A Saunter With Death Book 2: The Chronicles of Steven

By Z Halferty

Reckless, cocky, and overzealous. Steven is all of these and more. With carelessness, no plan or strategy, and little or no direction, he tempts death at every opportunity while doing his best to enjoy what may be the last days of his life.
With a camera in hand, Steven records most of what happens while he endures some of the most demanding situations of his lifetime. His antics and his alcoholism lead him into danger nearly everyday.
Traveling with his pet deer, Food, and his friend, Bex, Steven seems to find himself having humorous and yet near death experiences. How long will he survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Z Halferty
• Release date: Jun 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463638453

Z Halferty

Z is a loving father who has accomplished much, despite the misfortunes of his life. He has already published a children's book (not for profit) and had a poem published in a well known newspaper before writing his first novel while studying at a community college located in Missouri. Having had much experience in writing, he has written hundreds of works; many of which he lost during a house fire in 2005. Despite this, he continued his work, driving to inspire others to be themselves and write with their own unique style. With his goals set forth, he managed to write his first novel during his free time, in a period of two months. Unfortunately, due to lack of time, it took him nearly a year to edit and begin the publishing process. Because he desires to remain humble and intends to raise hope in artists that have lost their motivation, he has opted to self-publish to prove that, even in the most troublesome of times and with very little money, if hard work and effort is put forth, dreams can come true.

Book preview

A Saunter With Death

Book 2: The Chronicles of Steven

Z Halferty

Copyright 2014 Z Halferty

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

I dedicate this book to beautiful daughter, my family and friends, and to all my fans that have driven me to write more and help motivate me to continue my work. Thank you all. I hope you enjoy this, the second in the series as much as the first and wish all of you the best in your endeavors and am glad to bring you joy with my writing.

A Saunter With Death 1

04/02 7

04/04 8

04/22 9

04/26 10

04/28 12

05/01 15

05/06 17

05/07 21

05/10 25

05/11 28

05/15 30

05/16 31

05/20 33

05/23 40

05/24 46

05/27 50

05/28 53

06/07 55

06/09 56

06/11 59

06/12 62

06/13 64

06/14 66

06/16 69

06/19 72

06/22 74

06/24 76

06/25 82

06/30 85

07/04 88

07/10 91

07/11 93

07/12 95

07/13 96

07/14 98

07/16 101

07/18 103

07/21 105

07/24 107

07/30 110

08/01 113

08/02 116

08/03 118

08/08 120

08/13 122

08/16 125

08/17 128

08/19 131

08/23 134

08/24 136

08/28 139

08/30 141

08/31 144

09/01 146

09/02 148

09/05 149

09/07 151

09/08 153

09/10 154

09/13 157

09/17 160

09/18 164

09/19 167

09/21 170

09/23 173

09/24 178

09/26 181

09/28 185

10/01 189

10/02 192

10/06 196

10/08 197

10/09 199

10/11 201

10/12 204

10/13 205

10/14 209

10/15 213

10/16 218

10/17 223

10/19 225

10/21 227

10/24 230

10/29 234

11/02 237

11/05 241

11/08 243

11/09 246

04/02

I got the camera now, Motherfuckers!

His voice slurs with a Southern draw; his face glows with drunken happiness as the camera tries to focus. It seems somewhat slender, yet full; his characteristics unclear due to the slight blur as the automatic focus attempts to adjust.

Random images of furniture, doors, and various other household articles sweep, in smears, across the screen as the camera is panned, quickly, back and forth as the man runs through the house in a drunken stammer. The sound of hard footsteps and heavy breathing, audible as though they are being received over a poor-quality radio broadcast.

Darkness fills the screen as a left hand grabs a door knob and opens a door to a night scene. The camera quickly focuses and adjusts, making the image clearer.

The man is outside; loose and wild; ready to ravage the external world. But, his antics seem short lived as the camera falls to the ground with a hard thud and it ceases function.

04/04

The man’s forehead and eyes come into focus as he stares into the camera; his eyes, brown, his skin fair and his hair seemingly dark brown. An ominous happiness covers his face as it comes into full view. A strange grin, slowly, spreads across his face.

He releases a strange and mischievous giggle. A woman’s voice echoes as she yells.

Steven!

The man’s face expresses sheer surprise and the camera is dropped.

White noise, once more, fills the screen.

04/22

The overwhelming roar of industrial blowers drowns all other sound and the camera rattles violently. A dense fog blurs any images in view of the lens. A soft crackling noise fills the air as the camera begins to move.

The fog begins to disappear as fabric swirls across the lens. The man’s face comes into view as the camera focuses. His characteristics become much clearer as he stares with a distraught expression.

My name is Steven. I have been stuck in this damn freezer for about an hour now and nobody’s heard my yellin’. I don’t know if I’m gonna die here or what, but these chumps are pissin’ me off. This is just my fuckin’ luck. But! It ain’t no-thing, baby… I’ve been through worse.

His face turns away from the camera as he begins to yell.

Hey, you motherfuckers! Let me the fuck out o’ here or I’m gonna break the fuckin’ door down! And ‘Boss Man’ better not say shit or I’ll fuckin’ kick his ass!

As he returns his gaze to the camera, he has an oddly menacing expression.

I swear I’m gonna fuckin’ kill every one o’ these assholes if they don’t get my ass out o’ this cold ass freezer… I’m gonna skin ‘em all…

The camera begins to beep audibly.

Damn it! Batteries’re dyin’!

Steven fidgets with the camera for several moments until the screen blackens and the camera ceases function.

04/26

A muffled sound fills the air as though wind were blowing through a doorway in the distance. Muffled and distant screams enter the microphone as the scene of a smoke-filled sky, speckled with blue windows of light nears slowly. From out of view, Steven’s voice becomes audible.

Those motherfuckers! I was locked in a fuckin’ freezer for days, they fuckin’ locked me in the buildin’ and chained the fuckin’ doors, and they took all the food and shit with ‘em. I fuckin’ swear! I’m gonna fuckin’ kill ‘em all!

A rooftop comes into view and the ledge of the roof begins to approach quickly. The screams become louder and clearer. When the ledge is nearly touching the lens, the camera is jostled and then stills. A long, narrow, concrete strip fills the view on the right side. Someone wearing a pair of blue jeans appears from the left.

What the fuck?! These chumps are havin’ an apocalypse without me! I can’t believe this shit! But, it ain’t no thing, baby. I’ll get down there and start havin’ fun myself. I’m just pissed they started without me!

Again, the camera shakes violently. Images of smoke, ventilation shafts, tree tops, and various other items sweep across the screen as the camera is rotated. Another person comes into view from the right as the camera settles. The camera begins to beep.

Fuck me.

Steven’s voice is so quiet, it barely registers.

When the camera focuses, a distraught, torn man is standing in the roof access doorway. His arms, clothes, and face are covered with dried blood. His eyes hold a menacing, lifeless stare. Like a dog searching for a trail, he sniffs the air. Slowly his face turns in the general direction of the camera. A harsh coughing and growling sound begins to emit from his mouth as he throws out his arms and charges.

The camera screen becomes black instantaneously.

04/28

As the camera reactivates, Steven’s face appears. Dim light fills the room, making the contrast of the image harshly dark; the sound of raspy coughing, muffled and distant, fills the air.

Fuckers tried t’ get me… but, they…

His head turns away from the camera

… failed!

As his face returns to the view of the camera his expression is that of a confidence.

I won that battle, they lost. They’re just pissed that I beat ‘em.

He expels a victorious laugh.

That fucker on the roof almost had me. But, he was stupid.

Again, he laughs.

Chump fell like a ton o’ bricks… It wasn’t hard… just side stepped his ass and kicked ‘im over the ledge.

A grin spreads across his face.

Now I’m stuck in a damn grocery store with no fuckin’ food! Can you believe that shit?! It’ll be alright. It ain’t as bad as people make it… I’ve only gone a few days without food, it ain’t gonna hurt me t’ lose a few pounds anyway.

A rattling noise, similar to that of wind blowing across a microphone, drowns the coughing as the camera moves. When the noise quits, Steven’s, seemingly muffled, voice mumbles something unrecognizable. Blurred images of shelving, trash, and scattered carts pour across the screen as the camera remains in motion for several moments.

A loud thumping begins to fill the air as the camera nears the rear of the store. The camera’s movement begins to slow as a large door comes into view. The thumping grows louder as the door nears the lens; the door swells outward and then retracts as though it is breathing with every thump.

The camera is set down gently and someone wearing blue jeans entered the view of the lens. Steven’s voice rings out in a clear bellow.

Someone there?!

The thump stops and the door’s motion ceases.

Is someone there?!

Again silence chokes the air.

Help m…

A voice comes through the seam of the door. Steven approaches the door cautiously.

Who’s there?

Help…

Rapid movements are made by Steven’s legs at the door as though he is trying to rip something free. After a few moments, a board falls to the ground with a clack. Several more follow, one by one.

The Steven begins to back away from the door; his boots nearing the lens of the camera as he walks.

As his right boot comes into contact with the camera, the image blacks out and a vigorous crackling noise overtakes all other sounds.

05/01

As the image flickers several times before it becomes clear, Steven’s voice and another man’s voice become audible.

How the hell did you end up here?

Steven’s voice seemed surprised, yet tired.

I don’t know…I just ran from those fuckin’ things and ran int’ the first place I saw.

The man seems as though he has an unusual disposition about him. It seems as though, in an obvious way, he is nearly indifferent to the situation and somehow found it amusing. Steven’s face enters the camera’s view as he sits in a chair near the table upon which the camera sets.

So… Why the hell were you in the loadin’ bay? And what the fuck was the door boarded up from this side for?

I don’t know. I guess it was those workers I found back there. I had t’ beat one t’ death with a damn pallet. The other one was already dead… Had a carrot stabbed in his eye… Looked like some shit out of a cartoon.

Well, I guess we need t’ get the fuck out o’ here… Before those damn things start tryin’ t’ get us.

We can’t. There ain’t no way out o’ here! Those fuckers’re every-damn-where!

Shut up, baby. I know it.

Steven stands up from the chair and walks to the right, out of view of the camera. A tall, thin man follows behind him.

A loud creak and crunch echoes through the room, followed by muffled talking, then silence.

For nearly thirty minutes, sound emanates from another part of the building, inconsistently.

The image fades until the camera goes to standby.

05/06

The screen rattles and bounces, as the daylight fades, moving away from a small group of zombies. The zombies disappear behind a building as the person carrying the camera turns around a corner. The camera slows nearly to a stop as it is raised. The tall, thin man enters the screen from the top as he opens a door to a building.

A zombie bursts through the door. Her face is nearly shredded, her mouth gaping with teeth missing, and her eyes are swollen and bloodshot. Her clothes are tattered, torn, and covered with blood, baring her left breast which has several claw marks and her stomach which seems to have had a belly piercing ripped from it.

The skinny man shoves it away from him and it turns toward the camera. The camera is jostled and rotates, bringing a brick building into view, as it collides with the creature’s mouth. The camera seems to slide down and backward.

Fuck!

The side of Steven’s face fills the screen. After a few seconds, the camera is thrust upwards and toward the building and a scraping sound rakes through the camera. The zombie falls to the ground as Steven stands with the camera and sprints away from the creature.

Steven raises the camera, capturing the skinny man running away, and begins to dash toward him. After several blocks, they turn into an alley barricaded with dumpsters. Steven and the skinny man jump over the dumpsters and roll to the other side. They sit up and lean against the dumpsters as they catch their breath. Minutes later, Steven lays the camera on the ground next to him, filling the screen with a small, narrow alleyway with a chain-link fence blocking access to the opposing end.

You know? That was a shitty situation.

No kiddin’.

You are an asshole.

Why?

You didn’t fuckin’ help me. That’s why.

What’d you want me t’ do? Get bit tryin’ t’ save you?

Yeah. That woulda been okay with me.

You’re the asshole.

Listen, motherfucker, you almost got me killed back there.

Fuck too. That zombie came out o’ nowhere and…

You fuckin’ shoved it! You shoved the motherfucker at me!

It’s not like I meant to!

If we ever get chased by zombies again…

What?! You’re gonna shove them int’ me?

No. I’m gonna shove you int’ them.

That’s fucked up.

No. Hidden cell phone fees are fucked up. That’s just survival.

Dude! What the fuck?!

Deal with it.

I could fuckin’ die if you do that shit!

Shut up, baby. I know it.

As night falls, the camera switches to night vision mode and a harsh coughing noise followed by an echoing thump fills the air. Steven quickly gets to his feet and walks away from the dumpsters as he turns the camera toward the skinny man. The skinny man stands and moves toward Steven as several zombies shove through the barricade. Steven turns down another, adjacent, alley and bolts for the street at the other end.

Steven runs for several more blocks before stopping near a mechanic’s shop. He leans over, using his knees to brace himself with the camera pointing to his right. The skinny man runs to meet Steven. Both breathe heavily.

I… thought you’d… trip me… if a horde… got after us.

That… wasn’t a… horde… It was… only like… fifteen zombies.

After a short rest, Steven stands, pointing the camera toward the ground. He begins to walk around the corner of the shop, into the alley. He raises the camera as he makes the corner and the skinny man appears from the right. Once in the alley, a large horde of zombies comes into view. The light emitting from behind them, seemed to turn them into silhouettes.

Steven turns the camera to the skinny man, shoves him to the ground, and sprints in the opposite direction of the horde. The camera falls to Steven’s side and the screen jostles and bounces as distance is put between it and the horde. The skinny man gets to his feet and gives chase.

Mother… fucker!

Steven runs faster.

Bite my… dirty… white… ass!

Steven runs for some time before breaking through a door and entering a building. Steven slows his pace and the skinny man catches up with him. As they move through the building, several windows, with pictures hanging on walls and small bassinet-like objects, on the opposing side pass by. They stop and Steven raises the camera, bringing a door into view.

Uh-uh, motherfucker. I’m openin’ this one.

Steven opens the door, revealing a small room on the other side. He walks in, bringing a refrigerator, a wooden table, a chair, and a window into view.

Fuck you, dude. You know I didn’t do that shit on purpose. And then you shoved me down and left me t’ die.

You’d do the same.

You’re damn right.

Then quit your bitchin’.

Steven sets the camera on something wooden, seemingly the table, and walks toward the refrigerator at the opposing side of the room. He pulls a small bottle from his pocket, opens it, taps it against his hand, brings his hand to his mouth, and then recaps the bottle. He turns to the refrigerator, opens it and removes a dark bottle from it and throws it to the skinny man, who is standing next to the camera. Steven retrieves another bottle, opens it, and chugs its contents.

Aaah… Piss hot. It’s so hard t’ find cold beer these days.

Steven turns back to the refrigerator and throws the bottle over his shoulder. The bottle flips through the air and hits the camera hard. The camera ceases function.

05/07

The image flickers as Steven and the tall, thin man stand at an open window. Bloodstained curtains sway with the wind, caressing the bloody