Amongst the Dead Read Online Free PDF

the decaying world. When she made it back, she’d think twice before leaving it again. Roscoe was the only town within a reasonable distance and it had nothing more to offer. She had no reason to return.  
    Satisfied that no one was coming to look for the army man, Riley opened the cabinet door and crawled out.  
    The kitchen stunk like death, rotten meat and carnage. She wasn’t surprised, but had deluded herself into thinking maybe the scene wasn’t as horrible as she’d remembered it to be. She was wrong. Zombie pieces were still scattered about like a morbid birthday cake had exploded. And the army man was still dead—gruesomely killed; the vacant look in his eyes as the lights went out caught in Riley’s brain, branded there forever.  
    She exited the kitchen quickly, hoping never to return physically or mentally to the place, but knew she would be visiting again in her dreams—the dead man’s actions would haunt her. It wasn’t that he didn’t deserve what Riley gave him. He was a defiler of all that was good, but the look in a living person’s eyes as they died was unforgettable and she took no satisfaction in it. Using the rifle, killing from a distance, proved easier on the soul.  
    The dining area was quiet. She heard no gunshots or men yelling from outside. She crept to the front doors, the all too fresh memory of feeling saved, then in danger, coming to the forefront of her mind. She cracked open the door and peered outside.  
    The bodies of the executed zombies were strewn about the area, left to rot away like the town. The army had moved through quickly, not even noticing that one of their own had gone missing. They might be back, bring a search party once they realized a man wasn’t accounted for. She had to move.  
    She crept along the building, keeping a keen ear and eye out for trouble. It seemed as if the wind wanted no part of entering the town too. The air was still, as if frozen in time.  
    She made it unimpeded to the end of town, leaning against the last building in shadow. She grew nervous, a lump forming in her throat and sweat building on her forehead and dripping down her back. The tree line was at least a hundred yards away, the space wide open making it the perfect place to meet a bullet from a hidden adversary. Rifle at the ready, clip loaded, she stepped from the building and began a crouched walk. Each step brought the imaginary sound of gunfire, a shiver of trepidation hitting her. Better that than a real bullet. She repeated over and over that she was safe now. The army men had left and were long gone and wouldn’t be back for their missing soldier until they arrived at their base which had to be far off.  
    After what seemed like an eternity of scrambling in open space—an easy target for even the worst of snipers—she entered the woods and walked a few feet in before collapsing to the ground.  
    Sitting down, the forest giving her an overwhelming sense of security, she realized she had to pee. It was as if her body had shut all superfluous functions down, leaving only the survival mode on. Now that she was safe, back where she was comfortable, they were turning back on.  
    She dropped her pack, laid the rifle down and relieved herself, some of the pressure from the day’s events seeming to leave her body.  
    With her pants back on, she felt better, as if a pressure valve had been turned to the off position. Picking up her backpack and rifle, she began the trek back toward the cabin.  
    She couldn’t wait to get home, wash in the river and get cozy with a book and hot cup of tea.  
    Hiking along, finding the trail—marked in ways only she knew—she heard the sound of barking dogs. She froze, listening. They were coming up behind her, from where she’d been. Were they wild? Trained trackers? She was armed, feeling a bit less frightened than if she wasn’t, but firing her weapon would alert anyone in the area.  
    She took off running, knowing it was