Free Get Zombie: 8-Book Set by Raymund Hensley

betraying him. I forced him away and put my
hand on Jackson's knee. He flinched.
    We
chatted about favorite books and movies, then we played a little bit
more. When it got dark, he walked me to my room. I was in my bed,
close to sleep, when there was a knock on the door. I rushed to it,
expecting it to be him, but it wasn't Jackson. It was Pepper. I
immediately felt threatened. I forced out a smile. No point in
showing my fear. No need to insult her. I extended my hand.
    “Hello.
My name's Janice. I'm new here.”
    She
shook my hand.
    “Hi.
I'm Pepper. Nice to meet you.”
    The
mood changed. This was no witch. I smiled again, this time for real.
    “Hi,
Pepper. Care to come in and sit down?”
    “That
won't be necessary, but thank you for the offer.”
    “How
may I help you?”
    “You're
new here, yes?”
    “I
am.”
    “Enjoying
your stay?”
    “Yes,”
I said. “Everyone has been very nice.”
    “I
saw that you were playing soccer with our friend Jackson.”
    Something
in my brain backpedaled to the scene earlier of Pepper massaging her
breasts for Jackson. My heart sank. Something bad was about to
happen, but I had to keep my smile on, to try and keep things as
pleasant as possible no matter what. I just arrived. No sense in
making enemies.
    “We
were kicking the ball around, yes,” I said. “Jackson's a
very fine man.”
    Pepper's
eyes blew up.
    “Oh,
I agree,” she said. “He is a very fine man, indeed.”
She looked to the ground and leaned against the door frame. “But...”
she continued, “...I feel I must warn you.”
    I
frowned. Here it came. The big bite.
    Pepper
looked at me, eyes narrowed.
    “He's
suicidal, my dear. Unstable.”
    The
news struck me as a flat out lie. I laughed out loud.
    “What
did you just say? I don't believe you.”
    “Oh,
but it's true. At least once a week he tries to hang himself. It's
depressing.”
    “Why
tell me this?”
    “I
like helping people,” she said. “I care about
people. I care about our newcomers. You're getting close to
Jackson. He'll only hurt you.”
    “I
can handle myself, but thanks for the warning,” I said, closing
the door. “It's late. I need my sleep.”
    She
put her foot to the door.
    “One
day he's really gonna do it.”
    “What?”
    “You
think you're the only girl he's fallen for? I've seen your kind so
many times. He's hurt so many women. I'm only trying to help you,”
she claimed. “Take my advice, Janice. Stay away from Jackson.
Or else.”
    I
was about to ask, “or else what? ” but she scurried
off into the dark hallway. I swear I heard laughter. I began to
wonder. Should I tell Jackson about the weird encounter? Ask about
him being suicidal? I thought back to the first time I saw him –
with the nurse and the rope. Was he really trying to commit suicide?
I thought about just asking him. Just ask him in the middle of
laughing. “Hahaha, hey, are you suicidal?” Would that
fly? Would that be too insulting? I had to find out. The more I
thought about it, the more I had to KNOW. If anything was to develop
between us, I had to KNOW.
    I
made the choice.
    I'd
ask him in the morning.
    Noises
outside my door. People mumbling. A woman cried. Oja, the woman that
I saw on the ground, on her face when I first arrived, was being
escorted away by men in lab coats and black gloves. A man was walking
with the warden, chatting about something important. I would later
know this man as Dr. Kilt.
    Pepper's
son.

PEPPER
ANN

    I
didn't disappear into the dark like she says. I just waited there. I
knew Jackson was watching nearby...waiting for me to leave. I
wondered what she would do next. Did she believe me? Had my plan
worked? Did I scare her good? Jackson walked out of his room, knocked
on Janice's door, and went inside.
    DAMN.
    The
strength in my legs gave out, and I fell to the floor.
    “I
love him so much,” I wept. “I'm his woman – ME. He
said he loved me. I believed him. I should've known better. Why am I
letting him control how