Read Online Trying to Survive (Part 2) by C.J. Crowley - Free Book Online
Authors: C.J. Crowley
Tags: Zombie Apocalypse
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something you couldn’t possibly have known was going to happen… I wouldn’t have thought anything of it either.”
“Exactly.”
I wanted to believe them, but I didn’t… Jenny walked up behind me and put her hand on my back. Melanie was standing on the other side of the freshly dug grave with Clara. When I could see that she was about to speak, I froze and just stared – Will she blame me?
Her voice was shaking as she said “James, your conversation with Anthony woke me up… When you were done, he came to bed and acted like he was going back to sleep. I didn’t think anything of it either and just closed my eyes again… So no, James. It’s not your fault. It isn’t anyone’s fault – it just happened.”
Melanie sucked in air through her nose to clear out the congestion. “Just like when Chris couldn’t get the car turned around fast enough to get away… It wasn’t his fault our girls got pulled from the windows. It would have been the same story no matter who had been behind the wheel.”
Melanie looked down at Clara and said “No blame tonight. We should only be thinking about Anthony.” She kneeled down, dug her hand into the loose dirt and threw the first handful onto the sheets covering his body.
Clara did the same, and then we all joined in as Melanie began to say a prayer for him.
Chapter 8
By the time the sun came up, everyone but Melanie and Clara had gathered in the living-room. Very few words were uttered, and no one even mentioned food. Even though I’m sure their stomachs were growling just like mine – the want to eat wasn’t there.
We sat around the living room and exchanged awkward, saddened glances until Melanie finally came downstairs, claiming Clara refused to leave the room. “I just wanted to let you all know we’re okay.” She looked at Jessie and then Brian. “As soon as she’s feeling better, you’re going to teach us how to shoot.”
They gave each other a quick glance and Jessie said “Melanie, I know you’re upset, but I think she’s too small to fire any of the guns we have.”
Jenny was standing by the large front window that she seemed to favor. When she heard the subject of the conversation taking place, she turned around and came walking over.
She pulled up her pant leg to reveal a pistol strapped to her ankle, and then proceeded to remove it from the holster. “She can handle this for now and work her way up to an M4.” Jenny held up what appeared to be a 9mm. “No matter how hard we try, we won’t always be able to protect her. A time could very well come when having a gun and knowing how to use it could save her life… or even one of ours.”
I said “Do it, Jenny. Teach her. I was only a little older than she was when I learned.”
Jessie turned to Melanie. “Looks like it’s settled. I’ll teach you – if you want.”
Melanie nodded and said “Thank you.” She moved her woeful eyes to Jenny. “Just give her a few days.”
Jenny’s voice was clearly demanding as she replied “We start tomorrow.” She looked over to Jessie. “We’re staying here for a few more days.”
“Whatever you say.”
As Melanie walked away, she seemed to be in a daze – I even noticed her stagger a bit. I knew she was taking it harder than anyone else, possibly even Clara. Even though she hadn’t known Anthony for very long – to her, it was as if she’d lost another one of her own children. If Clara wasn’t still around to keep her going, I’d genuinely be worried that she might hurt herself…
The rest of us sat down and Jenny continued to stare out of the window. Brian said “Jenny, what are you doing? That’s all you’ve done since we got here.”
She stood perfectly straight, with her arms folded over her chest and the sinister looking M4 strapped across her back. From being in the military, her back and shoulders were noticeably
“Exactly.”
I wanted to believe them, but I didn’t… Jenny walked up behind me and put her hand on my back. Melanie was standing on the other side of the freshly dug grave with Clara. When I could see that she was about to speak, I froze and just stared – Will she blame me?
Her voice was shaking as she said “James, your conversation with Anthony woke me up… When you were done, he came to bed and acted like he was going back to sleep. I didn’t think anything of it either and just closed my eyes again… So no, James. It’s not your fault. It isn’t anyone’s fault – it just happened.”
Melanie sucked in air through her nose to clear out the congestion. “Just like when Chris couldn’t get the car turned around fast enough to get away… It wasn’t his fault our girls got pulled from the windows. It would have been the same story no matter who had been behind the wheel.”
Melanie looked down at Clara and said “No blame tonight. We should only be thinking about Anthony.” She kneeled down, dug her hand into the loose dirt and threw the first handful onto the sheets covering his body.
Clara did the same, and then we all joined in as Melanie began to say a prayer for him.
Chapter 8
By the time the sun came up, everyone but Melanie and Clara had gathered in the living-room. Very few words were uttered, and no one even mentioned food. Even though I’m sure their stomachs were growling just like mine – the want to eat wasn’t there.
We sat around the living room and exchanged awkward, saddened glances until Melanie finally came downstairs, claiming Clara refused to leave the room. “I just wanted to let you all know we’re okay.” She looked at Jessie and then Brian. “As soon as she’s feeling better, you’re going to teach us how to shoot.”
They gave each other a quick glance and Jessie said “Melanie, I know you’re upset, but I think she’s too small to fire any of the guns we have.”
Jenny was standing by the large front window that she seemed to favor. When she heard the subject of the conversation taking place, she turned around and came walking over.
She pulled up her pant leg to reveal a pistol strapped to her ankle, and then proceeded to remove it from the holster. “She can handle this for now and work her way up to an M4.” Jenny held up what appeared to be a 9mm. “No matter how hard we try, we won’t always be able to protect her. A time could very well come when having a gun and knowing how to use it could save her life… or even one of ours.”
I said “Do it, Jenny. Teach her. I was only a little older than she was when I learned.”
Jessie turned to Melanie. “Looks like it’s settled. I’ll teach you – if you want.”
Melanie nodded and said “Thank you.” She moved her woeful eyes to Jenny. “Just give her a few days.”
Jenny’s voice was clearly demanding as she replied “We start tomorrow.” She looked over to Jessie. “We’re staying here for a few more days.”
“Whatever you say.”
As Melanie walked away, she seemed to be in a daze – I even noticed her stagger a bit. I knew she was taking it harder than anyone else, possibly even Clara. Even though she hadn’t known Anthony for very long – to her, it was as if she’d lost another one of her own children. If Clara wasn’t still around to keep her going, I’d genuinely be worried that she might hurt herself…
The rest of us sat down and Jenny continued to stare out of the window. Brian said “Jenny, what are you doing? That’s all you’ve done since we got here.”
She stood perfectly straight, with her arms folded over her chest and the sinister looking M4 strapped across her back. From being in the military, her back and shoulders were noticeably
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