Die Dead Enough by William Kenney Read Free Book Online

Conor said. "We'll just take it slow."
    "What if those things catch us?" Leo asked.
    "Then - fat or skinny - we're all screwed," said Aiden. "Now everyone just relax for a few minutes, get a little rest before we head back down."
    Aiden pulled Conor aside, shaking his head.
    "This is fucked," he said.
    "No shit," Conor replied, looking over the group as they sat on the rooftop, talking in hushed tones.
    "These people are gonna get us all killed," Aiden said. "Young girls, old people, Uncle Leo..."
    "What are you saying? You wanna ditch 'em?" asked Conor, with an accusatory look.
    "No, no. I'm not heartless, but..."
    "I know what you mean. I have a feeling that the next time the zombies find us, we won't be so lucky," said Conor.
    "You ain't wrong," Aiden said with a mock-southern accent.
    "I'm not sure what else to do. We have to get down from here if we're gonna survive," Conor said.
    "Let's walk the edge, see if there are any other ways down," said Aiden. "Another building close enough to jump to or something."
    "Sounds good," his brother answered.
    "In the end, I'm not sacrificing myself for any of these people. Not to sound harsh, but... I care about you, Gibby and Klaus. That's it. If the rest get eaten, that sucks, but I'm not shedding any tears over it. I want to live."
    "Hey, I'm your big brother. Been protecting you your whole life. I'm not stopping now," Conor said, slapping Aiden on the back.

 
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    There was no other way down. The brothers had walked the outer ledge for nearly thirty minutes, looking for possibilities, but finding nothing. As they came back around to the group, they stopped about fifty yards away and out of earshot.
    "So back down the stairwell," Aiden said, studying the people, sitting in a few separate clusters. He found himself contemplating which might be the first to die. He could not decide between the sisters and the old people.
    "Yep. If shit goes tits up and we get separated, find the van. Try to stay somewhere close to it and I'll make my way there as soon as I can."
    "All right. Sounds like a plan."
    "We need weapons, man," Conor said. "Anything to defend ourselves."
    "We need cheeseburgers," said Aiden, closing his eyes. "I'm fuckin' starvin'"
    "Heh, me too, brother."
    "First, let's get out of this building, then we'll find a convenience store or gas station or something," said Aiden, his eyes now falling on Vernon who glared back at him with black eyes and scratched cheeks. "I do not trust that guy..."
    "Vernon? Well, I did punch him in the face. That would piss me off, too," Conor said with a shrug.
    "He keeps giving me the stink-eye like that, I'm gonna throw him off the roof," Aiden replied.
    Conor just nodded with a smile.
    They walked to the others, who looked up at them expectantly.
    "See anything?" Klaus asked, squinting against the bright morning sun.
    "Nothing. There's really no other way off this roof," said Conor as several of them dropped their heads in disappointment. "I think we should go now."
    "Can't we rest just a bit more?" asked Mina in a tiny voice.
    "I don't think we should," he replied. "The longer we wait, the more exhausted and hungry we will be. If I have to run or fight, I want to be as strong as possible."
    "I'm still gone wait here, brother," said Uncle Leo, with a sidelong glance from Bobo. Leo turned to look him in the eyes. "You don't have to stay with me, Bo. I'm just gone give it a few days 'til everything clears out. Then when all those dead freaks disappear, I'll make my way down."
    "Leo, come on, dog. You can't stay here. Those things could come up to the roof and then what?"
    "I'll lock the door-"
    "Door don't lock from the outside," Bobo said.
    "I'll sit against it. Think they can push my fat ass out the way?"
    "Leo-"
    "I'm a be all right, Bo. Should be pretty obvious I can go without food for a couple days," Leo said with a chuckle and a hand on his belly.
    "You sure about this?" Aiden asked. "We got your back, man. We'll