Apocalypse Asunder Read Online Free PDF Page A

but your shot was on target.”
    “Oh.  Good.”
    Jessica hit the button that locked all the doors, then shifted into reverse and backed up in a U-turn before driving around the house and heading for the road.  Austin produced some loose nine millimeter rounds from his overall pockets and efficiently replaced the three he’d expended from the MP5’s magazine before she reached the pavement.
    “What was in there?” Candice asked.
    “Just a zombie.  Don’t worry about it sweetie.” Jessica answered without turning.  “Seatbelt.”  Then she glanced at Austin briefly.  “Glad you were there.”
    “You barely needed me.” he said easily, his tone light.
    “A little support never hurts.” Jessica said as the tires left the grass and she turned onto the road.  Despite her casual words, she was still working to calm down.  If she’d fallen, she might have been delayed in getting her shot off.  Or she might have missed.  Or both.  The zombie could have gotten its hands on her.  Worse, it could have gotten its teeth on her.
    One mistake was all it took.  Too close; the whole encounter upstairs had been far too close for her comfort.
    He chuckled softly.  “I’ll mention that the next time you sniff when I point out I was shot.”
    “Oh God.” she rolled her eyes, but the smile on her lips told the truth when she glanced across to him.  “Thank you.” she mouthed silently when he met her gaze.  He winked at her.
    “Austin, maybe you should go back to using the cane.” Candice put in, missing the silent exchange.  “You were moving really slow when you got back to the car.”
    Austin barked a burst of laughter, then cut himself off and gripped at his ribs.  Several had been cracked, and while they were far more along than the more serious bullet wounds, they were clearly still tender.  “I’m tough girlie-girl, remember?”
    “I remember.” she was silent a few moments, then she giggled.  “I think we should start writing down how many middle names you’ve got.”
    “There are a lot.” he agreed, turning carefully and winking at her.
    “Yup.”

Chapter Two – Winter is Coming
    “Why am I wearing this jacket when I’ve got the blanket?”
    “Because you like to push the covers off in your sleep.” Jessica explained patiently as she made sure the jacket was zipped at least halfway closed.  “And it’s already cold tonight.”
    “I’m warm.” Candice protested.
    “Once you lay there for a few minutes and stop moving you’ll cool down.”
    “But—”
    “Jacket stays on.” Jessica said firmly.  “Humor me, okay?”
    “Fine.” Candice said, subsiding with surprising good grace considering the strength of her initial protests.
    Jessica smiled.  “Okay, nosy kisses.”
    Candice giggled sleepily as Jessica leaned down to rub their noses together several times.  The girl hugged Jessica’s neck, then rolled over on her side and snuggled into the pillows.  Jessica draped the blanket into place over Candice’s shoulders and moved to the door of the big bedroom.
    There she paused with one hand on the knob, gazing at her daughter in the scattering of moonlight streaming in through the window as Candice finished getting comfortable and was still.  Jessica knew the girl wouldn’t be fully beneath the blanket when her mother came to bed, but that was fine; the jacket would hold her until then.  Jessica would tuck Candice back in a second time, before going to sleep herself.  After a few moments, Jessica slipped out and closed the door softly behind her.
    Moving down the hallway, she reflexively checked the big bookcase she’d moved to block the top of the stairs.  It was not a true barricade; if she could move it, then most anyone else could too.  But it would slow anyone – or anything – trying to come up the stairs down; and moving it would make noise.
    The furniture itself would scrape and groan across the floor if it were shoved aside, but she’d also set a