The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

The truck crested a hill and down below was a town, if it could be called a town. Six buildings, four on the left, two on the right, lined the road. Behind the buildings were fields and trees and Katie could see a smattering of houses and trailers making up the town's "burbs".

A huge sign stood on top of the two story building on the right.

Toombs Hunting Store-Guns, Supplies, Licenses and More! Stop now before you shoot!

"Wonder if they have a zombie hunting license," Katie murmured as she slowly drove into the town.

The store was very old, at least 150 years old, with thick stone walls and heavy iron bars over the windows. A big iron door had Toombs with deer antlers on either side of the name painted in yellow letters. It looked like an old-time jail.

Letting the truck idle, Katie looked around at the buildings before returning her gaze to the hunting store. It was eerily quiet and devoid of any visible people.

Suddenly, a shot rang out and Katie jumped. Jenni screamed as she woke and instantly Jack started barking.

Katie was so startled she wasn't sure what was going on. Then she saw a small child laying right beside the truck, a neat hole blown through its head.

Its torso and right arm were a mangled mess, as if its flesh had been ripped from its bones.

"Shit," she said.

"Are you bit?" A female voice rang out through what sounded like a bullhorn.

Jenni held tightly to Jack, both of them shaken. Jack was growling.

Leaning over them, Katie rolled down the window low enough to yell,

"No! We're not bit! We're looking for some help! Some guns! Supplies!"

"Get out of the car slowly and show us," the voice answered.

"Don't!" Jenni grabbed Katie's arm. "They might hurt you. "

"They shot the zombie. I think they're okay. "

Jenni's hand trembled as she withdrew it and looked desperate.

"It's okay," Katie said again and whispered to Jack, "Stay," and slid out.

Holding out her bare arms, shotgun in one hand, she slowly turned around. She caught a flash of color and looked up to see two elderly people on top of the gun shop. The woman was holding the bullhorn and the old man the gun.

Jenni looked out at Katie fearfully, unsure of what was going on.

"And the other one. "

"Jenni, get out. Leave the dog inside," Katie said firmly.

Jenni slowly slid out of the truck and slid off her bathrobe. Her arms were bruised, but it was clear she had no blood on her.

The elderly couple consulted each other and suddenly the old man disappeared from view.

"You better get back in the truck until he unlocks the door. Got more running around here," the old woman said through the bullhorn, then set it down and picked up a rifle.

Both women climbed back into the truck and Katie pulled the truck over as close as she could to the shop.

"They could hurt us," Jenni said softly.

"They would have already if they wanted to," Katie answered truthfully.

Two more shots rang out and Katie looked over to see two people laying dead near the doorway of an old fashioned grocery store. It was then that she became aware that there were more zombies trapped inside the grocery. The two dead zombies had stumbled out of a rotating door as they jostled about, trying to get to the tasty morsels on the street. Most of the undead were pressed up against the windows clawing at the glass.