Wormwood Dawn (Episode III) Read Online Free Page A

were bodies everywhere; some of them half eaten, others shot or smashed under the wheels of crashed cars. All three men scanned the area in front of them as Dan stopped, looking for any signs of movement.
    “I don’t see anything,” Drew said, checking his M4A1.
    Jake cocked his repeater in the back seat, strapping on his ammo belt. “Don’t be too sure,” he said. “Some of those fuckers are sneaky.”
    “Should we park near the door,” Dan said, “or park farther away and walk up like cowboys?”
    “I like the cowboy idea,” Jake said. “But that’s just me.”
    Drew nodded. “Cowboy.”
    Dan pulled ahead, avoiding a pile of bodies near a landscaped tree. He stared at them as they passed, mortified by their odd, twisted appearance. They were entangled in some strange fashion, their hands and faces frozen in gestures of hostility; like wax figures in a macabre, serial killer museum.
    “Jesus Christ,” Dan whispered. “What the fuck happened here?”
    “Did you see their faces?” Drew said.
    “Like those fuckin’ newsreels from World War Two,” Jake added.
    Dan chose a spot between two large pickups. They were about the only vehicles in the lot that weren’t destroyed and were still parked in actual spots. Taking one last look around them, Dan shut off the Hummer, and they contemplated their plan.
    “We should stay in between cars when we go in,” Dan said. “Then stick together in the store. The gun aisle is closest to the door, around to the right. We’ll go there first, and then head to the other side. Jake, we can get a gas valve from the pumps at the gas station on the way back home.”
    Jake and Drew nodded, and they all strapped up and silently exited the Hummer. They kept low as they weaved in and out of the parked cars, keeping their ears and eyes trained on any movements. When they reached the fire lane, they squatted, looking both ways before sprinting across to the doors.
    The glass was busted, as was expected. The foyer was filled with large shards of it, a few bodies, and even a military rifle. Jake bent to examine it, seeing it was jammed.
    “No good,” he whispered. “It’s a PK-102. Smaller AK-47. Piece of shit.”
    Dan grabbed a shopping cart, grinning as he pushed it over to them. “We might need this.”
    They entered the store with caution. To the right was the sporting clothes section, lined with racks and racks of hunting gear, work boots, and the like. An emergency light flashed dimly, giving the entire section a weird, lightning-like, intermittent glow.
    “That’s gonna give me a seizure,” Drew whispered, turning away.
    Dan crept forward to the right, keeping his eyes on the racks to the left side of the aisle. The flashing lights gave him the impression of movement somewhere among them. He knew it was just the shadows, but still felt uncomfortable enough to keep his rifle pointed in that direction.
    Another left brought them close to the sporting goods section. There was a huge rack of expensive bows and crossbows, all painted in the same camouflage pattern. Dan pushed the cart near the end, turning to his friends.
    “We should grab some bows just in case,” he said. “Stealth kills, you know?”
    The three of them each grabbed a bow that felt comfortable to them. They tested the draw of each, making sure they could actually pull them back comfortably. Jake gathered an armful of arrow blanks, resting them in the cart, and then went back to take some tips off the rack. Drew grabbed some premade arrows, and even a small crossbow kit.
    Dan went further down the aisle to peruse the hunting knives. Jake followed him, pointing out the good ones. “Most of these are cheap,” he said. “I can make better stuff, but I like the Estwing brand. They make their shit with good steel, not the stainless, but the stuff that will actually last without shattering.”
    Dan nodded, choosing a few good knives, including a bowie knife that was painted black with an unfinished edge.