George: The Long Road Ahead
By
Scarlet Le Clair
Copyright © 2016 Scarlet Le Clair
This book is a work of fiction, names of characters, some places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, places or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted or stored in a database in any form, without the prior permission of the publisher.
This book shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent.
Published by Scarlet Le Clair 2016
Edited by Kirsty Turner
Cover by Kathryn Dee
All Rights Reserved
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Prologue
I don’t remember a lot after leaving Poppy’s bedroom. The sound of the gun was still ringing in my ears. Will and Adam came to help me up, I remember that, gently lifting me up off the bed and supporting me the best they could down the stairs. My head hung low, my eyes felt unfocussed, just watching my feet move one in front of the other. The military guys surrounded me as we left the house and I recall them talking to each other. Some sort of code, as they checked our escape route. I didn’t care, couldn’t care. The zombies could come in hordes around the corner and rip me to shreds, tearing off my flesh like it was pulled pork. It was only what I deserved. I understood why Kelly had done it, why she had taken my kids away but I was still angry at her. Angry at myself for leaving her so long that she felt she had no other way out, but to kill my children and herself.
Adam and Will had explained that she had passed away, before they had chance to take her down to the car. She had fallen asleep and not woken back up. That they had taken care of her the whole time. I knew what that meant; a bullet to the brain, for each of my children and my beautiful wife.
I understood, I preferred that than to see them rise again, their lifeless eyes staring at me as the shell of their once gorgeous little faces tried to have me for dinner.
I let them out me back into the jeep and watched with unseeing eyes as they moved quickly back into my house and out again. Carrying two small bodies wrapped in sheets.
I placed my head against the cool glass of the car window as we drove back to the military compound.
My mind racing with what ifs and maybe’s. What the hell was I supposed to do now? There was no point in going on. My family, my whole world was gone.
Pain tore through every fiber of my being, my chest ached so badly, and my throat constricted so that I couldn’t breathe or swallow. My eyes blinded by tears. This was what I deserved, why should I keep breathing when they hadn’t.
After what seemed like minutes we had pulled up just inside the compound gates. I blinked away the tears, surprised by how we had gotten back so quickly.
I opened the door on autopilot, getting out slowly. I wasn’t sure what to do, where to go. Did I even belong anywhere anymore?
I just stood at the side of the car, watching as the men unloaded their gear and the lifeless forms of my family.
“George” I heard my voice being called but I was like I was underwater, all muffled and unclear.
“George?” there it was again. I tried to look towards the sound, but my eyes were unfocused, my legs felt like jelly.
I could see the floor coming up to meet my face, and I couldn’t even bring myself to care. I just let myself fall, before strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me up.
“Come on Bud, I’ve got you” Wills deep voice was warm and caring and provided a little comfort. He led me towards a huge building, my feet dragging along, feeling like the had a ton of bricks attached to them. Not wanting to cooperate.
“George, are you ok?” Nia’s lovely face appeared in front of mine and I realized that it was her voice I could hear when I stepped out of the car.
I watched as Will shook his head no to her, and the look of pity in her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hands was almost too much to see.
“Just need to lie down” I gasped out, each word seemed to echo through my head which was already spinning.
“Ok, follow me I’ll show you to where the captain has given us all rooms.” She turned on her heel and led the way into the building.
Even now I couldn’t tell you the route we took or the people we saw on the way. I kept my head down, focused on Nia’s black boots in front of us.
I was scared to pick my head up, to look people in the eye. Lest they see the monster I was, the man who had left his wife and children to die. So terrified that she had seen no other way out than to put herself and the kids to sleep; permanently.
We stopped suddenly outside of a door in a long corridor, “This is your room George, Will is just down the hallway as is Billy”
I mumbled some variety of thanks and swung open the door.
“Can we get you anything?” Nia’s sweet voice asked. But I could hear the sympathy in her voice. I knew that concern would mar her pretty face. Something that I didn’t need.
“No, I’m good.” Without saying anything else I closed the door on their faces. Not wanting anymore company. I just needed to be alone.
I didn’t even bother to look around the room, I just
