Read Thirteen Roses Book Two: After: A Paranormal Zombie Saga for Free Online Page B

possible, and as if on cue, his prayers were answered. A huge zombie, rolling with fat, began to wobble up the stairs. He blocked the way for anyone else and was taking his sweet time, so Jackson stepped back and peeked into the second room. In one corner was a door with the fire escape light above it and he nodded.  
    God was watching him. God would provide everything he needed, he just had to ask. He needed a better weapon, something to take with him into the street. He took a step towards the third door and pulled it open. Inside, a coiled hose was attached to the wall and an axe hung beside it. Stifling the laughter that threatened to burst from him, he lifted the axe reverentially off its hooks and cradled it.  
    God's weapon, sent to him in his hour of need. He almost asked for a woman, but it was too soon. And there was no need, not yet. He needed to escape and get somewhere safe. The roar of the engine grew louder, then he heard a crunch and winced. The driver had just totalled a very beautiful piece of equipment. They would have words when they met.  
    The fat zombie was almost at the top of the stairs, waddling and wobbling. He almost felt bad killing it. But it would have been unhappy when it was alive and probably felt even worse now. He was doing it a favour. With a nod that came from an undeniable sense of right, he readied himself. The axe he leant against the wall. This was his last shot with the chair leg and it deserved a final blow. It had served him well.  
    He brought it down as hard as he could on the creature's head and felt the crack as it struck. But the zombie showed no signs of slowing. Growling, Jackson smacked the creature around the face. Its nose caved in and spilt, spilling blood down its cheeks. The next blow broke an eye socket and burst the eyeball inside. Still it kept coming.  
    Jackson took a step back. If the thing got over the top of the stairs, he'd be lucky if he was able to roll it back down. He lashed out with his boot and kicked it high in the chest. It rocked but stayed upright, hands clawing and pawing at his leg.
    He dragged it free and shuffled sideways. The zombie lurched onto the top step and Jackson drew in a breath. It was huge, belly almost filling the corridor. It stood beside the axe, which, though so close, was now tantalisingly out of reach. Cursing himself for whatever random sentiment made him stick with the chair leg, he let out a shout and barrelled at the zombie.  
    Running into it felt like hitting a wall, but it was a wall made of plastic that cracked and crumpled under the impact. His shoulder went deep into the zombie's chest and lodged there. The thing wrapped huge arms around him and bared its teeth. The smell emanating from its throat was a cross between dog food and rotting meat and his mouth filled with saliva.  
    It was so close he could see the torn pieces of skin and blood caught between its teeth. Its jaws came closer, but everything the creature did was in slow motion, ponderous and lazy. His right arm was trapped in the zombie's embrace, but he wriggled the left free.  
    Gritting his teeth together, he put his thumb against the thing's remaining eye and shoved as hard as he could. It was like putting his hand in warm runny custard, the sticky liquid flowing down his arm. The eye burst then his thumb plunged through. He shoved it deeper like he was stuffing a chicken and felt something firm beneath it.  
    He had to angle his hand to get it deep enough, but his thumb dug into the firmness and the creature stiffened, mouth snapping shut inches from his face. He pushed further until he couldn't push anymore. The thing's arms were tight around him and it tottered back, dragging him with it.  
    The stairs were inches away and he was about to be pulled down them, down into the waiting mouths below. He dug his feet in and twisted until the arms around him loosened.  
    But it wasn't enough.  
    They would eat him. The zombie tipped lazily