The First 30 Days: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel

by Powell, Lora

  There was no way I was going to follow those instructions, but I couldn’t just let Maggie die. The others looked as conflicted as I was, and Maggie wasn’t giving us any hints on what to do. She stood stiffly, face blank.

  The sickening smirk on Mack’s face slipped a little. He jabbed the end of the gun at Maggie. “I don’t like repeating myself.”

  Not sure what else to do, I took a slow step toward the road, mind racing to come up with a plan. I didn’t know how we would rescue Maggie without getting one of us killed in the process. I’d taken another step when something caught my eye.

  Charlie was leaning around the front corner of the house, rifle aimed.

  Too busy trying to keep an eye on the four of us, Mack failed to notice the biggest threat of all.

  She didn’t miss the second time.

  “Gotcha this time, asshole.” Charlie looked like she had been vindicated. Everyone else looked stunned. They must have missed her approach too.

  Wiping the bits of blood that had splattered on her face and neck, Maggie sprang back into action. “Is everyone ok?”

  “Everyone who was in the house is just fine.” Charlie limped her way to our group. “Dante?”

  Maggie frowned and shook her head before starting toward the back door. “We need to get everyone and get out of here. Now.”

  It didn’t take long to gather the rest of our group and get out of there.

  The sun was higher in the sky than I would have expected. We heard growls from what sounded like at least a dozen zombies coming from a couple of yards over. It wouldn’t be long before they made it to us. At least, it seemed, any fast zombies within hearing distance had already reached us and been dealt with. The ones that were showing up now were the slow variety, not that that would be much help if too many of them came at once.

  Maggie cautiously edged her way out of the house, in the lead. We were fairly sure that all of Mack’s followers were either dead or had run away, but there was no way to know for certain.

  Luna was hanging on to the tail of my shirt, and her tight grip was causing my shirt to rub uncomfortably on my neck. I knew the kid had been terrified to be left alone in the dark bathroom. The experience must have brought back her ordeal, trying to survive all alone, waiting for her mother to come for her, so I didn’t say anything.

  After the noise from the fight, the silence that had now settled over the street was even stranger than it had been before. It seemed heavy and expectant.

  We crept down the driveway. I stepped carefully over the body of a zombie and then over another body, this time one of Mack’s men. We were near the street when Rex suddenly darted away from the group and toward the black pick-up that was parked sideways in the street.

  The dog circled the truck fast before jumping up to put his front paws on the side of the bed. Trying to peer over the side, he whined.

  Shawn looked over his shoulder at me worriedly. The group shifted uncomfortably before Maggie, Bill, and Shawn started toward the truck. Hanging back a few seconds, morbid curiosity got the best of the rest of us as we followed a few steps behind them.

  Bill was the first to see what was inside the truck, naturally. The stricken look on his face alerted the others that they weren’t going to like what they saw. The next second, Shawn and then Maggie both looked inside.

  We were close enough to the truck now that I noticed the steadily dripping red that was escaping from the tailgate end of the truck and pooling in a large puddle on the pavement. I watched it drip for a second before swallowing hard and taking another step.

  I stepped right into a hard chest. Eyes finally coming away from that puddle of red, I found Shawn right in front of me. “Don’t.” He shook his head at me slightly.

  “Who is it?” My voice was steadier than I felt.

  “Don’t look, ok?” He waited for me to nod before he answered, “Fallon.”

  I blinked at him, trying to sort through myriad complicated emotions. There was anger and fear and grief. But I was just overwhelmingly tired.

  “We need to get out of here before too many zombies show up.” Charlie backed away, looking into the back of the truck.

  “At least she’s been spared the indignity of turning.” Maggie gently turned Bill away from the sight. “Charlie’s right. We need to get out of this area while we still can.”

  SIXTY-FIVE

  DAY 30

  Being so close to a previously populated area had a few perks. It hadn’t been hard to find another house to spend the night in, a few miles away from the scene of the fight. It also hadn’t been hard to find a couple of vehicles with full gas tanks and enough food and water to give us a good start.

  As soon as the sun was up, we were gone. We didn’t have much of a plan except to go south, keeping watch for a place to start over along the way.

  We still had more questions than answers, but we were the ones who had survived. That had to count for something.

  Ahead of us, a small face surrounded by wild curly hair appeared in the back window of the SUV. Waving, Luna smiled when I waved back at her before disappearing back into their vehicle. Smiling a little, I had no idea how my face was even still capable of that expression. I turned to look at Shawn driving beside me.

  Then again, the world as we knew it had ended, but in the chaos, I had found family. That was certainly something to smile over. Shawn felt me staring and looked my way. He smiled a little back at me. Not the full-blown grin that I loved; it was too soon for that, but it was enough.

  As long as we had each other, it was enough.

  “We’re going to be ok.” He echoed my thoughts.

  “Yeah.”

  “Yes, we are,” Maya chimed in from the back seat.

  I nodded. “It’s not going to be easy. People are only going to get worse.”

  “We stay together,” Shawn quietly said. “No matter what happens next, it’s going to be ok so long as we have each other.”

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  Here is a sample from another story you may enjoy:

  Prologue

  I started tapping my fingertips on the steering wheel as I waited outside her house. Her parents should be leaving soon so it wouldn’t be too long now. I tried to focus on planning what I was going to do, but all that seemed to fill my mind was how stupid the young girl’s parents are. Hiring a sitter online isn’t always dangerous, but if you’re ignorant enough not to check the reviews on the website, and at least ask for background checks, then you’re asking for trouble.

  As far as her mother and father knew, they were waiting for Susan Kelly, a forty-six-year-old woman and a loving and caring mother of four, with a degree in nursing and only three speeding tickets on her record. But little did they know that a storm had headed their way. Of course, that storm was devilishly handsome and is known as me. Who else would it be?

  “How much longer do you think it’ll be before they leave?” Lane asked, resting his head on the steering wheel. His car was parked only a few feet away from mine.

  “Shouldn’t be too much longer,” I replied, glancing over at the house. We had to park behind a bundle of trees on the other side of a small field that’s between us and the house. I swear these people live in the middle of nowhere. If anything were to happen, they would be screwed — plain and simple. Why would they even want to live in the country, anyway? There’s nothing to do, and on top of that, it smells like shit. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were breathing shit.

  “I’m hungry. Can we come back later? Or how about we just skip out on this one? I’m tired,” Lane groaned.

  “If you’re really that hungry and tired, then leave, because there’s no way I’m skipping out on this one. Phil would have my head if he knew I didn’t bring one back. I need to keep u
p with my reputation,” I glanced at him with annoyance. It’s tiring having to explain this to him — especially since I’ve told him only about a million times already.

  Phil was our boss, and I knew the moment he handed me her file, I needed to have her. I had to be the one to bring her in. She was mine from the moment my eyes saw her bright, forest green ones.

  “Fine. You have fun. I’m getting something to eat then head back to the field,”

  After Lane left, my thoughts started to drift on how she would react. Would she come willingly? Fight me and threaten to kill me? Or would she be just confused? I’ve seen all of them. Tears, rage, unsureness. It’s always those three. I’d learned that much over the years of being in this… well, you can call it a “unique” business.

  Some people say this job is sick or twisted. Sometimes they’d ask, “Why would you want to work there, you sick freak?”

  But they don’t know that feeling I get when I see the fear and confusion written on the features of the unlikely young girls, who happened to fall into the trap of sex trafficking, or what we like to call pleasuring; the rich likes to call it shopping.

  For the customers, it really is just like going to the store and buying a toy. You pick the one you fancy, and after that, you pay. There’s a catch, though. With this job, you get to keep the merchandise for only one night. Also, you can’t keep the baby dolls. They’re far too precious. That’s what I tell the people who don’t understand my job.

  I saw movement in the house. It looked like the parents were leaving. I could just make out, what I assume, was the mother embracing her children before letting go just a bit too soon because of her husband pulling her away. This would be the last time she would hold her children in her arms. It’s a shame they didn’t hug longer.

  As they got into their car, they sped down the old country road. I’m guessing they’re running late for their flight.

  Instead of driving up towards the home and barging inside, I decided that I’d wait for a while and let the thought of their sitter no longer coming to linger around.

  Lane had probably made it back by now and, most likely, stuffed his face with only God knows what. I wonder if he’d be flying back to London tonight. I kind of hope he does, so he’d be out of my way. Plus, I didn’t want him coming back here and trying to help me bring her in. She’s mine, not his. I called the shots.

  At first, I saw her eyes, then I saw her. Her picture in the school yearbook, which Phil gave me, told me a lot about her appearance. She’s beautiful. I have to say, she’ll sell great, meaning an even more significant paycheck for me. Gorgeous, more money. Double hit. Lucky me.

  The only thing that is so annoying about her is that her brother is with her. I was still debating on what I could do to the little brat. Maybe I should just leave him here? No, he’d just call the cops and get my ass hauled to jail, even though he’s only a kid. I’m already in enough trouble. If the Feds find out about this job, I’ll be locked up for, no telling, how many years.

  I’ll have to think of something because I can’t take the dipshit with me. I’m afraid to even think of what Phil would do if I brought in a boy. He’ll probably think I’m nuts and cut my check. There’s no way I’d let him do that. I work too hard not to get paid less than what I already do. Anyway, he knows that he shouldn’t mess with me. I bring in most of the girls, so he can’t do a thing to me unless he wants to lose his best employee.

  After sitting in the car for a few more hours, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I needed to go and get her. I opened the SUV door, jumped out, and headed towards the home. After making sure I had my gun and pocket knife in my jacket, I exited the vehicle. The crisp January air pierced through my thin clothes as I traipsed on the snow-blanketed ground.

  Before I reached the entrance, I noticed that all the lights in the house seemed to be turned off. Maybe they knew I was coming? No, that’s not possible. It’s pitch black out here, there’s no way they could have seen me.

  I shrugged it off and headed for the front door. After knocking three times, I pulled out a cigarette, placed the hazardous paper stick between my lips, and leaned on the door frame. A minute passed before a young boy opened the door, fear written all over his face.

  “Hello,” I spoke, looking down at the boy.

  Seconds later, she appeared.

  I was met with long, unruly hair and bright, green eyes, staring at me suspiciously. The picture in that file really did the babe no justice. A slender figure with a slim torso and compelling legs. There’s no denying it — she’s hot as hell. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone with a body like hers.

  She shielded her brother. She placed herself in front of him as she watched me light a second cigarette. I brought it to my lips and breathed out the smoke. I wonder if the reason that she’s looking at me with a worried face—which seems hot—had something to do with the fact that I looked like a psychopathic murderer, or she could somehow see the money signs on my eyes.

  “Who are you and what do you want?” Her mellifluous voice echoed across the empty fields.

  It hadn’t been that long yet, but I was already intrigued.

  If you enjoyed this sample, look for

  Psycho Sitter

  on Amazon.

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  LIBERATION

  Peter Okafor

  He was tired of fighting nature, fighting its cruel inhabitants. All he had to do now was survive. It all comes down to survival, doesn’t it?

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  At first, it seemed like a second chance to a new life—the transformation from zero to hero. But when he almost gets killed by a rabid gang of men desperate for the single energy bar he wanted to eat, he soon comes to understand that he is one of many discarded into the wasteland to study the cannibalistic effects of a new drug called the Sixth Sense.

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  INTERTWINED

  T.M. Mendes

  “I come before you. You will leave after me. I am someone you must never forget.”

  Cali, a school-oriented girl, was someone who never really had dreams. When she moved to her dorm at Arizona State University, she has been getting recurring terrible dreams – nightmares. The worst thing was that she can actually remember them, and it all felt vivid and real.

  Just when she thought she already had enough stress on her first few weeks in college, her life turned upside down when she met a loner and an aloof guy, Hayden. It was uncanny because she felt attached to the mysterious guy whom she had just met. There was a strong familiarity between them.

  It all got more complicated when Cali found out that she had a strange ability, and that some group of people was chasing her, wanting her dead.

  What is this ability that Cali discovered about herself? What is the connection she and Hayden have? Who are these group of people who want her dead, and why?

  This sci-fi romance story full of twists will surely keep you on the edge of your seats! Grab your own copy now!

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This story would not have been possible without help from some very important people. To the real life Shawn and Luna, thank you for putting up with the endless hours I’ve spent lost in this story. Thank you for listening to me rant when the characters decided to tell the story differently than I had planned, and for your input when a scene was not working out. To other friends and family who have encouraged me to keep going even when it felt like I was going nowhere, thank you. And to the many Wattpad readers
who have shown me nothing but love and support through this entire journey, you all have restored my faith in humanity. Never stop being the kind of people you are, the people I have enjoyed talking with and getting to know. So much love to you all.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Thank you so much for reading The First 30 Days! I can’t express how grateful I am for reading something that was once just a thought inside my head.

  Please feel free to send me an email. Just know that my publisher filters these emails. Good news is always welcome.

  lora_powell@awesomeauthors.org

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  One last thing: I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book. Please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads because I just love reading your comments and getting to know you!

  Can’t wait to hear from you!

  Lora Powell

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I am a thirty something mother to one amazing daughter, who continually challenges me to be better at everything I do. Our family lives in the north east part of the US, but we love to travel and see new things.

  I have had a life-long love affair with books, but didn't work up the courage to try writing until about three years ago. After stumbling upon Wattpad, my addiction to creating these new little worlds grew. Hearing from my readers that one of my stories made them laugh, or cry, has become one of the highlights of my life. Reading can take you on an incredible journey, and if I can bring my readers even a small amount of happiness, then I consider my writing time well spent.