Lost in the Apocalypse by L.C. Mortimer Page A

wanted to bite him.
    The truth was that Neil was tired.
    He was tired of death and tired of traveling and tired of not having a place to call home.
    Ever since he had joined the military, he had been pushing himself. He had been Airman of the Quarter more times than he could count. He had been recognized for his dedication to his job constantly. He had deployed numerous times. He had been the perfect airman.
    He had never turned down an assignment, never missed a flight function, never skipped helping a fellow airman train or study or finish their duties.
    And then his mother had gotten sick.
    And everything had changed.
    Neil wasn’t sure when his carefree attitude disappeared, but he wanted it back. Was it too far gone to reclaim? Was the world too lost? Was he too broken?
    He had been pushing himself all month. He had been trying to be the leader of this little band of survivors he had found. He had tried to guide them, to help them, to push them.
    Was he really doing all he could?
    Neil was tired.
    He grabbed a duffel from the trunk and headed up to the house. Three steps up to the wraparound porch. Fuck. If this wasn’t the most gorgeous house he’d ever laid eyes on, and not just because he was really, really tired of moving around. Not just because he wanted someplace to kick off his boots. Not just because he wanted home.
    Oh, sure, it could use a new coat of paint, but the two-story farmhouse was classic. All blue with white shutters, a huge porch with chairs and a swing, and several outbuildings that were likely full of tools and farm equipment.
    It was perfect.
    The road out front was gravel, but the driveway itself was paved. Unusual, he thought, but maybe that was normal for driveways out in Hickville. He’d have to ask Emily about that. Emily knew everything.
    He was afraid, on some levels, that he was becoming too attached to her, just as he was definitely becoming too attached to the rest of his group, but Neil wasn’t sure he could help it.
    They were his family now, and crazy or not, they looked out for each other.
    “Hey Cowboy,” Emily’s voice brought him back to the present. He looked up to see her leaning in the doorway, legs crossed at the ankles. She had a cowboy hat on her head, tipped low. She looked like the perfect picture of country bliss.
    “Yes, darlin’?” He asked, playing along.
    “Why don’t you come inside and rope me up some grub?”
    He laughed, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her. She felt good and warm and comfortable against him. She felt safe.
    She felt perfect.
    She felt like coming home.
     
     
    **
     
    Kari screamed. Footsteps sounded from the house as everyone ran to find her. She had gone into the basement to clear it out, but she wasn’t screaming because she had found an Infected.
    She was screaming because she had found the hot water heater.
    “You guys,” she whispered. “Look.” She pointed. The pilot light was still lit.
    “After all this time?” Emily asked. “Is that even possible?”
    “You know what this means, right?” Kari looked up at eager eyes. Oh yes, they definitely knew what it meant.
    “It’s gas,” Emily said. “Even without electricity, there should be hot water in the tank. Hot showers, even if it’s just for today.”
    No one had to tell anyone twice. They practically ran upstairs to the bathrooms and started on the showers. Five minutes apiece, Neil warned, and sat outside the bathroom with a timer. It was silly and a bit juvenile, but ensured each person actually got to experience something they hadn’t felt in a month: hot water.
    When it was Emily’s turn, the water felt so good she thought she might float away. She didn’t want to get out. Neil knocked to give her a one-minute warning that her time was almost up, so she quickly shampooed and conditioned her hair, but when her turn was over, he had to pick the lock and drag her out of the room.
    He tossed her on the bed and left, laughing, as she lay against the soft