Dark Paradise: The Apocalypse (Sons of Destruction MC Book 1)

by Glenna Maynard

  Dark Paradise

  Sons of Destruction MC

  The Apocalypse

  Glenna Maynard

  © 2018 Glenna Maynard Dark Paradise

  This is a work of fiction. Names characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, business, establishments, locals or events is entirely coincidental. Any reference to real events, business, organizations or locals is intended only to give the fiction a sense of realism and authenticity. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise – without prior permission in writing from the author.

  The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Contents

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Dear Reader

  About Glenna

  Acknowledgments

  Available Now

  Dark Paradise

  It’s the end of the world, but I still have a job to do.

  As a member of Sons of Destruction MC, it falls on me to bring the Prez’s daughter home.

  There’s only one rule: Survive at all costs.

  Zombies be damned, I’m going to get Prissy to Paradise.

  Dedication

  To survival. To hope. To faith.

  Chapter 1

  —Asher

  I set out on what was supposed to be a simple task. Pick up the Prez’s daughter at college and drive her home. It sounded easy enough. I’ve known Priscilla Leonard all my life. We both grew up as biker brats. Our fathers were blood brothers. Riders of Sons of Destruction MC together and when my old man passed away, the Sons treated me as their own. They gave me a place amongst them.

  So, when Blade, my Prez, called on me and told me he trusted me to do the job, I knew I couldn’t say no. I was already in the area on a different run for the club. I wasn’t sure how Priscilla would feel about me driving her home, but she didn’t get a say in the matter. When Blade Leonard tells you do something, you fucking do it. Daughter or not, no one tells the man no. Especially not when the world is coming to an end.

  Three months ago, on Valentine’s Day, a new virus surfaced. The symptoms were like any other virus: Nausea, headache, fever…but then there were others that were not so common. Rashes, blisters, and sores. Extreme aggression and eventually cannibalism. The outbreak was still in the early stages when I showed up at Priscilla’s door on campus. The government was trying to contain the new plague and stop it from spreading. Evacuations were happening worldwide, mainly in the larger cities. Those who were infected were being quarantined. Convincing her to leave was a pain in the ass, but when her roommate turned, and I saved her ass, she didn’t hesitate to climb on the back of my Harley.

  We didn’t make it far before the city had been blocked off. We were forced into a government safe zone set up at the airport. At first our cell phones still worked. I was able to maintain contact with the clubhouse, a place we like to call Paradise. Located in a town so small you won’t find it on any map. I think that was why Priscilla set off to a big university. To get away from the secluded life back home. A lot of good it did her. We spent four months living in tents. She was with the women and children and I was with the men. I protested the separation, but it was me against the National Guard and I wasn’t ready to die. They were armed, and I had been stripped of my gun and my knife. Under any other circumstances I would have put up a fight, but I knew Priscilla was counting on me.

  The zombie apocalypse was upon us and there was only one rule.

  Survive at any cost.

  Attention! This is an announcement from the emergency broadcast service. There has been several confirmed outbreaks of a new virus resulting in cannibalism. All residents are advised to stay indoors. Seek shelter immediately. If you notice any friends or family members acting strangely, quarantine them, and immediately call your local authorities. This is not a test. This is an announcement from the emergency broadcast service.

  —Shelby

  My stomach lurches. Cold sweat beads down my back and breaks out across my forehead. I haven’t been feeling so hot for days. Joseph was scared that I am pregnant, but I had a test a few days ago at the student clinic when I went in for my birth control shot. This is something else. My skin is itching and when I rub my cheek a big flake peels off. What the hell? “Joe, I think I’m gonna go home for a bit to the dorm.”

  He groans from down the hall as I grab my bag off the couch. I think he’s catching whatever this is too “I’ll text you. I feel like I am going to be sick.” He yells out something that sounds like okay.

  My stomach growls and bubbles. A dizzy spell washes over me as I stumble through the parking lot to my car. I feel like I’m dying. I must have a nasty stomach flu. Cracking my window for cool air to keep me alert, I turn on my radio. Some stupid emergency broadcast test is blaring. I turn it off. My head can’t take that annoying siren. Traffic is a nightmare. Everything is moving bumper to bumper away from the city. By the time I get to the dorms I am clutching my ass cheeks together and fighting the bile rising up my throat. I feel like whatever this is it’s about to come out both ends. I hurry from the elevator and to my room as a vile tasting burp erupts in my throat.

  I send a quick text to my roommate, Priscilla, asking if she can get me something for my stomach. Making it inside the bathroom, I look at my reflection in the mirror. My face is red, splotchy, my skin is peeling. I can't stop itching. I touch my fingers to my face and peel off some of the flaking skin, only to reveal more layers of bloody skin coming off. What’s happening to me? Tears burn in my eyes and I throw up in the sink. I can hear my cell phone ringing, but it sounds so far away. Then comes the tremors. My body starts to shake, my eyes roll back in my head and I fall into the bathroom door with a loud thud.

  “Shelby?” I can hear Priscilla calling my name, but I can’t talk.

  I call out to her in my mind knowing she can’t hear me. Something is terribly wrong with me.

  I hear her murmuring.

  Then my world fades to black.

  Then there is nothing and I no longer exist.

  Chapter 2

  —Priscilla

  “Shelby, babe, are you okay in there?” I question, worried about my roommate. She called me when I got out of my first class and asked me to bring her something for her stomach. I haven't seen her in three days. Most the time she stays with the guy she has been dating at his Frat house. She’s been in the bathroom since I arrived making all sorts of strange noises. I thought she was just coming down with something or possibly drank too much at the party she was supposed to go to last night. Now I am not so sure. There have been wild reports of this new virus, though I don't really follow the news. I don’t have time between my classes and my part time job. I don’t get any response from Shelby as I knock one more time. I don't want to get our advisor, but I am scared something is dreadfully wrong with her.

  A loud knock sounds at our door. I’m not expecting anyone, but it might be Shelby’s boyfriend. Maybe he can get her to open the bathroom door. I throw the door back s
eeing the last person I expected to see in this world...Asher. He looks so different...mature—manly. He’s wearing his leather biker cut, under his leather jacket. He’s earned quite a few patches since I last saw him and grown quite the beard. He’s a far cry from the boy I grew up with.

  “What are you doing here?” I jerk him inside by his jacket, getting a whiff of his cologne. God, he smells good. Like leather, asphalt, and cigarette smoke. Like home.

  “Here to rescue you, princess. Your old man sent me. Don't you know the city’s being evacuated?” He cocks a brow at me, smirking, looking like he wants to say so much more than he is.

  “What are you talking about, Ash? I spoke to my father a few days ago, he didn't say anything about sending you down here.”

  He goes to my wardrobe and starts to sling my stuff into a backpack.

  “Um, stop. I’m not going anywhere with you!”

  A loud thump against the bathroom door stop us both in our tracks.

  “What was that? You aren’t hiding some dude in your bathroom, are you?”

  I make a get real face at him. I’m an adult I don't need to sneak around. “That's Shelby. My roommate. She’s been sick all morning.” I start toward the bathroom door as we hear a gurgling noise. “Shelby?”

  Asher’s arm coils around me, shoving me back behind him. “Get back.”

  “What the hell, Asher?”

  He doesn’t reply. He kicks open the bathroom door and Shelby lunges at him, snarling. Her cheek is red, cracked, and her skin is peeling away from her jaw and the top of her nose. Before I can react, he pulls his gun out and shoots her between the eyes.

  I recoil at the memory, squeezing my eyes tight to fight back my tears. That was months ago when Ash showed up and rescued me.

  My stomach growls and I suck in a deep breath as we pass by a burnt down grocery store.

  Tapping on Asher’s shoulder, I signal for him to pull over. I’m about to starve to death. Our supplies are getting low again and we need food. We’ve been on the road together for months and are no closer to making our way home to Paradise. Something is always in our way preventing us from travelling far. He veers to the side of the road, stopping at an abandoned amusement park.

  “Think they have any cotton candy?” I grin, hopping off the back of his motorcycle once he has parked.

  Asher shrugs and puts down his kickstand.

  He runs a hand over his gruff beard. “Don’t take too long. I don’t like the feel of this place,” he announces. He looks pale. Like someone just walked over his grave.

  “Don’t tell me, you, the big bad biker, are afraid of clowns still?” He doesn’t deny it and I can’t help but giggle. I used to tease him about his fear of clowns when we were kids. I grew up with Asher, but as we got older, we grew apart. He was following in Hopper’s footsteps. God rest his soul. He was a decent man. My father’s best friend to be exact. There was a time when Asher West and I were close too. But life changed. We grew up and went our separate ways. He joined the MC and I left for college. However, if I had to choose anyone to be my zombie apocalypse survival buddy, I’d choose him.

  “You ever watch the movie IT? That motherfucker was scary as hell. I’m no pussy but I don’t fuck with clowns.”

  “Suit yourself,” I tell him, shrugging, “but I’m going to find some cotton candy.” I smirk, pulling my knife out of my boot. He gets off the bike but doesn’t follow me. I take my time, moving slowly through the entrance. We haven’t come across any infected in two days, but I am not about to let my guard down. One thing I have learned for certain is that not all zombies are the same. Some are faster than others. I’ve seen some fucked up shit since the outbreak started. Nothing could have prepared me for the apocalypse. Not even being raised by an outlaw motorcycle club.

  The scene around me is eerie at best. The enormous clown shaped welcome sign is faded and the paint is chipping away. His waving hand is missing a couple of fingers. The windows of the ticket booth are covered in newspaper. Early articles about the outbreak and what the government was doing to control it. Conspiracy theories were rampant. The most popular being that the government filtered something into our water supply to weed out the poor. To kill off the welfare recipients.

  However, money couldn’t protect the rich nor the famous: Actors, musicians, politicians, CEOs, they were no different than the rest of the world and now the government has collapsed. Though there are whispers that the President of the United States is still alive in a bunker somewhere. There are lots of whispers though. Some towns are completely overrunning with the undead, while others are still holding strong. Taken over by different groups. We’re headed to a place people are calling Salvation. They have signs up all along the highway.

  The last one we passed read: Hell is real.

  I maneuver over the turnstile, the rotating bars that allow you to proceed through after purchasing tickets. To my left is portable bathrooms and the smell coming from them can only be described as death and shit. I pull my shirt up over my nose and move past the area quickly. The first ride is the carousel. I step on, running my fingers over the horn of the unicorn. This was my favorite as a kid. I used to take road trips with my mom on the weekends and sometimes we’d go to a fair or an amusement park. Not this one, but the sentiment is the same. Next is the game booths. Empty fish bowls and pins that were never knocked over. Tattered teddy bears. It paints a grim and depressing scene. It’s our reality now. The world is broken and the world we knew has been put on pause forever.

  I hurry along in search of the concession stands. The smart thing would have been to look at the park map. I am a little creeped out that I haven’t seen any bodies, but the park was probably closed in the early stages of the outbreak. Someone grabs my arm and I whirl around ready to stab Asher in the eye.

  —Asher

  I pull out my smokes and light one up. Smoking curves my appetite. Priscilla has been begging me to ditch my bike for a car, so we can gather more supplies, but there is no way in hell I am giving up my motorcycle. I rebuilt her with my father before he died. It was one of the last things we did together. As long as I have my Indian Softail, I feel like a piece of him is always with me. Guiding me. Protecting me. I wonder what he’d think about me having a bitch seat on the back for Priscilla. He’d probably be happy. I think he always thought we’d be together. Him and Blade pushed us together enough growing up.

  I put myself out there one time to Priscilla, but she shot me down. Told me she only saw me as a friend. “You’re like the brother I never had,” were her exact words. I take a drag off my cigarette and scan the area for infected. Priscilla is taking her sweet ass time to find that damn cotton candy, if there even is any. The place has probably already been picked clean by looters. There are plenty of black-market sellers but the last guy I tried to buy from wanted to trade for my motorcycle and there was no fucking way I was making that deal no matter how many goods he had for sale that we needed.

  It slowed us down having to scavenge but eventually we found what we needed and moved on. That’s what we’ve been doing, surviving from day to day, week to week. I snuff out my cigarette and walk closer to the entrance, trying to get a view of Priscilla. I know if she needed me, she’d cry out or whistle. She’s tough and can hold her own. Hell, she has saved me from being zombie chow a time or two. As much as I hate to go in, I am afraid something has happened to her. I get past the gate and the place is truly deserted. I walk around aimlessly, observing the grim scenery, until I finally spot her by the giant slide. She’s like a child, wandering around starry eyed, with excitement.

  I grab her wrist and she spins around with her knife in her other hand ready to stab me.

  “Jesus, Ash. Don’t fucking sneak up on me like that. I could have put your eye out.” She huffs, wiping a stray hair out of her eyes.

  “You know you’re cute when you’re mad.” I smirk, and she rolls her eyes. “Wanna go down the slide?” I suggest trying to smooth things over. I know she
wants to.

  “Seriously? Mr. I’m So Serious, is actually going to let loose and have some fun for five seconds.”

  “Yeah. And I’m not that serious. I just consider your life to be precious. I gave Blade my word and intend to keep it.” Her cheeks redden but the reaction quickly fades.

  “Let’s do this thing.” She grabs my hand, sprinting toward the stairs. I follow behind her like a dog in heat, enjoying the sight of her ass right in my face as she climbs the stairs. The jeans she is wearing hug her body like a second skin. Her dark hair hangs in a long braid down her back swinging like a pendulum. I can think of a few things I’d like to do while grabbing hold of that braid from behind. I keep those thoughts to myself for now.

  We get to the top of the stairs and I have a view of most of the park from up here. It truly appears empty, but I still don’t want to stay for too long, the only thing to expect is the unexpected. We have to be prepared for anything.

  “Wow,” Priscilla breathes the word out taking in the sight next to me.

  “All right.” I bend down and hand her a burlap sack, taking a second for myself. We place our sacks down at the top of the slide each taking a separate lane. I take my seat and tell her, “On three.”

  “One,” she says.

  “Three!” I shout, cutting her off and interrupting her countdown while pushing off.

  “Cheater,” her voice calls out from behind me as she catches up, because she is lighter than me.

  We reach the bottom at the same time, both laughing.

  I arch a brow at her. “Again?”

  She shoves at my shoulder roughly. “You’re on, but you better not cheat.”

  “I don’t cheat. I make my own rules.”

  I follow her up the stairs again, getting another eyeful of her perfect derriere. There could be worse things than being stuck in the apocalypse with the one you’ve always loved from afar.