Read Online Deadly Night: Jenni and Katie's Untold Tale: A Short Story From the As The World Dies Universe (As The World Dies Untold Tales Book 4) by Rhiannon Frater - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rhiannon Frater
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wire and plastic sheeting. Juan had rigged up a hot water heater, so the water was lukewarm rather than cold. She turned it on and waited for it to warm before stepping fully clothed under the shower head. As the spray hit her face, she started to cry.
Chapter 11
Julie was dozing on a rollaway bed tucked into one of the small offices in city hall that served as a clinic. The baby was tucked into the crook of her arm while nursing, and the little boy was asleep against her back. Bathed, fed, and medicated, they all looked much better.
“Fever broke,” Peggy whispered to Katie. “Just took some flu meds to break it. All three should be better soon.”
The two women stood just outside the doorway peering in.
“I thought the baby wasn’t hers,” Katie said in a lowered voice.
“She’s her wet nurse.” Peggy fidgeted with the end of her ponytail with her slim fingers. “Julie’s baby and husband died in the first days. Alice’s mama died, so Julie took over feeding her.”
With a sigh, Katie leaned against the doorjamb. “That’s really awful.”
Peggy, the scrawny city secretary with a big attitude, shook her head sadly. “The world is all sorts of fucked up, huh?”
“Yeah. Definitely.”
“She told me awful things about what she saw out on the roads,” Peggy continued, her voice trembling. “What they did to that little boy’s twin.”
“Not everyone is bad people. Look at us.”
“Yeah, I know. But it only takes one to destroy paradise. Ask Eve.” Lapsing into a disquieting silence, Peggy stared at the woman and two kids.
“We’re safe here,” Katie said, guessing that Peggy might be scared for her little boy, Cody.
“Yeah, but for how long?”
Not having an answer, Katie reluctantly pushed off the doorway and strolled into the room. Julie stirred, her gaze shifting immediately to the doorway. She straightaway seemed to grasp the truth, and tears formed in her eyes. Holding the worn leather wallet, Katie timidly approached the woman.
“Is he one of them?”
Katie quickly wagged her head in the negative.
“But he’s dead?”
“He was bitten. Rob was already dead.” Katie gently set the wallet in Julie’s hand.
“Did you...help him?”
Katie nodded. “I did.”
Julie’s lips twisted, and her throat convulsed as she swallowed several times. Finally, she managed to croak, “Thank you.”
“He was consoled by the fact that you take such good care of his kids.” It was hard to speak with a band of emotion wrapped around her chest squeezing it tight.
“And I’ll keep on,” Julie vowed, more to the heavens than to Katie.
“He said you were a very good friend to him.”
“He was like my brother,” Julie admitted. “So sweet. So kind.”
“I’m really sorry for your loss.” The words felt so empty.
“We’ve all lost so much.” Julie’s fingers traced over the baby suckling on her nipple. “But we’re not all lost, are we? This place exists. So there has to be hope, right?”
“Absolutely,” Katie answered.
Pressing the wallet to her chest, Julie nodded. “Then that will have to do.”
With no more words to say, Katie departed, heading to the showers to clean up. She heard Peggy, Yolanda, and the mayor speaking in his office but kept walking. She didn’t want to get caught in a conversation.
Travis stepped through the back door just as she reached the exit. Seeing her expression, he hesitated. “You okay?”
“No,” Katie answered truthfully.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just hard sometimes. This world. This way of life.”
“I know.” Travis nervously shuffled his feet, averting his eyes. “But you make it a better place, you know. What you’re doing. Helping others.”
A smile slid across her pink lips. “Travis, so do you. You’re a big reason we’re all alive.”
“I’m not a hero.”
“Yes, you are.” Just gazing at him made Katie’s heart beat
Chapter 11
Julie was dozing on a rollaway bed tucked into one of the small offices in city hall that served as a clinic. The baby was tucked into the crook of her arm while nursing, and the little boy was asleep against her back. Bathed, fed, and medicated, they all looked much better.
“Fever broke,” Peggy whispered to Katie. “Just took some flu meds to break it. All three should be better soon.”
The two women stood just outside the doorway peering in.
“I thought the baby wasn’t hers,” Katie said in a lowered voice.
“She’s her wet nurse.” Peggy fidgeted with the end of her ponytail with her slim fingers. “Julie’s baby and husband died in the first days. Alice’s mama died, so Julie took over feeding her.”
With a sigh, Katie leaned against the doorjamb. “That’s really awful.”
Peggy, the scrawny city secretary with a big attitude, shook her head sadly. “The world is all sorts of fucked up, huh?”
“Yeah. Definitely.”
“She told me awful things about what she saw out on the roads,” Peggy continued, her voice trembling. “What they did to that little boy’s twin.”
“Not everyone is bad people. Look at us.”
“Yeah, I know. But it only takes one to destroy paradise. Ask Eve.” Lapsing into a disquieting silence, Peggy stared at the woman and two kids.
“We’re safe here,” Katie said, guessing that Peggy might be scared for her little boy, Cody.
“Yeah, but for how long?”
Not having an answer, Katie reluctantly pushed off the doorway and strolled into the room. Julie stirred, her gaze shifting immediately to the doorway. She straightaway seemed to grasp the truth, and tears formed in her eyes. Holding the worn leather wallet, Katie timidly approached the woman.
“Is he one of them?”
Katie quickly wagged her head in the negative.
“But he’s dead?”
“He was bitten. Rob was already dead.” Katie gently set the wallet in Julie’s hand.
“Did you...help him?”
Katie nodded. “I did.”
Julie’s lips twisted, and her throat convulsed as she swallowed several times. Finally, she managed to croak, “Thank you.”
“He was consoled by the fact that you take such good care of his kids.” It was hard to speak with a band of emotion wrapped around her chest squeezing it tight.
“And I’ll keep on,” Julie vowed, more to the heavens than to Katie.
“He said you were a very good friend to him.”
“He was like my brother,” Julie admitted. “So sweet. So kind.”
“I’m really sorry for your loss.” The words felt so empty.
“We’ve all lost so much.” Julie’s fingers traced over the baby suckling on her nipple. “But we’re not all lost, are we? This place exists. So there has to be hope, right?”
“Absolutely,” Katie answered.
Pressing the wallet to her chest, Julie nodded. “Then that will have to do.”
With no more words to say, Katie departed, heading to the showers to clean up. She heard Peggy, Yolanda, and the mayor speaking in his office but kept walking. She didn’t want to get caught in a conversation.
Travis stepped through the back door just as she reached the exit. Seeing her expression, he hesitated. “You okay?”
“No,” Katie answered truthfully.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just hard sometimes. This world. This way of life.”
“I know.” Travis nervously shuffled his feet, averting his eyes. “But you make it a better place, you know. What you’re doing. Helping others.”
A smile slid across her pink lips. “Travis, so do you. You’re a big reason we’re all alive.”
“I’m not a hero.”
“Yes, you are.” Just gazing at him made Katie’s heart beat
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