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

in her eyes, in her face. “Christa, if you need anything-“
         “She’ll ask me,” Damion stood in between Christa and Gerard as he spoke up. Gerard didn’t say a word. He just looked away. “We’re gathering supplies and heading out shortly. We can’t stay here anymore.”
         Darren and Tara looked at one another confused. Tara inquired, “Why? I mean, this place looks pretty secluded and there aren’t really any undead around here, not to mention there are supplies to last a while here. It just doesn’t make sense.”
         Gerard interjected, “Tara, please. They just lost their daughter and staying here is the last thing they want to do. Can’t you understand that?”
         “I understand that but can you understand that out there we could possibly die? Do you understand that we barely got here in the first place? We don’t really have the luxury of just picking up and leaving whenever we decide to. I think we should make the most of this place and then leave. I mean seriously it just makes more sense.”
         Darren puts his hand on Tara’s, “Sis, please. I wouldn’t want to stay some place if you were dead upstairs. I know you’re scared. I know, but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you and you know we can’t stay here forever. So let’s just go, please.”
         Tara sighs, “Fine Darren. Let me just go on record though stating I think this is a bad idea but I’ll go along with it.”
         “Thank you,” Christa said.
         Tara looked over at Christa with empathetic eyes and nods.
         They all proceeded to gather things about the house. Christa went back upstairs to go to her former in-laws bedroom and see what clothing she could find in there. She walked past the door where Bree was. She paused outside for only a moment and then proceeded to the end of the hallway.
         Going into the room wasn’t any better because it was littered with pictures of her, Damion and Bree. Slowly she walked over to the dresser and picked the family picture up. Walking over to the bed she sits down on it while she looks at how happy they all use to be.
         “I remember that day. You wanted Bree to match and she was dead set against it. She just had to wear that purple unicorn shirt with her bright green shorts. I distinctly remember you relenting and letting her.”
         “Never could say no to that face.”
         “I know. She has a lot in common with her mommy. Never could say no to you either.” Damion sits down next to Christa. “I promise to keep you safe.”
         “I don’t even care anymore at this point Damion. That’s the easy part, not caring. If I weren’t here anymore then the pain would stop. I can’t stand it. It hurts like I’m dying over and over again and I don’t know how to stop the pain.”
         “You can’t stop it Christa. You just have to embrace it and really feel it. Denying it does no good and giving into it doesn’t do any good either. Feel it but don’t let it control you. You think I hurt any less? It’s killing me but I have to keep it together on some level because I know Bree would want me to take care of her mommy. I intend on doing just that. Don’t give up on life. Don’t give up on me and damn sure don’t give up on yourself. Like it or not Christa I need you.”
         Christa looks at the picture and places it down. She turns to Damion and kisses him, “I know. I need you too.”
          “Now let’s get this stuff and get out of here. The sooner the better.”
         They gathered their stuff and headed out to the vehicles. Darren proceeded to put a few last things into his car while Christa and Damion put stuff in Damion’s dad’s truck.
         “I guess we’ll follow you guys,” Gerard told Christa and Damion.
         “Be careful,” said Christa.
         “Yeah, you too.”
         Christa took one last look at the house as they drove