Katz - Zombie Slayer Box Set, Vol. 1 [Books 1-3]

Gayle Katz

In Your Face Publishers

Blue Bell, PA

Copyright 2019 Gayle Katz

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission from the author. For permissions contact:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead, or undead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Visit the authors website at GayleKatz.com

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Charlie held her hunting knife at the ready. She was glad shed wrapped the handle with leather, as it made it more comfortable to hold for extended lengths of time. It also made it easier to grasp when she had to plunge the tip into the head of her prize. She heard a crackle and quickly ducked behind one of the headstones in the cemetery.

Her mentor had texted her the info at 2 am, so shed quickly put on her sweats and running shoes, grabbed her backpackalready filled with gearand hopped into the VW Beetle that her dad had left her in his will.

The crackling sound continued. She raised her head and breathed deeply. Soon it would be time to kill.

The crackling sounds turned into dull footsteps. Something, or someone, dragged their feet across the ground. Small pebbles and plant debris went cascading in all directions.

When she was ready, she leapt out at the creature. She lifted her dagger high into the air and struck.

The knife slipped easily through the eye socket and into its brain. She briefly winced, knowing that this was far easier than killing a human. She didnt even want to remember that detail.

The creature made a gurgling sound, and then dropped slowly to the ground.

Dammit! Now I have to clean up. She cleaned the filth from the dagger as best she could, rubbing it against the dirty pants of the dead body at her feet.

She walked around the carcass, lifted it by the armpits, and dragged it to the nearest hole in the ground.

It took her only a few minutes to fill in the earth.

There, thats done, she commented. Now Ill look forward to retirement.

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Welcome to Portland High. We hope youll like it here. Were a very welcoming and diverse community, unlike that state youre from, said Principal Allan.

Are you serious? You mean Texas? Charlie commented. Its all right. Every place has its bad apples.

Of course, said Allan. We heard youve come here with a reputation.

Charlie glared at him. The smile left his face.

Well, that concludes the guided tour. Your first class is biology with Mr. George.

Charlie stopped walking. Mr. George? she asked. I hope that isnt Stewart George.

Why yes, it is. You know each other? I hope you dont have a problem with him. He came highly recommended. Principal Allan smiled an awkward smile.

Yes, we know each other. And yes, I like the guy. Its just that he was also my bio teacher in Dallas. Its odd that he moved at the same time as me. Charlie looked around the hallway, a worried expression creeping onto her face.

Oh, thats quite the coincidence. Then youll settle in here much faster than I expected. Principal Allan gestured at an open door. This is where he started to say, but couldnt finish because Charlie was gone.

Charlie stomped angrily into bio class. Mr. George looked up at her and smiled, a smug expression on his face.

She glared at him, and went to the back of the class, choosing a desk. She smashed her backpack onto the ground.

Hello, class, he said, beginning the day. We have a new student today. Her name is Charlie Warner, and shes from Dallas, Texas. Please say hi to her.

The entire class said hi, except for Zan. She sat in the front row, her eyes reading her smartphone.

Hi, everyone, said Charlie. Id sell you drugs at lunch, but I hear that you can buy them at any store in Oregon now. That got a chuckle out of the majority of students, except for Zan.

Drugs are bad for you, Zan said, putting her phone down.

OK, class, lets get started on the lesson for today.

The day was your typical 11th grade experience. Charlie did her best not to interact with anybody. When she could, she glared at Mr. George. Finally, first period ended. She remained behind.

When the class had departed, Mr. George closed the door.

Charlie grabbed her things and stuffed them into her backpack. She stormed to the front and slammed it onto his desk.

Why are you here? I told you that Im done. Seriously, Im done.

Please calm down, Charlie. There are things that are out of my control. I told you before that this is a lifetime thing.

I dont want a lifetime. I just want to lead a normal life. She grabbed her backpack and headed to the door.

Wait, called Mr. George.

Charlie turned to face him.

I know that you put down the southern gang, but unfortunately, we have a new problem in Portland.

Thats just great, she said, but she didnt move closer to the door.

Apparently, a tourist from Portland visited her great-grandmothers grave in Dallas. Unfortunately, she was bitten.

Charlie dropped her bag. Wait. Tell me she did not come back to Portland.

Yes, thats just it. And its worse.

Charlie shook her head and kicked her bag.

She wasnt bitten by just any zombie. If so, someone would have taken her down immediately. But they didnt realize. She was bitten by the zombie leader.

Charlie shook her head, trying to take it all in. But I killed the zleader. Shes gone.

I know. But, apparently, she was bitten by her in the cemetery, then she holed up in the ground for a while.

Oh no, she cried.

Right, said Mr. George.

But if she was bitten by her, and I killed her, and then she came back here to her city her voice trailed off.

Right. That means she is a new zleader.

Crap, said Charlie. She picked up her bag. Anyway, Im late for chem.

Im sorry. I had to intervene, her teacher said.

I know, she said, reaching for the doorknob.

Mr. George tidied some papers on his desk and placed them into his briefcase. So, are you in, or what?

She turned and glared at him. What do you think? That Im going to let the zombies eat up the city?

Good. Lets meet at 3 pm, here.

Fine, she replied. But Im telling you, when this city is clear, Im truly done.

Mr. George nodded. I know. Im sorry you killed a human by mistake. Ive done the same. It never gets easier.

Right, I forgot that you had too. Her voice grew softer. Im off to class now.

See you later, said Mr. George. Oh, and its Mr. George here, not Stewart. As far as anyone knows, Im your bio teacher, not your mentor.

zzz

Chem class went well. Charlie was able to focus on the elements and chemical formulas and forget about the problems looming ahead.