Free State of Decay (Omnibus (Parts 1-4)) by Peggy Martinez Page A

my reflexes would be slow from standing in the same position in the freezing cold for too long. I released a slow breath and watched as snow flurries floated all around me. I wiggled my fingers once more, trying to bring some warmth back to them before I made my move. The zombies’ movements grew so loud and harsh in the otherwise quiet forest that my head began to pound. I shook my head roughly, feeling disoriented and panicked. A branch snapped close by and I immediately swiveled in that direction with my gun pointed out in front of me. The wet gurgle of a fresh zombie came from directly behind me as a drop of sweat trickled down the side of my face just as an icy finger of dread danced up my spine.
    I cried out and swung around, my numb finger already pulling the trigger as my body moved. The snow floated around me in a hazy mist as I turned, everything slowed and everything went silent. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in slow motion, I could hear the gun cock back and the explosion of the bullet leaving my weapon. I could hear … my father’s voice. Melody? He stood there with his hand outstretched toward me, his eyes wide in shock and hurt just before the bullet entered his forehead and a spray of dark red blood coated the fresh fallen snow at his feet.
    “ Noooooo!” I screamed out as his body fell slowly to the ground. My voice echoed all around me, filling the forest up with the sound of my utter anguish, with the sound of my heart being torn from my chest.
     
     

     
     
    I sprung forward, my hand immediately reaching for my knife under my pillow. My heart was thumping erratically and sweat had soaked through my tee shirt. I wiped my hair from my face and glanced around, trying to remember where I was. The previous day came back to me in bits and pieces and I slowly began to come to my senses. I was in an underground safe house at the army base. I sat my knife back under my pillow and swung my legs over the side of my little cot. It had been a long time since I’d had a nightmare and the pictures of what I’d dreamt were still flashing behind my eyelids. I pulled my hair back and tied it in a ponytail and then dropped to the ground next to my borrowed bed.
    One, two, three, I chanted under my breath. I began my pushups quickly, pushing myself until my arms were quivering from exhaustion. Even then I couldn’t completely erase the images that were burned into the back of my mind. I rolled over onto my back and placed my knees together with my feet flat on the floor. I did sit ups until I couldn’t even crawl back up onto the bed. Didn’t matter—I wasn’t used to sleeping on anything other than the ground anymore anyway. I drug my blanket and pillow to the floor and then tucked my knife back beneath my pillow. I laid there for several hours, staring up at the ceiling before I decided to get up and see who else was awake and then to find the Major to get some answers.
    I needed to get my mind off of my nightmares and off of my memories. Going down that road would only make me lose my mind, and losing your mind in the middle of a zombie apocalypse is highly discouraged. Well, losing your mind at any time is probably a bad idea, but doing so when you could have your insides ripped out by your next-door-neighbor-turned-flesh-eating-zombie would definitely suck .

     
     
     
     
    W hen I made my way to the tiny mess hall, I was surprised to find it already inhabited by several people. I scarcely paid them attention though, not with the yummy smells coming from the small kitchen area. My stomach growled as I strode over to the table where several bowls of piping hot oatmeal topped with cinnamon and raisins sat. I glanced up and met a pair of warm dark brown eyes belonging to a large, older woman who was setting out spoons and napkins. I glanced down at the bowls and then back up at the woman who smiled broadly and motioned for me to take one. I smiled my thanks and grabbed a bowl and made my way over to a