Devour: Death & Decay Book 1 by R. L. Blalock

brown eyes.
    “It’s alright,” she coaxed, gesturing to the container again. “Go ahead.” Reluctantly, the dog lowered its head to the container and took a tentative lick of the meat. Within a few seconds, he began chomping his way into the delicacy.
    In one of the cabinets, Liv found a coffeemaker and a small plastic container of ground coffee. Based on the dust accumulated on the coffeemaker, both probably hadn’t been touched in weeks, maybe even months. With a shrug, Liv set up the simple device and started brewing a small batch of coffee.
    The divine aroma of the brewing beans filled the air, and Liv smiled as she took in a deep breath. Liv took her time sipping the tan-colored liquid from the biggest mug she could find. The coffee wasn’t great, but she intended to savor every bit of it.
    Liv put down her coffee as she saw a small, blocky fixture on the kitchen counter. Slowly, she reached over and picked the small cordless phone up from the dusty charging stand. She mashed down the call button and lifted the phone to her ear.
    A dial tone.
    The phone lines were still up. Liv quickly dialed Colin’s cell number. While she didn’t have many memorized, it was one of the few she knew by heart.
    Ring. Ring. Ring.
    The voicemail picked up and Liv gritted her teeth in frustration.
    “Colin, please pick up.” Of course, he wouldn’t hear the message until later. At least, she hoped he was still around to hear it later. “We had to leave the other house. Things got…bad.” She relayed the new address to him and fell silent for a long moment. “Where are you? Elli was asking about you this morning.” Tears choked her words. “We need you. Please hurry up and find us.” She took a deep breath and steadied herself. “I don’t have my cell phone anymore. It got left behind. Try calling this number back and I’ll answer if I can. I love you, Colin.”
    Liv quickly hung up, taking a few more deep breaths. As the tears subsided, she dialed her parents’ home number.
    Ring. Ring.
    “Hello,” a familiar deep male voice answered. Liv’s heart leapt at the sound of her father’s voice.
    “Dad!” She gasped. “I’m so—”
    “We’re sorry,” an automated female voice cut in. “All circuits are busy. Please try your call again later.”
    “Dad! Dad!” Liv shouted but the only answer was a repeat of the automated message.
    With a growl, Liv punched the “end call” button and hit redial.
    “We’re sorry. All circuits are busy. Please try your call again later.” Again, Liv hung up and redialed. Nothing answered. Not her father. No ringing. Not even the aggravating automated voice.
    “God damn it!” Liv shrieked, slamming the phone repeatedly against the counter.
    The plastic outer case fractured and the phone fell to pieces in her hand.
    Oh no . Liv dropped to the floor, scrambling to gather the pieces. But it was too late. She had no idea how they fit together.
    Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. She had shattered her only connection with the outside world in a stupid fit of rage.
    A quiet muffled sob broke Liv from her panic. Elli stood just outside the kitchen, her eyes locked on Liv. Her chin quivered as tears ran down her cheeks.
    “Oh, baby.” Liv rushed to Elli and snatched the child into her arms. “I’m so sorry. So so sorry.” Elli broke into a full sob as Liv cradled her close. She was frightened. The world was frightening and now her own mother had frightened her.
    Liv swayed back and forth, clutching Elli close and crying with her.

Day 2
8:02 am
    After breakfast, Liv searched the living room for any blood that the woman might have left behind on her way to the stairs. The drops were splashed across a decorative rug on the living room floor and the tile in the entryway by the staircase, and a trail ran up the stairs.
    The rug could be rolled up. The tile could be bleached. Everything else looked untouched.
    Liv made short work of the blood. She set Elli down to play as she