“So this is it?” Travis laughed in disbelief. “We did it?”
Katie grinned at him. “We did work our asses off to win, you know.”
“Planning man! We planned it out and we did it!” Juan whooped. “We were a little late on the ‘organize before they rise’ part of the Zombie Survival Guide, but we were ready when they fucking got here.”
With a proud gleam in her eye, Nerit covered Kevin’s hand with her own. “Well done.”
Kevin raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ve learned from the best.”
Jason and Jack ran into the command center and Juan swept the boy up into his arms. “My boy did it!”
“Dad!” Jason complained, squirming free, but smiled.
Leaning against Travis’s side, Katie watched the two columns of the shambling undead disappearing into the countryside.
* * *
Half an hour later, Travis hugged Yolanda tightly. He and Katie had gone to the communication center to make a final announcement. Tears glittered in Yolanda’s dark eyes as she stepped aside to let him reach the microphone. She flipped the switch to bring the speakers to life.
“Ladies and gentlemen, one hour after reaching our defenses, the zombie horde is gone. You did one helluva job,” Travis said, his voice breaking. “God bless us all.”
Beaming with joy, Katie flung her arms around his waist and he kissed her soundly. When he drew back, he was surprised to see a shocked look on her face.
“Honey, what is it?”
“My water just broke,” she answered, her eyes widening.
* * *
“Holy shit!” Bette shouted when their victory was announced. Whooping, she tossed her hat into the air as Monica screamed with joy. Grabbing Monica close, Bette gave her a smoldering kiss.
* * *
Rune sat down on the wall and dangled his feet over the edge. Surveying the open space in front of him, he admired the smoking clusters of body parts.
“Well, hot damn,” he said, and grinned at the sight of his Harley, standing unscathed right where he had left it.
* * *
Katarina began to cry, cradling her rifle in her arms. “We did it, Bill. We did it.”
Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the sky, hoping he saw her smile of happiness from heaven.
* * *
Lenore leaned back in the chair next to her crossbow and stretched. Nodding to herself, she pulled a soda out of her pocket and popped the top. “Damn zombies shouldn’t have touched my best friend.” Raising the can in a toast, she said, “For Felix and Ken. Rest in peace, my brothers.”
* * *
Eric was serving as a spotter on the far wall. He’d been awestruck, watching the steadily receding stream of zombies disappear into the west. The official announcement was the most beautiful news he had ever heard.
“Eric!”
Lowering his binoculars, he saw Stacey and Pepe rushing toward his sentry post. He clambered down the ladder and caught his girlfriend in his arms. Kissing her deeply, he cherished the softness of her lips.
Drawing back, she grinned up at him. “We won!”
“I know! It’s the greatest news ever!”
“Oh, no, Eric,” she corrected. “I’m about to tell you the greatest news ever.”
EPILOGUE
The zombies were vanquished, the fire line was a smoldering ruin, and the fort was once more secure. After a long day of cleanup, the night had been full of celebration. Katie’s greatest joy was reserved for the moment when Charlotte laid her baby daughter in her arms for the first time.
Later, their family of friends came to gush over the newest member of the fort. Exhausted and proud, Katie felt the promise of the new world come fully into being as the people she loved best crowded into the room. Travis sat beside her, holding her hand with a blissful expression on his face. Nerit held the new baby as Kevin and Juan vied for the infant’s attention, making goofy faces and laughing. Eric and Stacey took turns holding the baby, sharing smiles that seemed to hold a secret. Katarina cried throughout her visit but insisted it was because she was happy. Even Lenore came, staring at the little one with something close to a smile on her lips.
“It ain’t ugly,” she said at last.
Finally, Nerit shooed everyone out of the room. She kissed Katie’s cheek and whispered, “Well done,” before leaving.
Alone at last with her little family, Katie cuddled her daughter. She admired the little face peeping out of a pink swaddling blanket and felt as though she would never stop smiling. The baby had a mushed-up, funny look about her, but she could see Travis in the shape of the wee one’s nose and eyebrows. The small feet that had pushed against her bladder at the worst times were now wiggling under the blanket. The little hands that had made bumps under her skin now clutched her fingers.
Travis gently touched his new daughter’s cheek. “She has your mouth,” he murmured.
“And your nose,” Katie replied.
“It’s amazing—we’re parents at last!”
“Yes, we are, and don’t you forget that,” Katie said, her eyes bright. “I’m not changing diapers alone.”
“What are we naming her, Mommy?” Travis asked, touching one little fist.
Katie had had plenty of time to think about this in the days since they’d returned from the mall. “Bryce Jennily Kiel-Buchanan.”
Travis smiled in understanding. He said, “To honor Bruce, Jenni, and Lydia. Perfect.” He kissed the baby on the forehead. “You’re the first, Bryce, but soon there will be others. You will be the first generation in a new world.”
Katie regarded Travis curiously. “Others?”
“Eric told me Stacey is about three months along.”
Katie found herself weeping tears of joy. “We did something amazing today, didn’t we?”
Travis laid a soft, passionate kiss on his wife’s lips. “Yes, we did.”
They would continue to rebuild, to bring a new world out of the ashes of the old. It was a wonderful world to bring their daughter into.
The new parents gazed down at their newborn in awe. Bryce yawned—a tiny pink sigh—as she dozed off.
“Welcome to the new world,” Katie said to her sleeping infant.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to my mother and husband for their unwavering support.
Special thanks to Dr. Pus of the Library of the Living Dead podcast. Your encouragement and pimpage of this trilogy have been phenomenal. Thank you so much!
Special acknowledgment to my original test readers: Michelle, Kelly, Julie, Kody, and Helen, you are awesome!
A huge thank-you to my editor, Melissa Singer, for helping me wrestle the original enormous online serial into the ultimate versions of the story of Jenni and Katie.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
If you have jumped to the end of the book to see how it ends, I suggest you stop reading now. While I hope you’re eager to know who lives and dies and if there is a happily ever after, you really shouldn’t spoil things for yourself.
Trust me.
Go back to the front of the book and read this last leg of a journey that started with tiny little fingers reaching under a door. …
AUTHOR’S SECOND NOTE
Welcome back.
By now, you know that the death toll in this novel is high. Of course, in The First Days, I killed off the entire world except for a few survivors. And if I kept to zombie tradition, no one would be standing at the end of this novel. But, you see, I think the doomsayers have it wrong.
As the World Dies was inspired not only by the heroics of 9/11, but also by people’s reactions to other disasters. Journalists and writers of fiction love to concentrate on the terrors and evils of natural and man-made disasters, but I find myself fascinated by the heroism and selflessness of many people in times of crisis. Watching ordinary folks scrambling to save complete strangers is inspiring. I’ve sat mesmerized in front of the TV, watching brave people try to dig through rubble, mud, and
debris to save others; or dive into the ocean to rescue someone who has been attacked by a shark; or scramble to get supplies to desperate survivors they don’t even know.
It is popular to buy into the concept that if our world went to hell, people would become barbarians. I think that would happen to some people, but I believe that a greater number would work hard to rebuild their communities.
Together we stand or alone we die.
Looking over humanity’s long history, I can say that we have not always been the noblest of God’s creations, but we have managed to rise above our faults to build families, communities, vast cities, and nations. We aren’t perfect, but we’re doing a much better job than we give ourselves credit for.
As the World Dies is the tale of a human settlement being founded in the middle of a hostile environment—a situation human beings have faced over and over again throughout history. And like history, As the World Dies is a story about people.
It’s been one hell of a ride with Jenni and Katie. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Eternally,
Rhiannon
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SIEGE: AS THE WORLD DIES
Copyright © 2009, 2012 by Rhiannon Frater
Foreword copyright © 2009 by Michael Carl West
All rights reserved.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor ® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
e-ISBN 9781429988216
First Tor Edition: April 2012
RHIANNON FRATER
RHIANNON FRATER lives in Texas. She is the author of The First Days, Fighting to Survive, and Siege. Frater is well-loved in the blogosphere and is conducting a never-ending blog tour. She is active in the goth and horror fiction communities and on the convention circuit. You can sign up for author updates here.
Thank you for buying this
A Tom Doherty Associates ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
E-book Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES
Copyright © 2008, 2011 by Rhiannon Frater
FIGHTING TO SURVIVE: AS THE WORLD DIES
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Rhiannon Frater
SIEGE: AS THE WORLD DIES
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Rhiannon Frater
Foreword Copyright © 2009 by Michael Carl West
All rights reserved.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor ® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
eISBN 978-1-250-30099-7
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension. 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: March 2018
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
The First Days
Dedication
Somewhere in Texas
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
Copyright
Fighting to Survive
Somewhere in Texas - The Fort
Chapter One
1. - Terror in the Darkness
2. - A Moment of Peace
3. - The Lurking Past
4. - The Lonely Guard
Chapter Two
1. - Taking Risks
2. - Waiting
3. - Going In
4. - The Store
Chapter Three
1. - Army of One
2. - Claustrophobia
3. - No More Time to Wait
Chapter Four
1. - Plans
2. - Facing Reality
3. - Packing Up and Moving On
4. - Safety in Twos
Chapter Five
1. - The New Season
2. - Shelter from the Storm
3. - The Waiting Room
4. - Check-in Time
5. - Breakfast Is Served
Chapter Six
1. - The Away Team
2. - Nothing Ever Goes as Planned
3. - The Madness of War
4. - Words Are Dangerous
5. - What Should Have Been
Chapter Seven
1. - Pieces of Hell
Chapter Eight
1. - Waiting Is Hell
2. - Dance with Death
3. - Nightmares Realized
4. - Friends in High Places
5. - Upward
6. - The Top of the World
7. - All Clear
Chapter Nine
1. - Beginnings …
2. - Letting Go and Moving Forward
Chapter Ten
1. - Shuffling the Deck
2. - Drawing the Tower
3. - Judgment Is Drawn
4. - Enter the Empress
Chapter Eleven
1. - Past, Present, Future
2. - Open the Gate and Let the Insanity In
3. - Purple Dresses
4. - The Stage Is Set
Chapter Twelve
1. - The Characters Enter
2. - Hell Erupts
3. - Descending into Chaos
4. - The Casting of Lots
Chapter Thirteen
1. - Justice
2. - Vigilante Justice
3. - The Aftermath of the Verdict
4. - Ghosts of the Past
Chapter Fourteen
1. - When Plans Go Awry
2. - Turned Upside Down
3. - Haunted
Chapter Fifteen
1. - The Dead in the Night
2. - Into the Darkness
3. - The Devils in the Darkness
Chapter Sixteen
1. - The Others
2. - Code Red
3. - Nowhere Is Safe
4. - Watching the Board
Chapter Seventeen
1. - A Move Is Made
2. - It Begins Again
3. - When Nothing Is Clear
Chapter Eighteen
1. - The Countdown Begins
2. - The Countdown Continues
3. - Ten, Nine, Eight
Chapter Nineteen
1. - Seven, Six, Five
2. - Four, Three
3. - Two
4. - One
5. - Aftermath
6. - Time of the Dead
Chapter Twenty
1. - The Election
Chapter Twenty
-One
1. - The Good Things in Life
2. - Banishing the Ghosts
3. - The Time of Beginnings
Chapter Twenty-Two
1. - The Seasons
2. - Silent Night
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
Copyright Page
Siege
Dedication
Foreword
Somewhere in Texas
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
Author’s Second Note
Copyright
About Rhiannon Frater
Copyright
As The World Dies Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 98
