Thirteen Roses Book Five: Home: A Paranormal Zombie Saga by Michael Cairns Page B

chased after Luke and caught him examining a pair of bodies with severed limbs.  
    ‘We could follow the trail of bodies.’ Luke suggested.
    ‘Until we come to one the zombies have found. Then we get eaten. I’m getting back in the truck.’
    Luke grabbed her arm. ‘You can’t bring it down here, you’ll never get out. She went this way, come on.’
    He stomped away through the puddles, the rain threatening to hide him from view at any moment. She cursed and raced after him. The storm eased as the buildings rose around them and the gap above grew narrower. The lightning flashed and lit the rain like they were walking through falling quicksilver. Then it was gone and the alley was dark again.  
    Luke drew his sword, crouching and becoming eerily silent. She stared into the shadows, heart leaping at a sound she knew didn’t belong there. Her legs refused to move and for a moment she was frozen. Then another sound came, of material whooshing through the darkness and she ducked. Nothing. The sound came again, from some way in front of her, and she blushed.  
    She scampered forwards through the darkness and spotted Luke, moving like the lightning that had just illuminated the alleyway. The figure before him slumped to the ground and Bayleigh sneaked closer. Luke glanced up and she stopped in her tracks.  
    The humanity was gone. His face was impassive, eyes shadowed, but in the darkness she saw only a predator, ready to strike. She should feel safe but it scared her, like he wouldn’t make the distinction between her and a zombie.  
    ‘Luke?’
    He lowered his sword. ‘She’s been this way. This one was feasting.’
    He nodded at another body on the floor. Bayleigh shuddered. She was sneaking and creeping along, heart in her mouth, whilst Krystal had not only come here on her own, but she’d slain zombies on the way. She shook herself, trying to find her strength. She’d been out in this storm only a few hours ago, alone and killing. Now she was terrified.  
    She rubbed her hands over her face and straightened. She could do this. She could kill them just as easily as Luke. She pulled the knife from her belt and gripped the handle. Luke was staring at her, faintest of grins on his face, and she blushed again. She was suddenly aware of how her sodden t-shirt clung to her body.  
    He stared for another moment and she was about to say something when he turned and set off through the storm. They’d taken only a few steps when the first gunshot rattled between the buildings and reached for them like a hungry zombie. Luke broke into a run and caught up with Bayleigh for a moment. Then she stretched out and left him behind.  
    The echoes still bounced between the buildings, confusing her. Then another shot rang out and she headed straight for it. Her pace slowed as she heard voices. There were men, more than one of them, not far ahead.  
    They couldn’t be real. There weren’t any men alive in London. What the hell was going on? Luke was nowhere to be seen. She stopped, swearing under her breath, before creeping along the side of the building.  
    She peered round the corner. The street lighting was better here and the first thing she saw was Krystal. She had her sword held before her and was staring down at the zombie at her feet. Stood around her were four soldiers of God, dressed in grey uniforms and aiming guns at Krystal.  
    Bayleigh sucked in a quick breath to stem the surge of invective threatening to pour from her mouth. What the hell were they doing here? She stared at the zombie, searching for the cause of death, and spotted at least one bullet hole in its head. That explained the shooting, and why Krystal was still on her feet.  
    ‘Put the sword down.’
    ‘Not a chance.’
    ‘We have guns.’
    ‘Yeah, well, good for you. I’ve got a sword and it’s the only defence I got against the zombies, so screw you and your guns.’
    Bayleigh noticed that her language had slipped. In the last few days