Read Online State of Decay (Omnibus (Parts 1-4)) by Peggy Martinez - Free Book Online
Authors: Peggy Martinez
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taking me? His chuckle did nothing to alleviate my fears. I took a tentative step forward and found the first step down. My captor kept a grip on my arm as we made our way lower and lower. My heart beat faster with every step we took and it was by sheer will power alone that I didn’t whimper in fear of the unknown.
“Alright, stop right there for now,” he said. I heard him open something on a wall nearby and it sounded like he was pushing some sort of buttons. A beep echoed in my brain and it took me a very long moment to recognize the sound. Clangs and clicks, followed by the loud screech of metal directly in front of us, overwhelmed me and I stumbled slightly, my legs wobbling in shock and anxiety. My captor, almost gently, put an arm around me to keep me standing. A gust of air fanned my face and a sound I never thought I’d hear again besieged me—the sound of a lot of living humans—talking. The sounds came to an abrupt halt as my captor, with his arms still around me, walked us forward. More clicks and clangs followed our entry as the metal behind us swung shut.
“What’s going on, Jude? A low, rumbling voice spoke out.
“Found her snooping through things on the base, Sir,” he answered from next to me. I turned my head in the direction of the sound of several people whispering among themselves and strained to hear everything I could.
“Well, for Christ’s sake … untie her already,” he barked. Jude, presumably the name of my captor, jumped to do as he was told. My blind fold came off first and I blinked several times, trying to adjust my eyes to the unfamiliar, overly-bright florescent lighting hanging overhead. My hands were untied quickly and I rubbed the raw spots around my wrists.
“Am I a prisoner?” I asked sharply as I stared directly into the eyes of the man who I assumed to be the group’s leader. He was probably in his mid-thirties and his eyes were shrewd as he regarded me with interest and a hint of amusement shining in his blue eyes.
“Prisoner? Not at all. I’m sorry if you were under that impression,” he said apologetically.
“What impression was I supposed to be under when Jude here stole my weapons, tied me up and blind folded me? That I was an honored guest?” I sneered. The guy lifted a brow, but didn’t apologize for anything.
“We have to be careful. You’ve seen how it is up there yourself, you surely know that the zombies aren’t the only threat we face now,” he said in place of “we’re sorry”. Even though I wanted to remain angry, I couldn’t … these people did have to be careful.
“I understand,” I grumbled. “But, that doesn’t mean I don’t want my father’s weapons back or that I’m not pissed off,” I hissed. He cracked a huge grin and walked over to me. I took a step back and he stopped where he was.
“How many are in your group?” he asked quietly. We could offer them a place here as well. I shook my head and clenched my jaw.
“It’s just me,” I mumbled. A shadow fell across his eyes, a shadow of understanding and loss.
“How long ago did they die?” he asked gently. I raised my eyes to meet his direct, probing, blue stare.
“I’ve been alone since the first day,” I ground out. His eyes widened just fractionally before he looked at me like he wanted to study me under a microscope.
“What’s your name, girl?” he asked. I stiffened and squared my shoulders before I spoke.
“Melody Carter, daughter of Major John M. Carter of the United States Army,” I answered proudly. The man held his hand out to me.
“Nice to meet you, Melody.” I smiled and went to stick my hand out until I realized I was still caked in all kind of gore and stench. I glanced up from my hand to the face of the man now looking at me with his brow raised. I held my hands up and shrugged.
“Nice to meet you as well, Major, but you probably should hold off on that handshake for now,” I grimaced when I realized how much of a mess I really
“Alright, stop right there for now,” he said. I heard him open something on a wall nearby and it sounded like he was pushing some sort of buttons. A beep echoed in my brain and it took me a very long moment to recognize the sound. Clangs and clicks, followed by the loud screech of metal directly in front of us, overwhelmed me and I stumbled slightly, my legs wobbling in shock and anxiety. My captor, almost gently, put an arm around me to keep me standing. A gust of air fanned my face and a sound I never thought I’d hear again besieged me—the sound of a lot of living humans—talking. The sounds came to an abrupt halt as my captor, with his arms still around me, walked us forward. More clicks and clangs followed our entry as the metal behind us swung shut.
“What’s going on, Jude? A low, rumbling voice spoke out.
“Found her snooping through things on the base, Sir,” he answered from next to me. I turned my head in the direction of the sound of several people whispering among themselves and strained to hear everything I could.
“Well, for Christ’s sake … untie her already,” he barked. Jude, presumably the name of my captor, jumped to do as he was told. My blind fold came off first and I blinked several times, trying to adjust my eyes to the unfamiliar, overly-bright florescent lighting hanging overhead. My hands were untied quickly and I rubbed the raw spots around my wrists.
“Am I a prisoner?” I asked sharply as I stared directly into the eyes of the man who I assumed to be the group’s leader. He was probably in his mid-thirties and his eyes were shrewd as he regarded me with interest and a hint of amusement shining in his blue eyes.
“Prisoner? Not at all. I’m sorry if you were under that impression,” he said apologetically.
“What impression was I supposed to be under when Jude here stole my weapons, tied me up and blind folded me? That I was an honored guest?” I sneered. The guy lifted a brow, but didn’t apologize for anything.
“We have to be careful. You’ve seen how it is up there yourself, you surely know that the zombies aren’t the only threat we face now,” he said in place of “we’re sorry”. Even though I wanted to remain angry, I couldn’t … these people did have to be careful.
“I understand,” I grumbled. “But, that doesn’t mean I don’t want my father’s weapons back or that I’m not pissed off,” I hissed. He cracked a huge grin and walked over to me. I took a step back and he stopped where he was.
“How many are in your group?” he asked quietly. We could offer them a place here as well. I shook my head and clenched my jaw.
“It’s just me,” I mumbled. A shadow fell across his eyes, a shadow of understanding and loss.
“How long ago did they die?” he asked gently. I raised my eyes to meet his direct, probing, blue stare.
“I’ve been alone since the first day,” I ground out. His eyes widened just fractionally before he looked at me like he wanted to study me under a microscope.
“What’s your name, girl?” he asked. I stiffened and squared my shoulders before I spoke.
“Melody Carter, daughter of Major John M. Carter of the United States Army,” I answered proudly. The man held his hand out to me.
“Nice to meet you, Melody.” I smiled and went to stick my hand out until I realized I was still caked in all kind of gore and stench. I glanced up from my hand to the face of the man now looking at me with his brow raised. I held my hands up and shrugged.
“Nice to meet you as well, Major, but you probably should hold off on that handshake for now,” I grimaced when I realized how much of a mess I really
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