Z-Burbia 7: Sisters of the Apocalypse Read Free Page A

big. Half a Biltmore?
    Mother is gone, that evil bitch, and I'm all alone with the scarred man. He's talking to me now, but I can't hear the words. I hate this dream. Stupid, stupid dream. The words are like dumb butterflies that float off in the air. I see them. They don't have wings like butterflies because words can't have wings. That would be weird. Words with wings would be weird.
    He keeps talking, I watch the words fly off, he takes me into the garden that was at the end of the backyard at my old house. I see roses and they laugh at me. I'd punch the roses, maybe lop their heads off like Zs, but I can't because I'm not me in the dream, I'm the little girl me. If I was me now in the dream, I'd so kick those laughing roses' asses.
    But not me now, I'm her then. Me then. Whatever then. Scarred guy leads me to a fountain and points. Does the ugly bastard want me to get in the fountain? No thank you and please. Not happening. The water is gross and yucky. Dream me has a white dress on. Gross yucky water and white dresses don't go together. Even I know that.
    He points again, his scarred face getting angry. Well, fuck him. Not getting in the water. He grabs me, picks me up, but the dream me is too small to do anything. The guy is really strong. I shout at him, but I don't shout because little girl dream me can't shout. Fucking pussy. Before I can stop him, I'm flying through the air, grabbing at the words, hoping they'll help me. But stupid flying words don't help me and I land in the yucky fountain water.
    Kersplash.
    My head goes under and I sink fast. The fountain is deep because it's a stupid dream fountain. I sink and sink and sink and finally hit the bottom. Everyone I've ever known is there. All the dead people. No living people, just dead people. I know a lot of dead people. They stand up, not caring about the yucky water at all, and walk over to me. Some of the dead people open their mouths. Nasty-looking teeth. Bitey teeth.
    So it's gonna be one of those dreams, is it? Fuck that.
    I stand up too, but now I'm the now me, not the dream me because fuck this dream and fuck these dead people I know and fuck getting my little dream girl white dress dirty and shit.
    I reach for my blades, but they aren't there. That's not like me. I always have my blades. Even when I'm riding John back at the Stronghold, my blades are within reach. Freaks him out sometimes, but that's the price you pay for fun in the sack with Elsbeth. Heeya!
    The dead people I know get closer and I ball up my fists. I think for a second that it's strange I can breathe under water, but it's a dream so I guess it's not that strange. The dead people get to me and I let those fists fly. I hit one smack in the jaw and half its face goes away. Just dissolves in the water like honey in tea.
    I like honey in my tea.
    The next dead person screams at me, but it's all bubbles and shit. I probably wouldn't hear the words anyway. It's a dumb dream. I kick her in the stomach and she rips in half as her belly dissolves away too.
    More dead people. More punching and kicking until they are all gone. The bits that don't dissolve float to the top of the fountain, but that's so far up I can't see it anymore. Just a bright dot, way, way, way above my head. Stupid bright dot.
    "Elsbeth."
    I spin about.
    "Who's there?" I ask.
    "Oh, knock it off."
    I feel a slap and my eyes pop open.
    Marcie.
    "You were dreaming again and you punched Steph in the tit," Marcie says.
    I rub at my eyes and look over at Steph. She's rubbing her left tit.
    "Sorry," I say.
    "You are on overwatch tonight," Steph says. "Audrey gets to huddle with us if we're still outside. I am not getting punched in the tit by you anymore, El."
    "I said I was sorry," I say and stand up. "Gotta pee."
    "Over there," Antoinette says and points to a corner of the roof. "We've already gone. Don't step in the pee."
    "I know how it works," I say.
    "You don't have to wake up grumpy every morning," Antoinette says and starts