The Demented Z (Book 1):The Demented Read Free Page B

earlier. Tom counted at least a dozen of them, most with arms
awkwardly held out in front, as if reaching for their prey.
    There
were a couple sporadic pops from a pistol, some shouting, and then a few quick
shots fired in rapid succession. Next were the screams…gut wrenching screams.
He could picture people being ripped to shreds while lying injured and
helpless. Thankfully, the screams only lasted a few seconds before being
replaced by the same eerie silence.
    Tom
turned back toward the elderly woman. She now held the shotgun limply by her
side. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out, a look of
shock in her eyes.
    “Let’s
get upstairs…ma’am…stairs?” Walking around the desk, he reached out and grabbed
her arm. “Let’s get upstairs.” His touch seemed to bring her back to
reality. Handing him the shotgun, she turned toward the back of the office,
walking through a narrow doorway leading down the hall. Partway down the hall,
she led them up a stairway to her apartment..
    Tom
immediately crossed the small apartment to one of the windows facing the
street. Pulling back the white lace drapes, he peered out, surveying the street
below. There were no people immediately below the apartment, but farther down
the street, in the direction of the wreck, there was a flurry of activity. The
view was a tight angle, making it difficult to see what was going on. If he
opened the window and leaned out, he may be able to get a better view, but he
quickly dismissed that idea.
    The
city was a buzz of noise. Sirens, alarms, and the occasional pops and booms of
weapons fire could be heard through the glass. Being in the middle of the
city, surrounded by the chaos, was absolutely terrifying.
    Releasing
the drape, he turned back around, and found the three of them waiting expectantly.
    “I
think we’re okay for now.”
    Now
that Tom finally had a chance to take a breath and think, his thoughts went
straight to Kelly and Sam. Had they stayed in the house like he told them?
Did the neighbors get flu shots? Would she go talk to them? His worry was
endless.
    The
blonde squatted down next to the boy and began talking to him.
    Reaching
in his thigh pocket, Tom found his cell phone. No Service, guess that was too
much to ask on a day like today, he thought to himself. Looking back up, he saw
the blonde was now holding the small boy in an embrace, comforting him - not
Tom’s strong suit.
    The
elderly woman looked at Tom, “What’s happening?”
    Tom’s
mind was still on a single track. “Where is your phone?”
    Turning
and pointing to the counter by the kitchen sink, she replied “There.”
    He
set the shotgun on the counter and tried the phone, nothing, no dial tone, no
operator, no static, nothing.
    Back
north of Spokane, he and his family lived on 80 acres. The seclusion would be a
huge benefit to Kelly and Sam's survival. Kelly was very resourceful, and he
had to trust she would be making the right decisions. Pushing the worry out of
his mind, he focused on their current situation.
    Tom
turned toward the elderly woman. “My name is Thomas Pike, but everyone just
calls me Tom. I don’t know much more than you do.” He relayed the news he got
off the TV, and the events that led up to them invading her bookstore. She
remained expressionless during the recap, likely trying to process all the
information.
    “The
photographer was with me…we were taking interior photos of a few downtown
businesses.” The blonde chimed in. “We were discussing plans in his room when
he just snapped…started throwing things, yelling unintelligibly. I ran for my
room and locked the door." Looking at Tom she finished, "You must
have discovered him a few seconds later.”
    The
little studio apartment was sparingly furnished, making it easy for Tom to
quickly find the silver TV remote laying on the coffee table. Pressing the
green power button, the picture came on a second later. He began cycling
through channels, trying to