Parish by Nicole Murphy Page A

the product.” Emily shrugged.  “They didn’t need to keep me around anymore once they had what they wanted.”
                  “Well ain’t it your discovery?” He was confused.
                  “Yes and no.  I get credit for it, but they paid for the research and development.  They own it.” Emily explained.  “I was offered a few positions around the country and even a few in Europe but I came back here.  Jack and I are from here.  Well, he is from here.  I moved here when I was twelve.  I’m originally from New York.”
                  “Is that the gas station up there?” He motioned forward with his head.
                  “Yep, make that right, right before the gas station.” Emily nodded moving forward on her seat.  Her heart began to race as they neared her home. Artemis turned the vehicle and punched the accelerator again.  “The school will be just up ahead.”
                  “It looks like your family is going to be okay when we get there.  I don’t see any zombies.”  His eyes scanned the sides of the street.
                  “I sure hope your right, Artemis.” She tried to swallow the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. They drove past the abandoned school.  A sudden realization struck her hard.  Life may never go back to normal, her children would be growing up in this new world, if they survived to grow up.  Emily fought the urge to vomit.
                  “Doc, we got a problem.” Artemis pulled her out of her thoughts.  “Tell me that ain’t your house.”  Her eyes went wide with terror as she beheld the seemingly endless throng of zombies that were surrounding her house.
                  “That’s my house!” She cried.  Artemis slammed on the breaks.
                  “Well fuck me sideways.” He murmured as he gripped the steering wheel and leaned forward.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    “It’s been hours.” Wren whined.  “They’re not going away.”
                  “Your mom will come.  She’ll bring the National Guard and they’ll rescue us.” Jack replied leaning his head back against the wall.
                  “I don’t think we have a National Guard.  We live in the city.  If they were going to do something we would have seen convoys going past by now.” Wade interjected as he picked at the rubber sole of his boot.
                  “Can you not be such a downer?” Jack narrowed his eyes at his son.  He looked to the youngest of the group, worried about how he was handling everything.  The sun was rising casting it’s beams in through the window.
                  “At least it’s daylight now.  Maybe that’s what they were waiting for?” Wren asked as she stood up and went to the window.  “Hey! Hey!  Oh my god! It’s Mom!”
                  “What!?” Jack and Wade asked in unison, excitedly jumping up and running to the window.
                  “Look over there, that’s Mom!  But she only has one soldier with her.  How are they going to get us?” Wren looked at Jack who was frowning slightly.
                  “I don’t know, but I’m sure she has a plan.” He attempted to reassure them.  Just as the words left his mouth they watched as the vehicle backed up and stopped.  The back wheels began to spin in place before the vehicle jumped forward plowing down several zombies.  The soldier who was driving was running over as many as he could.
                  “Yeah!” Wade began to cheer.  Jack turned around and grabbed the survival bags that Wren had made when the news had first broke and extended his hand to Jamie who took it gingerly.  Jack pushed the curtains back and opened the window, sliding through onto the balcony.  Turning back to his children he urged them through.  A