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

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Immediately after the growl, Amber's hand eased over the wall inch by inch. Her fingertips found the switch as another growl came. When the light lit up the cooking area, Amber's eyes adjusted. She saw the heap of clothes, flesh, and blood by the far wall. The mound stood slowly and eerily as it became a gigantic man. His head turned sideways, and his body followed a second at a time. Amber's head turned toward Joseph, and a psst escaped her lips. In an instant, the cook zombie was facing toward Amber. Rapidly, she jumped out of her skin at his swift movement. Amber held a hand up when Joseph took a few strides toward her. He waited for another sign.

As Amber's feet slid an inch at a time, she taunted the zombie, "Hello, big boy. Come on over, I have a friend for you."

When the zombie heard Amber's words, his head tilted. His blue hazed-covered eyes roamed over her body. After the cook stood there in place, Amber unzipped her jacket. The sheer tank top was revealed for his eyes. With his head still tilted, a smile played across the zombies face. Suddenly he leaped toward Amber, and she quickly rolled across the table as his finger's held a corner of the jacket. When his fingers held the jacket, Amber slid out of it. Instantly she faced the zombie and grabbed a portion of her coat without hesitation. The jacket was tossed over his head without hesitation. She pulled the coat hard. Amber's foot was on the bottom ledge of the table, and she slammed the zombie's face against the table.

"Joseph, now!" exclaimed Amber.

Quickly, Amber's wakizashi landed in his back several times. His thick black blood rained from the gashes. Instantly Joseph struck the back of the zombie's neck until he no longer moved. As the body slid from the table, the bulky zombie hit the floor with a wet thud.

"Feel better?" asked Joseph.

"Yes. What about you?" questioned Amber.

Adam approached the zombie with his foot knocked the body to his back, then Adam stated, "You almost decapitated him."

"Can't leave him alive. He was aggressive," declared Amber.

"Let's finish clearing the area," commanded Stephen.

"Adam. Grab my wakizashi," requested Amber.

Adam pulled the dirty blade from the zombie's shoulder. Immediately he wiped the wakizashi on the zombie's shirt and gave it to her. Amber's helmet covered head tilted as she glanced toward the stoves while his feet moved swiftly toward her.

"I bet the ovens work," conveyed Amber.

"That would be a plus," said Adam.

"It will," replied Amber.

"We should get the full propane tanks for the RV," stated Joseph.

Meanwhile, Davis and Alexandria's group split up as they searched their area of the building. Aidan, Derrick, and Ray were into the showers while Davis and Alexandria inspected the lounge. As they approached the entrance of the sitting area, they noticed a small amount of light. A television running and an overturned lamp was the illumination in the area.

"Let's check the restrooms first," directed Alexandria.

"You get the women. I'll get the men," said Davis.

When they walked from the small restrooms, a growl greeted them. They stopped in their tracks at the sound. The pair raised their flashlights then slowly waved them back and forth. They looked for the zombie, but it evades the lights.

"The only place it can be is the chairs," whispered Alexandria.

"You go this way, and I go that way," uttered Davis while he tilted his head from side to side.