Undead L.A. 1: LAX

By Devan Sagliani

On September 20, the zombie virus was released into the dense population of transients on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. It spread like unstoppable wildfire in all directions, decimating everything in its path for six full weeks before outside measures were taken to cleanse the scourge. This story takes place in that final time. Told through the eyes of a native Angelino, it offers a unique perspective to the events as they unfolded and to the aftermath of the virus.

When it comes to safely navigating 747's Edgar Reynolds is a consummate professional. It's his personal life that's in shambles after a string of affairs he couldn't be bothered to hide. None of that matters to him the morning he wakes up to discover he's smack dead in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Now what's important is that he survives long enough to hijack a plane from LAX and flee the end of the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Devan Sagliani
• Release date: Jun 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310344114

Devan Sagliani

Devan Sagliani was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from UCLA. He is the author of the Zombie Attack! series, The Rising Dead, A Thirst For Fire, and the UNDEAD L.A. series. Devan also wrote the original screenplay for the movie HVZ: Humans Versus Zombies. He writes a bimonthly horror column for Escapist Magazine called Dark Dreams. Devan's fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Million Writers Award. In 2012 his debut novel Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde won Best Zombie/Horror E-book on Goodreads. He is also an active member of the Horror Writer's Association. He currently lives in Venice Beach, California with his wife.

Book preview

UNDEAD L.A. 1: LAX

by Devan Sagliani

Copyright 2013 by Devan Sagliani

Smashwords Edition

Free Edition Notes

This e-book is free. Please share it with as many people as you can. Thank you.

This book is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and is in no way intended by the author. All right reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

PREFACE

The Undead L.A. series tells the story of the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of different protagonists, giving us a unique perspective on the end of the world and making the city itself the main character in the process. LAX is the first story in Undead L.A. 1. I've made it available for free to zombie fans on my site and am now opening it up to readers online as well.

Told through the eyes of commercial airline pilot Edgar Reynolds, LAX is the story of a desperate man who wakes up to find the world has gone mad and fights his way through the a sea of walking corpses back to his airliner in the hope of making it out of the city alive.

Buckle up! It's going to be a bumpy ride!

Introduction

On September 20, the zombie virus was released into the dense population of transients on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. It spread like unstoppable wildfire in all directions, decimating everything in its path for six full weeks before measures were taken to cleanse the scourge. LAX is just one of the stories that takes place in those final times.

Told through the eyes of a commercial airline pilot, it offers a unique perspective to the events as they unfolded and to the aftermath of the virus. In many ways it bears witness not only to the tragedies of that unforgettable period, but also to the city's former glory.

May this story never be forgotten but remain uncensored for future generations, along with the rest of the Undead L.A. collection, so others will have the chance to understand the choices that were made and why the sacrifices were necessary for our survival. Hopefully it will serve as a reminder, along with the rest; not only of mankind's infinite potential for good, but also of our latent animal desire for cruelty and suffering, and how the constant struggle between these two opposing forces defined what it meant to be alive in the era commonly referred to as the 21st century.

***

Los Angeles, also known as the City of Angels, once had a

racially and culturally diverse population of nearly 4,000,000 people.

Prior to its fall it was the most populated city in California

and the second most populated in the entire United States.

It covered an area of nearly 500 square miles.

In fact the Greater L.A. Area region contained approximately

18,000,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated

metropolitan areas on the entire planet.

The city's inhabitants were referred to as Angelenos.

***

LAX

The flight management computers were still working when he locked himself in the cockpit. He'd been trying to catch his breath for what felt like forever. Sweat formed at his temples and he could hear his heart beating violently in his ears. He was sore all over, but other than that he was in better shape than most. He'd managed to climb through hell without even getting a scratch. He’d double-checked the door to be sure it was locked, not believing his own eyes.

Thank God for 9/11, he thought. The last thing I need right now is an uninvited guest crashing the party up here while I'm setting navigation. And here I thought nothing good would come of that day, just like nothing good can ever come from