[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“Okay, let’s go pee together.” I smile and put her down, taking her hand as we walk away from the car and towards a bush.She stops as we near it.I turn to look at her.“Check it,” she pleads.It’s my turn to nod as I pull out my knife, release her hand, and walk the rest of the way to the bush on my own.I know there is nothing in there.She knows it too—the monsters only come out at night, and this bush isn’t dense enough for them to hide in—but I play along.I always play along if it makes her feel better.I slash into the bush with my knife.“Better come out, monsters.Lilly has to pee real bad.” I turn and watch as her sweet features soften into a smile.“If there’s any of you in here, you better move along or you’re gonna get it.” I slash one more time for effect and hear her giggle.“All clear,” I say as I turn to her.She runs over to me, promptly pulls down her pants and briefs, and squats next to me as I do the same.We finish up and make our way back to the car, Lilly doing a little skip as we go.She climbs in the back of the car and retrieves her teddy and then comes to stand by my side.“I’m hungry,” she whispers up to me.“I know, Lilly.I’m working on it.”I open the trunk back up and pull out the bottle of water and take a long swallow before handing it over to her.She gulps it down greedily.I want to tell her to slow down and to ration it, but then I see the can of pinto beans on the ground and decide to allow her this small satisfaction, since she’s going to be eating her least favorite food today—and tomorrow… who knows what she’ll be eating?I start a small fire using dried sticks, which cut into the palms of my hands and make my blisters worse, but I’m getting good at making fires now; I’m much better at it than I used to be.Eventually the fire is burning well enough for me to heat the beans for her, and soon enough she’s tucking into them with enough gusto to make me laugh.“I thought you hated them,” I say between drags of my cigarette.“I do.” She smiles and fills her cheeks, chewing greedily.“But I’m hungry.”My stomach grumbles loudly, and heat rises in my cheeks.I’m glad that I’m sitting down as a dizzy spell passes through me, making my empty stomach twist in on itself.The headache that has been building all morning eventually breaks free, and I feel momentarily blinded by the pulsing pain.I squeeze my eyes closed, letting my cigarette burn down between my fingers until it singes the tips and I drop it with a yelp.When I open my eyes back up, Lilly is staring at me sadly, fork poised before her open mouth.“You should eat,” she whispers.“I’m okay, I ate earlier,” I lie.Satisfied, she continues to eat, and I stand and sift through the first-aid kit until I find the last painkiller.I pop it in my mouth and grab the water bottle before realizing it is empty.I drop it back into the trunk of my car and pinch the bridge of my nose.Frustration and anger burn through me.Tears build behind my lids, but I force them back down as I dry swallow the powdery tablet, feeling it wedge in my throat.I continue to swallow until it starts to dissolve, leaving a vile, bitter taste in my mouth.At least it’s down, is all I can think.I turn to Lilly as she finishes the beans and lets out a small burp.“All better now?”She nods and smiles before picking up a stick and drawing in the dirt on the ground.Everything is dirty these days.Dirty and ruined.Fading Hope Humanity Unbound is Available now from Amazon, featuring seven awesome apocalyptic authors.http://bit.ly/FadingHopeClaireCRileyAbout the AuthorClaire C.Riley lives in the United Kingdom with her husband, three beautiful daughters, and one scruffy dog.Her work is best described as the modernization of classic, old-school horror.She fuses multi-genre elements to develop storylines that pay homage to cult classics while still feeling fresh and cutting-edge.She writes characters that are realistic and kills them without mercy.Claire can often be found frantically pinning on Pinterest or organizing her Goodreads bookshelf.Much to the annoyance of her fans that are waiting to know the outcome of their favorite characters.Psst! They all die!If you enjoyed this work, it would mean a lot to the author if you would consider posting a review and star rating on Amazon, Goodreads, and any other book sites that you like, so that other readers may have the opportunity to enjoy the author’s books in the future.Claire actively encourages reader/author stalking on any of her sites, and will gladly respond to all messages with a personal response.www.clairecriley.comhttps://www.facebook.com/ClaireCRileyAuthor@Clairecrileyhttp://bit.ly/clairecrileyamazonOther BHB Books Recommended:FantasyThe Ark of Humanity, by Scott J.ToneyEden Legacy, by Scott J.ToneyHorker’s Law, by Mike LeeThe Beholder, by Ivan AmberlakeDr Zimms, by Mike LeeThe Firelord's Crown, by Dee HarrisonGodhead, by Ken MooneySci-FiFey, by Mike LeeStarFire, by Mike LeeHorrorDoubles, by Melissa SimonsonOdium.The Dead Saga, by Claire C.RileyOdium Origins.A Dead Saga Novella Pt.1, by Claire C.RileyOdium II
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]