The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

"We're not holding you up. You really don't know what is going on, do you?" Katie walked swiftly to the counter, still clutching her credit card.

"Uh, no. " The boy was trying to look calm and brave, but he was sweating profusely.

The girl behind him was holding onto his arm so tight that Katie could see blood pooling under nails.

"The city has gone insane. It's burning! People are dead and…and…"

Should she tell him that the dead apparently were getting up and eating everyone?

"Zombies. It's zombies, "Jenni said.

Katie sighed, rolled her eyes and exhaled slowly. "What she said. "

"Yeah, right," the boy said sarcastically.

"I don't know if they are really zombies, but there is something going on that has people attacking other people like maniacs," Katie explained.

"Kinda like you two?"

"No. With their bare hands. " Katie watched the look of disbelief on the boy's face grow deeper. "Look, swipe my card. We need gas to get the fuck out of here. "

The boy frowned. "You're really not good with this holding up stuff, are you? You're not supposed to pay. "

"Just swipe the gawddamn card already!" Katie waved it in his face.

"We really should get lots of food. And some more gas canisters," Jenni said behind her.

The boy swiped the card and looked at them with growing unease. "You guys are on the run, aren't you?"

"Yes, like I told you. The city has gone insane-"

"With zombies," Jenni added helpfully.

Katie really didn't think the Hispanic girl could get any paler.

Suddenly there was a screech of tires outside and they all turned to see two cars pull up. Both were fully loaded with people, all Hispanic. Men with guns leaped out and ran into the store.

"Papa!" The Latina girl looked relieved and ran toward one of the men.

A flurry of Spanish followed and suddenly the girl looked like a ghost.

"I'm leaving! My grandma ate my aunt!"

And she was gone, running with her family out to their cars.

Katie turned back to look at the boy whose mouth was hanging open.

From behind her, Jenni said, "Told you. "

"I don't believe you. "

"Then you are going to die," Katie said firmly and grabbed her card from him.

The day was growing warmer as the sun rose steadily over the hills. The breeze brushing back her blond hair was almost hot and not very soothing. It felt grainy and harsh.

Katie sighed and kept watch as the pump slowly clunked away behind her filling up the old truck's tank. Jack, groggy from his early morning surgery, sat behind the steering wheel inside the cab watching her. Every few seconds he would look around nervously. She wondered how much the dog had seen as he lay in his crate secured in the back of the truck this morning.

The dog glanced toward her and their eyes met. He let out a light woof and she got the impression he was telling her so far so good.