PRIME by Samantha Boyette Read Free Book Online

from God knew where. The original one wrapped his ashen, bloated fingers around Noah’s ankle. Noah kicked and the thing lost its grip, stumbling back a step. Dodge got a hold of Noah’s arms just as two more zombies got his legs.
    Before Dodge could pull Noah up, the zombies were hauling him down.
    Noah’s arms slid through Dodge’s hands as his fingers slipped free of the wall. He screamed; a sound so full of terror and pain that Simon knew he would never get it out of his head. Dodge grabbed hold of one of Noah’s hands, his arms straining to pull him up even as the first zombie bit into the younger boy’s leg. The sight and smell of the blood frenzied the other zombies. The ones holding Noah gave him a mighty tug, forcing Dodge to let go or be pulled over with him.
    Noah’s chin connected with the edge of the wall with such a loud crack that Simon thought for a moment that maybe he had been knocked out. He hoped Noah had been knocked out, hoped he wouldn’t feel any of what was coming. As soon as the zombie’s teeth dug into Noah’s flesh, that hope was gone. Noah’s screams filled the afternoon. Simon knew they would join the dead nurse’s eyes in his dreams.
    Simon watched. His muscles felt frozen and he was unable to turn himself away as the beasts tore long strips and thick chunks of Noah’s flesh away from the bone. Within moments Noah’s skin had taken on a slick, mud-colored sheen as blood dripped and spread across him. He continued to scream. It seemed to Simon that Noah should be unconscious as the zombies tore him apart, but it was several long moments before Noah’s voice was taken from him when one of the zombies tore out his throat.
    The wet tearing sound and the abrupt stop of his screams freed Simon’s muscles. He was too shaky to do anything but turn his head towards the yard and away from the carnage below. He pressed his face into the stone, hoping to block out some of the sound of the things below him. He could still hear the guttural groans of the zombies as they feasted.
    “Get up,” Dodge ordered. He pulled Simon’s leg up by his pants when it fell over the edge. Simon forced himself back into action and helped pull his leg to safety. He slowly pushed himself up. With extra care, he turned to face Dodge and the ladder again. “Come on,” Dodge was already on the ladder and held out his hands to guide Simon on.
    As Simon turned and slid onto the ladder he had one last glimpse of the things below. Noah’s small body was on the ground, and the zombies crouched over him like vultures at the last supper. Simon hurried down the ladder. Dodge tried to grab him at the bottom, but Simon pushed away from him. Simon took two big steps before bracing himself against the wall and retching. Bile and half digested food barely missed his shoes. He stood still, pressing his head to the cool stone of the wall. He tried to block out the faint tearing he could still hear from the other side.
    When he turned to face Dodge again, the older boy was gone. Simon moved a few paces down the wall and put his back to it. He slid heavily to the dust and pulled his knees up to his chest. He let his head rest on them, begging himself not to be sick again as the world spun around him. The sensation passed, and he lifted his head when he heard approaching footsteps. Dodge was running back. It wasn’t until he was almost to Simon that Simon noticed the shot gun, sawed off and lethal looking.
    Without a word, Dodge climbed the ladder and took careful aim. There were four shots, and then silence filled the afternoon. Simon pushed himself shakily to his feet as Dodge climbed down the ladder. Dodge turned and rested his back on the ladder, breathing heavily. He peered at Simon, who was focusing very hard on staying upright.
    “You did good, kid,” Dodge said. “That up there was my fault.”
    That was a lie. Simon knew Noah was falling before Dodge did, but he didn’t reach out to help him fast enough. What if