Dying Days 2 by Armand Rosamilia Read Free Book Online

their late twenties, were the spitting image of their mom, with the same bone structure in their faces and the same curvy figures. Tonya was more of a flirt with the patrons and could be counted on to get a few more items each night than the rest.
    "Go tell your dad that I'm hungry. Some of the venison would be great right about now."
    "That does sound good. Be right back."
    Ellen sighed as she did a quick inventory of their remaining stock. There wasn't much left, and without more alcohol the place would have to shut down. Then what? She didn't know. So far, they'd been lucky, living larger than most people and amassing a great collection of trade items. She had more watches and gold jewelry than she could ever wear or carry, but in the end, what good was it?
    Maybe she should close down, gather the rest of the stock, and trade off some of the bottles for food and water. That seemed to be in short supply.
    Every night, the men and women who scavenged the outlying areas came in with expensive clothing, pearl earrings or video cameras and the like.
    Now, she and her family had a room filled with such items, and nothing to do with them. When they'd first taken over the place, her husband had argued to only swap alcohol for food and water. Ellen and her daughters had out-voted him, and now had nothing to show for it.
    Tonya dropped a small plate of venison on the bar next to her mother and smiled.
    Two patrons smiled and produced watches, ankle bracelets and women's socks still in the packaging.
    Ellen sighed. "Sorry, this is my lunch. It's not for trade."
    Tonight, after they closed, she'd call a family meeting. It was time to make some long-overdue changes.
     
    *   *   *   *   *
     
    John didn't have it in him tonight to argue with Kayla. "If you want to waste time in the bar, knock yourself out. We're here to gather supplies, not trade them for alcohol."
    Kayla smiled. "One drink, come on. It will be fun." She looked to the other members of their group. When she didn't get any sympathy, she smiled. "First round on me."
    "How many rounds are you expecting to have?" John asked. He was tired, worried they were running out of supplies everywhere, and feeling homesick. He missed his wife, missed normal life, missed McDonald's cheeseburgers… and wished he had Darlene here.
    Kayla turned to her brother, Peter. "What do you think?"
    Peter shrugged. He leaned against the wall, big arms folded across his chest. He was a big man but a bit on the simple side. He'd also agree to whatever his sister said.
    John knew they were stuck here overnight no matter what, so a drink might be good. It also might help him, since he was so tense. Maybe a night to forget the world had ended would do wonders for his mood.
    "Fine. One drink, and it's on you," he said to Kayla.
    Kayla hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. "You know, if I wasn't a lesbian I'd be riding you like a bronco, John-John."
    He laughed. "I have no doubt. Is everyone going?"
    There were six of them, but the others decided to wander to the north of town and get the rooms they were given whenever they were in town. It paid to be an outpost, protecting the city and being an advanced scout. Rooms in a secured house were always waiting for them.
    John, Kayla and Peter went inside to Kimberly's Bar, but there were so many customers they couldn't get near the bar.
    It was standing room only for most patrons, the few tables occupied by large groups. There was at least one waitress taking orders, but she looked distraught and they couldn't catch her as she blew past.
    "Can we go?" John asked. "This is ridiculous."
    "Not until I get a drink," Kayla said. She leaned into her brother. "Clear me a path through this crowd, but don't be rough."
    Peter nodded and started moving his large body through, cleaving a path that Kayla and John followed. Within three minutes, they stood at one end of the bar but the bartender, Kimberly herself, was at the opposite end, serving drinks.
    "Now