Read Online Safety Lost (Killing the Dead Book 3) by Richard Murray - Free Book Online

place?” Candice asked bearded man.
    “It was an outlet store before all this began” he said.
    “It’s safe at the moment” the young woman added as she struggled to hold a squirming and noisy child who seemed determined to escape her grasp. With a sigh she gave in and released her hold. Emma ran straight to me and wrapped her arms around my leg.
    I awkwardly patted her on the head, glad for the moment her crying was muffled against my leg. I shrugged apologetically at the young woman.
    “I guess I should say thanks for the timely rescue” I said to the man and woman.
    “Yeah, no worries. You’re just lucky we were close enough to hear you.” Bearded man said.
    “Come on, you can come and meet the others.” The young woman said before adding, “My name’s Julie and this is Akhtar.”
    “Ryan and the little one is Emma” I told her and ignored her questioning look when I didn’t mention Candice who, after a pause introduced herself without looking at me.
    Akhtar led the way and I let the others pass by as I pretended to fuss with Emma. When I was happily and safely behind everyone else, I picked the child up and carried her along. She seemed to be calming down a little at least.
    The outlet store had one main corridor that ran the length of the building, ending with a large expanse of glass that formed the front entrance. Someone had thoughtfully built a barricade against the entrance, out of everything that hadn’t been nailed down.
    Several departments were separated from each other by walls, giving each the appearance of being a separate store in a shopping centre. Various pieces of art adorned the walls, too high up to have been pulled down and added to the barricade alongside the potted plants and benches.
    We were led into a part of the building that had been used as a cafe at one time. Most of the chairs and tables had been taken out and added to the barricade. Two more men and a woman were sat at the one remaining table. They turned as we entered the room.
    The first man to stand up to greet us was tall and well built with dark hair and thick stubble on an otherwise pleasant face. He introduced himself as Alan. The other man who called himself John was skinny and his overlong nose and beady eyes reminded me of a rodent. Beth was the name of the woman with auburn hair who was still wearing makeup despite the fact that the world had ended.
    After the introductions were made, Beth offered to make Emma something to eat and disappeared into the kitchen. John followed along behind and we joined Alan at the table.
    “So where are you from and what brings you here?” Alan asked after Akhtar had explained how he had found us.
    “We are headed west to meet up with some friends” I said cautiously. I didn’t want to give out too much information to strangers. “How about yourselves?”
    “When the proverbial brown stuff hit the fan, we found ourselves in here with a great many of the undead outside.” Alan said with a glance at his companions. “There were a lot more of us at the beginning.”
    “It’s too dangerous to leave at the moment” Akhtar added.
    “Yes it certainly is, though you would know that already wouldn’t you?” Alan said with a chuckle.
    “Well it does seem to be getting worse out there.” I admitted.
    “You can stay here with us if you want” Julie said, “No need to leave here. We have food and it’s safe.”
    “No thanks. I think I shall keep going, though if you don’t mind I will spend the night here” I told her with a smile at Julie who looked crestfallen at my desire to leave.
    “Sure thing, just pick a place to sleep. You might want to have a look around after you have eaten. This place is full of clothes and you look like you need some new ones.” Alan said jovially. He was beginning to irritate me. His good cheer seemed overly forced though I could of course just be being paranoid.
    “That sounds pleasant actually” I said with a false smile of my own,