Free Lost in the Apocalypse by L.C. Mortimer Page B

“Cody!” Kari called. “Show the lady how it’s done.”
    With the precision of a rock climber and the grace of a dancer, Cody grabbed the rope and climbed carefully out the window. He dropped almost effortlessly to the ground, then motioned for Emily to follow.
    “Hurry up, ladies,” Robert yelled from the hallway. “They’re coming up the stairs.”
    “Fuck,” Neil growled. The three men stormed into the room and slammed the door behind them. Neil pressed the lock button, but they all knew it was just for show. The Infected couldn’t turn doorknobs, could they? Doubtful, but they could definitely push through the thin wooden planks of the door.
    Emily tossed her bag out the window. She cringed as it fell. Hopefully the water bottles wouldn’t pop open. Not that it really mattered. If she didn’t survive the jump, having water wouldn’t help.
    She grabbed the rope. She straddled the windowsill and took a deep breath, then hoisted her legs out and turned so she was facing the wall. With a grimace, she allowed herself to start sliding down the rope, immediately wishing her arms were stronger. The rope burned against her hands as she held her weight up and slowly slid down.
    As she neared the bottom of the rope, she gave up and dropped the last few feet, rolling into the fall so she didn’t twist or hurt herself. Cody helped her to her feet and she looked up at him, grateful for the assistance.
    “You okay?” He asked, searching her eyes. She nodded, even though she wasn’t really sure she would ever be “okay” ever again. The rest of the group made it out of the house, and though Kari was hesitant to leave her rope behind, Neil told her he’d help her find some more.
    “It’s not fucking oxy,” he said, when she complained again, and Kari finally climbed down. She cast one regretful look at the house, then the group took off running away from the Infected who had surrounded the tiny building.
     
    **
     
    They reached the outskirts of the town half an hour later. The sign read BURLINTAN, POPULATION 754. Neil exchanged wary glances with Emily.
    “Okay, so it’s a little bigger than I thought,” she muttered.
    They squatted on the edge of the road overlooking the town while they decided what their next move would be. There were definitely Infected roaming the village. That much was obvious. Emily could see a couple from her position, but more than that, she could hear them.
    “We need a car,” Neil said. “Then we can find a place to live.”
    “Then that’s it?” Emily asked. “The journey ends?” Neil nodded.
    “I told you. I’m no hero. We have no family to save, no mothers we think are secretly alive. It’s just you, me, and the apocalypse gang today, darling.”
    “We shouldn’t all go,” she said. “If we need a car, let two of us go. We’ll get in and out, then we can circle around and find a house that’s not being used. There are plenty.”
    “More than a mile outside of town this time, please,” Kari shivered, obviously thinking about their close call at the house this morning.
    “Fine,” Emily said. “It’s been awhile since I was here, but I sort of remember the layout. How about me and Butter?” She asked.
    “Why me?” Butters sounded gruff.
    “You really trying to tell me you can’t hotwire a car?” She eyeballed his tats.
    “That’s racist,” he said.
    “Fuck you,” she said, and he broke into a grin.
    “Girl’s got a mouth,” he said to Neil. “I like her.”
    It was decided that Emily and Butter would go find a car while the rest of the group would wait at the edge of town. It would be easier for two people to sneak in and steal a vehicle than a large group. They’d be less likely to be heard. They’d be less likely to be eaten.
    Emily and Butter sneaked in silently. They made their way past the gas station at the edge of town and pass the abandoned bank. A couple of cars had crashed and were in dire need of repairs. Emily didn’t bother