"Why did you do it?"
The zombie smiled. "It seemed like the humane thing to do."
"I want to see," Taylor said.
Russ nodded since he had his gun trained on the zombie. "Find Bri and tell her we need to leave."
"Have you ever seen captive piranha? I had a buddy in college who had six red-belly ones. Not the fake ones you buy in the pet store that look like piranha. The real ones from South America. They were fascinating," the zombie said.
"I don't care. Just sit there and shut up."
"Here's the interesting thing about these evil little fish: they aren't the evil little fish portrayed in bad movies. They eat, like most predators, to survive. They don't eat everything in their path. They aren't stupid dogs, who will eat until they burst. You know what my roommate used to do? He'd dump fifty goldfish into the tank."
Russ wanted to call out to the girls so they could get moving.
"But the piranha doesn't eat until everything is dead. No. They eat one or two goldfish a meal. You know what they do first, though?"
"I don't care."
The zombie smiled. "I think you do. I also think you've already figured out the answer. They bite off all the goldfish fins so they can’t swim away. They can then pick and choose which tasty morsel they'll snack on every time they get hungry."
"You're sick," Russ said.
"I'm smart. Why chase my food when I can keep it well-stocked and well-fed? I clean it and prepare it like I used to when I went deer hunting. It's all the same principles. Would you rather I just ripped them apart and turned them into mindless animals? Would that make you happy? At least this way they don't become zombies and they die nicer than anyone else around this shitty place. I think it's a fair trade. You don't hear anyone complaining, either."
"Because you're drugging them," Russ said. He really wanted to shoot the zombie in the head and his finger brushed the trigger, but he knew he needed him alive for now. "There is no justification for what you're doing."
The zombie grinned. "You're so much better than me. I forgot. You're the superior creature, the most dominant hunter on the planet, domesticating stupider animals so they will be an ongoing food source. Pumping them full of drugs to keep them docile. Feeding them so they get plump and juicy. Not worrying when they scream as you slice them up and package them in Walmart."
"It's not the same thing," Russ said quietly.
"But it is. Only you just got jumped in the evolutionary chain of command. You're no longer just the hunters. You've become the best prey for the top dog. Which is now me, and I'm very much hungry,” the zombie said.
Bri and Taylor came onto the porch before Russ could respond.
"This is wild," Taylor said. She was smiling.
"What's so damn funny?" Russ asked.
"Not funny." Taylor glanced at the zombie. "Ingenious. He's just doing this on a smaller scale than The Lich Lord, that's all."
The zombie stopped smiling. "Who is The Lich Lord? What is he doing similar? Why does he have such a stupid name?"
"I thought you were superior," Russ said. "I guess someone else is on your level. Or, rather, a notch or three above you."
"The zombie we just escaped from has a few city blocks set up and protects them. We're supposed to feed him prisoners and people we find on the street in order to stay alive. In exchange, we get to live. But he doesn't hobble us or drug us," Taylor said.
"Then why do you stay?" The zombie smiled. "Ahh. You don't. You run away, like you're doing."
"Hundreds of people stayed, asshole. We just need to find Darlene and her baby." Bri poked the zombie in the temple with her gun. "And you're going to help us."
"How can I be of service?"
"By leading us to Darlene and the baby," Bri said.
"Why would I do that?"
Bri grinned. "Because you want to find her even more than we do. And you know it. You can sense her. You can smell the baby, and you know one bite will raise you above every other of your kind. Unless you'd rather I shot you in the fucking head and we found one of your friends?"
"Fine. I will help you," the zombie said.
"First things first, though, asshole," Bri said and walked back into the house.
"I wish you'd stop using so much profanity," Russ called after her.
"What about all these people?" Taylor asked.
Russ looked away, focusing on the overgrown yard. "We need to be on our way."
"They'll all die," Taylor said. "Eventually another zombie will find them and feast, or they'll die of starvation. We can't walk away from them."
"We don't have a choice," Russ said. "We can't carry a hundred people."
"What if we brought them back to Main Street?" Taylor asked. "We could get them to safety."
"How are we going to get a hundred people who can't walk miles from here? It can't be done," Russ said. He could see Taylor was getting angry but there was no easy answer. If they tried to move even a few of the people, they'd be stopped within a block and all killed. The lesser of two evils was to let them stay in the house and hope for the best.
"There are a hundred and twenty-two people," the zombie said. "All needing attention. Why don't you leave me to help them?"
"Not a chance," Russ said.
"Then I'm going to stay," Taylor said.
"Out of the question." Russ stared at Taylor. "We have something important to do."
"I don't. You and Bri do. I don't even know who this woman is. What do I care? I'm not leaving all of these people to die." Taylor aimed her pistol at the zombie. "Take him with you and find her if you want. But I'm staying behind to feed and protect these people. When you return from your journey, feel free to come get us. I'll be right here helping people instead of worrying about killing everyone."
"What are we talking about?" Bri asked as she came back outside holding a sledgehammer. She looked at Taylor. "You're going to stay and watch over them? Cool."
"When did I lose command?" Russ asked.
Bri laughed. "Did you think you ever had it? Just because you came up with the idea to leave doesn't mean you're the boss. Screw that."
"You have had a potty mouth since we left," Russ said. "I'm not sure I like it."
"Get used to it." Bri dropped the head of the sledgehammer on the porch and leaned it against her leg. She smiled at the zombie. "Is this what you used to hobble everyone inside?"
The zombie shrugged and smiled. "Maybe. Why?"
"No reason." Bri looked at Taylor. "Knock him on his ass."
Before Russ could react, Taylor shoved the zombie down by the shoulder and he fell on the wooden planks. Bri stepped up and swung the hammer, bashing the zombie's kneecap. As the zombie screamed, she did the same with the other kneecap, bone and blood everywhere.
The zombie closed his eyes and smiled. "Wow, does that shit hurt." His eyes popped open. "God-damn, girl, you're tougher than you look. You got me."
"Why would you do that?" Russ asked, throwing his hands in the air.
"You think he'll walk with us to Darlene? He'll run at the first chance he gets." Bri pointed with the sledgehammer. "This way he isn't going anywhere fast. There are car keys hanging near the front door. I'm sure we can find one that matches a car on the block. We need to get out of here and be on our way before Jeff finds Darlene and kills her. We'll have this piece of shit as our navigator." Bri looked at Taylor. "Good luck. I'll come back for you."
Chapter Eighteen
Jeff didn't trust Doug and vowed to keep the new guy in front of him at all times. The dude seemed too intense, even for Jeff. And he'd seen his kind before. The new guy who thinks he's the Alpha Male and is going to take over and run the joint. When Jeff was a correction officer, he'd seen a few of these jerks, and they had an easy way to deal with them: pay a couple of inmates a pack of smokes to poke a hole in the guy. Nothing life-threatening. Just something to make him realize he wasn't as big a shit as he thought he was, and no one had his back when the chips fell. They us
ually quit or got in line at that point and learned the pecking order.
Jeff was at the top of the pecking order and this new guy was going to be trouble. "Lead the way, Hoss," Jeff said. He was sitting low on his Harley and enjoying the sunny morning. It was going to be another hot one. He'd been chomping at the bit since yesterday, trying to keep busy until they were ready to hunt. The Lich Lord had let him have seven men, even though he didn’t want Doug or his sidekick, Cowboy.
Doug grinned. "You talk to this zombie much?"
"Huh? We need to ride."
"We have all the time in the world, don't we? I don't know about you, but my job isn't there anymore. Neither is my family. My nice house or my F-150. Definitely not the town I grew up in. So, I'd rather ask you a couple of quick questions. Let me have a better idea of what we're doing out here. Humor me, Jeffrey."
Jeff was even more annoyed now. "What?"
"I asked you if you talked to the zombie much? If he told you anything?"
"I talk to him everyday. I'm his right hand man. What would he tell me?"
Doug shrugged. "The basic stuff: how did it happen to him? How long ago did it happen? Where he's from? Stuff like that."
"No… yes, of course he told me. But I'm not going to tell you," Jeff said. "What does it matter, anyway? He's keeping us alive."
"Just curious. It seems to me we're running around to help him get stronger while we get weaker." Doug smiled. "That's all."
"Don't think you're going to make a move against him."
"Why would I? This is still a big planet, and most of the assholes have been killed. I don't buy his Greater Power, God Came Down And Took The Holy crap, though. But I do dig how powerful he's getting. It seems such a shame to waste all the power on one man, you know? Just wondering how he got bit and how long it took to gain his Spidey powers." Doug turned on the bike's engine and revved it. "Let's get out of here."
Jeff stared at Doug but before he could reply the asshole was riding slowly away, watching Jeff with his side mirror and grinning. The bastard put a thought in my head, Jeff knew. He's making me question shit I don't want to question. I just want to live and fuck and fight and drink. Motherfucker.
And his sidekick, Cowboy, had managed to stay close by even though Jeff was sure The Lich Lord wanted the guy back at the compound and separated from Doug. It was too late now to send him back, and he might need the muscle. He could also be used as a human shield if need be. Cowboy would be the second guy Jeff wanted to see die, right after Doug. As long as he returned with Darlene and the baby, he'd be fine. Killing these two would be a bonus.
There were ten of them on motorcycles, and Jeff didn't know any of them closely. His men he scouted with weren't coming, as they had other things to take care of. He'd gotten a bunch of nobodies to help him, and he'd kill all of them if he needed to.
He actually hoped he got the chance.
Jeff was so lost in daydreaming about shooting people he almost got left behind. It was another slight by Doug, since Jeff was the leader of this venture. He took off like a shot on his trusty bike, weaving in and out of debris on A1A as they headed north.
A few miles ahead they came into Flagler Beach just as Jeff overtook Doug in the lead. He motioned for everyone to pull over onto the shoulder overlooking the beach.
"We're really close," Doug said with a smile. "Another twenty blocks or so and I can show you where I last saw them."
Jeff punched Doug in the face, dropping the man to a knee. Before Doug could come up, Jeff had slammed him in the face with a punch, followed by a knee to the back of the head. Doug pitched into the sand and didn't move.
"Get up," Jeff snarled. He bounced around Doug, waiting for the man to attack.
Instead, Doug rolled over, spit blood and lightly touched his busted lip. "Shit, you got quite the punch, Jeffrey."
"Get up so I can show you another one and knock you back down."
Doug waved his hands and stayed on the ground, propping up on his elbows. He was grinning and spit more blood. "No thanks. I think it's safe to say you've beaten me into submission. I don't want any part in taking another beating from you. I feel sorry for those convicts that had to take a punch from you over the years." Doug turned to look at the men around them. "Hands like cinderblocks. Don't cross Jeffrey or he'll lay you out."
Jeff knew he was being an asshole but if he got mad he'd look like a complete dick. "I lead the pack, not you. I call the shots. Not you. I'm the one entrusted with this mission. It's my ass if we fail. You're just the new guy who thinks he knows more than he does."
"Fair enough." Doug slowly rose. "I want no trouble. We're all on the same side. I'll gladly take up the rear and watch our backs."
Jeff smiled. "No. You can ride next to me. I want you in my sight at all times."
Doug nodded. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."
"Exactly," Jeff said. Some of the men laughed.
Doug put his hands up again. "Except, I'm not the enemy. The world is full of them. They all want to rape us. I just want to live and enjoy myself before I die. I am on your side, Jeffrey."
"Call me Jeff."
"Whatever you want," Doug said. "You're calling the shots, man, not me."
"Damn straight I am," Jeff said and realized how stupid he sounded. He looked at everyone standing around. No one was saying anything but the asshole Cowboy had a smirk on his face. Jeff was definitely going to kill that guy as soon as he got the chance. "Let's ride. We've wasted enough time."
Jeff was fuming on the ride up A1A, glancing over at the smiling Doug as they rode. The prick had gotten the best of him. Jeff's show of strength only made him look like an asshole when Doug didn't fight back, instead submitting right away. Now Jeff had serious doubts the guys around him would take him seriously.
Jeff was glad his normal crew wasn't with him to see this.
Doug pointed to a side street as they neared an intersection which used to have a working traffic light. They turned west past a park littered with decaying bodies and weeds. Jeff slowed down when he saw all the dead on the street at the next intersection.
Doug parked and turned off his bike. "That building right there. She was upstairs."
Jeff pointed at two random men. "Go up and see what you can find. I'm sure she's long gone by now."
"Which way did The Lich Lord say she would go?" Doug asked.
Jeff didn't detect sarcasm, just an actual question. "He said she'd head west on the main road over there. Route 100. Follow it as far out as we can unless we spot her."
"That doesn’t sound too exact. This will be like finding a needle in a haystack. Didn't he see where she was going to stop?"
"He can't see the future," Jeff said, but wasn't too sure the monster can’t. "He gave us a general direction. I'm sure we'll pick up on her trail."
"I hope you can track, especially riding a chopper."
"Don't worry about it," Jeff said.
"Oh, I'm not worried. At all. I'm just here for the ride. I do as I'm told," Doug said.
"Nothing up there except a few empty aluminum cans," one of the men said as they returned from the building, stepping over bodies. "No one's been there for awhile."
"At least a couple days," Doug said. "No more than three? I lost count."
Jeff looked at the men standing around him. "Let's saddle up and ride. We need to find this bitch or a place to stay tonight, so we aren't going too far. They're not going to outrun us. A pregnant chick, an old man and a pussy that needs to defend those two. We'll eat up some road until it starts to get dark. But keep your eyes open for signs they moved off the road and we'll need some shelter."
They climbed back onto their rides and Jeff glanced at Doug, who was staring and smiling at him. Jeff really wanted to torture this fuck before he took his life.
Chapter Nineteen
Darlene was glad the house was so cluttered; they'd all managed to slide into the storage area under the stairs and put the counter and boxes aga
inst it. Now she hoped no one would be curious enough to go through it.
"Come on out or we're coming in," she heard muffled yelling because of everything between her and the speaker. It sounded like they were still outside.
When Tosha had run down the stairs and alerted them, Darlene nearly panicked. The odds were firmly against them, but John never freaked out. He simply sighed, as if this was yet another bad break, and found the hiding spot they were currently crammed into. The trick was pulling everything toward them without it looking obvious. Darlene hoped he'd done well.
"Last chance," another person, this time female, yelled.
"Get ready, Tosha," John said. Darlene felt hurt by his words, as he'd addressed her only. She realized she was fed into the spot with Murph first, so they'd be out of the way. I can fight, she thought, knowing it wasn't exactly the truth. If cornered she could.
She knew John was protecting not only her but the baby, but it still stung to think Tosha was now his second when it came to a fight. And she didn't trust her. Darlene saw the way Tosha looked at John and made her innuendoes. At the first chance she'd mount him. Darlene trusted John, but the woman was beautiful. Prettier than she'd ever be.
Someone came onto the porch. They could hear the wood creaking and then the door squeaking open.
"We are heavily armed and outnumber you twenty to one. If you come out, we won't harm you. I promise," someone said. Now more footsteps could be heard inside the building. "We know you're here. Your van is outside. If you don't come out, we're going to assume you don't want anything inside it. Or the van. Up to you. Last chance."
Darlene looked up in the dark when someone began going up the stairs right above them, followed by at least four more people.
"What is this place?" The female said, only a few feet away. "This is where the Satanists come to shop?"
A harsh laugh answered her.
"Spread out and shoot to kill. Take everything we can carry and load the van. We finally got us a working vehicle."
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