Dying Days 5 Read Free Page A

entrance of the Ocean Center and handed off to whoever I place there. They’ll know what to do.”
    Claude nodded his head slowly. His eyes went back to the drink.
    “You understand what failure means, right?”
    Claude nodded his head.
    “You report to the parking garage at first light each morning. Sort through the refugees from the previous night. Clear out the weak and sick first. Then report back to me when you’re done with numbers. I want to know how many people are being added. I want a number for men and a number for women. Add the kids up together, it doesn’t really matter. And a separate number for the ones led to the Ocean Center.”
    “You want them separated out, too?” Claude asked.
    Jeff laughed. “What do I care about them? They’ll feed our boss and keep him happy. I only care about the people who can help us out. In fact, ask some questions. I want a few names. Anyone who has a skill like carpentry or construction I want sent directly here so I can interview them.” He smiled again. “Any woman with child-bearing hips and is a natural redhead I want to see, too.”
    Claude nodded his head.
    Jeff stood, glanced at the shot of alcohol, and turned his back. He walked slowly away and grinned again when he heard the shot glass click back to the table, obviously empty.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Her legs were cramped and her gut felt like it would slide out onto the floor if she moved too fast. She rolled over onto her side and faced the darkness where the cinderblock wall should be, trying not to cry again. It was no use.
    “How are you feeling this evening?”
    Darlene held her breath. Had the monster been watching in the darkness?
    “I brought you food. Eat.”
    “I’m not hungry,” she lied. She struggled to sit up and winced when a strong hand gripped her arm and slid her onto the front of the bed.
    “I made sure they brought you fish and vegetables. Also a gallon of water.”
    Darlene could only see red glowing eyes in the dark.
    “Am I supposed to guess where the food is?”
    A chuckle was accompanied by a faint glow. An oil lamp was lit and set upon a card table, where the food was. “Forgive me. I forget you aren’t exactly like me.”
    “I’m nothing like you,” Darlene said. “And I never will be, fucker.”
    “Very well. I’ll leave you to your dinner. The girl will be back in the morning to attend to your needs. I trust everything is fine so far? Do you need anything?”
    “You mean besides my freedom or my Desert Eagle and a bullet to shoot you in the fucking head? I think I’m fine for now,” Darlene said. “Actually, I could use some lemon for the fish.”
    “I’ll be right back.”
    Darlene couldn’t hear him leave but wasn’t surprised. Nothing shocked her anymore. She picked up the fork and began eating the carrots and broccoli on the plate, the steaming fresh veggies dancing in her mouth. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in days, and she probably hadn’t eaten a hot meal in far too long.
    What was the game they were playing? She finished her vegetables as the glowing eyes returned and the man stepped back into the lamplight. He held out his hand, which held two halves of a lemon. “Here you go, ma’am.”
    “Why are you being so nice to me? Why not just kill me? Or are you going to fatten me up and burst me like a tick?” Darlene asked. She took the lemon and squeezed it on the fish, which looked delicious. She doubted he’d be so lame as to poison her, and dying on a nice piece of fish wasn’t the worst way she could go, she figured.
    “You are a unique individual, Zombie Killer ,” he said. “You are not only immune to the bite but you have produced an offspring that seems to have the better qualities of the living and the undead.”
    Darlene held up the fork. “Where is my baby?” She’d been trying to remain calm through the physical pain the last few days and not dwell on the hurt of her baby being