The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

Curtis nodded. "Not sure. "

Jenni looked at the little communications center, then said, "Can I sit here? And wait? Maybe they'll call?"

Curtis returned his gaze to her and she gave him her best "little girl lost" look. He nodded. "Sure. You can stay. "

Jenni smiled at him and pulled her knees up to her chin, her feet resting on the cold metal seat. "Turn up the CB. Maybe someone is out there that we can talk to. "

Curtis gave her a shy smile and nodded. "Okay. " He leaned over and turned it up and Jenni watched him, memorizing his actions.

The first chance she got, she would find out what was really happening to Katie.

3. Beyond

Travis sat in darkness. The only light came from a small night light on the far side of the room. Katie lay curled on the bed, her blond curls in disarray around her face. She looked waxen, pale, and frightfully drawn. On the dresser next to him was a revolver. Ralph had instructed him very precisely how to handle it. And Nerit had very intently insisted that he could not falter, he could not flinch. If Katie rose from that bed as anything other than a living breathing human being, he had to put her out of her misery.

Rubbing his hands together, he let out a low sigh. This was hard. Very hard. Harder than it should be. To sit here and wait for this woman to fade from the world into the world of the dead just to put a bullet between her eyes seemed a cruel fate considering the absolute joy he had felt in meeting her just two days ago.

It had been one of the oddest moments of his life. He had just looked at her and knew her. He felt he should know her name and that they shared a past. It was as though they had been friends who had endured much together and then were separated by life. He had felt strongly he should open his mouth and say her name, but he didn't know her. But somehow he did. Even when she had mentioned her wife, and yeah, that had kinda threw him just a bit, in a way he had known.

It was odd considering that Jenni, with her long flowing raven hair, pale skin, and luminous eyes was everything he had ever found desirable physically about a woman. In fact, she looked startling similar to his exfiancee Darlene. But it was the tall blond with the long, lean body, intense features, and wickedly sharp gaze that had instantly grabbed his attention.

He had even noted how her eyes turned up slightly at the ends, speaking of Nordic blood in her genes.

I know you, he wanted to say. And she had seemed to want to say it back to him.

Raised a good Protestant, he didn't believe much in miracles or the mystical. But he did now. Zombies had pretty much settled that argument.

They weren't natural, he knew that much. But seeing Katie and knowing she was important to not only him, but also all those in the fort, that had surpassed anything his logical mind had ever grasped before. But now he sat in this dark room, listening to her breathe, waiting for the end. He was convinced of it now.

At times she called out softly for Lydia. At other times her father. Once or twice for Jenni.

"Please," she had begged Travis once during a lucid moment. "Take care of Jenni. "

He knew he would take care of Jenni. And Jason. And all the others. For Katie and her memory. She had endured more than he had. Seen things he could not imagine. His loss had been a Dear John letter left on his pillow.

Hers had been seeing Lydia as one of those things.

There was a sharp intake of breath from the bed…then nothing.

Tears, hot and angry, filled his eyes and he picked up the gun.

It was time.

Travis stood in the darkened bedroom gazing down at the gun. His tears were fierce in his eyes and his anger burned even hotter in his throat.

He heard the bed creak and through his lashes saw her rise.

"I'm sorry," he said, and lifted the gun.

"Why?"

He blinked and tears fell down his cheeks. "Katie?"

"Yeah?"

Travis flipped on the overhead light and she sat blinking in the sudden brightness. She still looked pale and frail, but her eyes were bright again.

Clear. Alive.