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Theto the Fort" The , but Rune already knehere the fort was located He had the ns on a fortified construction site down in Ashley Oaks a few

Rune never stayed long in any of the survivor enca his safety to others Most of the time, the survivors had very little food or weapons and were just holding tight waiting for rescue They were damn fools and they didn’t like it when he told the out that no one was coer they waited, the more vulnerable they beca road, a herd of cows slowly sauntered toward shelter as the wind grew colder It smelled like an ice storm, and Rune hoped to God in Heaven the fort was still alive and that he’d be able to grab a cot for the night

The Harley roared around a long curve, and Rune quickly braked as a bunch of vehicles parked on the road ca his Glock out of its holster, he wove through the tangle of big vehicles As the bike ca around a man with blond hair and a worried expression looked toward hi his features "Hey, you!"

"Hey, yourself," Rune answered gruuts and blood A few people were on top of it,up to help

"Hey! You! Slon! Who are you?" the youngto keep up

To everyone’s surprise, a young woirl across the road just in front of Rune’s bike He skidded to a stop, one foot planted firmly on the bloodied asphalt

The child ju screech of the walking dead The little girl hurtled across the road straight for the startled hu their weapons Rune was faster and his Glock barked The bullet slaood size hole out the other side The little zounshot echoed away into the distance, the surviving huure One by one, their gazes shifted toward hih," he said The battle appeared to be over, but he was not sticking around for any grand finale

"Good to see you, you sonofabitch," a gruff, faaze was drawn to the top of the van where an older woypsy skirt and flowing blouse was being helped down by none other than his buddy, Dale

"I’ll be damned," Rune exclaimed "What the hell happened at the rescue center?"

"Got overrun when sorocery store They brought a whole mess of them down on us The doors didn’t hold," Dale answered He acknowledged Rune with a short nod of his head, then helped the Indian couple down

"Okay, people Let’s get off this road and to the fort!" an older, grizzled man called out "We’ll check you for bites and if you’re clean, you can come to the fort to stay"

"That was our destination before it all went to hell," Dale answered grier we stay here, the et o"

The pretty wo nearby, her head down She was staring at the little girl she had hurled away to save herself

Around hi the newco behind the bike The Indian woony as she was led away by a woman with red hair Her husband looked stricken, but was mute as he carried the other small child with him Rune wanted to feel for thee in cos happened in it

The witchy older wo nairl with her shawl before an olderbus

"Good to see you, Rune," she said as she walked past his bike

"And you, Maddie," he answered

Dale luhi to the fort?"

"Yeah Need to find a place to crash before the ice storloves creaking

"Been a helluva day The other van went off the road, and our driver stopped to check it out Next thing you knoe’re overrun and the driver is dead with the keys in his da to the fort?" It was the gorgeous woman who spoke

Rune felt a little flutter in his belly as he looked toward her Her pale skin was splattered with blood, the ax in her hand still dripping "Yeah"

"Can I ride along?"

"Sure"