It is good to return to work, despite Asher and Val’s opinions. I couldn’t take another day of doing nothing. The social with Asher went as expected: games, plenty of food, and high spirits. No one dwelled on the upcoming Barrier Island landing or what might await us there. The activities were just what I ...

The best thing about living on a boat during the apocalypse? Is how easy it is to forget the world has gone to shit. When I am not fighting off zombies, I’m just a regular twenty-year-old trying to make and maintain friendships and maybe even find love. “Hey.” Asher’s already at one of the cafeteria ...

Pastor Morgan Williams placed his hat and umbrella on the bench that lined the wall of the police observation room. “Why call me, of all people? I’ve read the papers. The girl is guilty.” Police Chief Ezra Smoles tugged on the woolen collar of his uniform as the fabric scratched against his skin. “There might ...

Captain Anderson sure loves to talk. My mind drifts; I’m too tired to follow every word, exhaustion pressing in from restless nights. I should speak to Val about these nightmares, about this dragging fatigue-maybe she can help. Around me, Common B fills with crew and the hum of popcorn machines Helen set up. She always ...

By the time my two days in the infirmary are up, I’m itching to get out. Val and Jamie wait outside, huge grins spread across their faces. Both girls kept me company as much as they could during training and ship duties while I was recovering. Asher would come and go whenever he had downtime, ...

I’ve never felt pain like this. My brain reels as I fight for consciousness. “What do you mean she isn’t awake yet?” Asher demands on my right. Someone sighs. “These wounds are tricky. It’s hard to tell when she’ll wake.” A light pressure squeezes my hand, and I squeeze back desperate for comfort. “Izzy?” Val’s ...

Focus on your breathing. This feels like training, except now real-life monsters lurk in the shadows. My heart thuds against my ribs. I force a short laugh, brittle with fear. This isn’t helping. Asher shoots me a questioning glance. He leads our squad through a maze of abandoned cars, moss and vines constricting around each ...

With every ounce of energy, I force air into my burning lungs and dodge Asher’s final blow. Falling to the floor, I gasp for breath. My muscles scream, aching from my hour-long training session. “I can always work you harder, cupcake,” Asher taunts, an eyebrow raised. His words ignite a flush in my cheeks. During ...

The Rabids have lost all humanity. Three of the four creatures slink silently about their prison cells, eyes darting this way and that, as if trying to find the exit or an opportunity to wreak havoc on the people observing them. What’s left of their dirty clothes hang loosely from their skeletal bodies, their hair ...

I can almost hear the trill of seagulls as I gaze at the mural on the wall across from my bunk. A calm ocean meeting a distant horizon, like one would see from a balcony view on a luxury cruise liner. It was painted for Val and me when we came aboard five years ago—a ...