Read Online The Infected (Book 1): Jim's First Day by Joseph Zuko - Free Book Online Page A

do before I go.
    “Bathroom
break,” I tell Devon.
    “Yeah,
I gotta take a whiz,” he puts down his spear. I lean my spear up against the
counter next to his. 
    “Dibs
on the guys bathroom,” I move quickly to get there first.
    “You
can’t call dibs,” he tries to catch up but it is too late. I jog to the
restroom and catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I look like a weekend warrior
or a silly yuppie with a new hobby. I get to the door first.
    “Use
the little girls room,” I tease him. The kid rolls his eyes and enters the
ladies bathroom. I can feel the Five Hour Energy start to course through my
veins. It makes me want to run and I get very talkative. I had become addicted
to these over the years and would take one before every class to get pumped so
I would push myself harder and get a better workout. I finish first and head
back into the showroom floor. I grab my spear and stand by the window and wait
for Devon. I don’t see any cars traveling down the street. Maybe the police
have things under control. Devon has finished and exits the bathroom. He picks
up his spear and meets me by the front door.
    “Are
you coming with me? Or taking off on your own? I’ll support whatever you
choose,” I hope he comes with me. I can’t imagine fighting these things all by
myself. He needs to choose. I can’t be the one that forced him to come and then
have him hate me for it. He thinks for a minute or two. I don’t want to rush
him.
    “I’ll
miss my Mom,” a tear forms in his eye and he swallows hard. “but, I won’t miss
my Dad,” he brushes away the tear. I slide on a pair of wide receiver football
gloves and my new safety sunglasses. I hand him the matching pair of gloves.
Why not keep this thing going and look like total twins. He slides them onto
his hands. I hold my hand out at chest level. He grabs it and we bro hug. We
slap at each other’s backs. His hand shakes with fear. I am scared too. I do
not want to step out this front door. I stop hitting his back and pat him on
the shoulder before I let go of his hand.
    “We’ll
be okay. I promise,” I don’t know why I said that. I can’t promise shit. I have
no idea what is out there, “you ready?”
    “Nope,”
he slides on his matching set of sunglasses. I unlock the gate and slide it
back. I push the door open, pop out my head to look around. That is when the
smell hits me. The absolutely disgusting smell of the dead.
    “Goddamn
it,” I curse.

Chapter 6
     
    There
is a horde of infected outside and they have seen me pop my head out of the
door. We can’t hang out at this sporting good store all day. We have to make a
run for it. Across the street is a German themed restaurant. It takes up a full
city block and the outside is designed to look like an old Bavarian building. Between
the restaurant and us it is clear. We have to move fast before the horde of
fifty is on us. I take off running. Devon is right behind me. I hope I can keep
up with him. I can see us getting caught in a pinch, if he has the chance to
run, he might leave me behind. I am halfway across the street heading for the
front door. One of the infected is on a collision course with me. He looks like
he was one of those crossfit guys, always working out, always at the gym,
probably a great looking guy before his nose was torn off. I hold out my spear
and tighten my grip. I feel like a Spartan. I aim right for its ugly face. The
blade hits it and is so sharp that it slides into its skull like scissors
through paper. The body goes limp. This time I am ready for it and I pull the
spear up into the air. The blade takes its jaw and most of its face off. I don’t
slow down. I hurdle its body and sprint past the other infected. We run past my
smashed up Mitsubishi and I take one last look at my friend Sam. His body sits
like he is sleeping in the passengers seat. I wonder what will happen to his
corpse? Will I ever have a moment to come back and bury his body properly? Or
will he and