Surviving the Day by Matt Hart Read Free Book Online

it's one of us, so we're probably okay. Zombies could see our regular flashlights anyway, so better if we can see them coming.” We walked a few more steps when I saw one of creatures next to the road trying to climb up toward us. “Speak of the devil,” I said, and stopped walking. “Hand me your rifle, you take the flashlight and shine it right in the thing's face.”
     
    “Okay,” said Jen, handing me her rifle. I did a quick 360 with the flashlight but didn't see any other immediate threats. I gave her the light and she aimed it at the slow-moving zombie's face. It flinched a little, which was good. “I guess they don't like a flashlight in the face either.”
     
    “Good thing for us,” I agreed. I popped open the gun to check that it had rounds, then dropped to one knee. I rested my elbow on my other knee, let out my breath and took careful aim at the creature. Twenty yards? I squeezed the trigger for the .22. The creature's head snapped backwards and it fell, not moving. “Good shot,” I said to myself.
     
    “Yes, I agree,” said Jen wryly.
     
    “Did I say that out loud?” I asked, standing up and breaking open the gun. I removed the spent .22 shell and replaced it with another from the stock—last one.
     
    “Yep,” said Jen.
     
    “Heh,” I laughed. “Give me a couple of those .22 rounds I gave you.” She dug in a pocket and handed them to me, and I put them into the empty slots in the stock, then handed the gun back to her. “Remember, just pull both triggers if it's a zombie or someone close by and threatening.”
     
    “I remember,” she said, returning the flashlight. “Let's go, Marksman.”
     
    I smiled. We walked on toward the store, staying well away from the fallen zombie. The super-bright XT11 flashlight easily reached the old truck parked in the front. We angled to the right, off the road, moving toward the big spruce where my backpack was hidden. I kept the flashlight moving, aiming at the store, the trees, all around us. It looked like there was movement inside the store, but I didn't see any more creatures wandering around. We crawled under the spruce branches.
     
    “Deja vu,” said Jen.
     
    “I hope not,” I said. “I've had enough of chasing you and zombies in the dark.”
     
    Jen put a hand on my arm. “Me too,” she said. “Let's not separate again.”
     
    I put my hand over hers. “Okay,” I agreed. “Let's both go get that truck.”
     

Chapter 11
    —————
     
    Jen
     
     
    Mark let go and crawled out from beneath the tree. I followed him, my thoughts and emotions all jumbled up. I felt much safer with him around. I was afraid and knew I might be latching onto the closest thing that made me feel safe.
     
    This is no time to be thinking like that.
     
    I tried to put it out of my thoughts, but couldn't. How long could I stay with him? Where were we going? What would happen?
     
    There are zombies trying to eat us, a crazy fat man trying to kill us, and I really have no idea who I'm with.
     
    I deliberately looked away from Mark and shined my little flashlight around, checking to see if anything was getting close. There was nothing I could see, so we continued on toward the store. Mark didn't crawl underneath a truck this time. He walked around all the vehicles instead of between them. I followed him, holding the double-barreled gun in my left hand, pointing down. Mark stopped and held up a hand.
     
    I guess that meant stop... and maybe be quiet? I don't know, but I stopped. He shined his light at the storefront, and I could see what looked like movement of some kind. “Still something in the store,” he said. I didn't say anything.
     
    We kept walking, shining our lights in every direction. My heartbeat kept speeding up and I was scared to death. We moved past the truck and I could see several creatures inside the store, pounding on the windows and trying to get to us. There were some half-eaten victims of the zombies lying