Life After Death

by Reames, Jeffrey

  "I told you I'd make it home."

  I sniffed, "You did. Sorry, about shooting the guy. I couldn't take a chance."

  "It is okay, honey. You saved me. You really saved me."

  "It is really you. You made it back for me."

  "Yep."

  Rosie came up behind me and grabbed my leg.

  I looked down, "Oh! Dad, this is Rosie. She has been staying with me up in the fort."

  "Davina saved me too."

  "Did she now?"

  He looked at me. I stared back, "I can tell you later. Let's get back to the fort."

  Rosie tugged my leg hard. I looked at her and saw she was looking at the truck. The guy I shot through the side was getting up. I took my handgun from my back waist and popped two silenced shots in his head. He dropped back to the ground.

  My dad had his mouth opened. "We have a lot to talk about," he said.

  "Yes, we do. What's going on, dad? How bad is it?"

  "It is all over the world. The virus is global. Everyone left is just trying to survive."

  "Oh my God. We have encountered some."

  "We will be okay, and you too, Rosie."

  "We can deal with the bodies later. Let's go and you can get cleaned up. I'll make us dinner. We have leftover turkey."

  "Turkey?"

  "Yeah, Davina killed one for us and cooked it." Rosie said.

  "Did she now? I think I trained you well."

  "I think you did too."

  I hugged him again. We went up to the fort. I made us our dinner as dad cleaned up. He came to the table freshly shaved, but his hair was still a flattened mess.

  My dad was home. Woo hoo! I'm not sure if I'm ready for what he will tell me about the world we live in now. I don't know he's ready to hear about what all I've done to keep myself and Rosie alive.

  It is a life and death world out there. It is a world of life after death out there in more ways than one. We are safe. We will live and find a way. It is what we do. We adapt and live. I just pray we stay ahead of the dead.

  I'm sure I'll write more in the days ahead, but for now, I will enjoy having my dad home. We are alive. It is all we can ask. Amen.

  Davina, Maria, and Dad - David's journey is just beginning. How long can they stay up at the fort? What happened to Davina's Dad on his trek home? Will more people cross their paths, as well as any other zombie hordes? Will they venture out to the town? Winter is coming fast. How will they continue in the barren, frozen land? A Dead of Winter is approaching.

  Coming Late Spring 2020