The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

"Look, I just want you to leave before my manager gets here, okay?"

There was a loud squealing noise outside and Jack began to bark fiercely. Katie whirled around to see a car nearly clip the truck and slam into the side of the building. The walls shuddered and the glass windows cracked.

From the steaming wreckage, a young woman, in the same color smock as the irritating cashier, stumbled out gripping an older man about the waist.

He was barely on his feet and it took all her strength to carry him. He was covered in blood.

"Mr. Carver! Rachel," the boy ran past Katie and out the door to meet them.

Jenni looked at Katie and their eyes met.

Jack's barking was frantic now.

"We're out of here!"

Katie ran after Jenni and they both swung open the doors to the truck cab.

There was a scream of agonizing pain, then the boy's voice said, "Mr.

Carver! Mr. Carver! Get off of her!"

Katie slammed her door shut and started the truck. Jenni was still standing outside the truck, watching, transfixed as Mr. Carver took another large bite out of Rachel's spurting throat.

"Just run!" Katie shouted at the boy as loud as she could to be heard over the dog's barking.

The boy finally listened to her and ran for his car. He fumbled with his pocket to get out his keys.

Mr. Carver now had Rachel down on the ground and was biting at her savagely as her body convulsed.

Jenni slid into the cab and shut the door, locked it, and looked at Katie.

Katie shifted gears and drove. She glanced into the rear view mirror to see a bloodied, resurrected-Rachel and Mr. Carver now in pursuit of the boy whose name tag she never noticed. He ran as fast as he could away from the gas station down into the valley behind the building.

"You did tell him," Jenni said finally.

Katie turned onto the highway.

"Yeah, I did. "

"Coffee?" Jenni motioned to the cup holder fastened to the dashboard.

Two cups of steaming coffee sat there.

"Yeah, sounds good. "

They drove on.

2. A Taste of the Dead World

Sometimes the world changes and you don't even notice. One day slips into the next and subtly the world around you transforms. A new building goes up. A tree is cut down. Your neighbors move out. The potholes in your street are repaired. A new elected official takes office. You gain five pounds.

Your friend loses ten.

And then there are the stark changes that upturn your world and leave you in shock, breathless, and lost.

Like hearing your baby scream out and chewing noises.

Or leaving your home after kissing your pretty wife and wondering if you should be wearing your new high heels today and then finding yourself fifteen minutes later running for your life in shoes that pinch your feet and almost make you stumble.