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 Page B

haste, Shane stumbled but managed to catch himself before the huge creature grabbed him. Jenni sprinted after the zombie, again attempting to get a good shot. The creature’s movements were jerky and so random that it was impossible.
    The sentry on the wall started shouting, but Jenni couldn’t discern his words. On the other side of the fort came a fresh volley of gunfire, distracting Jenni. The pickup from the fort sat in the middle of the road. The doors were open, and it was abandoned. Hopefully that meant Katie and the others were safely inside.
    “Someone fuckin’ kill it!” Shane shouted.
    The zombie managed to grab the hem of Shane’s jacket, and the man barely squirmed out of it in time. Jerking the empty jacket toward his mouth, the zombie shrieked in frustration. Shane ran along the edge of the wall toward a ladder the guard on duty was lowering.
    Finally finding a clear shot, Curtis, Jenni, and Juan fired at the same time. The marauding zombie tumbled to the ground, its head pulverized. Gasping for breath, Jenni glanced toward the truck half a block away from their location. The area around it was littered with the bodies of zombies. Most of the herd was up against the wall, reaching for the armed people killing them with makeshift spears and firearms.
    Patting her shorts, Jenni realized she only had one spare clip left.
    “Get to the ladder,” Curtis shouted, running ahead of Jenni and Juan.
    “Jenni, c’mon. Before they notice us,” Juan said, gesturing toward the rowdy crowd at the other end of the block.
    “I made a promise,” Jenni said, then turned and darted in the opposite direction.
    “Jenni, no!”
    Not paying any heed to those yelling at her, Jenni ran toward the truck.
     
     

     
    Chapter 7
     
    -Minutes Earlier-
    Katie braced herself as Travis obeyed her order to “go” and swung the truck around. The slap of the runner’s hand against the passenger window startled her. Out of the corner of her eye was the rabid, snarling face of a zombie. The wounds on his face were fresh and still bleeding. Katie glanced at Julie, worried that the man was one of her friends, but the traumatized woman remained mute as she stared at the zombies swarming around the vehicle.
    The pickup accelerated, leaving the undead man and the other runners behind.
    “They’re keeping pace,” Bill exclaimed.
    Katie glanced into the side mirror to see the runners in unwavering pursuit. The interior of the truck stank of rotting flesh, blood, refuse, and vomit, and it took all her willpower not to roll the windows down.
    This was the reality of the new world.
    It was ugly and rank.
    The pack of runners managed to keep pace with the truck for about a half block, then started to drop behind. The illuminated fort ahead was a comforting sight, but the runners were not that far behind.
    “Go faster,” Julie yelled at Travis over the sobbing of the children.
    “I can’t go too fast. We’re nearing the fort.” Travis gripped the steering wheel tightly and intently watched the road.
    “Travis, we need more space between us and them. Once we stop, they’ll be on us in seconds,” Katie said calmly but urgently.
    “I can’t risk a hard stop with Katarina and Felix in the back,” Travis reminded her.
    “Shit,” Katie groused, realizing he was right.
    “We’ll have to fight our way into the fort,” Bill decided. “Got no other choice.”
    Katie acknowledged this truth with a nod of her head. “Okay, this is what we’ll do. Julie, the second we stop, get out. We’ll cover you. Get you and the kids to the ladder. Travis, you help her. Bill, you, me, Felix, and Katarina will have to cover them.”
    “I can help cover,” Travis offered, but he didn’t sound very certain. He was still learning how to shoot a gun and didn’t have the best aim.
    “No, just get them over the wall.” Katie understood his need to help, but he was a risk to the group. “She’ll need help with the little ones.”
    Travis