Zag: Out of Darkness, Into Night

By Samantha Birmelin

Follow Em Channing as she struggles to survive in an environment of terror and desperation, tackling the biggest of life's challenges: the growth of new love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483502380

Book preview

9781483502380

Jake clutched Em’s hand hard enough to snap her bones. Em welcomed the crushing grip as solid reassurance, following Jake’s heavy bounds across the slick, tiled floor. They could hear Jorge’s labored breath over their shoulders, but he maintained pace as they crossed the treacherous building. A vicious war cry to their left sent a shock of relief through each survivor. Like a herd of prey, their heads snapped as one in the direction of the noise. Only the conscious human mind could devise the vulgar tirade resounding over the racks of the decimated Barbie aisle.

Jake halted the trio without a word. Adrenaline coursed through Em so fiercely her hand shook violently inside Jake’s slightly callused palm. For a hesitant moment they stood listening to the sound of the living railing against the dead. Then Jake sprung to action; directing Jorge to guard Em, passing her hand into the meaty palm of the other man, and sprinting into battle. Em yanked her hand from the sweaty paw and looked into the round, alarmed face.

Where was he taking us?

What? Jorge’s eyes roved unsteadily over Em’s head.

Jake! Why was he leading us back here? she questioned, almost to herself. Where did you guys keep the guns?

Jorge jammed a thumb over his shoulder. Em glanced in that direction, squinting through the terror of darkness at what appeared to be the double-doored entryway to a receiving department. She turned back to Jorge, lips parting around her own words of instruction, but her mouth fell slack as her thoughts stumbled from her brain. Em stood behind Jorge, the pair of them agape at the real-life horror scene laid out before them. Jake’s heavy steps carried him and the half-limp, half-raging frame of the skinny kid Em had encountered in the grocery store so many hours ago.

Motha fucking dead bitches! Flecks of bloody spittle clung to his furiously working lips and dotted the stubble on Jake’s cheek. Despite his obvious injury, Jake’s foul-mouthed compatriot continued to fire slugs into the rotting skulls of the deadly, closing enemy.

The half-insane babble of the injured