Total Apoc Trilogy (Book 3): Horde Ravaged by TW Gallier Read Free Book Online

outbuildings. The house itself looked typical of early 20th Century farmhouses, two stories with a wraparound porch. There were lots of really big oaks scattered around the farmyard. Barbed wire fences separated the farmyard from the fields.
                We moved closer in crouched positions, weapons at the ready, fingers on triggers. Olivia had her M16A2 strapped across her back. She preferred the sawed off shotgun. It was better at close range. A shuffling sound reached us as we reached the fence.
                Dropping to a knee, I held my breath and listened. Ralph and Olivia came up to either side of me, dropping to a knee as well. Some muffled banging reached us, allowing me to zero in on where it was coming from. There was an earthen pile just inside the fence that I realized was a storm shelter.
                A young redheaded girl came out, almost like she was emerging from a grave. It was appropriate, since she was a zombie. An anguished look spread across Olivia's face. The children still upset her. They were all zombies to me.
                I held up a hand to keep anyone from shooting her. If she was alone, there was no reason to alert others in the area that fresh meat had arrived. She turned south, away from the house and outbuildings. A moment later two more joined her, both twenty-something women. They shuffled out too and vanished down the tree-lined road.
                "Houses," Ralph said even as I noticed them.
                The tree-lined road had hidden a suburban subdivision from us. It looked like low-end track houses. I guessed they were small two and three bedroom brick homes, and probably older than us. We waited a bit longer, and when no other zombies were seen or heard, we slipped through the fence and into farmyard.
                "Check the barn first," Olivia said.
                Didn't matter to me. She was holding out for horses, but the zombies would've eaten them if there were any. The barn held some really nice tractors and other equipment, including a late model pickup. It was new enough the EMP probably ruined it. There was a trio of three-wheel ATVs, and a four-wheeler with a roof and seating for four. None of them had keys.
                "We'll check for keys in the house," I said.
                There were no horses or stalls to hold them in the barn. I didn't see any stables on the property; we headed for the main house.
                "Both front and back doors are open," Ralph said. "You want me to go in alone to check for our little friends?"
                "No, we'll all go inside," I said. "Slow and carefully."
                A zombie wail off in the middle distance made me jump. We gave the farmyard one last look over, and then I led the way inside. Our boots were loud on the wooden porch. Maybe barefoot Ralphshould've gone in first.
                We entered like we moved across the land, I went straight in, Olivia came next and turned left, and Ralph followed and took the right side. The stairs were right in front of the door, with the living room to our right and the dining room to the left. All of the furniture was flipped and torn up. There was blood on the walls, floor, and ceiling. I noticed bullet holes all around, too.
                "At least they went down with a fight," I said.
                There weren’t any sounds inside the house. Our experience showed zombies were not quiet. They stomped around and attacked immediately. No laying in ambush.
                "See if we can close and lock the doors," I said. "Olivia, lock the front and I'll go lock the back."
                The back door opened into the kitchen. It was broken off all but one hinge, and the jam was damaged. Someone jimmied it open. Probably other survivors looking for food, guns, and ammo. The pantry proved that theory right.