Dead Before Sunrise: Amber's Story (18 +) Mature content (sample)

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As the noises reverberated through the buildings and the street Amber steadied her stallion. She unsheathed her katana while she watched the surroundings with a wary eye. Their surroundings went deadly silent, right before they approached the truck plaza. Immediately Amber gazed at Stephen. She placed two fingers in front of her eyes and circled around without making a sound.

"This is weird but all clear," reported Stephen while he held his horse steady.

"Keep your eyes open. I don't like this calm," ordered Amber.

While Amber went forward, the men rode beside her like geese in flight. Amber rode toward the automatic doors. They opened wide as she rode through the threshold. After everyone got inside, they separated into groups.

When Amber and Stephen were in the dining area, they heard a plate hit the floor. They halted their horses and scanned the area before they entered further. Once they were at each end of the counter, the pair gently nudged their horses forward. That was when Amber saw a child curled up on the floor with their back toward her. Immediately Amber eased the sword into its sheath. She aimed her crossbow at the child with a finger on the trigger.

"Stand up and show your hands," ordered Amber with authority.

After Amber's stern words, the girl stood and raised her hands in slow motion.

"Turn around. Let me see your eyes," commanded Amber.

Amber and Stephen watched the girl as she turned slow enough that time seemed to stand still. When the girl took her glasses off, Amber examined her face. Amber expelled air loud enough where it was audible. As Amber still scrutinized over the young girl, she noticed the girl's dirty hair caked with dirt and blood. The child had big brown doll eyes.

"She's young and still human," remarked Amber.

"True. She looks around 9 – 11 years old," commented Stephen.

"Come here. We'll keep you safe," said Amber.

The girl looked from Amber to Stephen. She stood her ground as if hypnotized by them. Soon the crossbow was set aside, and Amber lifted the helmet's faceguard. Abruptly the girl ran for Amber. With help, the child mounted behind Amber and held onto her.

They rode toward the party, Amber held the walkie-talkie then stated, "It's all clear, Joe. Come in. Over."

As they approached the doorway, Amber kicked her stallion into a smooth trot while they rode for the gas pumps. The vehicle group entered the travel plaza and pulled up to the gas pumps.

"How will we get the gas?" asked Joseph as he exited his vehicle.

"I'll see if I can turn them on," answered Amber.

Amber pointed at the child behind her and requested, "Take her and keep her safe."

"Come on. Do what mom says," conveyed Joseph, but the girl stayed still.

"He's my son. His name is Joe. He'll keep you safe," reassured Amber. The girl leaned for Joseph's hands.

"I'll keep her safe," said Joseph.

"You'll know when I have the pumps working," stated Amber as she rode away.

Joseph placed the girl in his truck.

While the men inside the building collected the supplies, Amber rode inside the gas station. Without hesitation, Amber guided her stallion toward the counter that held the registers. She dismounted. As Amber stood at a register, she worked on activating the pumps.

Amber gazed at Stephen when he rode up then stated, "Up and running. I didn't think it was going to go."

They all rode for the pumps when the building was cleared of the useful supplies. When Amber was outside the store, she gazed around the area then snickered to herself.

"I have an idea. Follow me," ordered Amber.

They galloped to the closest restaurant and circled it. Amber pulled the door then laughed at the fact there was no resistance.

"Come over here, Joe. Over," commanded Amber.

When the group got there, they were packing all the items up. The second group loaded the items.

They diligently worked on all the restaurants, hotels, and gas stations in the area. When they finished with this section, Amber and her mounted men headed toward a department store. Swiftly, they cleared the zombies outside of the store then went through the automatic doors.

"Stay vigilant," cautioned Amber.

"Split up. Two go toward the register, some of you check out the service desk. Stephen and I will get the restrooms," ordered Amber as she pointed at the men.

Amber and Stephen dismounted after they halted their horses in front of the bathrooms. Amber hung her crossbow from the saddle's horn. She unsheathed the katana. They glanced at each other, then waved at each other and entered the bathroom. Amber eased every door open as if something would jump out at her from the shadows. Right before, she opened the handicap stall. At once, Amber paused and cocked her head. She stood still and listened. After Amber realized it was a man's scream, she jogged for the restrooms exit. She stopped beside her, stallion glanced around as she grabbed her crossbow. Promptly, Amber's hand stroked her horse's shoulder as he acted up. She raised her crossbow after she saw a flash, but it was too late. The zombie knocked the crossbow from her hands, and it fell on the floor hard. Abruptly, Amber raised her foot, connecting against his stomach. Immediately the zombie bent over as Amber's stallion lifted his hindquarters. The zombie became airborne with the force of the stud's hooves.

Amber snickered then whispered, "Good boy."

As Amber went for her crossbow, another scream rang out throughout the store. She ran for the sound. When Amber was at the scene, two people were already surrounded by zombies. Amber paused and held her breath as the circumstances were realized. When her crossbow was empty, she slung it over her shoulder. Immediately Amber unsheathed the katana and wakizashi then approached a zombie. She pounced when she was within striking distance. The blades broke the zombie's flesh, then he screamed out while he turned. Instantly Amber circled with both swords making contact with his midsection. He grabbed his gut. The zombie tried stopping his intestines from spilling out. Without hesitation, Amber landed her wakizashi into another zombie's head. In a moment, Amber sliced with her katana, then the head teetered-tottered on the floor at her feet.

Meanwhile, Stephen ran up as Amber fought her two zombies. He slugged a zombie on the side of the head. It hollered a complaint. Immediately Stephen turned as a shrill scream came up behind him, then he raised his arm. The female zombie ran into the machete, and it landed in her throat. Stephen's attention was put back on the fallen male zombie. He came down with his blade several times, and there was a bloody mess left behind.

After they killed some of the zombies, their man got off the floor. His foot slammed on the surface until there was a bloody mess left behind of the female zombie. The man threw his machete, and it impacted with a wet thud into the chest of a zombie. The zombie looked down at the blade.

Quickly, the zombie moved for her man. Amber sliced her katana through the air and his neck.

The carnage of black zombie blood oozed on the floor like motor oil along with heads and deformed body parts.

"It's all clear. Come in. Over," related Amber.

"Okay. Over," said Joseph.

They waited for the group at the doors.

"Damn it," declared Amber.