Fighting to Survive (As the World Dies 2)
Katie stood alone, her hands resting on her hips, and exhaled slowly. She glanced over at Travis and caught him looking at her. She gave him a soft smile and his face lit up as he smiled back at her.
Sighing, she walked into the city hall building, trying hard not to think of anything but the task ahead.
2. Shelter From the Storm
Stacey held the squirming Jack Russell terrier firmly in her arms as Bill and Ed helped her over the wall. Eric climbed up behind her and she could feel him reaching out to steady her with one hand. Pepe was not happy with being taken over the wall and she didn’t blame him. Despite the new area being cordoned off by high new walls, she felt vulnerable being outside of the construction site.
A big black girl reached up to help her with Pepe as she climbed down the second ladder into the new area. The girl's name was Lenore and Stacey had met her the day she and Eric had been rescued from the water tower. Lenore’s best friend and constant companion, Ken, stood near Lenore, clutching his cat carrier. Inside, his cat, Cher, was mightily ticked off. Stacey didn’t blame her.
Other survivors were descending ladders and a special elevator had been rigged up for the elderly and disabled. The big crane from the construction site was lifting a pallet over the wall with the elderly tied securely on to it. Old Man Watson looked befuddled, but he gave Stacey the thumbs up when he saw her looking at him.
The Dollar Store was already filling up and Stacey could see people trying to find a place to camp out during the long wait for the hotel to be taken. She hoped the terrible combination of zombie and bleach was gone now.
Peggy, the city secretary, and her little boy, Cody, reached the street just as Stacey did. Cody was crying softly and the sound of his whimpering made Stacey feel even more nervous.
“It’s going to be fine, honey,” Eric assured her as he reached the ground. He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. Pushing his glasses up on his nose, he looked around warily. “We made damn sure this area is secure. We'll be fine. ”
“You can't blame me for being nervous,” Stacey answered. She slid her arms around his waist and leaned against him. The love she felt for him pulsed hard inside of her and she felt a lump in her throat.
His laid his arm over her shoulders, his fingers stroking her skin.
“No, I can't. But we'll be okay. I promise. ”
“I cannot wait until this is over,” Ken said, and pouted slightly. His cat seemed to yowl in agreement.
Lenore set Pepe down and held tightly to his leash. Pepe zigzagged back and forth in front of her. “It’ll be done soon enough and we’ll have a nice bed to sleep in tonight. ”
“We can be roommates!” Ken clapped his hands excitedly.
“Oh, no! I am so not putting up with listening to you talk in your sleep about how hot Daniel Craig is. ” Lenore gave him a fierce look.
“Besides, aren’t you supposed to be back inside the fort helping out Juan? Gimme Cher and get to work. ”
Ken handed over his cat, giving her a fake, disdainful look.
“You’re so mean. ”
“Move it,” Lenore ordered.
Eric stepped out of Ken’s way as the younger man made his way back up over the wall.
“Good luck, Ken!” Eric called out.
Ken posed cutely on the ladder. “I will stun and amaze all with my mad skills!”
“He's a gopher for Juan,” Lenore explained. “Like that's hard. ”
“Bitch,” Ken sniffed and hurried over the wall.
Lenore grinned.
Stacey laid her head on Eric's shoulder. Her stomach was in knots.
“We’ll be okay,” Eric repeated, but she could see fear clearly in his eyes. They had barely survived coming to the fort. They had hoped their days fearing for their safety were over, but obviously they were not.
“Zombies don't got a chance against this crew. We're tough,”
Lenore said in her usual gruff tone. “We're mean. We're nasty. Plus, Ken could talk them to death. ”