Free Beyond Death: Origins, Book 1 by Silas Cooper

case it reanimated again.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Richard work. Not muscle-bound like Chase, he still got the job done. He’d always taken care of her, but he wasn’t the best of protectors. She’d never needed anyone but herself. She was the one with the training. He loved her, and she him, but something about Chase wiggled in her brain, wormed its way back into her heart with just a thought.
    Ancient history , she thought as she watched her husband finish up at the window and wrap a hysterical Sherri in his arms. She knew she loved Richard, and she hated his jealousy. She and Chase had history, a whole hell of a lot of it. Touched he’d still think of her after all this time, in this type of unbelievable situation where it seemed from the news that the living and the dead were only out for themselves, that was all it was. She’d appreciate any help he offered and make sure Richard did the same.

Chapter Thirteen
    Awake only from the bad coffee he’d gulped at Dax’s, Chase drove feeling like a zombie with a lead foot. Eyes wide and burning, but constantly scanning the road for obstacles like abandoned cars and them, he kept going on overdrive and over-caffeinated delusion of strength. Miles stretched endlessly. Ghost towns came and went. They’d stopped briefly to loot a small mom and pop store that miraculously had no broken windows.
    With the trunk stuffed with supplies, they’d had to hit a few and swerve around a few of them that had gotten too close for comfort during their raid of the store. Risks. Their lives had become an endless mirage of them just to get by. Even stopping to take a leak proved life-threatening. He dared not even roll down his window to escape the smell of three sweaty, dirty men who hadn’t showered in who knows how long.
    “Where are we?” Dax asked.
    “Why?” Chase asked abruptly.
    “I know another guy who lives just a little ways from here. He’s ex-military and has a nice arsenal of weapons in his shed that he brags about. I know he has silencers. I tried to call him several times before you guys showed. But I either didn’t get through or got no answer.”
    “Silencers, huh?” Chase asked.
    “Yeah. I noticed that these creatures, these zombie-like things, they seem hyper-sensitive to sound. And they move fast, at least as fast as us. Guns with silencers have to be better than the kitchen knives we have. Might be worth the short detour,” Dax proposed.
    “I think you’re right. Jayda said they were boarding themselves in. No telling what we’ll come across at any time. Would be good to be armed well. Just tell me where to go. I think it’s a chance we have to take,” Chase added.
    Adrenaline rushed through him as he made a hairpin turn at a speed too high to pull it off had the road not been abandoned. He couldn’t chance hitting another car, but for the most part, he was free and clear to move as he pleased.
    “I really hope this part of the country was just hit worse, because all these empty roads and empty towns are starting to freak me out. I feel like the last men on earth. We just watched on the TV a few hours ago chaos in the big cities still. So, hopefully it’s the more rural towns this has happened too. Even the zombies aren’t hanging around,” Chase said as he shuddered.
    “I’m sure you’re right. The wealthy fled. We are talking the suburbs of LA here. Look, turn here,” Dax added.
    When they got to the house, they could see no signs of life. Chase took the lead, and Dax and Lucas flanked him. With all sides in view, they moved as one. A few quick lessons in the store, and they’d followed Chase’s lead to form a stealthy unit.
    “The front door is open,” Chase whispered as he adjusted his grip on his knife.
    One of the ones advertised to cut through soda cans, he hoped a zombie would be a piece of cake. They inched forward until just a few steps from the door. Chase motioned for them to stand back a few steps. He stepped