Free RecruitZ (Afterworld Series) by Karice Bolton Page A

didn’t want him to think I slept all day.
    “Shit. I woke you.”
    “No, you didn’t,” I fibbed.
    “Rebekah, I can tell. Your voice is all hoarse. I’ll call you back later.”
    “Wait. It’s too late now. I won’t fall back asleep. It was actually the sun that woke me, not you.”
    He laughed. “So I take it you’re not a get up and watch the sunrise kind of girl?”
    “Definitely not. I’d much rather watch the sun be traded for the moon any day,” I laughed.
    “I’ll make a note of it,” he teased. “Just wanted to make sure we were still on for today. Noon was it?”
    “Yeah. Abby’s usually late so if you don’t get there on time it’s totally fine.”
    “I was actually wondering if you wanted me to come pick you up?”
    “Sure, that’d be fine.” I glanced at the clock, which read seven o’clock. “Do you usually get up this early?”
    “No. I’m a night owl too. I haven’t been to bed yet.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Seriously.”
    “You need to sleep then. Don’t worry about today,” I told him. “That’s not healthy.”
    “I’m totally fine. I’m sure everything else I do will get me first,” he laughed.
    “Point taken.”
    “I’m gonna get some shut-eye when we hang up. Promise,” he said.
    “Are you sure?”
    “I am. So where do you live, and what time do you want me to come to the house?”
    I gave him my address and ended the call. I thought about curling up in bed again, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. Instead, my mind drifted back to the towers Preston showed me the other night. My curiosity was killing me. I wanted to see them in the daylight. I let out a deep sigh as I pushed the covers all the way off and stood up. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize us. I just wanted to see them from a distance. I wouldn’t even pull off the main road. A jolt of adrenaline shot through me as I hopped under the warm spray and quickly showered. I toweled off and pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. I was staring at myself in the mirror, trying to untangle my hair, when I heard it, a loud thump downstairs. I froze in place, closed my eyes, and listened intently as I steadied my breathing.
    Another thump and then another.
    I ran to the back window and looked outside, but I didn’t spot anything. It didn’t sound like the noise was coming from inside, or at least I hoped the noise wasn’t from inside.
    The pounding was becoming more persistent, and if whoever wasn’t inside yet, they would be soon. I grabbed the lockbox from my night table and rapidly entered the code and grabbed the pistol out of it. I walked down the hallway and slowed my speed as I approached the stairs, which would lead me directly into the family room. Exactly where the sound was coming from.
    I paced myself with each step, not wanting the adrenaline to cause me to do something I’d regret.
    The thump hit hard again, and this time I was able to identify the location. It was the far wall of the family room. Why would someone be thrashing against the siding of the house? I walked slowly toward the noise, and as I reached that section of the wall, the noise moved to the sliding glass door. Instead of the deep thump of wood, I heard the banging transition onto the glass. Not exactly what I was hoping for. The curtain was closed, but I needed to know what was out there. I slid along the wall, not wanting to cause shadows, and slowly lifted the edge of the curtain.
    The sight was absolutely gruesome, and I let go of the fabric. Part of me was relieved and the other was sickened by what I saw. It was a straggler walking into the glass over and over again. That must have been what it was doing to the side of the house. I wasn’t sure how it got into the backyard since Gavin had fenced it in completely.
    I let out a deep breath, walking quickly to the kitchen. I placed my pistol on the counter and picked up the landline phone. Every occupied home was now equipped with a phone that dialed