The two bikes slowed when necessary to cut through or around crashed cars. Max pushed off of a bumper with her booted foot, swinging the back of her bike through a tight space. The leather chaps she wore were tight, hugging her legs and slender hips. She flexed her cramping fingers in her leather gloves, and thought about how she was baking herself in leather. The sun was still high in the sky, and Max couldn’t bear to stop until absolutely necessary, even to cool off.
She was expected, and she was late. She knew her sister and brother would be in a panic wondering if she was alive. Just as she had struggled holding on to the slim strings of hope that her siblings were waiting for her in Montana. She couldn’t believe that after all their preparation and a father like Mitch Duncan they wouldn’t survive something like zombies.
Trees flew by the sides of the freeway. Max did everything she could to keep her eyes on the road, but she was sure she caught other movement in the trees. Unnatural movements, following them as they flew by. In the weeks since Sundown was activated by her sister, Max had encountered too much unnatural. Black eyes, putrid smells, ripped flesh and chomping teeth.
People she knew, and trusted, chased Max and her daughter Jack. The memories of more than one close call had Max’s stomach turning. Her entire world was on the back of the bike in front of her. Her little girl who was scared and worried. They both were ready to be with their family, to bring them together and keep each other safe.
As she watched her dark hair fly from under her helmet, Max didn’t know how to battle the emotions she was feeling. Jack had immediate trust in their companion. Her Jack that didn’t typically trust people without time, trusted the man with her safety as they flew down the freeway. Jack had wrapped her arms around his waist to his surprise, and Max’s. And as Max watched them on the bike ahead of them, she felt a knot form in her stomach. Her daughter with her arms wrapped around the man, that didn’t know he was her father.
Acknowledgements
Thank you so much for reading Prepared. I hope you enjoyed Alex Duncan’s story. More from Alex will be coming in the Sundown Series, she’s not done surviving this zombie outbreak.
I want to not forget the people that helped me along with the story Prepared. Writing for me has been a dream and passion since I was a teenager. Publishing Prepared has been a dream come true, and I appreciate all of the people that have been on this journey with me.
First the women of my family. Who have always had faith in me and supported my crazy dream of putting down stories for others to read. You are my inspiration.
Thank you to No Line Designs for my cover artwork. I had ideas and pictures in my head. He took those and ran with them, creating something even better than what I could have hoped for.
To my Brainstorming Bestie, without our word vomit sessions, Alex wouldn’t have made it to Montana alive. When blocks came my way, she was always there with a sledgehammer to break them down.
Thank you to my Editor in Chief, Paris. Not only did she work hard at editing this story, she did it while on vacation. That’s some dedication and love right there. For every missed word found and left out letter, I could not be more grateful.
I can’t wait to share more of the Duncans with all my readers! Keep an eye out for more surviving the zombie apocalypse to come.
Sundown Series (Book 1): Prepared Page 25