Stay Dead: A Day With The Dead Read Online Free

STAY DEAD:
A Day with the Dead
     
    By Steve Wands
     
    * * * * *
     
    SMASHWORDS EDITION
     
    * * * * *
     
    Published by:
    Steve Wands on Smashwords
     
    Stay Dead: A Day with the Dead
    Copyright © 2010 by Steve Wands
     
    Cover Design and Layout by Apparatus
Revolution
    http://www.staydeadrev.com
     
     
    All rights reserved. Without limiting the
rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the
prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above
publisher of this book.
     
    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the
author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author
acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various
products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used
without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not
authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark
owners.
     
    Smashwords Edition License Notes
     
    This ebook is licensed for your personal
enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to
other people. If you would like to share this book with another
person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you
share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it,
or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return
to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for
respecting the author's work.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Dedications
     
    Dedicated to those no longer walking among
the living.
     
    Thanks
     

    To those living who are now reading these
words.
     
    Special Thanks
     
    To my wife, Carmela, for proofreading and for
modeling for the cover. To Corey Graham of the Midnight Podcast,
Bryan Wolford of the Drunken Zombie Podcast, Mike Benedict of The
Cadaver Lab Podcast, Desmond Reddick of Dread Media, and Darryl
Pierce of A Little Dead Podcast for taking the time to read,
review, and discuss Stay Dead on their podcasts’ and websites.
     
    Nice words from nice people
     
    “ ...focuses on atmosphere and
desperation...gruesome and really intereseting, both stories oozing
hopelessness...a really strong debut.”
    Corey Graham formerly of the Midnight
Podcast
    http://www.midnightpodcast.com
     
    “ One of the most humanizing zombie stories
since Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead.”
    Bryan Wolford of the Drunken Zombie
Podcast
    http://www.drunkenzombie.com
     
    "This collection of short stories is brutal
and heart breaking. Steve Wands describes the state of the world in
the midst of a zombie outbreak as if he were there. These tales
will make you feel like you know the characters and are sharing in
their plight."
    Mike Benedict of The Cadaver Lab Podcast
    http://www.cadaverlab.com
     
    “ ...one of the more intense and downbeat
endings you will ever read... endlessly fun...nothing wasted...no
pulling of punches.”
    Desmond Reddick of Dread Media
    http://www.dread-media.com
     
    “ ...very well done...makes you want
more...a great read... I couldn’t put this down.”
    Darryl Pierce of A Little Dead Podcast
    http://www.alittledead.com
     
    Stay Dead: The Stranger & Tunnel Rats was
also nominated for a 2009 Mail Order Zombie Dead Letter
Award for Best Zombie Book/Fiction. http://www.mailorderzombie.com
     
     
     
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STAY DEAD:
A Day with the Dead
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    They had the sickness. At least that’s what
some people were calling it, as if a bottle of cough syrup would
set you right again. Jennifer—unsure of how she had the strength to
do it—managed to restrain her family. Her father was heavily
duct-taped to his favorite chair. He was neatly wrapped in a
reclined position. On the love seat were her mother and younger
brother, both of whom were strapped down