The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

"Climbing zombies. That's definitely breaking the rules," Juan said.

Travis ran his hand over his holstered gun. "Yeah, well, the rules are shit now. Let's get to work. "

3. Not Fast Enough

Katie couldn

't get dressed fast enough. Shoving her feet into her boots, she glanced over at Jenni, who nearly toppled over as she hopped into her jeans. Jason was fast asleep and snoring with Jack snuggled into his side watching the two women suspiciously. Their nonstop chatter had annoyed the teenager earlier in the evening as they had caught up on all that had happened while they had been apart. Katie had enjoyed that time immensely.

It had almost been like a slumber party. But now, dammit, reality had hit.

Zipping up her camouflage pants, Katie leaned over and quickly tied her boots. Her arms and hands were hurting like hell from the bruises and sprains she had received from dangling off that damned “elevator over hell," as Juan had put it.

"Think they'll all come over?" Jenni asked worriedly.

"No, or they would have already, but we need to move fast before enough figure it out to cause us real trouble," Katie grabbed her rifle and headed out the door. "Meet you down there. "

"Okay! I'm almost ready!" Jenni flopped onto the bed and started in on her boots.

Running down the stairs, Katie ran into a few other people, all men, who were also on their way out to help fortify the guards. There was a surprising lack of women in the fort and it had taken her awhile to realize this. Most of the women were older and married. It saddened her, but made her feel that she needed to prove herself and pull her own weight.

Juan stood near the back door instructing everyone where to go. One by one, the men spread out to take up positions. Katie found herself to be the last one Juan paid attention to.

"Travis wants us to meet him up on the balcony," Juan said. He looked very tense.

"Why?"

"I don't know. Hey, Loca, we're wanted upstairs," Juan said to Jenni with an evil glint in his eye.

"Bite me, redneck," Jenni answered and made a face at him.

Juan made chomping noises at her.

"I'm so out of this," Katie said, and hurried back into the building and up the stairs.

"Redneck. "

"Loca. "

"Redneck. "

"Loca. "

"Redneck. "

"Mucha loca. "

"Redneck," Jenni said again as they followed Katie up the stairs.

"Are you calling me a hick spic?" Juan asked in his thick West Texas twang.

"No! I'm calling you just a plain ol' hick!"

"Oh, I am so out of this one," Katie said firmly, and walked down the hallway toward the balcony.

Juan laughed and Jenni smacked him.

Katie could tell they were tussling by all the noise behind her, but she decided not to pay attention. It has been clear since she had returned that Jenni and Juan were locked in a highly adversarial battle of the wills.