Until the End of the World (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

situation.”
    “Yes, of course. Thanks.” I hang up, adding, “For nothing.”
    I move back to the window. “They’re not even coming.”
    “Well,” James says, without tearing his eyes away, “at least they answered this time.”
    I can’t stop watching either. It’s so horrifying that the minute I stop looking I think there’s no way it can be real, so I look back.
    “They aren’t just attacking, they’re eating,” Nelly says, and shakes his head in disbelief.
    He heads into the kitchen and sits at the table. I follow him to get paper towels to clean up the spill. He’s as pale as I’ve ever seen him, but his mouth is set in a firm line. “I know you promised Eric you’d leave if it was bad.” I nod. “I thought that was a little over the top. But now I don’t know. What do you think?”
    What we just saw wasn’t simply someone a little ill and violent. I don’t want to sound like a maniac, but I’m scared. And I promised Eric. “I want to go upstate,” I say.
    James comes to the doorway with his arm around Penny’s shoulders. “They don’t have this under control,” he says. “I mean, there are people eating someone on the corner and it’s not even a fucking priority. They’re not telling us the truth. People still think it’s safe.”
    It’s true; I can hear music and the sounds of happy shouting blocks away.
    “Okay,” Nelly says, his hands fisted on the table. His expression is incredulous, but his nod is firm. “Then we should leave. I can’t believe this, this is insane.”
    I’ve always thought it would be great to have Nelly’s total belief, just once, in my and James’ crazy imaginings. But I find that this is one time I really, truly want to be wrong.

CHAPTER 8
    A yell from the street snaps us out of our silence. Five young guys grip baseball bats and pieces of rebar and move in on the infected, who are so busy with their meal they don’t notice.
    A length of rebar connects with Aviator Glasses’ head, while the owner of the rebar yells with the effort. It splits his head open with a crack that carries down the block and through the window glass. There’s surprisingly little blood, although my stomach lurches at the sight. Another bludgeons the older man. Half Neck and the old lady turn toward the three men left.
    “Now!” yells the biggest guy.
    Half Neck and Old Lady don’t stand a chance. They’re down in seconds and bashed repeatedly until their heads are just a memory. The big guy straightens up and wipes his forehead with a bandanna from his back pocket. Before I can stop myself I throw the kitchen window wide open.
    “Hey, thanks!” I call.
    They look up and around until they see me and move to stand under us. Penny leans out of the living room window and waves.
    “Oh, hey. You Maria Diaz’s girl, right?” the leader asks. Penny nods. “Listen, you need to stay inside. They’re everywhere.” He gives us a stern big brother look.
    “Are they all like this? So violent?” I ask. “They said they were attacking people, but it looked like they were eating—”
    “Oh, they’re eating.” He grimaces. “Make no mistake. And you have to get their heads or they don’t go down easy. Cut their necks or something. Crazy shit. You know, like zombies.”
    A younger kid wearing a baseball hat chimes in with lit up eyes. “It is, man. They are zombies. It’s just like that game. You know, the one where you—”
    “Christ, Carlos,” the leader says. “This is no game. You see that body? That could be you or your moms or your sister.” He looks up at us as Carlos surveys the remains and quiets.
    “Sorry. We got to go. I’m picking up my little sister from a friend’s house. Stay inside. Be safe. Tell your moms Guillermo said hi.”
    Penny says she will. We watch as they walk down the rest of the block and pause before every doorway.
    “Zombies,” James mutters. “Jesus.”
    It’s silent. Penny finally speaks. “I’m willing to entertain the