Free Snatchers (Book 8): The Dead Don't Pray by Shaun Whittington Page B

"Just a couple of more houses to go."
    He picked up his machete off the bed and placed it on the side-table. His eyes scrunched and could see a book standing up, inbetween the table and the side of the bed. It looked to have fallen down, and Daniel picked up the green book that he had now noticed was a diary. Even though no one was present in the house anymore, he felt guilty for opening it up, but his intrigue had got the better of him.
    He flicked through the pages and, from January onwards, the only thing that was noted was appointments and holidays that had been booked.
    Ready to put the book down, he came across the June section and could see that the pages were rammed with words in blue ink. It was unusual, considering the first half of the book was almost bare. Daniel then noticed the first date where the cluster of words were.
    It was Sunday June 10th.
    The virus had been announced the day before, but for a lot of people Sunday was when it really started for them, waking up to carnage beyond their scariest dreams. Most hadn't seen the news reports on the Saturday, and others that did weren't too concerned. It had been seen before: Mad Cow Disease, SARS, Ebola, Bird Flu... This was just another pie-in-the-sky virus. Wasn't it?
    Daniel lay on the bed and began to read.
     
     
    June 10th
     
    What the fuck is happening? I've just spend two hours watching the TV, in tears, and it looks like the whole country is going to shit. I'm writing this in case me and Kate don't make it, and I really do fear the worst.
     
    Just got off the phone to mum and dad and they're now in the attic. We're going to be contacting each other by text. The news tells us to fill our baths and barricade our main doors, but I don't see the point. If these things can break through my door, then stacking up a few cupboards against it is hardly going to make a difference. I've decided to take me and Kate, my four-year-old, upstairs to my bedroom and stay there, and have made my attic accessible in case the worst case scenario happens.
     
    The street is now beginning to fill with screams; some of them are young screams, and I dread to think what kind of carnage is happening in my neighbourhood.
     
     
    June 11th
     
    Last night, I spent most of the evening in tears and watching TV. I then got my daughter settled in the attic, read her favourite book, The Fish Who Could Wish, to her, then went downstairs as soon as she drifted off. At 9pm I did something silly, especially considering the situation we're in and that I have a young daughter. Last night I got drunk. Two bottles of red wine was consumed and I woke up this morning with a stinking hangover. This morning I staggered off of the single bed and rubbed my sore head. I then scanned the room and wondered what the hell I was doing there. It took a few seconds for me to realise, and I burst into tears once again.
     
    Although it is Monday and I should be at work, we're treating this day like a pyjama day. We've sat and played games all morning, with the news on in the background, and I made a cake in the afternoon. My little girl did ask a few times why I kept all the curtains closed, but I told her that I wanted the day to be about just her and me and wanted no intrusions. She's been asking about her dad and I told her that she may not see him for a while. He usually comes round to visit on a Saturday afternoon or evening, but with this thing happening, I fear he may be caught up in it, as he never showed up on the Saturday.
     
    At seven we watched The Incredibles and both of us went to bed before nine. This time I went to bed sober. After tucking my daughter in, I was asked a dozen questions that were difficult to answer: Am I going to nursery tomorrow? Is daddy coming next week? Can I go to Grandma's?
     
    My parents were not answering their phones anymore and I was thinking the worst. I lay on the bed with my girl and was soon forced out of it when I heard a scream from outside. I went down the