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

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Meanwhile, back with Stephen and Joseph as they departed their encampment.

"I would feel better if Adam was with your mother," remarked Stephen.

"Yes. You know my mom, though," conveyed Joseph.

"True. She can be very stubborn on some stuff," commented Stephen.

Stephen cleared his throat, then continued, "I wish I would've been here from the start."

"It would've been nice for mom with everything that happened," stated Joseph.

"Yes. I feel guilty for it," expressed Stephen.

"You shouldn't. It was bad here, but with you. New York that was worse. We also have mom's zombies," declared Joseph.

"You're right. I will tell my story later," related Stephen.

"It should be a good one. Mom told me about the bite mark," disclosed Joseph.

"Yes. The bite," announced Stephen.

"That will make you like mom," articulated Joseph.

"I guess you could say that. Don't tell anyone yet," requested Stephen.

As they drove for the farmhouse, a silence hovered over them. Soon the house came in view. They gawked at the big white house with green shutters in awe due to the utter size of it. There were several buildings on the property and a few pastures. One of the paddocks was huge, which was attached to the largest barn.

"I would say they weren't hurting for money," said Joseph.

"There's a lot of money in and on this property," expressed Adam.

"They have plenty of farm equipment. I see a gas tank," disclosed Stephen.

"Well, we'll have gas," conveyed Joseph.

When they came to a standstill, their vehicle was past the house. The rest of the group parked behind them in a row. All the vehicles pulled to a complete halt, and the people filed out of the automobiles. Stephen was in the middle of his group in a show of authority.

"We have to be careful," reported Stephen.

"Looks can be deceiving," affirmed Joseph.

"Davis will take Derrick, Ray, and Dr. Parker to the big barns. Search the smaller buildings after that," ordered Stephen.

"I'm taking the soldiers and Zach," stated Adam.

"Aidan, Stephen, Pete, and I will go in the house," specified Joseph.

"Let's get this done. Remember, watch your back," voiced Stephen.

As they walked inside the comfortable, spacious victorian farmhouse's living room, Aidan said, "It looks like they could come home at any time."

Aidan smoothed his hand over a couch with several afghans that hung off the back of it.

"It does," confirmed Joseph.

"It has plenty of couches and chairs. The comforters and afghans are a cozy touch. Something you would see in a painting," remarked Stephen.

Immediately Joseph was in front of a door when he peeked inside it. The area was small inside but held jackets, empty hangers, a few boxes on a shelf, and outside toys.

"What did you find in there?" asked Aidan.

"Nothing much. It's a closet," answered Joseph.

"The second door on the opposite end will be stairs," related Aidan.

"True. I would say the pocket doors lead to a kitchen. A restroom is the other?" questioned Stephen.

"I would say yes," responded Aidan.

"We'll check upstairs first," stated Joseph.

"Good idea. We'll do that," directed Stephen.

As they eased up the stairs, Stephen kept an eye out. While Aidan kept a wary eye downstairs behind them. They stepped out from the stairwell into a long-decorated corridor with a few doors that lined the wall. As they crept from door to door, only finding well-decorated bedrooms. Two of the rooms were decorated with toys and a space scene or cartoon animals. The second from the last chamber was adorned in lace, pink, purple, and unicorns. The men snickered. The final room they looked inside was a huge bedroom with a large closet and a private restroom.

"Let's check the rest of the downstairs," ordered Stephen.

"This isn't looking good for these people," remarked Joseph.

"No. It isn't. There's no sign of life, but you know they haven't been gone long," stated Aidan.

"No dust," commented Stephen.

"You got it," said Joseph.

"You two open the doors, and I'll stand ready," instructed Aidan.

"Okay," answered Joseph.

The sliding doors parted slowly, revealing a huge country kitchen. The room has a large cooking stove and a small table inside an alcove with windows on three sides. The biggest table at the center of the kitchen had plates, bowls, glasses, and silverware ready for service. They examined the entire kitchen then the restroom that connected the living room and kitchen afterward. They walked back inside the kitchen to the final door in the house except for the back door.

"Has to be a basement," conveyed Stephen.

"It will be dark, so we need to take heed," directed Joseph.

They all turned their flashlights on. Joseph nodded his head a single time as he opened the door with care like it was made of paper. When the door was opened enough, Stephen and Aidan shined the beams down the stairs as far as the rays would reach. After they knew the coast was clear, they single-filed down the stairs. With backs against the wall slowly stepped down the steps ready for whatever would come. There was a small window by the stairs letting in a minimal amount of light as Stephen's light died. Stephen's eyes became slits as he tried looking at the object he seen by the bottom of the stairs.