sounded like I was deep inside a pool of white static.My stomach rolled as I tried t
(Three days later)My prison guards made me stay in bed for three days and my room had become my prison, which didn't really matter because I wasn't talking to anyone, anyway.A baby was crying somewhere on the other side of the house, but they never brought her in, and I never cared enough to ask about her.Once I found out my parents were dead, my entire world had dissolved into nothingness.I couldn't help but wonder why I was still alive. In a perfect world, I'd be dead too. Then we would all be together in heaven or wherever it is, we go after we die. Did it matter where they were now? All that mattered was that I was here, and they were there.The bite on my arm was still a solid red scab, and it still hurt. It was probably because of the deep tissue damage, but it was healing, and that's all that mattered."It stinks in here." Suzie's nose wrinkled as she opened
"Anyone else wanna play the next round?" Miranda asked as she gathered cards."I'll play. You wanna play, Bae?" Matt pulled Celia toward the table."Wanna give Su her gifts?" I whispered to Thomas.He nodded and tugged me toward the living room. "Alone? Or with everyone else.""Alone." I knew if we did it alone, the gift would be more meaningful. "Su, come here.""Yeah?" Suzie walked into the living room."We have birthday gifts for you," I said."You do?" With wide eyes, Suzie glanced between us."Thomas first," I said.Releasing my hand, Thomas pulled a small pouch out of his pocket. "Squirt, you need to know I'm always gonna be here. I hate thinking about horrible shit, but if anything ever happens to your sister or if one day she smartens up and leaves my dumbass, I want you to know I'm always gonna be here for you. You'll always be my little sister, no matter what."Suzie's sapphire eyes sparkled in the candlelight as her face m
A mouthwatering aroma wafted out of the house as I ascended the back steps. Jett must've heard me coming because he started whining at the door before Miranda opened it."Back up, Jett," Miranda tried to hold Jett inside with her foot. "Everything alright? Y'all have been out there for a hot minute.""Yeah, we're good." Pushing back the desire to tell her about Joey's latest bullshit, I laughed at Jett's eagerness to see me. "You can let him out."Miranda moved her foot, letting Jett run. He yelped as he bounded toward me."Case?" Suzie rushed out behind Jett. "Are you okay? I heard you needed stitches."Kneeling to catch Jett before he ran down the stairs, I scratched his head. "Yeah. Do they look okay?"Miranda clicked on her tiny flashlight and moved in my direction, shining the light at my ear. Both she and Suzie hissed."That good, huh?" I chuckled as I grabbed Jett and stood."I'm no doctor, but it looks like Thomas knows what he's doing
Just as the barn door opened, a shadow darted from the cellar to the office."What was that?" I whispered as I clicked on my flashlight."I hope it's not what I think." Thomas's tone was angry as he put his gun away and flicked on his flashlight before barging into the office.I rushed in after him with my gun raised."Well, looky who it is," Thomas said sarcastically.Joey's dark hair hung over one eye. His other eye was wide with fear as he stared up at Thomas from behind the desk. He was sitting on the floor, holding the front of his shirt like a baby. Pre-packaged goods of all sorts were poking out of his makeshift basket."Empty it on the desk." Thomas said.Joey sighed in defeat and stood, unloading the contents of his shirt onto the desktop. Candy and snacks of all kinds fell out.Thomas and I looked over the pile of junk food. Everyone wanted this stuff, but since they were in such high demand, we were only permitted one selection per
Casey POVAfter our visitors finally left, we all rushed to get back on track. I barely had time to clean the blood off my face before I hurried outside to get done with the day's to-do list.Since our schedule had been unendingly jam packed, we were all looking forward to the party planned for tonight. Not only did we need some time off, but we were finally celebrating birthdays.For the first time since the virus started, we were going to have a relaxing night and drink alcohol. We didn't have much to look forward to in this new life, and we'd all been working our asses off. The first priority on our list was to finish the fence, and this party was our big reward.The unexpected visit from Waldo and Harold had put our day way behind schedule.Grant and Suzie stayed in the house to watch Mindy, and they were also helping Miranda and Derek with food preparation.Thomas, Matt, and Joey were
Casey POV"Grant, stand guard here. No one gets inside." Thomas said from somewhere under my window as he and Matt jogged toward the front gate."Dada!" Mindy hollered from her playpen.Keeping my gun pointed forward, I twisted and pressed one finger to my lips. "Shh.""Mama ma ma." Mindy's big smile faltered before dropping to her bottom and throwing one of her blocks at the netting.I gave her a warm smile. Thomas had been working with her to say 'mama,' and last week, she finally got it. During his lessons, Thomas hugged me and kissed my cheek to show Mindy that I was Mama. She was growing too fast and was on the verge of walking. I was nervous she would figure out how to escape her playpen soon.Matt and Thomas opened the small gate beside our large vehicle gate. When they both disappeared, my skin crawled.I'd watched the three vehicles approach, but now they were hidden behind th
Suzie POVOver the next few weeks, things were oddly quiet. Don't get me wrong, it was awesome, but it was just weird since we hadn't seen a zombie in days.Digging sucked. It looked easy, but it was tiring, and my hands suffered the consequences. The blisters made it a painful transition, but I didn't get blisters anymore. Now I had calluses."Do you think the zombies went south to the ocean?" Taking a long drink from my water, I studied the clouds in the sky as I tried to catch my breath."No. We're just in between groups." Joey tossed a heap of dirt onto my feet. "They're always right around the corner, headed our way.""What the heck? Don't!" Kicking the dirt off my boots, I aimed for Joey, hitting his knees.Joey's deep laugh filled the trench as he slapped the dirt off his jeans."Joey," Matt warned in a harsh tone before his pickaxe hit the dirt. "Do it again, and you'll be put
The drive home was pleasantly uneventful. For the first time in a long time, it felt like today some angel above was watching over us.Since the Dually had more seating, Joey and Miranda were riding with Grant and Suzie. Our newbies didn't argue or complain as Thomas gave them specific instructions when they were preparing to leave with us, which was a good sign.Joey, albeit heartbroken over his father, stayed silent as he and Miranda quickly loaded more supplies, their belongings, and thoroughly disinfected themselves before loading up for the journey home."Is that Matt?" I pointed to a shadow digging in the yard as we rolled down our long dirt road.Thomas squinted against the late afternoon sun. "Looks like it."Matt glanced up. A huge smile lit up his face as he threw down his shovel, hoisted himself out of the hole, and jogged toward us.The front door swung open, revealing a joyful Celia with our Munchkin in her arms.At the sight of my dau
Casey POVClicking on our flashlights, Miranda led us into the dark store. Dodging a massive stack of empty boxes sitting just inside the door, I nearly walked into a heaping pile of garbage. One bulging trash bag showed that someone had done the same thing and ripped one open. The garbage within was comprised of empty soup cans and food packaging."Be careful." Miranda grimaced before she continued walking without a flashlight. "We don't do much tidyin' up. I tried to organize the store after those military men left, but a couple of days later, a group of college guys broke in and destroyed all my hard work. They got so drunk that one guy forgot to block the entrance and let a group of eaters inside. The guys all died. Well, actually, I think maybe one got away, but they left me with the mess, and I had to kill all the eaters and the guys that came back to life. It was bad. I gave up cleaning anything after that."
Casey POVGiving up on finding gas, I buckled myself into the passenger seat and leaned my head against the window. We passed several random biters staggering aimlessly down the road as I stared into space. This country road was hopeless.As we hit the three-quarter mark toward home, I glanced at the truck's gas gauge, and it was almost empty again. This truck literally guzzled gas.Noticing my worry, the corner of Thomas's lips tipped up. "It's okay, Sweetheart. Like I said before, it's just a truck. We'll drive until it runs out and we'll come back for it someday."I grimaced and nodded. I hated the idea of leaving this truck behind. It was his, and he shouldn't have to lose anything else. Who was I kidding? It was mine too, and I damn sure didn't want to lose it.Even though the dark clouds continued to hold their ominous position, the rain slowed, softening into a sprinkle. That was when a small m