Severed-In the Beginning- Volume One Read Free Page A

the safety of our balconies. At least, we thought we were safe.
    The birds were relentless as they cleaned the body down to the bone in several areas. The zombie finally collapsed and stopped moving when one of the gulls easily pecked through the weakened skull and swallowed a large chunk of putrid brain matter.
    Either the birds didn’t see us, or they were full. They flew east, hopefully back to the Atlantic coast, far away from us.
    Thinking of the Atlantic made me wonder what brought sea birds so far inland. Could those enormous creatures have eaten all of the fish?
     
    February 18 th
    This seemed like good enough news to pick up the journal again.
    I’m a father.
    We celebrated by roasting a three-horned goat that some of the guys hunted. That’s not the only strange creature we’ve seen these past couple months. There are squirrels the size of my old pet dog, but they are quickly snatched up by the increasing number of birds. Gulls and hawks mostly, but we keep the girls inside when the Sand Hill Cranes come around. Those things can reach the second floor with their incredible necks now. We’ve also seen a few more zombies, but the birds quickly take care of them. They have definitely developed a taste for the dead flesh.
    That’s not important now.
    I have a healthy, breathing son and Liz is doing great. One of the ladies in the next building used to be a nurse and she coached us through everything. I am so amazed at the power and beauty of a woman right now. We didn’t have any pain killers or machines. Liz did everything on her own. I am in awe of her.
    We are going to call him..........
     
    February 19 th
    I’ve had a little time to recover. I needed to get this down on paper because I still don’t believe it really happened. I have never heard my name called so many times. Zac . Zac . Zac . I didn’t even recognize the voice because I never heard Holly speak until that moment. It took a minute for me to understand what had happened to Gladys.
    I have no words for my despair. I thought we were building a life and now everything is gone.
    They came out of the woods. They must have torn Gladys apart right in front of Holly. In the time it took her to get to me and explain what happened, the hoard swarmed our hotel. It was a bigger hoard than when Orlando fell. At least, that’s how I remember it. I saw one wearing a Tampa cop uniform. Is it possible that they walked this far, amassing numbers, like a wave washing life off this land?
    I grabbed my son and I grabbed Holly. I think I saw Liz with Matthew, but it all happened like a nightmare.
    We are safe for now. The three of us are hidden, but I can hear the dead nearby. They come close, probably smelling us.
    I will wait as long as I can. The baby needs food. He is crying out with the only form of expression he knows. I understand that it is hunger, but it feels like a cry for his mother. My plan now is to head east for the turnpike. Maybe stay in my Aunt Liz’s apartment near Lake Cherokee. Matthew told me he always wanted to go to the Keys. From there, he planned on taking a boat to the Dry Tortugas. He said it would be the perfect place, safe from zombies. If Liz is alive, she might have gone with him.
     
    I will find Liz.
     
    We will be safe.
     
    That will come later.
     
    For now, hide...and hope.
     
    *****
    This is the first installment of the Severed Series
    by Darrent Sant and Sam Lang; we hope you enjoyed it.
    Look for future installments coming soon.