Free Surviving The Aftermath (Book 1): The Dead Linger by Liz Roberts Page A

just about done. Right Jill?” Yeah they were only half way through, but Jill would rather finish up by herself at the moment.
    “Up pretty much done if you want to take off.”
    “Alright, let’s go see what your mother is up to.” Tom said has he slung his arm around his daughter and they walked off chatting about this and that. Jill wondered what was up with Cindi not finishing her job, in fact why didn’t Cindi ever finish any of her jobs, but she was more intrigued with why Tyler would want anything to do with a young girl like her.
     
     
    Over the next several nights Jill would continue to wake up in the middle of the night. She was sleeping past midnight now though and just waking earlier the next day sometimes. She was still getting use to sleeping more than 3 or 4 hours a night. She would usually get up and meander back up to the roof and sit for a while. Casey had been right, the peace and quiet didn’t last long, and her guess was the zombies were thawing out from the winter and start wandering around again, coming down from farther north. Or maybe with the new spring air human scents traveled better and farther. Who knew for sure, it was just getting more crowded around here with them.
    “Hey.”
    “Hey yourself.” She replied. Casey sat down next to her, he obviously had not been to bed yet.
    “What are you doing up?” She asked.
    “Just trying to organize, keep the Zeds numbers down some. We work like this through most the night I guess, it’s when they seem to be pretty active in the area. They get into the barbwire pretty bad and we work to clear ‘em out.”
    They continued to chat and talk, keeping the conversation on bettering the fort, scavenging for food, supplies, weapons and people.
    “When are you guys going out again?”
    “Maybe in a few days, there is a mall we still haven’t checked out, but it has a Cabela’s. So were hopeful.”
    “I think I should go with you.” She stated.
    “Why?” He looked shocked that she would even ask, let alone declare she should go.
    “Because I’ve lived out there and have pretty decent experience.”
    “I think we’ll be ok, we’ve done this numerous times before.” He chuckled.
    “It was just a suggestion. I thought I could help, it’s something I’m good at.” Casey stared at her averted gaze for a minute.
    “You’re pissed.” He accused.
    “Don’t be stupid.” She said while still not looking at him.
    “You are, you ticked I didn’t think you coming with us was a good idea.” He stood and scooted his chair closer to her.
    “Hey. It’s not because I don’t think you can’t handle yourself, I swear, I just thought it would be best if you stayed here with Tom to help keep an eye on things.” He finished. Jill stared at him for a minute before breaking the silence.
    “You never know where each day takes you. I’ve come across two types of people, the ones looking for safety, others looking to exploit. There are towns, for lack of a better word, popping up everywhere in the most random places.” Jill continued. “Full of scared, power hungry people, I sort of expected that here too. But I guess not.” She turned to look at Casey now.
    “Most of these places are not run by the most hospitable, or moral men. Yes all these places have male leaders. Each place is pretty much a survival of the fittest. Oh they had rules, all the same consequence, banishment, death, forced slavery.” Casey was now listening intently. “I was in Montana, or South Dakota, can’t remember for sure, and thankfully came across a trade town. If you want something, you have to trade for it, food, a bed, weapons, sex, everything there is tradable. I only stayed a few hours, just enough to sleep and I left in the middle of the night. A couple of the women there were telling me stories about what they do with females, they are pretty much currency and whores, and they told me not to ask about how they had fresh meat so often. Apparently the