Infection Z by Beswick, L. (amazing books to read .TXT) 📕

“You could use a break” Colonel comments stifling a chuckle, “let’s get some breakfast “ he announces and leads me to the kitchen, I sit at the counter and he passes me a bottle of water and asks how I like my eggs, “cooked usually" I joke and he continues his glare at me “scrambled" I add with a roll of my eyes, he sings a little tune to himself as he cooks and I imagine for a moment what it would have been like to have him around when I was a kid, cooking me breakfast and teaching me self-defence, maybe mum would still be here if he was around, I’m thrown from my thoughts as he places the plate in front of me, the eggs have strips of bacon to make a face, I give him a peculiar look is he trying to be funny? He seems amused with himself.

I eat the breakfast as he watches me drinking a water, the silence is deafening and a little awkward, he’s basically a stranger to me he could have poisoned the food, I regard the food suspiciously for a moment but decide death by breakfast would be a good way to go and continue eating.

“You think a lot don’t you?” he asks and I realise I must be making a million weird faces, “I mean it’s not crickets up there" I shrug, “if you have any about me you can ask" he suggests with a kind smile that seems unusual on his face, “did you ever think about us after you left?” I ask not looking to his face, “every minute of everyday" he answers wearing a sad smile, “do you have those letters mum sent back to you?” he nods “I kept them hoping I’d see you guys again one day” he answers.

“I’m nowhere near ready to even consider myself your daughter, and we’re not going to be all happy family, or anything so get that straight, but could I maybe read the letters?” I ask, he smiles back “of course I’ll drop them at your door after our training, and I don’t expect you to forgive my absence straight away either, there’s no rush with that" he seems like such a kind understanding person, there has to be something he’s not telling me for mum to keep him away from us all these years.

“Let’s get back to it" he says and I follow him back to the room of torment, I endure many more hours of training that include squats, planks, sit ups and anything else the Colonel believes are a good use of my non-existent muscles, finally 9am arrives once again and I get ready to make my escape “that’s enough for today you can go back to your room" I sigh in relief and thank the gods for releasing me from the misery Colonel calls training, “same time tomorrow?” I ask hoping the answer is no, “actually tomorrow a few of us will be going out to get supplies and patrol, we thought you and Sam could come along, so no training" I feel a smile form on my face excited to defeat some potential zombies and get outdoors again, “that sounds great, I’ll ask her if she wants to talk to me" he nods “you guys aren’t friends?” he asks “I nearly killed her boyfriend so not friends would be an understatement" I laugh but feel no humour as I do, “I’m sure she’ll come around, doing some zombie fighting might be just what you guys need" he advises.

“Yeah nothing like fighting for your life to bring a couple of gals closer" I say sarcastically, “yes exactly!” Colonel exclaims but his face quickly falls “oh that was sarcasm wasn’t it?” I try not to laugh at his lack of knowledge at teenage slang, “now you’re getting it pops" I reply as I walk back to my room dragging my tired limbs each step of the way.

Chapter 7

After sleeping into the afternoon I’m woken by a knock at my door and fear it’s Colonel going back on what he said, but I’m relieved but at the same time a little disappointed to find Noah at the door, “oh hi" I greet, “hoping for someone else?” he asks seeming a little offended, I smile “not at all come in" he enters the room gingerly confusing me “how’ve you been, no more episodes?” he asks making it clear why he’s so apprehensive, “nope no murderous tendencies here" I reply but he doesn’t seem to appreciate my humour, “that’s good” he says keeping a serious expression.

“Look I didn’t do it on purpose, I don’t know why I have these episodes but when I do all I can see are zombies, and all I’m trying to do is defend myself" I explain feeling less and less happy he’s come to see me, “I just want to make sure we keep these episodes in check so you don’t hurt anyone else" he frowns, “if you’ve just come here to be judgemental you can get out, I actually thought you were understanding and you got me but I guess not" I stand to my feet crossing my arms, “I’m not trying to be judgemental but I want to keep everyone safe" he explains, “I want everyone to be safe too but I get these episodes when things aren’t going well for me and right now you’re making things not go well" he rolls his eyes at my raised voice.

“There’s no need to get loud and bitchy-" he tries to argue “get out!” I demand my fists shaking by my sides, “I do own this house, so I should be the one-" he starts to fire back and is interrupted by a familiar voice “she told you to leave" Colonel chimes