Journal of the Undead (Book 1): Littleville Uprising Read Online Free Page A

perfectly camouflaged the slight imperfections age had etched into her body. Jillian’s overly styled hair was frozen in place but, even through the thick hairspray, it was obvious that no one could attain that shade of red naturally.
    Jillian was impressed with Evan’s impeccable manners and clean-cut good looks. She hoped that he would be a frequent visitor and that, perhaps, the twins would absorb his polite manners. The twin terrors, as she secretly called her stepchildren, needed a good influence. Jillian had never heard either twin call anyone ‘ma’am’ as Evan just had. She had no doubt that Emma and Matt had a long list of things they called her, but ‘ma’am’ certainly wasn’t one of them.
    “Will you be joining us for dinner, Evan?”
    From the kitchen, Emma heard Jillian’s invitation. Bile rose in her throat as she rushed to the doorway to listen for Evan’s reply. Tendrils of hair, strays that had slipped out from her ponytail, fluttered on each exhale. Her skin was flushed, both from the exertion of her chores and fury that she might have to cook for her newest enemy. Her beauty momentarily stunned Evan but he recovered quickly and politely declined.
    “Pity you can’t stay,” Emma sneered. Then, spinning on her heels, she returned to the kitchen.
    Jillian was horrified by Emma’s outburst but Evan managed to distract her. With a few of his compliments and a charming smile, Jillian quickly forgot Emma’s rudeness. Even though his twin hadn’t noticed, Matt was grateful for the diversion. It was no secret that Jillian despised housework and she was only too anxious to keep Emma in the role of Cinderella. If Evan hadn’t stepped in, Emma would have had at least two weeks, if not more, added to her sentence. Emma’s inability to hold her tongue had already turned a two-week punishment into three months.
    Shortly after six o’clock, Alan Wexley trudged through the door. Emma was just setting the last dish on the table when her father entered. Family dinners had been a source of joy for both Matt and Emma until Jillian entered the picture. After their dad remarried, the twins found it unbearable. Dr. Wexley often noticed the sadness in his children’s eyes and it broke his heart that he had no idea how to comfort them. He had been naïve enough to think that Jillian could help fill the void his children felt with the passing of their mother and possibly assuage their grief but he’d been wrong.
    There was an unspoken agreement between the twins and Jillian; they all played nice during dinner. Between bites, they exchanged pleasantries like a happy family. Because of the demands of Alan’s job, the brief time they shared at the dinner table was often all he had to give. None of them wanted to spoil it by bickering. Jillian prattled on enthusiastically about her day while the twins tried not to roll their eyes.
    “I have some news too. Our new director finally arrived and we really hit it off. Friday night, we’re having dinner with Major Stone and his family.”
    Emma felt a wave of nausea crash over her. Clearly, our new address is in the fifth ring of Hell , she bemoaned to herself.
    Unaware of her distress, her father continued, “I think the major’s son might be in your grade. He has a daughter too, although I’m not sure about her age.”
    In the midst of her panic, Emma was struck by inspiration. “It’s a shame I’ll have to miss it but I’m still grounded.”
    “Don’t be silly, sweetheart. Of course you’ll be excused from your punishment to join the family for dinner.”
    Convinced that her dinner was going to come right back up again, Emma stood to clear the table. As she loaded the dishwasher, she tried to formulate a new plan. Stomach flu? Respiratory infection? 24-hour tumor? She had three days to come up with a convincing reason to stay home and avoid Evan.
    ***
    It had been several weeks since encountering the mutilated Campbell family and, since the ordeal, there