Read Online When the Dead by Michelle Kilmer - Free Book Online Page A

“I miss Anna. I can’t stop
thinking about her.” Ben looked down at his hands, the ones that had gripped
the gun that killed her. “This is crazy.”
    “I’m sorry you had to see her like that in the end,” Moira said.
    “I’m glad she didn’t bite anyone,” Ben shook his head, “she wasn’t a part
of the problem, you know? That is all the comfort I can find in it.” He started
tearing up and sat down. Moira dragged her chair closer and put a comforting
arm around him.
    “Like I said yesterday,” Markus chimed in, “I’m just happy to see living
people. I rented that apartment downstairs because of the view . . . so much
for that .” He laughed but his voice took a quiet and serious tone as
Ben’s had before him. “Thank you for coming downstairs, any one of us could
have easily ended up like Juan or Katie.” He stood up, and walked around to
Ben, Jeff, Rob and Isobel, shaking their hands in appreciation. Once he was
back to his seat, Rob spoke up.
    “I was worried about Gabe. This is scarier than single-dad type worries. Molly
has been so gracious in watching him and keeping his mind off of the serious
stuff. I feel like we can make it through this, now that I can focus on
helping.”
    “Speaking of Molly and Gabe, where are they?” Isobel asked.
    “This is a tad too heavy for Gabe so I asked Molly if she’d play a board
game with him.”
    Moira, who was still comforting Ben, turned her attention to Jeff. “Where
is your wife Sheila? We haven’t seen her since this started.”
    “Don’t you mean we haven’t heard her?” Edward muttered.
    “Edward!” Moira scolded.
    Jeff started to explain. “It’s fine Moira. Sh . . .” But he stopped
mid-sentence, his face a stark white.
    “She went out of town with the dog to visit her parents the day this
started, didn’t she Jeff? We haven’t heard from her or seen her yet. Jeff is a
bit distressed about it,” Ben completed Jeff’s sentence.
    “Well rightfully so! I bet she is just fine though. She’s a tough lady.
Anyway,” Moira moved on, “we like the new place. It certainly is easier to
sleep without worrying about those assholes crashing through the windows.”
    “Moira! Keep your mouth clean. God might still be listening,” Edward
seized his opportunity to scold her back; using his cane to gesture towards the
sky.
    “I don’t know that He is listening anymore. Though if He is, maybe He can
finally hear us now that the televangelists have shut up,” Rob said.
     “Nah, the moaning of the dead is even louder,” Ben’s tears had dried and
he let out a little chuckle at his joke.
    “No more heavy topics like religion and politics. They are a quick way to
breed disagreements. Who hasn’t checked in?” Isobel asked, looking around the
gathering.
                “I
didn’t really,” Jeff said. “It’s nice to have Markus with me. We’re getting
along well. It feels like college.”
                “Agreed,”
Markus smiled.
    “So what about Jill? Should we risk our own lives to save someone who
completely ignored our pleas to stay inside? Should we let her stay there to
starve or attempt an escape on her own?” Isobel repeated her worries of the
previous night aloud.
    “If we are going to save her we should make a decision before tonight.
She could go into labor any time now. If it happens out there it will be much
harder to rescue her and the baby. She will be exhausted and unable to move
quickly. The baby will need to be carried and it might make noise. The issues
will multiply . ” Ben had considered so much more than she.
                “So,
tonight or never?” Edward surveyed the group. “It sounds reasonable.” Everyone
responded in favor of the timeline.
                Moira
closed the meeting with appreciation. “Thank you, everyone. It’s a shame the
world had to end for us to meet you all. Let us pray to the Lord that we have
some time to know each other, if He can