Book Red Zone Novels & Stories

CHAPTER SEVEN Part of Aleta’s favorite red hoodie turned up in some bramble outside of the city. It was cut, shredded, and stained. Animals had been gnawing and tearing at it, pulling it apart thread by thread by thread with their canines and incisors and grinding molars. From what they recovered of Aleta’s body, she had also been gnawed and ripped, but the animals pulling her apart had been a different sort. Angry Marie made a decision, then, and the impact of that decision would way heavy in her soul for the rest of her life. But seeing as her soul was pretty much tattered beyond recognition anyway, it didn’t seem like that much of a leap.

I said, trying to sound grateful. "You refer to the dirty, stinky place as your comfort zone?" Orlando asked, looking slightly offended. "Well, unlike this setting, it reminds me of who I am around here. I really hope this kindness syndrome of yours lasts the whole day," I replied, not wanting to offend him. Orlando let out a sigh. "Despite the fact that I'm smiling, today is really a bad day for me. This is me trying to lift my spirits with news from VH14. Don't ruin it for me, or you'll hate who I'll become," he warned.

"But I won't tolerate you trying to take advantage of me." Reed chuckled ominously as he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. "Actually, I have changed my mind. I no longer want the money anymore." "W-What do you mean?" "I want a night with you," he demanded. "If you fail to come to the chosen venue, I'll tell the whole world about your past as an escort. I'll make sure you lose everything you care about, especially your husband's love." His threat thundered in my ears, dousing the blazing flames of my earlier anger. "Reed, please don't do this. I beg you-"

They took their seats wordlessly, a storm already brewing in the silence between them. Azar placed his tablet on the table and tapped the screen. A holographic projection of Red’s base glowed into life. The image pulsed red at certain coordinates—heat signatures, perhaps, or planned movement paths. “He’s moved,” Azar announced coolly. “Red is pulling his assets back to their base. Every single field informant is being recalled. He’s preparing something big.” Zev's expression did not change, but his fingers drummed once against the armrest of his chair. "It was only a matter of time."

Vast stretches of red covered the map, dotted with dozens of white points. The red areas marked zombie zones. The deeper the red, the higher the zombie density. Across the Eastern region, Aecraton, Brookville, and Crestford formed a rough triangle. Aecraton sat on the eastern coast and had the least red remaining. Large portions of it had already been cleared by Hayley. Brookville and Crestford, on the other hand, were deep crimson, almost purple. Just looking at the model was enough to make your scalp tingle.

The air around me was getting tensed and I could only feel myself heating up. I scroll down the pictures and come in contact with a video. My hands were shaking as I pressed play. This can't be true. It's him. It's Collins. I look up at him then at my glass. With one shot, I take in the full liquid and empty my glass. I drop it back on the table, angrily, not caring about the loud noise it made. I grab my purse and stomp out of the restaurant. "Jane." He called from behind.

Today, we’re meeting after my morning training. “Dude! Where’s the fire?” Nathan calls as I rush past him to go into the locker rooms. I turn around, walking backwards with a huge smile on my face. “Zoe’s going to meet me. We’re having lunch together.” He smiles and immediately starts teasing the shit out of me. “The great Tomas Singh is this excited about meeting a she-wolf? Where’s the guy who said that he never wanted to meet his mate? That said his motto was ‘hit it and quit it?’”

If we didn't listen to what he said, he would punish us in unimaginable ways. The Denver spring sunshine casts a warm light on us as we exit the doors of our apartment building. Spring is supposed to be a time of new growth and rebirth and I wonder if we'll ever experience that ourselves. "It's okay hun, mommy will get us to a safe place." Elizabeth says bending down to hug me and I wrap my arms tightly around her as if she might be taken away from me any second. "You're bleeding mommy." I whimper pulling back from her unable to take my eyes away from her deep cut.

’ Ace and I wave goodbye to the crowd, I take a photo and text it to Hailey. ‘Wowzers! There must be thousands of people.’ As we are about to step inside the limo, I turn one last time to wave to the crowd only to freeze in shock. A man wearing a hoodie is hiding his face in the crowd. I can just see the spider tattoo under his eye. He is staring right at me. Red Back. ‘Ladies first,’ Ace says, oblivious to what I’m seeing. I blink a few times and shake my head, before looking up at Ace.

You can do this! ***** Ed_Dianthe | Ms. Ed