MARZ II
MARZ SERIES
Book Two
James Davis
And
James Aldridge
Dark Days Press
MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY
Copyright © 2020 by James Davis and James Aldridge
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
James Davis and James Aldridge /Dark Days Press
Mayfield, Kentucky
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
MARZ II/MARZ Series-Book Two/ James Davis and James Aldridge. -- 1st ed.
ASIN: B08J263T9Q
Cover Artist: Ommy Hudan
Editor: Sara Miller
Marketing/Publicist: Poised Pen Productions
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
From the Authors
Chapter One
10:33 a.m. New Year’s Day 2049
Athens, Georgia
The roar of the engine echoed off the surrounding trees as Johnny raced the Dodge Charger down an old back road. The interstates were packed with stopped cars and dead bodies. Moving the obstacles turned out to be more perilous and time consuming than it was worth, so Johnny and Roosevelt kept to the back roads unless they had no other choice.
“You paying attention to where we’re going?” Johnny asked as Roosevelt held the map out in front of him. Cell service had failed a couple of days earlier and they were reduced to navigating the old-fashioned way. Johnny had a feeling most of everything would be going back to the old-fashioned way in the days to come.
“Yeah I got it.” Roosevelt finally said using his index finger to trace the road they were on.
“In about two miles you’re going to make a left then follow that road for about thirty miles until you come to a three way stop. Once you get there, you’re going to make a right. I-24 won't be far from that turn. We’re going to have to chance it for a little ways today till we find another backroad going west.” Roosevelt explained. Johnny pressed down harder on the throttle sending the car speeding down the empty backroad. Tall pine trees and single-story homes blurred past as the car rocketed down the road.
“110! 120!” Johnny yelled over the screaming Hellcat engine.
“Johnny slow this sumbitch down!” Roosevelt shouted back as he squeezed the car's door handle and arm rest as hard as he possibly could. After about a mile and a half Johnny lifted his right foot and eased down on the brakes. The car slowed down to 80 then down to 55 and finally 20 as Johnny made the turn. He down shifted and eased back into the throttle giving Roosevelt a quick peak from the corner of his eye.
“Don’t you fuc…” Roosevelt started but Johnny stomped down on the throttle sending Roosevelt slamming back in his seat. The tires chirped each time Johnny switched gears, the car gaining speed as it sped down the road. He held the speed steady at sixty-five miles per hour as he navigated through the shallow curves.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Roosevelt said after finally catching his breath. Johnny shrugged.
“Just felt like opening her up. Plus, it helps push the thoughts of Tracy out of my head.” Johnny answered. Roosevelt nodded his head, knowing all too well the pain and heartache his friend was going through.
“You know they would have wanted us to move on and try to be happy right?” Roosevelt asked in a gruff voice.
“I know. I just can’t forget about my wife, who I had to shoot, in a few short days. Johnny replied in a somewhat annoyed tone. He allowed the car to slow as he gripped the wheel and steered around a wrecked car and truck. They crept by keeping an eye on the woods out of Roosevelt's window for signs of threats. Johnny turned back to face the road when a bloody, torn apart face smashed into his window. The glass shattered and the runners arm shot in grabbing a fist full of Johnny’s shirt and chest hair. He let out a loud squeal before smashing his right foot down onto the gas pedal. The car roared and sped off down the road, the undead monster still holding its death grip on Johnny.
“Get this thing off of me!” Johnny shouted as he tried to beat the things arm away. Roosevelt glanced out of the windshield and spotted another wrecked Prius laying on its side in the road. He grabbed the steering wheel and gently eased the car to the left as Johnny continued to pry at the zombies clenched hand.
“Hold on!” Roosevelt said, easing the car over a hair more toward the wrecked Prius. Johnny screamed as the Charger aimed directly for the side of the Prius. The two cars skipped off one another as the Charger blew past. The force of the impact ripped the zombie free from Johnny along with a large piece of his shirt and a huge patch of chest hair. Johnny let out an ear-piercing high-pitched scream as the stinging, burning sensation radiated through his chest and stomach.
“Uhhahhhh!” Johnny screamed in his high-pitched girly voice before taking over control of the speeding car and rubbing the now bald patch on his chest.
“You scream like a damn girl!” Roosevelt said with a chuckle.
“Screw you!” Johnny replied, still rubbing his newly acquired bald spot as he navigated the car down the back road. He spotted a dirt turn off and aimed the car toward it. Slowing he took the corner with ease and guided the car through a line of trees. After a few seconds, the wooded area opened into a huge field of rolling hills. Johnny drove the car off the dirt path and up a hill. When they crested the hill, they spotted a massive lake at the
