After the Ending by Lindsey Fairleigh, Lindsey Pogue Read Free Book Online Page A

were you saying?”
    “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
    “I’m fine. Like I said, just tired.” Annoyed at his
persistence, I stepped away and eyed him warily. “How about you? Are you feeling
okay?”
    He rubbed his face and sighed in exhaustion. “Yeah, I’m
feeling better. I was pretty sick there for a while.”
    I watched his lethargic movements as he pulled cans of
chili from the cupboard. “You should get some rest, Dave. I can finish packing
up.”
    He looked over at me and smirked. “Are you sure?”
    “Only if you don’t snore,” I amended playfully.
    Dave wandered over to the couch, and I wondered if I’d
ever seen him without Sammy, who was prancing after him. He heaved his body
down and took a deep breath. “This feels so good,” he sighed.
    Laughing, I took the blanket from the back of the couch
and spread it over him. Although his forwardness often rubbed me the wrong way,
I had missed his quirky charm. My hand grazed his arm, and I felt an
unexpected wave of desire swell inside me. I froze.
    Dave caught my hand and peered up through his dark,
blinking lashes. “Want to join me? I’ll make room…” His husky voice and coaxing
gaze warned me of his intentions.
    Smiling, I pulled my hand out of his grasp and finished
tucking the blanket around him.
    “Maybe in a bit.” Definitely
not a good idea.
     
     
    Date: December 13, 11:25 AM
    From: Zoe Cartwright
    To: Danielle O’Connor
    Subject: Headed for Colorado
     
    Hey D,
     
    I’m so glad you’re alive and that Jason’s with you. I don’t
want to even consider what would’ve happened if he hadn’t made it there in
time. He miraculously got through to me on my cell. You were in the bathtub
with Chris (which makes so much more sense now that I know Chris is a she ).
It sounds like you were in really bad shape. Thank God you’re okay.
     
    Dave’s here—he showed up a few days ago with his dog, Sammy.
I feel better having him here because things are starting to get crazy around
Salem…like really scary. We’ve heard two gunshots in the last 24 hours, and
last night we watched a group of looters running through the street and
lighting things on fire. Obviously there are survivors, but most of them are
just crazy. Other than Dave’s Louisville Slugger and my Maglite, we have no
weapons, so I’m ready to get the hell out of here. I’m wishing Jason would’ve
taught me a thing or two so I’d have some idea how to defend myself, but when
all else fails, go for the groin, right? Let’s hope no one gets close enough to
have to worry about that.
     
    Dave heard a radio broadcast about a colony in Colorado.
They have food and supplies and are encouraging survivors to head that way. I
wonder if it’s the same place we’re going? Anyway, Peterson is a few days’
worth of driving away, so we’ll have to stop once or twice to rest along the
way, but we’ll be there as soon as we can.
     
    Will you make sure Jason keeps me posted on Dad when you get
home? I want to know what you find, no matter how bad it is. Miss you!
     
    Hasta la vista,
    Zoe

7
    Dani
     
     
    I gripped the doorknob and, not knowing what to expect
inside the bedroom, felt my palm slicken with sweat. Questions circled in my
mind like crazed vultures. Will it smell like Cam? Will it smell like death?
Will it smell like rotting meat? Has he been decomposing over the past five
days, melting into our bed? What will he look like?
    Turning my wrist, I let the door creak open. I instantly
focused on the bed—the empty bed. I stood in the doorway for a few minutes,
staring dumbly as my mind reconciled the placid, blank scene with the horrors
I’d imagined. Where is he?
    “Get it together, Dani,” I mumbled. I was in the damn
room for two reasons: to pack and to say goodbye. Cam might not have been there
to do the latter, but I could still gather some things together.
    I forced myself into motion, gliding around the room to collect
certain indispensable belongings: