Blood Moon by Gwendolyn Harper (books for students to read .TXT) 📕

to open her eyes. “Listen to me. For you, I’d carry the weight of the world. Nothin’s too much. Not for you. I’d do anything for you, songbird, you understand?”

Raw and overwhelmed, Caitlin nodded before lunging forward, clasping his face between her hands. Pulling him towards her, she found his lips in a bruising kiss.

“I love you, Jack,” she whispered against him.

Hauling her into his arms, Booker pressed kisses to her temple and hair.

“It’s you and me, Cae. Together.”

* * * * * * *

Just before dawn, they finished packing the Jeep and did a final walk through of the house.

Caitlin wandered the kitchen, giving silent thanks for the food and shelter the home had gifted them. Maybe another group would be able to use it just as they had.

As Nicole finished carrying out the last bag, Caitlin made sure the fence was in good standing and the lock on the gate was hooked but not secured. Geeks would be too dumb to know to unlatch it, and people wouldn’t have to fight off any undead like they had to get inside.

Golden light of daybreak started to illuminate the farmhouse, and Caitlin knew for better or worse, they’d never be back.

“Y’all ready?” Booker called as he climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Nicole said, sliding into the back and closing the door.

Caitlin clicked her seatbelt and began digging through the glove box.

“Okay, Fall Out Boy or the White Stripes?” She asked, holding up two CDs.

In unison, Booker and Nicole said, “The White Stripes.”

Glancing back, Booker smiled and held out his fist for Nicole, who lightly bumped it with her knuckles.

Caitlin hit play as Booker shifted into drive.

She watched the reflection of the house grow smaller in her side mirror, until it disappeared entirely and all that was left was the wide expanse of fields around them.

Chapter Five

Just outside Arkansas, they found a used car lot and Booker couldn’t have been happier to pull over and syphon fuel.

Caitlin knew it was just an excuse for him to ogle the row of sports cars he’d never have a chance to drive.

Retrieving the empty gas can and hose from the back, he scanned the surrounding area.

“Alright, we got two options,” he said, closing the door quietly. “Y’all stay here, guard the Jeep. Or you come with.”

“If you think for one second I’m letting you go off by yourself…” Caitlin warned, already making a grab for the revolver.

Nicole nodded. “I second that sentiment.”

“Didn’t realize I was so popular,” Booker said, grinning.

Caitlin slid her weapon into the back of her belt and rolled her eyes. “C’mon jackass, I don’t wanna be here all day.”

Chuckling, Booker took up the lead while Nicole and Caitlin flanked him.

It wasn’t a difficult gig keeping watch. Head on a swivel, gaze focused on the distance, listening for anything out of the ordinary. Caitlin had spent a month watching her own back, so for her, having two other people staying just as alert as her was as close to a vacation as she’d ever get.

They made their way down the line of aged trade-ins, quietly jimmying the locks.

“This Honda has seen better days,” Nicole commented, stationing herself at the trunk.

“Yeah, which means people probably ain’t been drivin’ it much,” Booker said, feeding the tube into the tank. “Places like this usually keep their cars gassed up half way. No test drives, no fuel use, more for us.”

Nicole smiled. “Anybody tell you you’re pretty smart?”

“Maybe a time or two.”

Leaning back against the front hood, Caitlin stared out at the road they’d just driven up.

Something was off.

The hair at the back of her neck stood up—and with the oppressive humidity, she knew it wasn’t a cold snap.

“Guys,” she said, glancing to Booker and Nicole. “I think something’s out there.”

Immediately, Nicole straightened. “Where?”

Caitlin shook her head. “I’m not sure. But…” She looked at Booker. “We should hurry.”

“Ten-four,” he said, angling the hose for it to pour faster.

A muffled smack against glass brought their heads around.

The small office on the lot had been dark, with all the doors closed. There’d been no reason to suspect anything amiss…

Until now.

Rotting, mangled hands pressed against the wide storefront window. First one pair, then another, and another.

Over a dozen Geeks appeared, pushing at each other and the glass. Gaping maws of teeth and gore gnashed at the mere potential of fresh meat.

“Shit,” Caitlin hissed, backing up on instinct. “Booker.”

“Almost done.”

“Almost?” She stared at the Geeks clawing to get free. “How close is almost?”

A sharp crack, like someone stepping on a thin sheet of ice, echoed throughout the lot.

“Jack,” Caitlin said, already reaching for him.

Yanking the hose from the tank, he quickly screwed on the cap and stood up.

“Yep, time to go,” he agreed.

Their movement only spurred the Geeks on, hungry and desperate. One slammed their fist against the largest of the cracks, and a huge chunk of glass shattered and fell from the frame.

“Oh God,” Nicole gasped. “Guys, look.”

Across the two-lane road, a herd emerged from the dilapidated shell of a Dollar Store, closing the distance at a terrifying pace.

Inhuman growls and snarls filled the air as broken, deteriorating bodies lurched forward.

“Get to the Jeep,” Booker ordered.

The store window didn’t hold much longer. As glass fractured and split, Geeks tumbled out onto the pavement, lumbering around the rows and rows of parked cars.

They were sandwiched between two herds.

Pulling the revolver from her belt, Caitlin bolted for the shortest path only to be cut off by two Geeks that had escaped their confines first.

“Fuck,” she yelled, spinning on a dime and running the opposite way.

“Cae,” Booker called, holding his hand out for her. “C’mon!”