Dark Days

by James Ponti

  We had to spread out three blankets just to hold all the food that Dad made for the picnic. Alex is devouring fried chicken at a record pace while he talks to Beth about the play she’s directing at drama camp. Grayson and Liberty are locked in an epic match of One Foot Trivia as Natalie does everything she can to come up with questions to stump them. And my parents are holding hands, laughing at each other’s stories and listening to La Traviata.

  In other words, even though it’s not normal, it’s still pretty close to perfect.

  I close my eyes and turn my face toward the sun so that its warmth radiates through my body. I inhale the delicious aromas of food and fresh air, and I listen to the music of people laughing and having fun.

  I’m wearing my mother’s necklace, the one that started me on this adventure, and I reach up and press the omega symbol between my thumb and finger.

  Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, and it’s often used to signify the end of something. It was chosen as the name of our secret society because we were to be the last word on the undead. But omega is also the first letter of the Greek word for family. So, in that way, what is an ending is also a beginning.

  I open my eyes and look at my family and know that I am the person I am supposed to be. I think back to when we used to come here and my mom would read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to us. I remember her favorite line from the book: It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.

  It really is no use going back, and I have no interest in doing so.

  My name is Molly Bigelow, and I am ready for whatever comes next.

  Acknowledgments

  I am forever indebted to the people who have helped bring the Dead City books to life. It is a debt that I will try to repay with everything from cupcakes to friendship. First on the list are the amazing people at Simon & Schuster. There is the dynamic duo of Fiona Simpson and Mara Anastas, and their Omega team of Nigel Quarless, Kayley Hoffman, Jessica Handelman, Karina Granda, Kara Reilly, Emma Sector, Carolyn Swerdloff, Teresa Ronquillo, Michelle Leo, Candace Green, Anthony Parisi, Kelsey Dickinson, Sara Jane Abbott, and the remarkable Lauren Forte. (Go Mets!)

  Those of you who think Molly Bigelow is too good to be true have obviously never met my agent, Rosemary Stimola. Like Molly, ro stimo is straight out of Queens and possesses the perfect blend of tough and tender, brilliant and brave. I’m just glad she decided to rep authors instead of fighting zombies. (Although I wouldn’t be surprised if she does that on the side.)

  I also want to thank the people who take the time to read the books and share them. They are teachers, librarians, and readers like Brady, Bayla, and Peyton, who stay up late at night because they just have to know what happens next. You are my rock stars.

  And finally there is my family, who makes everything possible. They inspire and encourage. They read and edit. They live and breathe on every page. The love that exists between the characters in the books is a reflection of the love they give me every day.

  Ωmega Today! Ωmega Forever!

  JAMES PONTI was born in Italy, was raised in Florida, and went to college in California. After receiving a degree in screenwriting from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, he began a career writing and producing television shows for the likes of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, Spike TV, History Channel, and Golf Channel. James loves writing, travel, and the Boston Red Sox. He lives in Florida with his family.

  ALADDIN

  SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK

  authors.simonandschuster.com/James-Ponti

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  #3 Dead City: Dark Days

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  First Aladdin hardcover edition October 2015

  Text copyright © 2015 by James Ponti

  Jacket illustration copyright © 2015 by Nigel Quarless

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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  Series designed by Lisa Vega

  Jacket designed by Jessica Handelman

  The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond Pro.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Ponti, James.

  Dark days / by James Ponti.—First Aladdin hardcover edition.

  pages cm.—(Dead City; book 3)

  Summary: “Molly Bigelow and her Omega team have been banned from investigating Marek Blackwell and his plans for New York City. But when they discover that Blackwell is raising money for a zombie army, they have to act. But will they be in time?”—Provided by publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-4814-3636-6 (hc)

  [1. Zombies—Fiction. 2. Supernatural—Fiction. 3. Secret societies—Fiction. 4. New York (N.Y.)—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.P7726Dar 2015

  [Fic]—dc23

  2014046622

  ISBN 978-1-4814-3638-0 (eBook)