A World Alone (Dead World Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to let her go.
    "I love you, princess."
    Her tender emerald eyes shone like glass as they brimmed with tears. She
turned away before they had a chance to fall, and disappeared inside.
    My head is resting against the wet wood of the bar now. I must have spilled
one of my drinks. But I don't care. It makes me feel like I'm in the water, my
body riding in unity with the waves. My eyes are closed as I let the gentle
tide of intoxication sweep me away into oblivion. Her eyes have even
gone away, blurred by the alcohol and unable to torment me any longer. Everything
feels so perfect and warm.
    Until something pulls on my arm and I remember where I am, and my head lifts
to find the brilliant emeralds staring back.
    "We have to go, now."

CHAPTER
SIX
    Stella
     
    He left me. . .
    Just like that.
    And I was being so damn nice too.
    I mean, I practically saved his life back there! The least he could have done
in return was give me a lift.
    But I watch the back of his yellow jeep drive off down the road and turn left
at the end of the street, and it becomes apparently obvious that he isn't going
to change his mind and come back for me. Which sucks.
    And I had a good feeling about him too.
    Maybe he wasn't a hero like I thought he was. Or maybe he was smarter than I
gave him credit for. Smart enough not to let strangers into his car anyway.
    My shoulders sag as I stare down the road. I could follow him. If I started
running now I might even be able to see which direction he's heading. He has to
stop eventually, and if I catch up to him I might be able to pick the keys off
him.
    A car would get me a long way. A very long way. It would cut days off my
travel time, probably even a week.
    Should I follow him?
    I’m contemplating the answer out in the open when a noise in the night
breaks my attention, and the sound of scraping footsteps soon follows it.
    "Oh shit," I mutter, the words quiet as my hands ball into tight
fists. I turn around, my eyes narrowing into slits as I squint into the
darkness. A jumbled mass of slow movement squirms in the absence of light.
Instinctively I take a small step back, my throat swelling and catching my
breath mid-gasp.
    A horde.
    Their many bodies shuffle and sway together, slowly creeping up the road as
one. I take another step back, my eyes tracing over their outlines, counting
their individual figures. Moonlight rains down on them as they step out from
the cover of the trees and continue to stumble up the road. The silvery light
ignites their tangled bodies, throwing out vivid shadows that skulk and slither
in every direction.
    Another tremulous step as more and more bodies appear in the light, all
shuffling towards the gas station.
    Towards me.
    Majority of their illuminated bodies appear broken and decayed, protruding
bones glinting like dirty pearls. But a few of their bodies are fresh and
unscathed.
    I take a few more steps back, my eyes focused on the constantly growing
group of infected. I want to stay until no more of them appear. I want to know
that there aren't any more. But they just keep coming. It's mesmerizing in a
terrifying way, watching body after body step out from the darkness. My
shoulders tense as my chest begins to rise and fall more rapidly.
    One more step back, my heel catches a piece of loose gravel and forces it to
scrape against the road. A noise that catches the attention of the closest
infected. What once was a man looks up, its bloody grey eyes gleaming
dangerously in the night as it stops walking to stare at me.
    It screams, and as if it is the conductor, the rest of the orchestra soon join,
and the entire horde is singing into the void of night. 
    I turn and run, my bag bouncing precariously on my back. The screams grow in
volume as they belt out their song, a requiem of rapid footsteps following.
    My feet slap hard against the ground with every step as I sprint down the
street, turning left where the yellow jeep drove off. I throw a quick look in
their direction, only to