Read Deadly Night: Jenni and Katie's Untold Tale: A Short Story From the As The World Dies Universe (As The World Dies Untold Tales Book 4) for Free Online

had a lost little boy quality that often made her and other women in the fort want to hug him.
    Curtis hesitated near the next intersection. He held up one hand, bringing the rest of them to a stop. “Hold up.”
    Shane, bringing up the rear, aimed his shotgun in the direction they’d come from.
    “What’s wrong, Curtis?” Juan asked.
    “This is the area that had those slower zombies a few days ago,” Curtis answered. “I’d like not to stir them up.”
    “If those men came this way, they’re stirred up,” Jenni retorted.
    “Caution don’t hurt nobody,” Curtis replied sourly.
    “Let’s hurry. Something’s wrong back there,” Shane said, sounding very nervous.
    A second later, the pops of gunfire echoed through the night.
    “Yup! Things are going to hell!” Shane took several sharp steps toward the others.
    Jenni peered around Juan. The flash of headlights briefly blinded her as a pickup did a U-turn to head back to the fort. Dark shapes raced after the truck, and the screech of the dead filled the night.
    Instantly, Jenni’s group dove into the recessed entrance of an old store.
    “Runners,” Juan whispered. “Shit.”
    Runners were fresh zombies and very dangerous. They appeared to be smarter than their shambling brethren, so the fort survivors were always cautious when they appeared.
    Curtis scooted up to the threshold of the entrance and cautiously peered up the road.
    “What do you see?” Jenni asked in a whisper.
    “Looks like they’re following the truck. Or at least the runners are.” Curtis sank back against the wall and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “That big group might follow the runners or keep coming this way.”
    “Are you sure the runners are heading to the fort?” Juan asked.
    Jerking his head toward the road, Curtis said, “Pretty sure. Hard to see. One of the runners kicked that flashlight, and it’s aiming this way now. So we best stay put or they might see us.”
    “Fuckin’ great,” Shane groused. “Gawddammit.”
    “Keep it down,” Jenni ordered. “We don’t want them coming this way.”
    “I say we keep heading to the gas station,” Juan said. “But get off this street and head to the next one. It’s only a few blocks long and doesn’t connect up to a road heading out of town.”
    “It’s also more likely to be infested because it’s closer to the school that got overrun,” Curtis pointed out.
    “Or we could take the reasonable option and head back to the fort now,” Shane said.
    “It’s going to be hell getting back inside if the herd swarms the wall,” Curtis agreed.
    Juan tilted his head back and exhaled. “We can try to get over the section by city hall. Take a different route back. The zombies will be concentrated near the gate.”
    “I say we head back now,” Curtis said. “We can’t risk staying out here.”
    “We promised we would find those men,” Jenni protested, taking a sharp step toward Curtis.
    “Katie got the woman and the kids in the truck,” Shane said. 
    “It’s over,” Curtis replied. “We head back.”
    “No, we can’t!” Jenni poked Curtis’s chest.
    “ Loca , calm down,” Juan said, pulling her back toward him.
    “No, we promised.”
    The shrieks from the undead grew in volume, and Jenni’s protests died on her lips. Freezing in place, the small group stared at each other in fear. Curtis again dared to peer out at the road. Instantly, he ducked back, pressing his back to the wall. A quick shake of his head silenced all questions. Motioning with his hand, he indicated they should move to the darkened area near the door. Shane instantly obeyed. Juan followed and tugged Jenni against him. His rough, calloused fingers pressed against her hips, keeping her close.
    The pounding footsteps resonated along the street. Jenni fought to keep her breath steady. It was difficult when her respiration sounded obscenely loud to her own ears. Fingers flexing around the Beretta and crowbar, she