Read Online Phase One: Identify (Territory of the Dead) by Rose Wynters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rose Wynters
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back to me, and turned toward the window. “If any of them get in, we're dead. Aim for their heads. Don't waste your time trying to hit anything else.” With that, he stabbed the zombie nearest him straight through the top of his head.
James came running up to us, his elegant face grim. He held another one of my mom's knives in his hand. By the time we were done, she wasn't going to have a kitchen knife left. “I'll help,” he said firmly, moving in front of one of them. In one fast motion, he embedded it in the center of the zombie's forehead before pulling it straight out. “I'll be damned if I lay down and wait to become a meal for these bastards.”
Jayden nodded, matching him death for death. I stood there, holding the knife but didn't try again. The window was only large enough for two to work comfortably. As quickly as they dropped, though, another dead person took their place. How long could the men keep it up?
One of the zombies managed to get their fingers caught in Jayden's dark ponytail and pulled it hard. It threw him off balance, as another zombie leaned forward and opened his bloody mouth. “No,” I screamed, rushing forward.
I didn't even think about it. I just brought my arm down as hard as possible with the knife pointed straight toward the top of his head. It only went in about half of the way, but it must have been sufficient. The zombie dropped, but unfortunately he dropped outside on the ground, with my knife still buried in his skull.
The first zombie still had his fingers locked in his hair. “Use mine,” Jayden gasped, holding the handle of his blade out to me. I grabbed it, aiming for the forehead. Instead, it went in through the eye. “Gross,” I said, completely disgusted.
The zombie's hand relaxed in his hair. With one smooth move, Jayden disentangled himself and managed to yank the knife back out before the zombie fell. I stepped away, not wanting to be in his way.
“Thanks,” he said, flashing me a rare, brief smile. I stared back at him and nodded silently. I wasn't used to seeing him smile, and it made my heart do funny things.
He turned back and rejoined James. There were enough zombies gathered that they could have went on for hours, and might have, except at that moment everything changed. Almost as if it was a synchronized attack from the ones outside, the sounds of shattering glass resounded through the house.
“They are in,” I whispered, feeling the blood run out of my face with such intensity, it felt like I would black out. Hopelessness overwhelmed me, the knife slipping out of my bloodless fingers and falling, unforgotten, to the floor. Silly, foolish me. Things were going so well with James and Jayden, I thought for a moment we had a chance.
Jayden backed away from the window and grabbed me by the upper arm, pulling me back toward the foyer. “We've got to get upstairs,” he told my parents and Amanda. “Now.”
They moved toward us quickly. Mom had her arm around Amanda's waist, supporting and guiding her in our direction. James moved back from the window. His shirt and face were covered with blood. The zombies didn't hesitate. Immediately, they fought to get in.
Headlights cut across the window an instant before the sound of a loud engine roaring cut through the night. It was enough to momentarily distract the zombies. Something was approaching our living room window, and it was coming in fast.
“What the hell?” Dad asked, giving us a puzzled look. I shrugged in response. It wasn't like I knew anymore than he did.
The engine got louder, so close I thought it would hit our home. An instant later the zombies in front of the window went flying, as a black Suburban swung in, only a few, scant feet from the wall of the house.
I couldn't see who was driving. The windows were tinted so black, I was surprised it wasn't illegal. The driver didn't hesitate, though. The door swung open, and
James came running up to us, his elegant face grim. He held another one of my mom's knives in his hand. By the time we were done, she wasn't going to have a kitchen knife left. “I'll help,” he said firmly, moving in front of one of them. In one fast motion, he embedded it in the center of the zombie's forehead before pulling it straight out. “I'll be damned if I lay down and wait to become a meal for these bastards.”
Jayden nodded, matching him death for death. I stood there, holding the knife but didn't try again. The window was only large enough for two to work comfortably. As quickly as they dropped, though, another dead person took their place. How long could the men keep it up?
One of the zombies managed to get their fingers caught in Jayden's dark ponytail and pulled it hard. It threw him off balance, as another zombie leaned forward and opened his bloody mouth. “No,” I screamed, rushing forward.
I didn't even think about it. I just brought my arm down as hard as possible with the knife pointed straight toward the top of his head. It only went in about half of the way, but it must have been sufficient. The zombie dropped, but unfortunately he dropped outside on the ground, with my knife still buried in his skull.
The first zombie still had his fingers locked in his hair. “Use mine,” Jayden gasped, holding the handle of his blade out to me. I grabbed it, aiming for the forehead. Instead, it went in through the eye. “Gross,” I said, completely disgusted.
The zombie's hand relaxed in his hair. With one smooth move, Jayden disentangled himself and managed to yank the knife back out before the zombie fell. I stepped away, not wanting to be in his way.
“Thanks,” he said, flashing me a rare, brief smile. I stared back at him and nodded silently. I wasn't used to seeing him smile, and it made my heart do funny things.
He turned back and rejoined James. There were enough zombies gathered that they could have went on for hours, and might have, except at that moment everything changed. Almost as if it was a synchronized attack from the ones outside, the sounds of shattering glass resounded through the house.
“They are in,” I whispered, feeling the blood run out of my face with such intensity, it felt like I would black out. Hopelessness overwhelmed me, the knife slipping out of my bloodless fingers and falling, unforgotten, to the floor. Silly, foolish me. Things were going so well with James and Jayden, I thought for a moment we had a chance.
Jayden backed away from the window and grabbed me by the upper arm, pulling me back toward the foyer. “We've got to get upstairs,” he told my parents and Amanda. “Now.”
They moved toward us quickly. Mom had her arm around Amanda's waist, supporting and guiding her in our direction. James moved back from the window. His shirt and face were covered with blood. The zombies didn't hesitate. Immediately, they fought to get in.
Headlights cut across the window an instant before the sound of a loud engine roaring cut through the night. It was enough to momentarily distract the zombies. Something was approaching our living room window, and it was coming in fast.
“What the hell?” Dad asked, giving us a puzzled look. I shrugged in response. It wasn't like I knew anymore than he did.
The engine got louder, so close I thought it would hit our home. An instant later the zombies in front of the window went flying, as a black Suburban swung in, only a few, scant feet from the wall of the house.
I couldn't see who was driving. The windows were tinted so black, I was surprised it wasn't illegal. The driver didn't hesitate, though. The door swung open, and
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