A World Alone (Dead World Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

that
infected."
    I grit my teeth, still refusing to look at her. "Get out of here
kid."
    "But we could—"
    "I said get out of here!" I shout, finally turning to look at her.
Those green eyes catch me, surprised and hurt they pull me in and break me
down. They ignite the emptiness inside me and imitate everything that I've
lost. I can't bring myself to look at her any longer.
    So I turn away and get into my car. Starting the ignition, I waste no time
in pulling out of the gas station. As I drive down the road I glance at her in
the rear-view mirror, staring after me, but I keep driving. Because I can't
bring myself to do anything else.
    Only when I see a bar on the side of the road do I stop. Parking the car I
get out and head straight inside, not even bothering to check if the area is
safe or not. I don't care right now; I don't care about anything. I grab the
first thing on the shelf that my hand reaches. Sparing the label a glance, I
pull up a stool and take a swig, grimacing at the burning taste.
    The liquid ignites like fire in my parched throat. I ignore the pain as I
take another gulp, just like I try to ignore all the other pain. But I can't
ignore it, any of it. Every time I shut my eyes I see the green of hers looking
back and I'm reminded of the last time I saw them. When I thought things were
as bad as they could get and every night I found myself in a bar much like this
one.
    I hadn't seen her in an eternity and I decided one night after drowning my
sorrows that I wanted to visit her. It was a cold night but even still I had
the common sense not to drive. So I stumbled down the streets, warmed by the
alcohol until my old home came into view. I don't remember knocking on the
door, but it must have been late because I remember the sour expression on my ex-wife's
face before she even realized it was me.
    "Jesus Christ, Logan, you reek of booze!" Jessica hissed as she
stood in the doorway, her arm outstretched from one side to the other, barring
my entrance.
    "Jessica just let me in," I slurred, swaying gently from one side
to another. Her thin lips pulled into a frown deeper than the pool in the
backyard I had never finished digging up.
    "I don't think that's a good idea, Logan. I don't want our daughter
seeing you like this," she scowled, her eyes hard yet somber as they
traveled my ragged appearance from head-to-toe. "For God's sake think
about what this will do to her! She's been through enough!" she cried. A
moment of silence passed between us.
    "Please don't hurt her like this, Logan,"
    "I would never hurt her!" I raised my voice, stepping forward I
reached out and placed a hand against the frame of the door for support.
    "Not intentionally," her frown morphed into one that was sadder
than it was angry. "But the first thing you did when you found out was go
straight to the bar," she paused, "and she's going to think that
that's her fault."
    I shook my head, not allowing myself to listen.
    "I think it would be best if you didn't see her for a while."
    "What?" I hissed, refusing to believe what she had said. She
stared at me solemnly, her eyes hard as they lost all trace of melancholy.
"No!"
    "No!" I shouted again, "Jessica you can't do that, she's my
daughter!" I slammed the palm of my hand down against the frame of the
door, stepping back as she flinched away.
    "I think it's time you left n—"
    "Daddy?" The small voice silenced the battlefield and ended the
chaos. She appeared by her mother's side for only a moment, before she moved
past her and ran towards me.
    I dropped to my knees and circled her into my arms as she ran into them.
Burying my face in her bronze curls I ignored the treacherous tears as they
fell.
    "I don't want you to go, Daddy," she mumbled into my shoulder,
burrowing her small face into the crook of my neck. The muscles of my throat
tightened as they strained to remain quiet, despite the sob building in my
chest.
    I pulled her away, aware of Jessica's glare, and knew that I had no choice
but