by Matt James
Jill dives into my arms and sobs. For a minute, I’m scared that she’s reverting back into a hunk of emotionless meat. But after she nestles into my arms, she laughs softly and whispers, “fuck it’s cold.”
I take off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders as we walk back to our cabin. The cold stings my body, but it’s nothing compared to the warmth I’m feeling at having the real Jill back. It’s been hard not having my anchor around.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I honestly didn’t know what was going on until I heard Deb screaming about them.” She tilts her chin toward the family in front of us. They’re following Dad while Jill and I bring up the rear. “It’s like I was living in a fog and couldn’t escape.” She slows and looks at me. “I killed my parents, Frank.”
I shake my head. “No, an alien virus did. The Unseen you killed weren’t your parents.”
Jill folds her arms across her chest, fighting against the cold and her frayed nerves. “I know you believe that, Frank, but I don’t.”
I frown. “I’m sorry you feel that way—I really am.” I put my arm around her and bring her in close, keeping an eye on our surroundings as we walk. “But I’m confident you’ll see things my way with time.”
Jill doesn’t answer me. She just eyes the family walking with us and keeps to herself, all while she grips her gun in her right hand. My wife is a very strong person. I really am confident that she’ll fully rediscover the woman she was before. But if she doesn’t, and she’s now this new, self-aware badass with a mean streak, then, well, maybe we’ll be fine either way.
Regardless, I’m not alone in this fight for survival anymore. The rock that keeps me grounded in all this is back, and I couldn’t be more thankful. This world we now call home is a savage one. We’re going to need each other now more than ever. Like the mother of two pointed out, finding food will be increasingly difficult with each passing day, and once our factory-made reserves dry up, we’re going to have to find another way to live.
But we will endure.
We will survive.
I grin, finally choosing my song. So far, all the tunes have been utterly depressing and centered around death. But my song isn’t even one of sorrow, it’s one of hope.
I've got all my life to live.
And I've got all my love to give, and I'll survive.
I will survive, hey, hey…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MATT JAMES is a husband, a father, and the #1 bestselling author of over fifteen action-packed titles.
He’s responsible for such thrillers as DEAD MOON, DARK ISLAND, THE DRAGON, BLOOD AND SAND, and PLAGUE. Matt has also partnered with USA Today bestselling author, David Wood. Together, they’ve co-written three stories within David’s popular Dane Maddock Adventures (BERSERK, SKIN AND BONES, and VENOM).
YOU CAN VISIT MATT AT:
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MattJamesAuthor
Website: www.JamestownBooks.Wordpress.com
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Twitter: @MJames_Books
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PRAISE FOR MATT JAMES
"Matt James is my go-to guy for heart-stopping adventure and bone-chilling suspense!"
—Greig Beck, international bestselling author of
BENEATH THE DARK ICE
“If you like thrills, chills, and nonstop action, then Matt James may just be your next favorite author!"
—John Sneeden, bestselling author of THE SIGNAL
PRAISE FOR “DEAD MOON”
“DEAD MOON is a high-octane thrill ride filled with action, suspense, and of course, monsters! An amazing read!”
—Zach Cole, author of KAIJU EPOCH
PRAISE FOR “THE HANK BOYD ADVENTURES”
“BLOOD AND SAND takes readers on a spellbindingly treacherous journey that also manages to have fun along the way!”
—Rick Chesler, bestselling author of HOTEL MEGALODON
“The Hank Boyd series has been added to my must-read list!”
—J.M. LeDuc, bestselling author of SIN
“The next Hank Boyd Adventure can’t come soon enough!”
—David McAfee, bestselling author of 33 A.D
PRAISE FOR “PLAGUE”
"PLAGUE erupts from the pages in a steroid-filled tornado of terror and shock!"
—SUSPENSE MAGAZINE
“PLAGUE is filled with action, monsters, and our new favorite hero, Logan Reed. Need a cup of coffee and the next book!”
—THE MR. CAFFEINE SHOW
PRAISE FOR “EVOLVE”
"A rip-roaring action-adventure that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go!"
—Richard Bard, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of BRAINRUSH
Copyright © 2019 Matt James
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The right of Matt James to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover design © Matt James used under
Creative Commons licenses