The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

Her stomach gave a low growl and a twinge ran through her intestines.

Dammit, great time to have an upset stomach. Sliding around the front of the truck, she looked all around, studying the shadows under the trees and the buildings in the distance.

"Do you have food and water, Travis!" It was a woman's voice. Young, perky.

Travis whirled around, as did Katie.

A young woman with red hair had slid open what looked like a window for after hour payments.

"A bottle or two of water would do us fine, Rachel," Travis answered.

"Glad to see you're okay. "

"We got the family holed up in here. But nothing has come by since yesterday. Luthor shot it and we drug it out back. "

Travis nodded and motioned to Katie to go get the stuff.

Katie kept her gaze on her surroundings as she moved toward the building. She felt her stomach flutter and she hated being so exposed in the openness of the parking lot. She walked sideways and took a long look down the side of the building to make sure nothing lurked there, then moved toward the window.

The girl waited for her, the window half open, talking to someone hidden from view.

Rachel was handed a bag and she pushed the window all the way open to hand it to Katie. She took it gratefully and peeked inside. It had water and Danish in it. She was getting tired of Danish.

Rachel looked at her for a long moment, sizing her up. "You and Travis heading out of town together? Going to hide somewhere?"

"We have a mission for city hall, actually. That's where we're located and hoping to get back there. "

"I heard that a lot of people were down there on the CB. We decided to wait it out here until the army comes," Rachel answered. "We got food in here to last us, but I'm sure the army will get here soon. "

"What makes you think they will come?"

"Because that's their job," Rachel answered and looked toward Travis.

"So, you and Travis are doing a mission? What kinda mission?"

Katie smiled slightly, realizing the woman was jealous.

"Getting guns to blow the zombies to hell," Katie answered.

"Yeah? Hell, just go into any house around here and you'll find guns. "

"And maybe zombies," Katie reminded her.

"Yeah, that's not good. "

"Let's go, Katie!" Travis slammed the lid to the tank closed and waved to her.

"Thanks, Rachel," Katie said and quickly ran toward him.

She felt her intestines twisting again. Her head was throbbing now.

What the hell was wrong with her?

"You okay?" Travis looked at her with concern.

"Yeah," she said firmly. She slid back into the driver's seat and put on her seatbelt. Her hands felt clammy when she gripped the steering wheel and, for a moment, her eyesight swam.

Travis reached out and ran his hand over her hair gently. "Katie, you're burning up. "