by Poe, S. B.
“Jahda?” Devin said turning to her.
“I’ll be back. Promise.” She kissed him on the cheek.
Bridger reached down and grabbed the sunglasses hanging out of Cody’s pocket as he slowly began to regain consciousness.
“Thanks, I was needing some of these.” He said as he put them on.
Emma Grace curled her feet under her. The sun had started creeping over the horizon and the sharp light of day began to filter in through the hazy film on the windows. She rested her shoulder against the wall by the door. She could hear them outside. She knew he was out there too. She put her hands over her ears.
“It’s not my fault. It didn’t stay. I told it to stay.” She whispered as she rocked back and forth.
She stood and began to pace back and forth across the room. She could see the shapes silhouetted against the dirty glass. There were at least a dozen. She stopped and looked at them. She went closer to the window and found a cleaner spot in the glass. The dust stirred up outside sparkled in the morning sun and she squinted to focus her eyes. She could see almost everyone she knew. They all slowly shuffled around in front of the window. She saw Cotton. She saw Mrs. Wilson and a dozen more. After a moment she realized who she didn’t see. She didn’t see Cody. Her heart leapt at the thought.
“Oh Cody, please be ok. I’m sorry you’re such an asshole but please be ok.” She prayed to herself.
She walked over to the door. She needed to find Cody. The door to the fellowship hall opened outward. She grabbed the handle and turned it. She tried to push it open but it barely moved. She tried again. Nothing. She walked back over to the window and looked toward the door. There were several goners pressed up against it and several more behind them sniffing the air.
She looked around the room but didn’t see anything she could use. She went back to the door and started pushing again.
“Move. Dammit.” She said. “MOVE!!!”
She kicked the door in frustration and walked back over to the window. They were solid panes and didn’t open. She saw the garbage can in the corner and walked over to it. It was plastic. She picked it up anyway and tossed it at the window. It bounced off. She grabbed it and threw it again. And again. It bounced off each time.
“Dammit.” She said.
She walked back over to the door and shoved again. She beat it with her fists.
“Cody. CODY!!!!” She yelled. She pushed hard one more time. Nothing.
She walked back over to the window and looked as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“LET ME OUT!!!!” She yelled.
She turned her back to the window and slid down to the floor. She sat there and sobbed for a few minutes more. She listened to the shuffling of feet, the guttural breaths and the endless moan of the town she had known as it lived beyond death outside the door. The sound droned on until she heard a shot. And another. She heard it a third time and stood.
She looked out the window and the first thing she saw was a machete come out through the eye of Mrs. Wilson. She brought her hand to her mouth but her next thought was Cody. She strained to see him. Instead a girl came into view. Exotic looking. Emma Grace didn’t know this girl. Then her father’s face appeared in front of her. She jumped back. She watched as someone drove a knife through the side of his temple and pulled it back out. He dropped out of site. There were a few more shots fired just outside and she turned to face the door. She watched as the handle twisted and the door opened. Sunlight filled the room before a dark shape filled the doorframe. It wasn’t the girl she saw earlier and her pupils had not adjusted to the light yet. As they did she saw a hand reach out for her.
“Who are you?” She asked.
“Bridger. Bridger Preston. I’m here to help.”
Afterwords
Dear Survivors,
I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some things about this series.
First, I just want to thank everyone who reads this series. I am amazed and humbled by it.
Secondly, hey family, here I am. Thanks.
Third, the music. At the end of each book I put a playlist up. These are the songs that inspire me, enlighten me and entertain me. The people behind these songs are true artists and I hope you support them. And yes, some of the characters have their own theme music. The first character to get a song in my head was of course JW.
“Truckers Love Song” by Lincoln Durham.
Back to Bones in the Road. This book is a stepping off point. Things are changing, people are changing, times are changing and the deaduns are changing. And to that end let me just say this, I am a fan of all zombie’s. I will have to leave it at that because I am afraid I might divulge all the wonderful, horrific, sad, elating and devastating things that are going to happen.
Don’t worry. Soon.
SB Poe
Music for Bones in the Road
The Dirty River Boys
The Be Good Tanyas
Thieving Birds
The Band of Heathens
Lee Dewyze
Mika Ratsula
St.Paul and the Broken Bones
Passenger
Joe Pug
Rock Plaza Central
Jamie N Commons
John Moreland
The Wailin Jennys
Ben Nichols
Patty Griffin
Karen Elson
The White Stripes
Alison Mosshart
Bob Dylan
Dwight Yoakam
Phillip Phillips
The Potter’s Field
Marionette Zombie Series Book 6
By SB Poe
Arrives June 1 2019
