by Bale, Sarah
Daisy and the Dead
Sarah Bale
Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Also By Sarah Bale:
Website
Bonus Chapters
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
About the Author
Copyright © 2017 by Sarah Bale
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Book edited by Jodi Thompson
Cover design by Michelle Fairbanks. Fresh Design
Book formatting by Delaine Roberts
Cover Images by Colnago 95310 (shutterstock.com), Stefano Cavoretto (shutterstock.com), Peppersmint (shutterstock.com)
First Printing: February 2017
Daisy and the Dead / Sarah Bale. -- 1st ed
Created with Vellum
To Jodi – Thanks for always being there when I need you! You are THE BEST!
To Mikayla, Katie, and Christina – Thanks for cheering me on when I decided to write a book set in the zombie apocalypse.
And a special shout out to JDM <3
Acknowledgments
It takes a village to write a book and I’d like to thank those who helped me in one way or another. Thank you Jodi Thompson, Katherine L. Evans, Stacey Kuhnz, DeLaine Roberts, Maegan Whelchel, Yousef Kazemi, and all of my
Beta Readers.
1
I ran like hell when the first gunshot boomed through the air. Everyone around camp jumped. I wasn’t stupid- gunfire was never good. It would draw the attention of the hordes, then things would go from bad to dead. The others looked around stupidly, but I couldn’t help them, not when they wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t even have the sense to grab their weapons from the makeshift tents.
I ducked under low tree branches, ignoring the sting as bark scraped into my skin. There were far worse things that could happen than that pain. Ahead, I saw a barn that was on the verge of collapsing. We’d checked it the other day for supplies and I knew all I’d find was a ladder leading to a loft. It might be safe to hide there until… well, until I knew what in the hell was going on. My short breaths were the only sound I could hear and I didn’t know if that was good or not.
Had whoever fired the gun killed everyone at camp? There would only be one way to know for sure. I’d have to go back and check. Eventually. Saving my own ass was priority one.
Reaching the barn I opened the red door and slipped inside. The sunlight filtered in so that I was able to find my way around. I coughed as the musky air assaulted my lungs. Thankfully the horse stalls had been cleaned out at one point, so the only scent was the decaying hay.
I climbed the wooden ladder that led to the loft. When I got to the top I tried pulling the ladder up, but it wouldn’t budge. Shit. If someone came in I’d have to try to kick it down. My mind raced. And then I’d have to either jump out of the large grain-window or wait for someone to get me. I’d cross that bridge when I got there.
Peering out the window I could see smoke coming from the direction of camp. That was not a good sign.
We’d stopped building fires when we discovered the hordes could smell them. If there was smoke then it was because someone else had set something on fire. My breath felt like it solidified in my throat. Would I ever catch a break? All I wanted was to find a way back to my family- my mom, my dad. But the universe seemed to have a different plan in mind because I kept running in to dead ends.
The barn door groaned as if someone or something pressed against it. I held my breath and lowered to my stomach so I couldn’t be seen. Had I been followed? A shadow fell in front of the little opening in the door and someone hit the wood. I flinched and waited. Friend or foe? That was always the question.
The shadow moved. No. A zombie moved.
I cringed, smelling the decayed flesh. I couldn’t ignore the wet snorting as it sniffed the air. Shit! It grew still and reached for the door.
I didn’t have a fucking weapon!
“I saw one go over here,” a voice called out.
The zombie continued to claw at the door, ignoring the voices. Gunfire rang out. Oh bad… this was so bad. Were they talking about the zombie or me?
“Head shot!” another voice called out. “Better check inside to see if there are supplies.”
“Boss isn’t going to be happy if we’re gone too long…”
“Bah. He’ll be fine if we bring goods back. That camp didn’t have shit.”
“And he’s definitely not going to be happy you killed everyone back there before he gave the okay.”
These men had killed everyone? My heart pounded against my ribcage. What about the children? Had they been slaughtered, too?
“Not my fault they were pussies. They didn’t even try to fight.”
Two shadows fell in front of the door and I made a decision. If they came inside they’d go up the ladder, just as we’d done. And I’d be dead. Using both feet I pushed until the ladder gave and fell to the ground with a thud.
“Did you hear that? Must be another biter inside. Come on.”
The door slid open as I scurried to the shadows, hoping they would hide me. Two men with guns drawn entered slowly, scanning the area. The first thing I noticed was their clothing. They were both dressed in blue jeans and white shirts that looked remarkably clean. And they weren’t covered in grime like most people were, including myself.
The taller man with red hair tapped the ladder with his boot. “No biter here. Must have just fallen down. We better go before the boss comes looking for us.”
The other man with a balding head looked up and I wondered if he could see me. I held my breath as if that might help conceal my presence.
“Think someone’s up there?”
Red shook his head. “Nah. Let’s go.”
He started to walk away when Baldy raised his gun and fired. I jumped as hay exploded in the air leaving a thick dust behind. Baldy fired a few more times, each getting closer. I eyed the window. I could run and jump…
“What in the fuck are you doing,” a deep voice with a slight draw asked.
Red and Baldy dropped to their knees as a third man entered the barn. The entire mood changed. Before they were cocky. Now they were terrified.
“Boss! We didn’t know you were here,” Baldy said. “We were checkin’ the-”
“I don’t give a fuck what your excuse is. Why are you wasting my bullets like that? Did I give you permission to shoot the air? Huh?”
Baldy’s voice cracked. “No, Boss. I’m sorry, Boss.”
The man turned to Red. “Did you find anything at the camp?”
“Only a few supplies, Boss.”
His presence commanded respect and I could see why Baldy was trembling like a scared dog.
“And what did you do to the people at the camp?”
Red glanced at Baldy, who swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Ah.” The man turned his attention back to Baldy. “Am I to assume you took it upon yourself again to take care of the situation?”
“Boss, I swear it’s not like that. They ran. I didn’t have a-”
The man moved quickly and sliced Baldy throat open with a knife. Baldy’s eyes were frantic as he grasped his gushing wound. His breaths gurgled and I closed my eyes knowing the wound had been fatal. There was one more gasp and then silence.
“I never liked that prick,” the man said. “Take care of him.”
Red pulled a knife from his boot and pushed it into Baldy’s temple, ensuring he wouldn’t turn.
“We’ll move his family closer to the main base and make sure they’re taken care of. How many kids did he have?”
Red’s throat bobbled as he swallowed. “Three, Boss.”
“They’re better off.” He placed his hands on his hips. “Now… what are we going to do about the person hiding?”
Icy fear filled my veins and I couldn’t move. There was no way he’d seen me! Was he bluffing?
“Boss, we didn’t see anyone in here. Just a biter outside.”
“Try again. See anything that stands out, other than this ladder that was so clearly nailed into the post that’s now on the ground?”
I pushed myself as low as I could go, praying the hay was covering me. My heart pounded and my breaths came out in unintentional gasps. My fingernails curled into my palms, breaking the skin as I frantically tried to stay calm.
I needed a plan! My gaze darted to the window. Could I make it if I jumped? My shaking limbs said no. The adrenaline coursing through my veins said yes. But fear won, telling me to stay in place. If I ran I was dead.
2
Red hesitated. “Boss?”
“The signs are all around us. Small shoeprints leading to the two marks where the ladder stood. The dust falling from the loft as whomever is up there tries to hide…”
I hadn’t thought about the dust! Dammit!
“Come now, whoever is up there. Come on down. We won’t shoot, we promise.”
Like I was going to believe that! Red admitted they’d killed my entire camp and this man had just killed Baldy. The man made a clicking sound against his teeth.
“I’m only going to ask once…”
The ladder returned to its rightful place with a thud. Oh god!
“And don’t even think about jumping out that window. My men will get you before you have time to catch your breath.”
Somehow I didn’t think he was bluffing.
“One…”
Was he really counting at me like a child?
“Two…”
Apparently so.
“Thre-”
“I’m coming,” I exclaimed.
Silence suspended in the air as I swung my leg over the ledge and climbed down the ladder. When I reached the dirt floor I turned and came face to face with the man who’d killed Baldy.
Air hissed through my lips. Holy crap. He was gorgeous! Thick black hair, dark eyes, and a dark beard with flecks of silver that surrounded full lips. Tall. And well built. And my god did those black jeans hug his hips.
I took a step back as if putting distance between us would take away from his raw masculinity. He took a step, too, and I found myself pinned between him and the ladder. Reaching out he pulled hay from my blonde locks. His eyes danced with laughter for a split second before the look vanished.
“What’s your name?”
“I… I…”
Red stepped forward and struck me across my face. Fiery hot pain shot through my temple and my eyes filled with tears. This wasn’t the first time I’d been struck, but it never got easier. I blinked quickly before the tears had the chance to fall from my eyes. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of crying.
The man’s face hardened and he turned to Red. “Go outside with the others.”
Red grinned and it made my skin crawl. “Sure thing, Boss. I’ll tell the others to give you some… privacy.”
He walked away and my heart pounded. He could’ve only meant one thing.
When Red was gone and the door was closed the man turned his attention back to me.
“I’m not going to hurt you, so get that look off your fucking face. What’s your name?”
“I-it’s Daisy,” I stuttered.
It was the first time I’d given my real name in a very long time and I wasn’t sure why I’d told him. Maybe it was because if I died then someone would at least know my true identity. Or maybe it was because I knew he’d know if I lied to him.
“Daisy,” he caressed my cheek where Red struck me and my stomach fluttered. “Where’s your camp, Daisy?”
“It’s near the river… where your men came from.” Fear made my words hard to pronounce and I closed my eyes, trying to gain control of my emotions.
“Was your family there?”
I shook my head. No, I had no one, but he didn’t need to know this.
“And you heard what my men said.”
I nodded.
“So… what to do with you?”
This made my eyes open. “Please don’t kill me.”
He looked me over. “No. It would be a shame to do that.”
The fear I’d felt before creeped back. If he wasn’t going to kill me then what was he going to do?
“I’m not a whore.”
“Excuse me?”
I squared my shoulders, shoving my fear aside. “If you’re planning on letting your men have me, then kill me now.”
He didn’t reply, instead made that clicking sound again as he thought.
“How old are you, Daisy?”
“Twenty-four.”
He nodded. “That’s acceptable.”
Acceptable for what? I wanted to scream the question, but he suddenly nodded and smiled, as if deciding something. His brilliantly white teeth made the air rush from my lungs and I felt feverish.
“Daisy, when is the last time you had a shower?”
“A… a shower?”
Had I bumped my head? Why was he asking about my bathing routine?
“Or bath? And I’m talking about a real shower with hot water. Not in a lake or stream.”
“Since it began,” I managed to stutter.
Or somewhere close to that. Too long to remember a specific date, but long enough to know I probably smelled, unlike him. If I wasn’t mistaken I’d even caught a whiff of a spicy aftershave.
“Ah.”
He eyed me again and I shifted nervously.
“And you haven’t had any other luxuries since then I assume?”
What in the hell was he getting at? Who had luxuries anymore? Not starving or dying was a luxury.
“N-no.”
“No clean clothes? Nothing?”
I shook my head. I knew my clothes were disgusting. I’d started out with a suitcase, but someone had robbed me when the virus outbreak began. I was left with the outfit I had on at the time. As time went on I’d look for clothes my size, but it was becoming harder and harder to find things to fit my already small frame.
I considered myself lucky when I found these pants and red flannel shirt the size of a circus tarp, but that was three weeks ago. Thank god my boots fit, or I’d be in a world of hurt.
“Would you like to take a shower?”
What in the hell kind of question was that? My chest felt tight for a moment and I feared I was going to have a panic attack.
“Are you… what are you going to do with me?”
“With you? Now that’s a loaded question. One I haven’t thought through yet.”
Warmth spread in my lower stomach. Why didn’t that statement scare me? It should, dammit. Maybe it was the look in his dark eyes that was somehow reassuring?
> “Tell you what, Daisy, why don’t we come to an agreement right now?”
“Wh-what’s that?”
“I promise we don’t have to decide what to do with you until you’ve showered and had a good night’s rest. Is that a deal?”
I shook my head and the corners of his lips lifted.
“Something to add?”
I knew what I was about to say was risky. If it pissed him off then there was no telling what would happen. Baldy’s dead body next to us would agree, if he could.
“You didn’t answer me before. I’m not a whore. If your men come at me I’ll yank their balls so hard I’ll pull out their intestines. Got it?”
He froze and his face became unreadable. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for him to answer. I meant it. I’d rather die than to suffer through his men passing me around. Especially when…
“Well Daisy, I do believe that’s something we can agree on. My men won’t be allowed near you. Anything else?”
“I… I don’t even know your name.”
His eyes flickered to my lips before returning to meet my gaze.
“My name doesn’t matter. But you can call me Sir.”
3
I lowered my eyes as I followed Sir from the barn. It should be degrading to call him that, but it kind of suited him. True to his word a group of men stood waiting, all dressed the same as Red. Red poked another guy in the side and they laughed at me.
“Boss, what are we going to do with her?”
I got closer to Sir, praying I wasn’t making a huge mistake. I mean, it was too late now; my only hope was if I ran that they’d shoot me in the back and my death would be quick.
“She’s coming with us and she’s mine. If I even catch you breathing in her direction I’ll cut your dick off and feed it to you.”
The men shifted nervously, but Sir winked at me. My stomach fluttered as it had when he said I was his. What on earth was wrong with me? One moment I was scared of him and the next - my god, I wasn’t even sure what I was feeling -or thinking.
