Free Day Beyond the Dead (Book 1) by Christina Dawn

put Bree out of her misery.
         Christa motions Bree around till she’s facing her and places her hands on the sides of her face, “Baby, I know you don’t feel good. You want to lay in my lap?” Bree shakes her head yes. Christa turns Bree around till her back is facing her, pulls her close and wraps her arms tightly around her.
         They stay there for what seems like forever. Christa runs her fingers through Bree’s hair as she sleeps there in her arms. “I never noticed how soft her hair was until now. Funny some of the things you don’t notice until the world stops turning; until your world is falling apart.” A tear rolls down Christa’s face as she realizes beneath her one hand she can’t feel Bree’s chest moving anymore. Christa tries to hold back the tears to no avail all while fighting the realization that her daughter was gone.
         Leaning her head down, she places her nose on top of Bree’s head and smells her hair as the tears roll down her face at a rapid pace. Christa places a kiss on Bree’s cheek as she continues to hold her rocking back and forth.
         “Christa? Is everything ok?” Damion couldn’t help but inquire due to how long she had been in the bathroom with Bree. Christa didn’t respond and when she didn’t Damion headed for the bathroom. There he saw her. Christa on the floor holding Bree rocking her back and forth all while crying. Damion put his hand over his mouth, “Oh my god. No, no, no, no, no, no…NO! This isn’t happening!” His legs couldn’t hold him any longer and he collapses to them right beside Christa. “I should’ve kept her safe. This is all my fault. If I had kept her by me at all times this never would’ve happened. This is all my fault, my fault.”
         Christa came out of her inconsolable haze and turned to Damion, placing a hand on the side of his face and wiping away his years with her thumb. “This isn’t your fault Damion. It’s not. Don’t do this to yourself. It’s a tragic, horrible circumstance that in no way was because of you. Bree couldn’t have asked for a better father than you. It does no good blaming anyone. She’s gone and nothing we say or do will change that. I realize this, I don’t want to but I do. We are going to need each other more than anything right now. I know I need you more than words can say. You are the only thing keeping me from absolutely losing it. Don’t take that away from me when already so much has been taken away.”
         Damion looks up at Christa, “I need you too. I promise I’ll never leave you again.” Those words gave Christa an ounce of solace when she had none.
         “I know you won’t baby. I know.”
         Just then Bree’s foot twitched ever so slightly. Christa’s hands, already wrapped around Bree, clutched her tighter as if trying to stop what is coming. The tension in the air was thick as every second seemed like an eternity. Bree’s other leg twitched for a moment, then her body started to jerk. Christa held onto her tightly so she wouldn’t get loose. Her body kept convulsing and then came to a dead stop. Christa looked at Damion not knowing what to do. A faint noise could be heard. It was Bree or at least it was coming from Bree’s body. It was a deep, hoarse moan. It was so low that it was barely noticeable. Christa turned Bree around and laid her down on her back on the floor. She placed her hand upon Bree’s chest and the other on the side of her face.
         Bree’s eyes started to flitter and then they opened. Her eyes were totally transformed. They were totally bloodshot and the circle around the iris was larger than before. There was this opaque look about her eyes as well. Christa and Damion knew that their daughter was long gone and this flesh hungry monster was all that was left.
         Bree’s expression was emotionless, almost confused. Then when her eyes locked with Christa’s her face contorted as she showed her