The Dead Years - ORIGINS - Book Zero (A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller) Read Online Free
Author: Jeff Olah
neighborhood, reminiscent of rush hour traffic he used to fight daily, became eerily still from the time he last peered through the front window of his home. The horde that came through in the last few minutes left their mark on those who choose to remain in their vehicles and wait it out. Half-eaten torsos hung from car windows as others who tried to make a last minute run for the open field to the south were run down and paid the ultimate price for their decision. The small handheld axe he decided to bring for protection now seemed obnoxiously irrelevant.
William quickly examined the area as he weaved his way through the congested mess, pausing where the last few cars had been pushed up onto the sidewalk by an entity much larger. It appeared that something had come through the area like a giant snowplow and pushed all non-essential vehicles out of its way as it left the area. The mauled tire tread from the overturned blue pick-up shifted under his feet as he broke out into the open and began to run along the recently cleared street.
What appeared to be a fresh kill and its attacker lay between him and the entrance to his in-law’s apartment building. Simply sidestepping it wasn’t in his nature and although the world changed, he had yet to. William backed ten paces into the street and quickly covered the distance with only a few steps, jumping onto the retaining wall and avoiding the Feeder who had turned its attention to him.
His guess was that the long hallways of the apartment building had either been overrun by the last wave of infected or they hadn’t yet arrived. With the interior lighting in this area of the building inoperable, he was leaning toward the former. The only space he was concerned with today lay at the end of the deadly quiet hallway. With the tension rising in his chest, William moved through the dark hallway, running his right hand along the wall and counting the doors until his weight pushed in the entrance to his destination, the last of the day’s light pouring into the hallway.
The front room only fifteen feet ahead, William knew the legs lying sprawled on the thick shag carpet belonged to his wife’s father. The monster hunched over him didn’t bother to look up or even acknowledge his presence as he lunged forward with every ounce of bodyweight he owned, driving the axe deep into the back of its skull. The Feeder fell forward as William also crashed to the ground. Struggling to his feet, the stench that blanketed the apartment told him all he needed to know about his father-in-law’s condition.
Buried too deep, his weapon was irretrievable and of no further use. He searched the rest of the apartment for what he assumed would be another devastating loss, although she was nowhere to be found. How on earth did his mother-in-law escape this? Where’d she go? And how was he going to explain this to his wife?
Sliding down along the blood-splattered wall between the kitchen and the living room, he slumped to the floor and ran through what needed to happen next. He had responsibilities and not only to his wife. She needed him to get back home in one piece and with what he’d seen in the last few minutes this wasn’t going to happen by accident.
Assuming he was hallucinating due to what was officially the darkest day this planet had ever seen, he rose to his feet ahead of his father-in-law who’d begun to re-animate. His father-in-law’s milky white eyes fluttered open as he sat forward and appeared to growl at Williams’s mere existence.
William backed up to the open door and watched as this man he’d gone golfing with not twenty-four hours earlier, pushed away from the mess of rotting flesh and blood-soaked flooring to a standing position. Fragmented swatches of rose colored skin hung from his neck and midsection, swaying with each step he took. Tiny rivers of blood ran along his pant legs, racing to the floor as he moved more quickly toward
William quickly examined the area as he weaved his way through the congested mess, pausing where the last few cars had been pushed up onto the sidewalk by an entity much larger. It appeared that something had come through the area like a giant snowplow and pushed all non-essential vehicles out of its way as it left the area. The mauled tire tread from the overturned blue pick-up shifted under his feet as he broke out into the open and began to run along the recently cleared street.
What appeared to be a fresh kill and its attacker lay between him and the entrance to his in-law’s apartment building. Simply sidestepping it wasn’t in his nature and although the world changed, he had yet to. William backed ten paces into the street and quickly covered the distance with only a few steps, jumping onto the retaining wall and avoiding the Feeder who had turned its attention to him.
His guess was that the long hallways of the apartment building had either been overrun by the last wave of infected or they hadn’t yet arrived. With the interior lighting in this area of the building inoperable, he was leaning toward the former. The only space he was concerned with today lay at the end of the deadly quiet hallway. With the tension rising in his chest, William moved through the dark hallway, running his right hand along the wall and counting the doors until his weight pushed in the entrance to his destination, the last of the day’s light pouring into the hallway.
The front room only fifteen feet ahead, William knew the legs lying sprawled on the thick shag carpet belonged to his wife’s father. The monster hunched over him didn’t bother to look up or even acknowledge his presence as he lunged forward with every ounce of bodyweight he owned, driving the axe deep into the back of its skull. The Feeder fell forward as William also crashed to the ground. Struggling to his feet, the stench that blanketed the apartment told him all he needed to know about his father-in-law’s condition.
Buried too deep, his weapon was irretrievable and of no further use. He searched the rest of the apartment for what he assumed would be another devastating loss, although she was nowhere to be found. How on earth did his mother-in-law escape this? Where’d she go? And how was he going to explain this to his wife?
Sliding down along the blood-splattered wall between the kitchen and the living room, he slumped to the floor and ran through what needed to happen next. He had responsibilities and not only to his wife. She needed him to get back home in one piece and with what he’d seen in the last few minutes this wasn’t going to happen by accident.
Assuming he was hallucinating due to what was officially the darkest day this planet had ever seen, he rose to his feet ahead of his father-in-law who’d begun to re-animate. His father-in-law’s milky white eyes fluttered open as he sat forward and appeared to growl at Williams’s mere existence.
William backed up to the open door and watched as this man he’d gone golfing with not twenty-four hours earlier, pushed away from the mess of rotting flesh and blood-soaked flooring to a standing position. Fragmented swatches of rose colored skin hung from his neck and midsection, swaying with each step he took. Tiny rivers of blood ran along his pant legs, racing to the floor as he moved more quickly toward
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