Dead Living – Excerpt

Sam said nothing. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“I think Aaron’s alive,” Scott finally said.

She forced the shock aside. There would be time to feel things later.

Now was the time for action.

“Do you know where they are?”

“Yeah. They said they’re at the state highway facility on the other side of town, in case we ever wanted to see their merchandise. The sick bastards.”

She stood up. She knew what she had to do. “Thank you, Scott. Thank you so much. I’ll take it from here.”

She left the library and headed for the storeroom. Mary was moving things around in preparation for the winter. She shoved sleeveless shirts into boxes, put sweaters out on tables. She gave a wave when she saw Sam.

“I’m glad to see you out of your room. Everything okay?”

“I need some weapons from the armory.”

Mary was confused. “Well, okay. Didn’t they already do a supply run yesterday? Just let me know what you take.”

Sam stepped into the armory, which used to be the boys’ locker room. They didn’t have much, but it would be enough. Guns, rifles, knives, and ammunition were neatly spread out on the benches and shorter lockers. She still had her two Berettas. She grabbed a backpack and filled it with a set of binoculars and a Desert Eagle. The handgun was still in fine shape. She knew she had to leave room for water. She also grabbed the AR-15 leaning in the corner. She wasn’t fond of the weapon for killing walkers, but for humans, it would do nicely.

“I thought I’d find you in here.”

She turned to see Richardson. He stood in the doorway with his arms crossed.

“So you heard then? About Aaron?” she asked.

“Yeah. Scott found me.” They were quiet a moment while Sam checked her weapons. “Listen, Samantha. You can do whatever you want. But I’m not sending anyone to go with you.”

She nodded. “That’s fine. I don’t want help anyway. They’ll just get in the way.”

“What are you planning?” Richardson didn’t think she was packing guns for trade.

“The plan. The plan is to kill anything that gets in between me and Aaron.”

Richardson felt a chill go up his spine. Her tone was cold, emotionless. She reminded him of the teenager that first found her way to the school. Alone, hungry, angry at the world. Now her anger was pointed at slavers who kept Aaron away from her.

He would not be the one to stand in her way.

“Take the truck,” he said. “And be careful.”

“Aren’t you afraid I might die and you’ll lose a truck?”

“I’m more afraid of what might happen if I say you can’t take it.”

She had the hint of a smile. She surprised Richardson by taking his hand.

“Thank you. I’m gonna get my friend and bring him where he belongs.”

With me.