Ragnarok Rising: The Crossing (The Ragnarok Rising Saga) (60 page)

Through the agony that I felt in my legs, I felt something that I'd been dreading since all of this began. My heart nearly died in my chest as I felt the sharp, tearing pain of its teeth as it began to bite into the back of my thigh. I knew it was all over. The old Indian was right. His vision was coming true. After all we had been through; I was going to be turned into one of them. The venom of the Reaper Virus was now running through my veins.

"NO!" I screamed, and kicked harder at the creature.

It began using its claws to climb my legs as it continued to bite into my flesh. I knew it would climb up my back and leap onto Spec-4. I couldn't let her die, too. I refused to let that happen and I was not going to let myself turn, either. My fate was already sealed. I refused to let her join me.

Swimming in my vision, I saw the face of White Bear appear next to Spec-4. He was smiling comfortingly and nodding slowly.

"It is time," he seemed to say.

There was only one thing left for me to do.

"All-father," I whispered, looking into Spec-4's eyes for the last time, "be with those that I love."

She could see the decision in my eyes and etched on my face. She began to scream.

"Wylie! No!" she screamed, soundlessly.

There was anguish
on her face and tears were flowing, unchecked down her cheeks. With my free hand, I reached down and removed the badge from my chest and stuck it to her sleeve.

"Take this," I whispered. "Don't let it fall. It was heavier…"

"Wylie, don't!" she screamed, shaking her head pleadingly.

"
…than I thought it would be."

Then I let go.

I watched the horror and pain on her face as I fell away from her. It all seemed to pass infinitely slow as I plummeted down and into the churning water below. I felt the cold embrace of the foaming dark water that was roaring through the dam. I felt the
Stalker
lose its grip on me as the terrible forces of the water tore us in different directions. I felt a searing pain as it slashed the left side if my face before it was swept away. The unimaginable power of the vortex of water pulled me down into its depths. Then the darkness came.

I had let go on purpose. There would be no
Valhalla for me. There would only be the Hel of the living dead. I could only hope that the fall and the river would do enough damage to keep me from turning. If it did, then I would embrace the darkness like an old friend. If it ended the un-life of that accursed
Stalker
, then so much the better. Oblivion, was coming for me.

Author’s Bio:  D.A. Roberts

              D.A. Roberts was born in the small town of Lebanon, Missouri. Growing up on the farm gave him plenty of opportunities to cultivate a fertile imagination. Encouraged by his mother, he dreamed of one day becoming a famous writer. An avid reader, D.A. enjoys reading more than watching television.

             
A diverse career path has given him a unique view of the world. From soldier to factory worker, from bouncer to lab technician, and from Security Officer to Corrections Officer.  Having worn many different hats evolves a very different perspective. He draws on all of these experiences to bring his writing to life on a very human level.

             
He married Annette in the summer of 1993 and has been happily married, ever since. Three teenage sons keep them both busy. Nathan, Nic and Noah are his pride and joy. They have an English Mastiff named Xander, who is a big part of their lives.

             
D.A. loves to camp, hunt, fish, hike and Geocache. He also enjoys old-school pen and paper role-playing games. When not writing or on duty as a Corrections Officer, he enjoys spending time with his family. A good cup of coffee, a warm fire and a good book are his guilty pleasures.

Find D.A. on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/DARobertsAuthor

Or on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/DARobertsAuthor

Ragnarok Risin
g
:
The Awakening

Book One of the Ragnarok Rising Saga

Everyone you know is dead.

             
Reports of mob violence begin to appear in the news as more and more major cities go silent. Rumors fly about the nature of the “rioters”, claiming that the dead have risen to prey on the living. In the Midwest City of Springfield Missouri, all Law Enforcement Officers are called out for field duty. Nothing in their training could possibly prepare them for what they faced.

             
Corrections Officer Wylie Grant is sent into the field to help set-up a checkpoint in a remote section of the county. When they confront the rioters, they discover for themselves that they are facing the living dead. Wylie and National Guard Corporal Chrissy Wilder are the only ones to survive the encounter. Alone and cut off, they must fight their way back to the Nathanael County Jail where the few remaining officers are attempting to regroup.

             
Finding himself leading the rescue efforts, Wylie must choose between his sworn duty as an officer and his own duty to his family. While coping with the loss of friends and family members, they learn that a government “containment protocol” will soon be in effect. Once established, no one will be allowed in or out of the city.

             
Facing the realization that no one is coming for them, they must face the harsh truth that the government they thought was their ally has become yet another enemy in a world gone mad.

             
Can Wylie reach his family in time?

Ragnarok Risin
g
:
The Reckoning

Book Two of the Ragnarok Rising Saga

Sometimes the living are worse than the dead.

Wylie didn’t expect to survive the final events of The Awakening. Finding himself alive and alone in zombie infested territory, he starts making his way back to the Nathanael County Jail. Through miles of dangerous ground, he returns to find that nothing is as it was. Betrayal rocks the survivors as they are forced to fight against some of their own in order to pick up the pieces.

New faces as well as familiar ones join in the struggle to survive. Struggling with the loss of friends and loved ones, they must make some harsh decisions that will take them back into the fray among the living dead. Danger looms from every direction as each step they take brings them closer to destruction.
              Wylie discovers that other survivors may be a bigger threat to their survival than the zombies. Finding their lives in jeopardy, they must decide if they will find a new place away from the others or if they are willing to go to war with a group known only as the Freemen. In the darkest hour of the Zombie Apocalypse, there is a storm coming.

             
Who will survive the Reckoning?

Ragnarok Risin
g
: Redemption