Epidemic of the Undead: A Zombie Novel Read Online Free PDF

corpse on top to the side and it released a cloud of foul smelling gasses. When it rolled over, it flopped next to a chewed up severed arm that had been thrown against a rack of cigarettes, which had fallen down and partially covered it. 
    He knelt down and pried a finger from the trigger guard of the pistol. Using the best CSI reasoning from what he had seen on those TV shows, he figured that the couple from the Sedan met their fate here at the store. An undead had probably entered the store and attacked the woman first, managing to rip her arm off, and enjoying a few bites, before her friend came to her aid and blasted the zombie in the face. With the woman missing an arm, her companion gave her up for dead. Instead of mourning, he took the opportunity to rob the storeowner of his cash. There was a struggle behind the counter. Somehow, the man, must have been bitten, either by the woman or her attacker, because the man started turning into one of those things during the robbery.  The owner managed to get the gun and shoot the man in the head. The man on the bottom, the owner, must have died of a heart attack. Chris could not find one mark on him.
    Chris’ stomach curdled tight around the coffee roiling in his stomach. He felt the acidic bile climbing its way up, and he couldn’t hold it back. Chris Commons threw up next to the owner on the floor, and then he wiped his mouth on his shoulder. Chris heard Steve laughing. Stupid prick.
    Chris smelled the faint aroma of coffee, mingled with mustard and decaying funk, and hurled again.           
    The tap…tap…tap… returned, louder and closer this time. His gaze settled on an electronic box next to the register. Two orange lights flashed momentarily from the fuel pump controls. Pump seven was requesting service. Chis looked out into the parking lot from behind the counter.
    He saw something more terrifying than the undead. The raiders had finally arrived.
    Two very large men toting heavy firepower were examining the blue Sedan at pump seven. Two Ford trucks rolled in with at least five men wearing camouflage spilling out of each truck bed. They were armed, and no doubt, very dangerous. He entertained the possibility that they were here for search and rescue, but Chris discarded that idea quickly. He couldn’t take the risk of making the wrong assumption. Stephanie would not fare well in the hands of human predators, because she was a very attractive young lady. He and Steve would be no match against them. Once they were out of the way, the strong would prey upon the weak. Chaotic times brought out the worst in men
    “Shit . . . Steve! We’ve got company!” Chris darted from behind the counter, pointing to the window.
    “How long we got?” Steve asked, glancing out the window, expecting to see a slow moving mob of undead. “Oh, shit!” He ducked back down and grabbed Stephanie by the arm.
    “What?” Stephanie said in panic.
    “Looters! Lots of fucking looters!” Steve was on his feet and pulling Stephanie forward. “Is there a back way out?” 
    “I don’t see one. I don’t fucking see one!” Chris kicked a door open, hoping it would lead to a way out. It was a maintenance closet full of toilet paper and cleaning supplies. His gaze returned to the parking lot. Luckily, the gang was still preoccupied with the Sedan. In the distance, he could see that the redneck welcoming committee was gathering undesired attention. A cluster of ghouls from the coffee shop was staggering into view. Chris recognized them as the dozen or so zombies that had followed them down the side street. That brought back memories of Mark’s cold dead body that he so unceremoniously left behind. They had been cousins; they had grown up together. Now Mark was destined to become one of them . Chris hoped that he never had to see Mark again.
    The first shot rang out in front of the store.
    Chris saw a few of the men firing into the street. Their guns weren’t aimed at the