by Tim Moon
The wall had posters featuring beautiful scenery from around Washington and Oregon and on one wall was a leader board with archery scores, marksmanship scores, and other sports and activities. He was instantly curious if they would find archery equipment.
“Does this mean we have a firing range?” Anuhea asked softly.
Ben shrugged. “If not, we can make one.”
The last major structure was a small café with bookshelves lining the walls and large windows facing the lake. It was the kind of place you could spend hours relaxing in the plush chairs, while enjoying a good book and coffee or tea. Certainly not one of the features that Ben remembered. He suspected his mom would try to move in and claim it as her home.
They unlocked the door that Anuhea had tried to open and hustled over to where Chadwick watched the cabins. Nancy paced near the vehicles, slowly walking up and down the line. Oliver had moved and now sat inside the SUV in between the other two vehicles.
“Anything?” Chadwick asked.
“All clear. You?” Ben asked.
“Quiet as a graveyard.”
“Is that really the best analogy?” Anuhea asked with a sharp edge to her voice.
Chadwick’s grin melted away at the look in her eyes. “Bollocks.”
“Time for phase two,” Ben said.
“What’s that?” Chadwick asked, obviously grateful for a change of subject.
“Checking the cabins.”
“Right.” He nodded.
“We’ll treat it like the neighborhood,” Ben said.
“Let’s get on with it,” Anuhea said wearily.
They began a search that lasted nearly forty minutes. By the end, only one cabin had any bodies. When Ben had first spotted the bodies on the bed, he had assumed it would be an old couple. Instead it was two teenagers.
Too young, he thought.
The boy’s hand gripped a pistol. Murder-suicide.
Shaking his head, Ben wondered why they had felt the need to resort to that. Especially out here. It was a fantastic place to survive the zombie apocalypse. They must have experienced something terrible. A sigh escaped his lips.
Anuhea was the first to notice the envelope on the side-table. She picked it up but didn’t open it right away. She looked at Ben before folding it in half and stuffing it inside her pocket. They could read it later.
They left the cabin.
“The second to last cabin is off limits until we can deal with the bodies,” Ben said when everyone returned to the parking lot.
Nancy’s eyebrows rose at that, but she didn’t say anything.
“That’s a job for tomorrow,” Ben said. “We don’t have a lot of daylight left and we should get settled in before it gets dark. Stay quiet and don’t slam any doors or make loud noises.”
“Why?” Chadwick asked.
“Sound carries over water,” Anuhea said.
“Bollocks,” Chadwick hissed again under his breath. He made a face and nodded as if it should have been obvious to him.
“I was thinking we should all stay inside the main building tonight,” Nancy said. “That way we will be close if anything happens. We’ll need time to adjust to the new atmosphere.”
“It’s safer too,” Anuhea added. “Great idea.”
“Fine by me. That makes this easier, I think.” Ben looked at all the gear they’d have to unload. “Time to unpack.”
“Well I for one am excited,” Nancy said. “This place is gorgeous.”
They all agreed on that point.
Ben walked over to the SUV and opened the door for Oliver.
“You want to come outside?” he asked.
“Are there any monsters?” Oliver asked.
“We didn’t find any,” Ben said. “Why don’t you give us a hand with the gear? We’re going to stay in that building tonight.”
“Okay.” Oliver climbed out of the SUV and clutched Ben’s hand.
“We still have to stay quiet though, okay?”
“Why?”
“Because we don’t know who might be out there yet and sound goes a long way over water.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Together they walked towards the lake. When they were halfway across the parking lot, Oliver let go of Ben’s hand and ran ahead to look around. Ben watched him explore with a giant grin.
Nancy appeared next to Ben.
“Looks like we finally have a place where we can relax a little.”
Ben nodded. “A little,” he muttered, continuing to watch Oliver explore.
After a few minutes, he glanced down at his mom out of the corner of his eyes. He could feel her staring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“Come on. You were staring.”
His mom let out a sigh. She was quiet for a few long moments.
“Your dad used to get that look on his face when you were little,” she said.
Dad… Ben couldn’t help wondering if his dad was even alive. He didn’t want to ruin the moment with dark thoughts. Those were problems for another day.
Ben nudged her with his elbow and then put his arm around his mom’s shoulders.
“I love you,” Ben said.
“I know,” she said, patting the hand he hung around her shoulders. “I love you too.”
Thank You
I hope you enjoyed reading The Early Days Trilogy. The series will continue in the next book. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe for updates.
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Also by Tim Moon
Dead Frozen: A Necrose Series Story
The zombie apocalypse has struck Alaska!
Working security at the airport is often interesting but rarely dangerous. Yet Gavin McKnight finds himself up against a tough choice: follow the rules or defend his coworker.
When things spiral out of control, Gavin rallies survivors in a heart-thumping battle that will forever change his life.
Long Way Down: A Necrose Series Story
Would you face your worst fear to survive?
I never thought I'd have to answer this question. We never really know what we'll do until the stuff hits the fan. Split-second decisions can alter our lives forever.
When some idiot burned down my high-rise apartment building, and my friends and I were forced to hit the streets of Miami, I found out exactly what I was capable of.
Because reality is harsh when the streets are filled with zombies and the world doesn't give a damn how you feel about it.
The Collin War Chronicles Trilogy
Collin War suddenly awakens in the small town of Goshen, Montana and finds himself in a future that feels suspiciously like the past. In a community struggling to survive, Collin must regain his strength to face the outsiders seeking to destroy the town and the people he grows to care for. As his past is revealed, dark and terrible secrets are uncovered. Collin realizes that more than the fate of Goshen is in his hands.
With the support of his friends Koby and Dr. Julie Horner, Collin prepares for the fight of his life. Freedom must be won. Hope must be spread. And the tree of liberty must be fed the blood of patriots. Dive into the complete Collin War Chronicles trilogy today for a post-apocalyptic, dystopian story that will open your mind and then blow it away.
Protector: A Guardian Council Story
Daria Rosewood is a Protector, trained to battle vampires, necromancers, werewolves and other forces of darkness. Problem is, she hasn't been on a mission.
When a woman disappears into Seattle’s underworld, Daria is finally given her first case. Teaming up with Dr. Drake Jones, they start digging around for clues to find the missing woman. But when things go to hell, Daria must dig deep in order to pull through and save her friends.
Expecting a simple investigation
, they get a whole lot more than they bargained for. Daria quickly finds her skills, magic and mental fortitude stretched to their limits.
When the going gets tough, a harsh new reality becomes apparent - service often demands a steep price.
Echoes of a Warlock: A Guardian Council Story
What would you risk for your best friend?
Sarah Cooper was a successful private investigator called to the scene of her best friend’s murder. Citing protocol, a stuffy inspector kicks her off the case, leading Sarah to forge ahead on her own. Sneaking into the crime scene to look for evidence, she stumbles across a hidden clue.
The clue reveals an unlikely ally and a puzzle that she must piece together in order to find the killer and fulfill her friend’s dying wish. Pursued by unknown forces, and operating far outside the law, Sarah’s dedication and skills are tested in the rush to outrun her enemies.
Vengeance and justice must be weighed. Artifacts must be preserved. A traitor must be unmasked. All before a mysterious cabal subverts the Guardian Council.
About the Author
Tim Moon is an author from Washington State. Tim graduated from Washington State University, with a BA in political science and a minor in psychology. As a lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, Tim primarily writes in those genres. After years in a government job, he moved to South Korea to teach English and during his free time completed Dead Apocalypse, his first book. Tim currently lives in China with his beautiful wife.
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