A Dark Evolution (Book 2): Deranged by Jason N. LaVelle Read Free Book Online

up close yet?” he asked her.
    “Yes, I’ve had to take a few out myself.”
    “Me too.” Dylan made a sour face, “One was my brother.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    He nodded. “I try to avoid them as much as I can, but there’s barely any real people left anymore.”
    “Is the state still under quarantine? They had the army guarding the border the last time I was out.”
    Dylan paused and observed her.
    “What? I told you, I’ve been locked away, I mean recovering. I don’t know what's been happening.”
    Dylan sighed and shook his head, “I know, and I’m sorry, that just seems like so long ago. The quarantine failed, Kala. The zombies are all over now, they’re everywhere.”
    “Jesus. Worldwide?”
    “No idea. Before we lost power, the national news was reporting some incidents in South America, and I think there was a case in New Zealand, but I can’t say anymore. We’ve been pretty much cut off here in Florida.”
    “We?”
    Dylan started forward again, turning into what Kala thought was a locked utility room. He held a finger up to his lips for her to be quiet. They crept into a short unadorned hallway that ended in an unmarked steel door. He placed his ear against the door for a few moments, listening.
    “I think we’re good,” he whispered, then eased the door open, letting the mid-morning sun wash over them. Kala squinted through it, but Dylan was moving. She did her best to keep up with him, but he was fast and agile. He hugged the side of the building as he ran, keeping out of sight as much as possible.
    She followed him around the building, and before long she could see the same stretch of land she had traveled over, months ago when she first got here. Just a quarter mile away, over a little rise, was the big field littered with cars. And if her car was still there, she had nearly a full tank of gas. “Enough to get me almost out of Florida, at least.”
    “What was that?” Dylan asked.
    “Oh, sorry, I was talking to myself. So this thing has spread all over now, huh?”
    Dylan nodded and pointed across the service road to a little guard shack. It was the same shack she had once hidden behind. He held up fingers that counted down from three to none, then they ran across the space and ducked down behind the small building.
    “Now what?” she asked quietly.
    The nearest cover was five hundred yards away, an easy run, but they would be spotted for sure. Kala watched as one of the dead ones wandered out into the grassy area between them and the parked cars. Dylan was quietly scanning the landscape all around them.
    “Give me your backpack.”
    “What? Why?”
    “Because you’re slow, that's why, now come on.”
    “Fine,” Kala huffed, and shrugged off her supply bag. She maintained a grip on her axe though, she wasn't going anywhere without a weapon in her hand.
    Dylan strapped the bag securely over his back, then around his chest and waist. He held the hunting knife in one hand pointing down, and his cap was pulled low on his brow.
    “All right, they’re going to see us, but if we just keep running, and watch each other’s backs, we’ll find cover soon,” he said to her, gearing up for the charge. “Try not to make a lot of noise though, that’ll draw them all over here. You ready?”
    Kala nodded, “I’m ready, let's do it.”
    Dylan nodded. “Okay, go!” he whispered and shot out from behind the cover of the small enclosure like an arrow. He sprinted full out over the grass, the heavy bag not slowing him at all. Kala tried to follow close.
    Then, just as she was catching up, something struck her from the side and she went toppling over onto the hard earth with a shriek. Her arm was going numb. What the hell hit me ? Then she saw the object. It was a heavy rock, the size of a fist, and then she saw the thrower. No way. He was charging at her fast, mouth open and foamy, huge arms pumping at his sides. The giant was a full thirty yards away but had hit her with the