Life After The Undead (Book 1) (71 page)

“My
mom
wasn
’t
around
much,
either.
Since
she
was
a
single
mom,
she
worked
all
day
and
spent
her
nights
in
the
local
bars,
picking
up
men. She
found
some
real
winners.
I
won’t
bore
you
with
the
details.
The
nights
she
came
home
with
her
boyfriends,
I
’d
make
myself
scarce.
As
you
can
imagine,
I
got
into a
lot
of
trouble
roaming
the
streets.

“My
mother
wanted
nothing
to
do
with
me
when
they
sent
me
to
juvie
and
then
to
prison.
My
parents
left
me,
Krista.
They
abandoned
me.
All
I
ever
wanted
was
a
family. Someone
to
love
and
care
for.
I
have
that
now,
and
I
’
m
not
going
to
let
anything
take
it
away.”
  Liet stood
and
crossed
the
room
to
me,
wrapping
me in
a
hug.
“I let
you
go
into
the
West
because
you
’l
l
go
crazy
if
you
stay
here.
You
’r
e
just
like
me.
You
need
to
roam.
I
don
’t
like
it
when
you
leave,
though,
and
a
part
of
me
dies
every
time
you drive
through
the
gates.
He
can
’t
take
care
of
you
like
I
can,
and
he
won
’t.
I
’ll
continue
to
let
you
collect
supplies
as long
as
you
promise
to
keep
your
relationship
professional, but
don
’t
mistake
my
compassion
for
weakness.”
  He
released
me
and
left.

Between
the
dream
and
waking
to
find
Liet in
my
room,
I
couldn’t
go
back
to
sleep.
I
turned
off
the
light
,
threw
on some
clothes, and
headed
to
the
guard
tower.

The
searchlights
scanned
the
field in
front
of
me,
and
I
took
out
a
dozen
zombies
before
the
sun
rose.
Their
moans
penetrated
the
cool
air
and
sent
a
shiver
down
my
spine.
Images
of
my
dream
were
still
fresh
in my
mind,
and
I
wondered
if
my
parents
were
out
there
roaming
the
earth.
Would I
ever
run
into
them?
I
was
sure
if
I
did,
I
’d
have
no
problems
putting
a
bullet
between
their
eyes. Of
course
I
might
let
them
wander
in
their
own
personal
hell.
After
all,
they’d
brought
it
on
themselves.
I
needed
them
more
than
ever,
and
they
went
and
got
themselves
killed.

I
buried
my
face
in
my
hands.
I
hated
that
I
was
so mad
at
my
parents,
but I
hated
it
even
more
that
they
weren
’t
t
here.
I
shouldn’t
blame
them
for
what
had
happened,
but
it
was
nobody
’s
fault
but
their
own.
It
certainly
wasn
’t
my
fault.
I
told
them
not
to go.
I
told
them
to
stay.
They
didn’t
listen.
I
wiped
my
hands
down
my
face
and
stared
at
the
horizon.
More
moans
echoed
through
the
morning air.
A
few
silhouettes
appeared,
and
I
grabbed
my
rifle.
I
focused
down
the
sight.
The
half
-
rotted
flesh
of
a
zombie
filled
the
optics,
and
I
squeezed
the
trigger.

The
creature
fell
over
backward
and
another
walked
right
over
it.
I
chambered
another
round.

“Stupid
morons,”
I
whispered under
my
breath
before
taking
another
shot.

The
sun
popped
over
the
horizon,
and
another
soldier
stepped
into
the
tower.
After collecting my
weapons,
I
went
to
the
courthouse.
A
Jeep
Wrangler
was
parked
on
the
street
as I
headed
to
Lie
t’s
office.
Quinn
was
there
with
Bill
and
Kyle,
and
they
smiled
as
I
entered
the
room.
I
smiled
back
and
had
to
refrain
from
running
up
to
them and
giving
them
a
hug.
They
were
the
most
welcome
sight
in
North
Platte.
I
stood
in
front
of
Liet’s
desk
and
placed
my
hands
on
my
hips.

“Two
trucks, as
usual,”
he
said
without
looking
up
from
his
paperwork.
“And
we
need
more
building
supplies.
See
what
you
can
do.”

I
turned
to
head
out
of
the
room
with
the
guys
when
Liet
stopped
me.
He
stepped
from
behind
his
desk
and
wrapped
his
arms
around
my
shoulders.

“Sorry
I scared
you
last
night,”
he
whispered
so
only
I
heard.
“I
really
don’t
know
what
I’d
do
without
you.”

I tried
to
pull
out
of
his
grasp,
but
he
pulled
me
in
tighter
and
nuzzled
my
neck.

“Things are
going to
be
different
from
now
on.
I
promise.”
He
planted
a kiss on
my
cheek,
and
I
was
finally
able to
squirm out
of
his
grasp.