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

penalties for breaking certain rules there are slightly different.” Jill now silent watched Casey absorb all that she had just told him.
    “I guess I hadn’t realized how bad it was out there, I mean I thought we were struggling, but damn. Cannibalism?”
    “That’s not all that’s out there. Roaming squads of bandits too, like your friends Jeff and Tyler. Except they usually travel in much larger packs. This one time, I was with a young couple and we were holed up in a house somewhere in Missouri, I didn’t even know their names. It was dark, no power, we were catching up on some sleep in this old house, when headlights cut across the living room in the darkness and woke us. There had to be at least a dozen motorcycles, and a few cars out in the street, along with a horde of zombies following with all the noise these guys were making, they began breaking into all the other houses there on the block. I warned them. I warned them to stay quiet, keep down. The chick, freaked out, I’ll never know what got into her, but she went right up to the window, smashed her face against it and everything. And of course they could see her. Her guy comes up behind her to pull her down, too late. A bunch of rough looking guys come running at the house, I grabbed my pack and bolted for the back door, always know your exit points I say. I hid out in the overgrown grass in the fenced in backyard, they came in, killed the guy. Didn’t even argue, no words, they shot him and took her with them when they left.” Jill finished.
    “You didn’t do anything?” Casey asked with quiet shock.
    “What should I have done? You tell me.”
    “Well if there were only two maybe you three could have  . . . . . . “ Casey trailed off without completely his sentence. “You’re crying.” He nodded at her, clearly stunned by her reaction.
    “I didn’t want to leave them. I wish I could have saved them, especially her. I can only imagine the horrible fate that came upon her.” Jill had a few tears on her cheeks, it did bother her that she did nothing, but what could she have done. She had no real weapons at that time, her fate would have been the same as the other girl.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I just hate to think there are still such bad people out there.” Casey said as he tried to lay a comforting hand on her back.
    “I gotta go, I’m tired.” Jill quickly got up and walked away, seeking the welcome comfort of her bed.
    “Jill I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that!” Casey hollered after her. Jill only acknowledged it with a quick little lift of her hand before going down the stairs back into the store.”
     
     
    “What do you think of the new girl, Jill?” Kurt asked.
    “Why, do you like her?” Tom asked casually over his shoulder. Kurt scoffed at that.
    “Yeah right, so not my cup of tea. I just meant, she seems pretty smart, stable. She has some pretty good ideas in regards to this place and in general, to help us expand. I mean if what she says is true, with a bunch of farm land south of here? That could open wide array of possibilities.”
    “How the hell do we patrol a farm?” Tom didn’t really like that idea. He didn’t think they needed to stretch themselves any thinner, but he liked the idea of expanding into the apartments, maybe have some room. With his two daughters sharing a room with him and his wife, alone time was far and few in between.
    “Plus we have no idea what the condition of living is out there, are there still animals alive. We know nothing.”
    “That’s why we send out a scout team, just like she said. Dude give her some credit, she has some good ideas. Plus I think Casey likes her.” Kurt added with a smile.
    “Well he hasn’t been laid in what . . . .  .?”
    “Never. He’s never hooked up with any of the women here.”
    “How do you know that?” Tom asked not believing Kurt in the least. “You were busy clucking with all the other hens?” Tom tried to get