End of the Line Read Online Free Page A

dealing with the flu, fleeing from zombies and dealing with the dregs of society. Tom had knocked her out and dragged her to loading dock where he had his way with her for two hours. It was only by luck that Abe found them. Abe shot both of Tom’s knees with his own gun, and gave him to the zombies. I don’t know if I wouldn’t have been so cruel.
    Mindy coped as best she could. She knew enough to take HIV meds and the morning after pill. So far she seemed to be clean. 
    “Hey Annemarie, how are you doing?” I should wear a mask but didn’t. Instead I kept a few feet distant, even though I rarely got colds
    Annemarie’s response was a sneeze. Around her were vitamin C, D, zinc cold remedies and some decongestives.
    “Thanks for the time off.” Her voice sounded nasal. Annemarie was a plump woman with pretty red hair in her early twenties, who had been studying communications at Hofstra, when the flu started. She had been gathering supplies at CostKing when a riot broke out near her school. She didn’t try to go back.
    A communications major really doesn’t do much but Annemarie was a quick study. Her job became being an assistant to anyone who needed it, usually Jim, and act as our third rooftop shooter. She was the worst of all three. She usually got day duty because it was easier to see the zombies.
    “We definitely don’t want you to get sicker.”
    She nodded, blew her nose. Colds and respiratory illnesses spooked me. A chilly reminder of the flu epidemic that changed the world. This was an ordinary cold, probably passed on from someone in the repair shop, as Annemarie was social. The flu would incapacitate you.
    “We don’t want to spread it. I’m going to have to ask you to stay in here at least until tomorrow.”
                  “Come on, I can be sick in my own aisle. I won’t leave it.”
                  “We have a decent selection of movies and books. Jim can bring you some later. It’s warmer here than your aisle.”
                  “How about Shaun of the Dead?” she said and laughed.
                  One night she ransacked the DVD and book section destroying anything about zombies; Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Zombieland, World War Z all turned into pieces.
                  I don’t blame her. It doesn’t seem funny when you were in it.
                  “What you should do is drink lots of water and rest. I’ll ask Maddie to make you hot tea. Do you want a sleeping pill? I have to go get Princess hers.”
                  Annemarie rolled her eyes at the mention of Princess. In a popularity poll, Princess would rate at the bottom and Jim at the top. “Sure, I’ll take one.”
                  I made my way to the pharmacy, unlocking the door and letting it close behind me
                  With the door locked, no one could see me. I started crying, softly, I did this once a day, part of my routine. I had to do it to keep the memories from flooding in and impairing me.              
                  I contained myself in five minutes, knew I had to keep it together for the others. I wiped my eyes with a tissue box that Jim probably left. He probably knew I came in here to cry. He knew everything. I grabbed two bottles from the shelf. Two pain pills for Princess and one sleeping pill for Annemarie. I could take a bunch of these pills. Then it would be over and I would be with my family. Jim would find me. Would he try to revive me or accept my choice? Was it right for me to do this after what happened with Abe?
                  I didn’t want to be leader, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to survive.  Even if the humans did win, what kind of life was left for us?
                 
                  “Annemarie,” I said, handing her the pill. “I expect you to use this. You should sleep as much as