Never Enough Tomorrows: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel By Christopher Hugh Mills.

David (Day of the Collapse)

David was at the garage on a Saturday and he had Nelly with him. He had only planned to stay a little while and work out the week's work schedule. Then he was going to take Nelly for some lunch and maybe to a movie.

Nelly was playing a game on his phone, keeping occupied. The incident with the sick man the other day had weighed on her mind, so she and David had sat down and talked about it the other day.

She told David that she couldn't stop thinking about the man's face and his snapping teeth. David tried to reassure her that the man had just been sick, but Nelly still looked skeptical. David wished he had been there to see this man for himself.

They talked a little longer about the sick man and then Nelly changed things up when she asked David, "do you like missus Jones, daddy?"

That sat David back on his heels. He thought about the safest way to answer his daughter's question, "she's very nice. And you like her a lot, don't you?"

Nelly nodded her head and grinned, "she's my favorite teacher. But...but do you like her daddy?"

"I guess I do," David said softly, "but I would never replace your mommy...you know that right sweetie?"

Nelly had looked down at her hands and had said in a little voice, "but...you wouldn't be replacing mommy daddy, you would just be making another friend."

David had stroked his daughter's cheek and when she had looked up at him with those big eyes and smiled, looking so much like her mother, David had pulled her on his lap and hugged her tight.

He held her until she began to squirm and giggle, "you're crushing me daddy."

David laughed and kissed the top of her head and let her go.

He finished up the work schedule and pushed save. "Alright kiddo, you hungry?...what do you want for lunch?"

"Can we get burgers and tater tots daddy?" Nelly asked hopping out of her chair and handing David his phone back.

Before David could answer there was a loud bang out in the garage, making Nelly and David both jump. No one else was supposed to be in the shop.

"Daddy," Nelly whispered, "what was that?"

David didn't know but he had to go look. They were going to have to go through the garage area to leave.

"Nelly baby," David said as calmly as he could, "I want you to get under daddy's desk, okay. I am going out to check and see."

"I'm scared daddy."

David smiled, "it's going to be alright, it's probably just a stray dog that got inside the shop somehow."

He helped his daughter get situated under his desk and then walked out on to the floor. He flicked on the lights and scanned the area. At first he noticed a knocked over tool cabinet and then lying next to it...was Joe!

"Joe!" David said aloud as he made his way over to his fallen friend. When he got closer he noticed what appeared to be two large bite marks on Joe's upper left arm. The flesh had been gnawed and torn loose. David had to fight back his bile.

He helped Joe sit up, his friend was as pale as a ghost from blood loss. "David...David you...you gotta get Little Bit and get out of here."

Joe was weakly trying to stand up but David was keeping him down, "easy Joe, easy. I need to get you to the hospital."

"No David," Joe said and fell into a coughing fit. When he finally settled he looked at David with bloodshot eyes, "get Nelly and...and get...get to the cab...cabin. It's starting...they...they are all over...the place."