Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
The path stretched ahead and although we were unsure of what lay beyond, there was solace in the fact that we had each other.
The world might be changing in unpredictable and terrifying ways, but as long as we stood side by side, there was hope.
Lei squeezed my hand tighter as we walked forward.
The chill of the night nipped at my skin but it was the warmth of his gaze that kept me calm.
Lei slowed our pace. “Monique. . .”
“Yes?”
“I wanted better for us.”
“Our world is no longer the same.” I shrugged. “What else can we do but somehow find a way to love while it all rots around us?”
“I agree and even this may not be the perfect moment, but I need you to know. . .”
I met his gaze. “Know what?”
“Being close to you tonight, it made me realize something.”
“What?”
“I’ve spent so much of my life fearing death, but now, with you by my side, I’m not afraid anymore.”
His words caught me off guard and made my heart flutter. “Lei. . .”
“Every moment with you feels like a lifetime, and I’d rather have one perfect moment with you than an eternity without.” His eyes searched mine. “Because. . .I’m falling in love with you, Monique.”
For a moment, all the chaos and danger felt distant, and it was just the two of us, standing in the moonlight, lost in a world of our own.
My heart swelled.
Fear still lingered but so did the warmth of his words.
“I’m falling in love with you too, Lei.” I reached for him.
Our lips met again.
Lei’s arms wrapped tightly around me as if he never wanted to let me go.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered.
Not the zombies.
Not all those that we had lost.
But in this world happiness doesn’t last forever.
Suddenly, a grotesque moan interrupted the stillness of our kiss.
Before we could react, a zombie lunged from the darkness. Rotting flesh hung from its bones and its hollow eyes gleamed with hunger.
The evil creature yanked Lei into a deathly grip, and with a swift, terrifying motion, it sank its teeth into Lei’s throat.
The grotesque sound of tearing flesh thundered.
“No!” I screamed as blood spurted out, painting the moonlit ground in a gruesome shade of red. “No! No!”
Lei’s eyes went wide with anguished terror.
“No. No. No.” Gasping, I bolted upright in bed, slowly waking from the terrifying nightmare. “No. . .”
Sweat dripped from my forehead.
That wasn’t real.
The tightness in my chest started to subside as I came to the realization that it was merely a dream.
However, as I worked on steadying my pulse, the memory of Lei’s caress and the horrible image of that monster would not leave me alone.
No matter how hard I tried, the fear stayed with me.
Zombies are not real. Calm down.
Blinking my eyes, I gazed at the blue tent walls and then checked the other side of the bed.
Lei was gone.
I couldn’t believe I had been so exhausted that I didn’t even hear him wake up.
Or maybe he was just too silent when he left.
I let out a deep sigh and tried to shake off the remnants of the dream and focus on the reality of the tent around me.
The soft glow of the lowering sun filtered in through the small gap in the tent’s entrance, casting a gentle blue hue over everything.
From my bed, I could hear the distant sounds of nature—birdsongs, water trickling, and even the rustle of leaves—reminders that I was on Mount Utopia, a world away from what I had known.
I stretched out my limbs and reveled in the momentary peace.
Where did Lei go?
My fingers brushed against the cold empty space next to me where Lei had been.
To my surprise, a soft pang of sadness hit my chest.
It would have been nice to wake up next to him and get more of those sexy kisses.
My phone rang.
Who is that?
I rolled to my right, snagged up the device, and brought it closer to my face.
The bright screen momentarily blinded me, causing me to squint and shield my eyes with one hand. After adjusting, I spotted the name flashing on the screen.
Banks. Fuck.
Chapter three
Colors
Monique
My phone rang again.
Banks’ name continued to flash.
Got to get this over with.
There was a few seconds when I hesitated then I let out a long breath and swiped the screen to answer. “Hello?”
Banks’ gruff voice ran over the line. “Were you ever going to call?”
“Yes. Yes.” I shook my head. “Sorry. I got to the mountain and had a long conversation with Lei and then. . .lots of stuff happened, but anyway I’m right here—”
“Had a long conversation with Lei?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
“Since when are you spending time with the Four Aces, Moni?”
“Okay. First of all, I didn’t even know who they were or anything like that.”
“You’re just wearing blue and having a blast with one of Paradise City’s most deadly organizations?”