When the Dead Rise (Book 1): The Beginning by C.M. Fick Page A

his eyes as he trailed off and Gillian trembled in Powell's arms.
    "Go on," he urged gently. Not wanting to, but still needing to hear the story.
    Stevie swallowed, and glanced over Powell's shoulder to where their mother lay on the floor. Powell kicked himself for not having the presence of mind to cover her before opening the door. "She came running into the house; the side of her head was bleeding and her arm was too. She slammed the door and told me and Gilly to go upstairs and lock ourselves in the bathroom. That she was going to call you and not to open the door unless she told us to come out or you did. A little while later, it was after dark by then, something started banging on the door and I said 'mommy is that you?' but she didn't respond, so I made a bed for Gilly and me and we stayed in here until you came home."
    Powell swallowed another lump in his throat and pulled Stevie into a tight squeeze. "I'm just glad you two are safe." His voice was tight with a flood of emotions.
    There was a shout from downstairs and after a moment the shotgun went off, making them all jump. "You two stay here." He looked back at the body of his wife and changed his mind. He scooped up his children and hurried to the stairs, setting them down halfway down the stairs. "Stay here," he said again. "If I tell you to run, go back up and lock yourselves in the bathroom again." Stevie wrapped his arm around Gillian trying to look brave, although Powell could see the fear beneath the façade. In that moment he was so proud of his son.
    There was a second blast from the shotgun and Powell jumped down the remaining stairs, running to the back hallway. "What the..." he slid to a halt when he saw Marcy standing over two bodies - one was his neighbour and the other was Thomas' - Marcy held the shotgun in trembling hands.
    "He attacked Thomas when he opened the door to the garage. By the time I got here it was too late for Thomas." Powell could see the old man's neck was torn open. "He'd set the gun by the laundry so I shot the zombie and then I had to shoot Thomas in the head when he bled out." Her voice trembled as she spoke.
    "You did the right thing." Powell gently peeled the gun from Marcy's fingers. "My kids are on the stairs. Do you think that if I get these bodies moved to the side of the garage, you can get them and load up the food and water? I need to get the guns loaded and I want to sweep the garage." Marcy nodded and went back towards the kitchen as Powell dragged the bodies back through the garage door, depositing them unceremoniously on the cement floor. He cleared the garage and grabbed the duffle, listening to Stevie chatter away to Marcy as he carried the heavy bag to the back of the SUV.
    The kids screamed and Powell rushed back into the kitchen noticing the banging on the patio door. "What's wrong?" he barked; his gun already drawn. Marcy stood with the kids protectively behind her, facing the back patio door as it shook from the force of each blow. He didn't need to look to see what was in his backyard - he knew that another zombie had been attracted by the gunshots. "Okay, Stevie, I need you to go upstairs with Marcy, pack a bag of clothes for you and your sister and get my shave kit and all of our toothbrushes from the bathroom. Do you think you can do that quickly?"
    Stevie looked frightened, but nodded. Marcy grabbed his hand and turned towards the stairs. "Marcy, you can grab some of my wife's clothes, they will be a little big, but they should work until we can get more. Do you think you can pack a bag of my clothes as well?"
    "Sure thing," Marcy called over her shoulder.
    Powell scooped up Gillian, who stood stalk still, staring at the door. "I won't let anything happen to you," he told her, grabbing several of the grocery bags Marcy pulled together. After securing Gillian in the SUV, Powell went back to the kitchen for the remaining bags and containers of water. The glass of the patio door gave a loud crack and he knew