Free Carlie Simmons (Book 1): Until Morning Comes by JT Sawyer

and
solar battery charger, two pairs of night-vision goggles, a lock-pick set, and the
.308 sniper rifle. She jammed the smaller items in a backpack from the rear
cargo area and then slung the rifle across her back after exiting the Suburban.
    She began retracing her steps when she
heard subdued voices coming from behind a door under the stairs. Carlie moved
past the front of the vehicle and listened intently. She could make out a man
and woman whispering. Moving towards the utility closet, she slowly threaded
the suppressor onto the barrel of her pistol, then positioned herself against the
wall with the weapon aimed low.
    She tapped lightly on the hollow door. “Who
is inside? Identify yourself.”
    The voices grew silent and then she
heard a man’s voice. “David and Nadine. We’re students here. Are you the
police?”
    “I’m federal law enforcement. Unlock the
door—you’re not safe holed up here.”
    She heard the hinges creak as the door
slowly opened, revealing the pale faces of the young pair. The man looked to be
around nineteen and had shoulder-length hair and multiple ear piercings on his
left side; he was clad in pajama bottoms, slippers, and a white sleeveless
shirt. The woman was a few years older with a deeply tan face and blond
pigtails. She had almond-brown hair and was dressed in jeans, a red t-shirt,
and cowboy boots.
    Like petrified zoo animals peering out
of their cage, they slowly moved out of the confines of the closet and stood up
next to Carlie.
    “You’re a cop?” said David.
    “Can you get us out of here?” whispered
Nadine.
    “No to the first question and a big
maybe to the second. How long have you been hiding here?”
    “I don’t know,” said Nadine. “We were
headed to bio class after breakfast when those things started attacking
everyone.”
    Carlie looked over the man’s clothing
while shaking her head. “You go to class in your PJs and velvet slippers, eh?”
    David frowned. “What are you doing here
and what’s with the rifle?”
    “My name’s Carlie. I work for the
federal government and what I’m doing here will be revealed to you shortly when
we get back to a more secure location over by the pharmacy building.”
    “We’re going out there with all those things
roamin’ around?” said David.
    “I just came from there. Follow my lead
and don’t make any abrupt movements—I think these creatures have poor vision at
night.”
    They both reached back into the closet
and removed their daypacks, then followed Carlie out to the rear bumper of the
SUV. She scanned the courtyard and then motioned for them to drop low and
follow her to the first flower garden. She stopped and grabbed the shovel,
handing it to David, who gave it a puzzled look and then handed it to Nadine,
who gripped it firmly in her calloused hands.
    They made it to the edge of the pharmacy
building and paused to survey the region behind them. Carlie saw three more
creatures forty yards away fighting over a mutilated arm and a few more over by
a drinking fountain, wandering aimlessly. As she turned to move, she noticed a
lone figure striding down the central sidewalk that separated the courtyard.
This figure moved with purpose and was not staggering like the others. It moved
towards the drinking fountain, stopping momentarily to smell the air around the
other creatures, then shoved them out of the way and continued walking north.
It had the bearing of an aggressive Rottweiler intent on defending its
territory.
    The trio resumed stalking to the back
door of the pharmaceutical building where Phillip was waiting. Once they were
inside, they retreated back to the stairwell as he quietly locked the door.
    “Whoa, that’s some serious firepower,
bro,” said David to Phillip after looking over the display of weapons hanging
off his shoulder and belt.
    Phillip moved alongside Carlie. “Where
did you find these two scholars?” he whispered.
    “Crouching in a broom closet by the
vehicles.”
    Phillip