Against Zombies Box Set, Vol. 1 | Books 1-4 Read online

  “I was studying history with an emphasis on art. Wait, how did you know my name?” I asked suddenly, worried that this guy was a stalker. He did have a gun after all, and my trusting nature had said he was in the military, so he must be a good guy.

  “I’ve run into Angie a few times in the alley and she mentioned the college student who was her nanny. I bet the little guy has been scared the past few days. Does he know where his mom is?”

  “You know, she’s at the hospital working, but he has no idea how dangerous that is with all the sick people. He’s the only family I have, other than my brother who’s overseas. I haven’t heard from him since all of this started either.”

  “I wouldn’t be too worried about your brother. He’s overseas with his unit, so he’s better protected than those of us who are just here in suburbia without weapons. I’ve been itching to get back to my unit. I was hoping the doctor would clear me in the next week or so, but now I’m glad I was stateside since we’re going to need some firepower to keep things safe over here.”

  “Oh my. Would you like something to drink? I don’t have any beer, but I think Angie has some wine in the fridge,” I offered, feeling bad that I hadn’t done so before.

  “I have beer at the house if I need some, but whatever food you’ve got stored up, try to make it last as long as you can. Things are going to get worse before they get better. I’m going to head on home, but just in case you need something, here’s my phone number.”

  He handed me a slip of paper from his pocket.

  “Thanks. Do you think it would be okay to let Dillion play outside tomorrow? It’s just that I’ve been keeping him inside, and both of us are going crazy with cabin fever. After what happened the other day, I didn’t want to take any chances on either one of us getting hurt,” I confessed quickly as he made his way to the back gate.

  “Why don’t I come over at about ten in the morning and hang out with you while he plays?” Darren graciously offered.

  “He would really love that. And I would feel better knowing that we were safe. I don’t want to be a bother, though.”

  “It certainly won’t be a bother. In fact, I’ve been waiting for infected people to walk by so I could do something useful.”

  I giggled at his statement. “I didn’t mean to do that. It just struck me funny. It’s not something you hear every day. Most people are running away from the dead bodies, not hoping they’ll get to see one.”

  “Wow. That sounded psychotic.” He grinned. “I’m going to have to start watching what I say if I’m going to hang out with a seven-year-old.”

  “Eh, I think most of it would just go straight over his head.”

  “I’m kind of reluctant to go home. I’ve been hiding out, feeling sorry for myself that I can’t be back with my unit. This is the first time in weeks I think I’ve smiled. But I’m going to go home now so that you don’t think I’m a complete crazy person. Good night, Stacy. It was good meeting you.”

  I couldn’t close the gates until he made it all the way across the alley and waved.

  What better way to spend your time than with a hot army guy who was lonely? I was going to have to send Jen a text.

  I didn't sleep well that night. Even though it seemed like the end of the world, I got up and put my makeup on before Darren arrived.

  Dillion was so excited to be outside that he didn't even wonder where this guy came from. He simply accepted Darren into our circle.

  “Good morning,” Darren called out in a normal voice as he came to the back gate.

  “Um, h–hi,” I stuttered, suddenly nervous. If I’d thought Darren was hot in the dusky shadows the night before, today his almost six-foot frame with toned muscles and dark brown hair made his hot level almost a twelve. Something I had not been prepared for in the light of day.

  Dillion came running over as Darren took his seat in the shade of the umbrella on the porch.

  “Hey, mister, you wanna play Cowboys and Indians with me?” Dillion asked, holding out a spare water gun.

  “Sure, little man. I'd love to play with you.” He turned to me as he pulled a 9mm gun out of his back waistband, revealing a nicely toned stomach. “Do you know how to use one of these?”

  He checked the safety, then casually laid the gun down on the table in front of me.

  “I might've gone to the practice range a few times with my brother, so I do know which end to point at the bad guy.” I smiled.

  “Good. That's one less thing that I have to worry about at night. Although, pointing it at another human might still be difficult. Can you hold down the fort while I go try and take down one of a different nature?” Darren grinned, making my heart flutter.

  “I've got this.” Here I was, getting a major crush when we could be killed by one of those corpse things. Actually, that might even be a better reason to fall for some guy I just met.

  The 9mm gun sitting on the table almost seemed to be making a statement of its own. I can keep you safer than he can.

  I ignored it and watched Darren’s interaction with Dillion as they played in the fort with their neon orange guns.

  “I'm hungry,” Dillion whined two hours later.

  “Okay, buddy.” I stood up and moved in front of the table, hiding the gun from his sight. “Would you like to join us?” I asked Darren, hoping he would say yes.

  “I would, but only if you let me help.” He scooped up the gun and placed it back in his waistband.

  “We're having macaroni and cheese, with hotdogs. Nothing fancy,” I warned jokingly.

  “That sounds like my kind of meal.” He caught my elbow as I tripped over the slider in the door. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, just highly embarrassed. I'm not normally a klutz, but you make me really nervous.” I tried to shrug it off and walked into the kitchen to get the noodles started.

  A commotion outside had us both running to the front door. In the street, several neighboring families seemed to be fighting over a trash can.

  Darren went outside, while Dillion and I stayed behind the closed door.

  I watched in horror as two grown men began to throw punches at each other, drawing more families outside their homes. It wasn't until someone screamed that I realized the people in the street weren't alive.

  The men fighting each other stopped when several other people began to scream as well. Darren quickly had his gun out, but because of all the neighbors, it was difficult to get a shot at the walking corpses’ who were attacking people.

  The crowd quickly scattered, running and screaming into their homes, which drew more of the corpses onto our street.

  “Dillion, why don't you go make sure your room’s clean so you can take Darren upstairs when he comes back?” I suggested gently, trying to get him away from the windows and what was taking place.

  I didn’t have to ask twice because that was an exciting idea. He ran up the stairs and away from the immediate danger.

  Darren climbed into the back of the neighbor’s pickup, giving him a better shot at the dead. The rapid gunfire caused most of the neighbors to drop to the ground in fear, which wasn't the best idea for those who had corpses chasing them.

  Once the gunfire stopped, those who had been attacked were still screaming as the bloodied things laid on or beside them.

  He slid a new clip into his gun and hopped out of the truck bed.

  I couldn't see which neighbor was on the ground next door, but the foot sticking out from behind the car provided enough information that the neighboring house was probably empty now. A single shot rang out as Darren moved across the street to where Annette, a neighbor, was sitting in shock, her arm completely torn off, clutched in the dead corpse’s hands.

  Without asking questions or trying to help her, he put the gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

  Her husband ran out of the house, screaming, “What did you do?”

  “I just saved your family's lives,” Darren answered unapologetically as he walked two doors down wh
ere another neighbor was lying on the curb, unable to move because of the stomach wound he’d received.

  Those in the neighborhood who’d been uninjured and made it to their homes, stopped in their doorways, appalled at his lack of sympathy.

  “Can I have everyone's attention?” Darren called out loudly, knowing he already had it. “Your loved ones who were just attacked were about to turn into the same things that were attacking them. If they had come into your homes with their injuries, then your entire families would have died. Do you want your children to live? Do you want to survive? Then be glad I did what you wouldn't be able to do. Putting a member of your own family down is difficult but necessary if you want to make it out alive.”

  Annette's husband cried out angrily, “Who made you God?”

  “No one, but if you need help digging their graves, I'll be available,” Darren offered.

  “Oh my God, you’re not even going to give them a proper burial?” the neighbor two doors down wailed. “I'm calling the police!”

  “That's fine, ma'am, and if they show up, I'll be glad to explain things to them. Until then, make sure you don't have any super loud noises to draw the walking corpses back onto our streets. I'll be back after lunch to help with cleanup.” With that comment, Darren started walking back toward the house.

  He startled me when he walked through the door, because instead of trying to reassure me, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

  “What was that?” I questioned, but made no move to leave his embrace.

  “That was me making a move and hoping that you didn't slap me for it being unwanted.”

  “Unexpected maybe, but not unwelcome. Oh, what the hell,” I muttered, returning his kiss.

  “My room is clean!” Dillion yelled out, running down the stairs.

  We had moments to break apart before he caught us in a compromising position.

  “That's great, buddy. I'll come up and do an inspection in just a second.” Darren turned to look out the window, readjusting his pants as he did.

  My hand covered my mouth as I suppressed a giggle, knowing that Dillion always had perfect timing when it came to interrupting adults.

  “I'll just go check on the boiling water.” As I left the room, I could feel a blush creeping up my cheeks.

  When the food was ready, I called the boys downstairs. While I waited, I glanced out the front window to see how the neighbors were doing. Everyone had gone inside, but there were sheets draped over the bodies in several yards.

  Our conversation during lunch was upbeat so Dillion wouldn’t worry. I felt sorry for Darren because for every bite of food that Dillion put in his mouth, he asked a question about something.

  “May I be excused?” Dillion asked, remembering his manners.

  “Yes, you may, but then it's straight upstairs for rest time.” I expected him to groan and moan, but was surprised when he simply nodded and took off to his room.

  “He must be trying to impress you because he never does that for me. Are you really going to go help those people?” I asked, finishing my food.

  “If the neighbors will let me, then yes. The longer those bodies are left out there, the more likely we are to have animals messing with them, or have insects feasting on them. I know they seemed really mad at me because of what I did, and I don't blame them. But at the same time, common sense will kick in and they’ll realize we can't just leave them laying out there.” Darren reached across the table and placed his hand over mine.

  “Before I go out there, though, I'm going to make a trip back to my house and bring you a gun with an extra clip, just in case. Can you keep an eye out on the streets while Dillion sleeps? I don't want one of those things sneaking up on me while we’re digging graves.” Darren watched me.

  “Sure. Also, I’ll keep an eye out just in case any of the neighbors get an idea to retaliate.”

  “Thank you. It's nice to know I have someone watching my back. That's one of the things I miss most about being with my unit. The teamwork and trying to accomplish something together always made a mission much easier.” Darren got up from the table and carried his plate over to the sink, then walked over to stand in front of me.

  “I'll be back in just a few minutes.” He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before he walked to the back door.

  I put the leftovers in a container in the fridge, but left the dishes in the sink so I could go check on Dillion.

  Their playtime this morning must have managed to wear Dillion out, because he was curled up asleep on his bed. By the time I made it back downstairs, Darren was coming through the back gate.

  “Ready?” he asked, sliding the door closed and handing me an extra gun.

  Taking a deep breath, I replied, “As ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this.”

  I didn't feel comfortable enough putting the gun into my waistband, so I held it down beside me until I could sit it on the chair.

  An extra gun wasn't the only thing Darren had brought back with him. He also had at least two shovels. I hoped that didn't mean he was actually a stalker in another life.

  Surprisingly, several of the neighbors came out to help, making the work go much faster. No one shouted or screamed this time, but a couple of times, the families of a deceased person would shoot Darren a dirty look.

  When all four neighbors’ bodies had been buried, Darren suggested a larger grave to hold the unidentified people on a property that was for sale a few houses down.

  They were just finishing up when I heard Dillion get up to use the restroom on the monitor.

  I wasn't about to give up my post, but I also didn't want Dillion outside unprotected. I got up to open the front door and realized I'd left the gun on the seat. I went back to get it, noticing someone standing off to the side, in between two of the houses.

  I didn't want to alert them that they'd been noticed, but I wasn't sure if Darren was aware of their presence. The front door opened and I hurried to block Dillion's view of the street.

  “Sweetie, how about you go back inside and watch cartoons? And when Mr. Darren is done with this job, I'll get us some ice cream.” We only had a few small amounts left. I was trying to ration it, but I needed Dillion inside.

  “Why can't I go help Mr. Darren finish the job?” Dillion asked, trying to push around me so he could see.

  “It's not that kind of job, sweetie. It's something that grown-ups have to take care of, but if he has a job in the future that you can help with, I promise I'll let you know.”

  I glanced back up the street, feeling a sense of urgency caused by the figure standing in the shadows.

  “Please, go do as I say. I’ll be back inside shortly. Don't get up from the couch,” I added in a commanding tone, pointing toward the living room.

  “Awe, that's no fair.” Dillion's frown bordered on tears.

  “Life isn’t always fair, honey. And I really need you to do this for me.” Dillion was like most kids his age and always tried to push the envelope, but we were going to have to have a talk when I got back about how dangerous it could be if he didn't obey me.

  I closed the door behind me. Ignoring the figure, I hurried toward the spot where Dillion and two others were digging a large grave.

  “Um, I hate to bother you, but there's a situation that's come up that I think you need to know about.” I tilted my head to the side, motioning that we needed to talk.

  Seeing my face, Darren threw his shovel up on the side of the grave and hopped out. “Be right back.”

  “What's up?” Darren stood with his back to the grave, looking around the neighborhood.

  “There's a development in that situation a few houses over, and I wasn't sure since you were in the ground if you had noticed it.” I casually pointed a finger behind me in the direction of the person watching us.

  “I hadn’t, but thank you for bringing it to my attention. We’re almost done here, and will be moving those other bodies shortly.” He nodded in acknowledgment and walked back over to t
he grave, pulling on a pair of gloves.

  “Okay, men, I think that's deep enough. Let's go ahead and get these in there so we can get them covered up before it gets dark.”

  I walked back over to the house and tried really hard not to stare in the direction of the person watching. As I moved closer to the location, whoever was there had moved farther back into the shadows so that he wasn't as noticeable.

  Uncertain if I should leave Dillion alone, I made a big show of going in and closing the blinds. I stood inside and watched as the men quickly threw the bodies into the grave and shoveled the dirt on top of them.

  Darren walked back to my house with the shovels and put them right next to the front door, wiping his feet off before coming inside.

  “I'm not sure who that is watching us, but I'm going to wash my hands and go through the alley to see what I can find out.” He was covered with dirt from head to toe. “Make sure you stay away from the windows and keep the doors locked. Once I check things out, I'm going to go home and take a shower. I’ll also go for a drive in the truck by our little area to see if we have any more walking corpses that could show up on our block.”

  “Before yesterday, I always thought that our neighborhood was one of the safest. Now I just want to go back to school and hide behind their brick walls instead of being so exposed here,” I ranted.

  “I may have an idea for that. We can discuss it when I get back. But right now, I want to see what our unhappy neighbor is planning.”

  When Darren returned several hours later, I felt like I had worn out a hole in the floor from pacing. I rushed to give him a hug, then realized I was taking a lot for granted. He didn't even know me, so it wasn't like I was the only thing on his list of priorities.

  He returned my embrace, but didn't release me fully as he walked over to sit on the couch, pulling me down next to him.

  “Did you get all of your work done?” Dillion asked after jumping up and down on the couch.

  “Yes, I did. Why does that make you so excited?” Darren asked, confused.

  “I kind of promised him we would have ice cream when you got done working.”