Free Wake the Dead by Gary F. Vanucci Page A

at his beard. “Now I’m digging a pit to bury ‘em. I’d kill for a hot shower after this.”
    “Just tell me what you want me to do, Alex. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.” Alex said nothing in response, more than a bit annoyed that she had left him alone to face the attack without her. But, he was quick to stifle that ire and sighed, handing her a second shovel. The pair proceeded to hollow out more of the earth in relative silence.
    They made their way into the cabin as darkness stole the light completely and fell asleep quite easily under the collective strain of their physical and emotional exhaustion.
    The next day was fashioned with more of the same activity, the two of them working in conjunction to dig the first half of the day. Once Alex was satisfied with that, Olivia made her way inside to attempt to straighten up the cabin and clean the stains left by the undead invaders.
    They hardly spoke again that day and Olivia did not leave to look for her sister, which left Alex feeling very guilty.
    Alex punished himself, working harder as he dragged bodies, one by one, over to the pit, and tossing them in.
    That took the rest of his day and his back ached from the strain of it all.
    They took one break from it to share a meal—a huge plate of spaghetti with no sauce—barely speaking at all, Olivia apologizing to Alex repeatedly and him stating it was not necessary.
    Olivia even came out and helped him finish the task even after nightfall consumed their daylight.
    Once they were finished, the pair succumbed to absolute exhaustion. They fell asleep quickly, her on the sofa and him on the floor, while Shadow remained outside, lying in front of the door.
    No words were spoken.

Chapter 6
     
    The next morning saw Alex up and going through a stretching routine, trying to get life back in his aching limbs.
    Memories of Sara, and what could have been, permeated his thoughts along with passing fancies of his unborn child. That angst, as well as the frustration of the past day’s events combined to motivate his workout session this morning. His heart raced and the intensity of the workout followed suit, as anger and frustration mounted.
    It wasn’t long after he finished that he found himself drenched in sweat. He grabbed a clean pair of pants and a shirt from the dresser he had brought into the living area many months ago, and stared at Olivia who was still sleeping on the sofa. He allowed her the luxury of that comfortable spot while he slept on a heap of towels and blankets piled up on the floor. The makeshift bed was comfortable enough, he decided, though his low back was stiff these last few days due to a combination of the sleeping area and the work he’d done these past few days.
    Olivia did offer it back to him last evening, but she looked so tired that he could not take it from her. He stared at her sleeping and again, Sara’s face replaced hers in his mind’s eye. At first it was the face he had come to know and love those many years ago, before quickly shifting into the ghastly zombie he had put down in an unsettling fashion. He flinched, shaking his head in an attempt to free the hints of demons past plaguing his mind.
    He opened the door, strode over to the hand pump and began filling two buckets. He washed his workout clothes, stripped down to his bare skin, and with the second, washed himself with a towel that he cleaned and kept out here, hanging over the water pump handle for the most part.
    “I like what I see there,” called the voice of Olivia from behind him. Alex reflexively covered himself with the towel as she held her stare.
    “Do you mind?” Alex asked.
    “I don’t mind in the slightest, Al,” she said, smiling and making him feel even more awkward. She walked right over to him and pumped the handle, filling a pitcher with water, holding his gaze.
    “It’s Alex,” he finally spoke. “Or Alexander. My dad was Al.”
    She lingered for a moment longer, her eyes remaining on him