Dying Days Ultimate Box Set 1

by Armand Rosamilia

  “The zombies are under the water,” she said to David. “They’ll never make it.”

  David looked at the survivors on the dock. Would he have to leave them behind after all?

  No. The dinghy.

  He went aft and began to ready the inflatable boat.

  “What are you doing?” Jill asked.

  “It’s their only hope,” he said.

  The small outboard fired on the second pull and David twisted the throttle wide open. The dinghy took off for the shore. Halfway there, the survivors, led by a large man with a ponytail and a medium sized woman, gathered at the edge of the dock to await his arrival. He counted eight people and it appeared as though two of them were wounded. He hoped not bitten.

  Twenty feet in front of him, a zombie emerged from the water and was walking toward the shore until it sensed the boat’s presence behind it. It turned to face the boat and David did the only thing he could think of. He reached under the seat, grabbed the flair gun and fired. It was a direct hit; the zombie’s head lit up like a hurricane lamp. Flames shot from its ears like roman candles and it slid beneath the water with a hiss.

  David throttled back and tossed a line to the man on the dock.

  “Hurry,” he said. “There’s more under the water.”

  The survivors piled into the boat, except for the couple who appeared to be wounded.

  “Come on,” David said to them. “We don’t have much time.”

  The man reached out to the large man and took a machete from him.

  “We are staying,” he said. “Go, before it is too late.”

  “But…” David began.

  “Go!” Ky yelled.

  David twisted the throttle and the boat pulled away from the dock. They all looked back at Ky and Lisa. Lisa leaned against the rail and Ky turned to face the approaching zombies.

  The dinghy strained against the weight of the seven of them and their trip to the boat took longer than any of them would have liked.

  Jill was ready at the stern with a line and they climbed onto Shibumi as quickly as they could. The large man helped David stow the dinghy.

  Jill was already getting the vessel underway.

  “Name’s Ike,” the man said to David. “Thanks for not bugging out.”

  “I’m David. No need to thank me.”

  The two men stood at the stern in silence as Shibumi moved north under the bridge. On the dock, Ky’s valiant stand-off came to an end, as zombies became more than he could handle. His final act was to throw himself on top of his wife in a last-ditch effort to save her.

  Bethany

  Bethany peeked around the bar of Kokoro Sushi Bar & Japanese restaurant, through the debris and where the front doors used to be, and sighed.

  She heard another pop as a fireball exploded, close to the bandstand, but away from her hiding spot. Bethany crawled on her knees to the edge closest to the front door, making no sound if she could help it.

  A zombie strolled past the door but she froze and it kept moving.

  Now what? She thought. When the fence had come down and the order to fall back was proclaimed, she had panicked and ran into the restaurant. Tucked into a corner, coming down off her inebriation and now only slightly buzzed, she was waiting to be dragged into the courtyard at any moment and defiled.

  The action was clearly on the other side of the compound now. But she hesitated before rising. Where would she go? How would she be able to traverse the courtyard filled with undead and reconnect with the survivors. Were there other survivors at this point?

  Bethany went to stand when she spotted the bottle tucked into the back of the bar's counter, half-hidden behind newspaper. "Well, hello," she said with a smile.

  It was a full bottle of merlot. She glanced at the ceiling, admiring the craftsmanship as she did. This place must have rocked back in the day, she thought. She also thought to thank God for her luck.

  Unfortunately, her luck didn't include a corkscrew. Undaunted, she found a sliver of metal in the debris and used it to force the cork into the red wine.

  By the time she had taken her first sip of delicious wine, she was ready to escape. She calmly stood and walked to the front entry.

  Just as she thought, most of the action was now across the courtyard. Tiki and Crista were on a balcony, observing the destruction at the farthest point away from her, which was good, because the zombies were trying to get to them.

  The chain-link fence was a twisted mess on the ground near her, so she casually stepped over it and walked out of European Village.

  She decided to get onto the Hammock Dunes Bridge and take a last look at European Village before trying her luck north. Perhaps St. Augustine was still intact like the rumors seemed to indicate.

  The sun was still hot, and she shielded her eyes as she walked up the road. A pull from the bottle seemed to make to make it better, or maybe it was the buzz she felt creeping back into her head.

  "Now what?" she asked.

  European Village was still together from this angle, and she could picture people bustling in and out during better days, looking to eat, drink and be merry. If she ignored the multitude of piled bodies, it was almost picturesque.

  Bethany walked to the top of the bridge and smiled at her continued luck.

  The Harley Davidson motorcycle was like a beacon, sun sparkling off of the chrome.

  "How hard can it be to ride this, especially drunk?" she asked.

  Bethany took another long pull of the red wine and sat on the bike.

  Tiki

  Tiki held onto the last bottle of Malibu rum but didn't stuff the neck with the last piece of his Hawaiian shirt.

  "What are you waiting for?" Crista asked but she was smiling.

  Tiki sat down on the balcony, legs dangling over the edge, through the slats. "Have a seat."

  Crista joined him, snuggling close.

  "One more explosion won't matter in the grand scheme of things."

  "But one last drink will."

  "Exactly." He handed her the bottle and she drank from it before passing it back.

  "Now what?" she asked.

  "Nothing. We hope our move got at least one person out of here and they escaped. We hope this wasn't all for naught. We hope…"

  Crista kissed him on the lips.

  Tiki, grinning, pushed her away gently. "We hope we have a few more minutes to finish this rum and spend some, uh, quality time together."

  Crista helped him get back up.

  They ignored the mass of zombies below, trying in vain to get to the couple. They closed the balcony doors behind them.

  Ambroz

  Ambroz was prepared to die defending Europa. He didn't see a future in St. Augustine or anywhere else in Florida or the world. This building was his home, his baby, and the place he would live and die in.

  He pulled three more heavy frying pans and skillets from his kitchen and put them near the two front doors. The tables and chairs had been stacked neatly long ago, and now he decided to set the restaurant back up, in the dark, and light a few candles.

  The front doors and windows were blocked with plywood and enough nails to build a house, but he knew it wouldn't hold for long. If everyone was lucky enough to escape, the zombies would eventually find him. He doubted they would all be killed off or, simply leave and go find another place to feast.

  Ambroz wished the power was on, so he could turn the lights, behind and actually set in the bar, on and blast some mood music.

  The alcohol was mostly gone, just a few watered down bottles of cheap whiskey and vodka. Ambroz decided to do a shot, or three, before commencing with rebuilding the restaurant and laying out the seating again. He imagined another packed house, eating steak bruschetta and drinking Jack and Cokes, listening to the soothing guitar of Cesar, as he strolled from table to table, serenading the ladies.

  Ambroz went into the kitchen, on a whim, and smiled when he saw the dusty compact disc player the cooks always played to keep them motivated.


  It was a shame he couldn't tune in a radio station, but when he brought it to the main bar and turned it on, he was happy to see the batteries still worked.

  He hit the CD player button, hoping their was a CD in, and laughed out loud as Led Zeppelin's "Dancing Days" began to play.

  Ambroz cranked the radio as high as it would go and poured himself a shot. If he had to die, this was the only way to go.

  "I said it's alright, you know it's alright, I guess it's all in my heart…"

  Cesar

  Cesar watched, as the action unfolded around him, from his vantage point on the roof. He resisted going down the escape hatch because he knew only death would meet him there.

  Besides, it was turning into a nice day weather-wise, and he'd decided he was getting too old for this shit. His Puerto Rican bones were better off sitting right here and watching his friends get away.

  And he saw they were doing just that; the sailboat filled with the living moving slowly north and away from European Village. They'd escaped, and he smiled in the knowledge he was a big part of it, sounding the alarm and telling them about the sailboat.

  The only thing remaining for him was to relax and hope the zombies would move on, before he saw if European Village could be rebuilt. And if he even wanted to do it, or what he intended to do.

  Did it even matter at this point? Cesar turned his face to the sun and let the warmth comfort him.

  He heard the music, softly at first, coming from below in Europa. At first he didn't know what it was, but then heard the majestic playing of Jimmy Page.

  Cesar's only regret was not having his custom guitar in his hands so he could play along, as the world ended around him.

  Author's Interview

  Armand Rosamilia

  How do you want to start this shit?

  Tim Baker

  Let's just start and see where it goes.

  So - this is my first co-writing effort and I enjoyed it, was it good for you?

  Armand Rosamilia

  You know it, baby... I'd never written something with someone else before, either, so it was an interesting experience.

  Tim Baker

  No doubt. Having somebody to bounce ideas off made the process much easier. Sometimes when I'm writing by myself I'll have an idea and go with it, but when the two of us were working things out there was always that "That's cool - but what if we did this..."

  Armand Rosamilia

  Yeah, towards the end, when we were trying to wrap up a few characters and let others go their own way, we had a lot of chatting about where we each thought we should go. I also liked the fact we didn't simply take certain characters and write them exclusively. Playing in the mind of Ike and Ky and Brewski was pretty fun.

  Tim Baker

  Yeah - and for me it was a challenge writing Darlene. I was a little nervous about not being true to her character.

  I thought it was interesting how we planned on writing "about 10,000 words" but then ended up with nearly 25,000. that's probably my fault, I think I tend to be more wordy than you.

  Armand Rosamilia

  I write 20,000 word stories, while you write 60,000. But our initial idea was pretty basic, so 10k might have been realistic. Of course, once you create really cool secondary characters, you keep filling them out and giving them quirks and likes and scenes, and suddenly the simple idea is still 25k.

  Tim Baker

  I think we could have easily gone further if we had taken some of those secondary characters and given them bigger parts. They were fun - and the beauty of it is that they're all based on real people. Now whenever I see Tiki I'm going to picture him heaving molotov cocktails from the top floor of E.V. and I'll have to apologize to Cesar for leaving him on the roof!

  Armand Rosamilia

  Or wonder why Ky is still alive when we see him at Farley's, drinking a banana bread beer, instead of bits and pieces of him strewn on the docks across the street. It was definitely fun to add in people we know in real life. I just hope Kim doesn't hit us with her 8" stiletto shoe boots or Drunken Birthday Bethany doesn't take offense to her characterization. Of course, if they do... its all fiction. Who was your favorite to write?

  Tim Baker

  I would have to say I had the most fun with Ky (don't tell his wife). Ky is such an easy-going guy it was really fun making him a jerk - and then having him redeem himself later.

  I figure making him a quasi-hero like that will net both of us a few free beers!

  Armand Rosamilia

  That is always a goal. I had the most fun writing about the relationship between Tiki and Crista. They'll either love it or hate it, and it might even force them to have a discussion about love and the proper way to throw flaming bottles of rum.

  We could have added another ten people into the story, but that would have felt... cheap to me.

  Tim Baker

  For sure - and I for one refuse to compromise my art just to name a few friends in a book. Besides - we can get them in the sequel.

  Do you think anybody will be unhappy with their character?

  Armand Rosamilia

  Maybe some people will have an ego moment, where they don't think they had a big enough part. I say too bad! I also will tell them to their face... that I wrote them in as the hero but Tim Baker cut it out in edits. I don't think anyone will be unhappy. Especially if they lived, or died in a cool manner. Like trying to rub their feet when they were attacked.

  Armand Rosamilia

  How did this writing experience differ from the other books you've written (feel free to insert book links/covers/plugs at any moment)?

  Tim Baker

  For me the biggest difference was writing about the undead. As you know I've never gotten into the whole genre so it was an adjustment for me, but after reading the original Dying Days I fell right into the feel for it.

  I have to say the timing was perfect because the novel I'm writing now (Unfinished Business) deals with the thoughts and wants of the dead and how they affect the living. Truth be told I was struggling with it until we started writing this. Putting myself into your world really made it easy for me to get my mind in on that side of life.

  Do you think you'd be able to cross-over and write a book where everybody is alive (at least at the beginning)?

  Armand Rosamilia

  I think so. I don't just write about zombies, you know. But most of my work is horror, and people die. A lot. And mostly horribly. I'd love to write a straight thriller, though, with cool characters set in Flagler Beach. Then we can write another book together but I can see what it's like in your world. That would be interesting. But first I need to stop killing everyone off, I guess.

  Tim Baker

  Well you could always open the book with a train wreck or 45 car pile-up on A1A - that'll help you feel at home!

  I don't know about you, but I see lots of potential stories everywhere around here - especially at European Village. It's like every time we go to Farley's ( for research purposes) we see some new characters. Does your mind do the same thing mine does where you find yourself looking at people and putting them in situations and seeing how far you can take it. (please keep your answer clean)

  Armand Rosamilia

  Clean answer? Then I'm done here. I'm constantly watching people, especially in social situations. I love to hear and see them interact, and I make up my own stories about them as I watch. I also imagine every girl in the place wanting to have sex with me... oh, wait, that usually does happen.

  Armand Rosamilia

  I see all the places in European Village we didn't mention, and all the businesses we can write about. It's pretty cool. If people enjoy this one, I have no problem writing a sequel. You?

  Tim Baker

  Yeah - you're a chick magnet for sure. I'm thinking about buying a patch-covered leather jacket and a helmet that says Goose.

  I'm looking forward to writing the sequel (we have to get Cesar off the roof!). I really hope people like it enough
to make it worth the effort.

  Armand Rosamilia

  I hope people want to read more of these tales. I know I want to find out what happens to the sailboat full of survivors. I also want to know what amazing lunches Jill will whip up on Shibumi while they sail north. Will it be delicious crabcakes? Perhaps a delightful turtle chocolate design? I want to know.

  Armand Rosamilia

  And Cesar on the roof the entire next book, playing air guitar, would be better.

  Tim Baker

  I've got the title..."Dying Days: Heavy Appetizers and Air Guitar Metal"

  Armand Rosamilia

  Trademark it before someone steals it.

  Let's talk about the amazing cover for a second.

  Tim Baker

  Yeah - Ash did a great job and of course David's picture was a great start. It would have been great if we could have gotten the sailboat in there.

  Armand Rosamilia

  The second cover will have the sailboat, as well as an interactive menu for the dishes prepared on the ship. Ash has done most of my zombie covers, and all of the "Dying Days" mainones. She's got a feel for it, and I hope to work with her for years to come. Plus, she's also a Florida gal, so there is that!

  Tim Baker

  She does good work.

  At your recommendation I had her create a cover for Pump It Up. The cover she came up with was fantastic, but I was told it was a little too intense for my style of writing. (I guess I'm just not an intense guy) so I had to tone it down a bit.