by Chelsea Luna
Death & the Zombie Apocalypse
Book 2
Zombie Apocalypse Trilogy
By
Chelsea Luna
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Acknowledgements
About The Author
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the author.
Copyright © 2014 by Chelsea Luna (Bellingeri)
Cover art created by Rahul Philip (http://www.rahulphilip.com)
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
For more information, please visit: http://www.chelsealunaauthor.com
http://www.facebook.com/ChelseaLuna.Author
Follow me on Twitter: @Chelsea_Luna_
BOOKS BY CHELSEA LUNA
Zombie Apocalypse Trilogy (Young Adult)
Love & the Zombie Apocalypse (Book 1)
Death & the Zombie Apocalypse (Book 2)
Revenge & the Zombie Apocalypse (Book 3)
Angels & Sinners Novella Series (Young Adult)
Torment of Shadows (Novella 1)
Mortal Sin (Novella 2) – Coming 2015
New England Witch Chronicles Series (Young Adult)
New England Witch Chronicles (Book 1)
Conjured (Book 2)
Wicked Betrayal (Book 3)
All Hallows Eve (Book 4)
Monster Club Series (Middle Grade)
Monster Club: Case of the Ivy Hollow Werewolf
To Dad —
Who taught me
the invaluable lesson of hard work.
Chapter One
“Is he dead?” Rachel Cole couldn’t breathe. This was her fault. One hundred percent. She’d run away from Cage and left him behind.
Rachel felt numb.
Lindsay sank to the floor. The pounding on the door grew louder. “He told me to run,” she sobbed. “So I ran, but when I looked back he wasn’t there. Zombies filled the hallway.” Her eyes narrowed at Rachel. “I told you not to scream! Didn’t I? I told you they’d hear your screams and come after us. This is your fault!”
Rachel glanced at Adam. “Tell me the truth. Is Cage dead?”
“There were a lot of zombies, Rachel,” Adam said. “In a very small space.”
Rachel jumped to her feet. “Stop saying that! Will one of you give me a straight answer? Did any of you see his body? Did you see him walking around as a zombie?” She looked at each one of them.
Adam stood up. “No.”
“Then he might still be alive.” A small spark of hope fluttered in Rachel’s stomach. He had to be alive. Had to be. She would search this dormitory until she found him.
“It’s possible,” Adam conceded.
“We have to find Cage before it’s too late,” Rachel said.
The growling drowned out all sound. Death was literally at the door. The wood vibrated on the hinges as the zombies pounded against it. Cage was somewhere on the other side of that door fighting for his life. She knew it. Rachel wouldn’t give up on him. She’d find him if it was the last thing she did.
“That’s great that you want to find Cage. He’s a swell guy.” Nicky held the dresser against the vibrating door. “But we’re about to be eaten alive unless we get out of this deathtrap.”
“How are we going to get out?” Lindsay wiped her face. “They’ve swarmed the hallway. We can’t fight through that many zombies.”
Nicky shook his head. “We’re all out of Molotov cocktails and bacon-wrapped flour decoys. It’s a shame. We’ve been pretty crafty.”
“We’re too high up to jump out the window.” Selena held her hands over Morgan’s ears, attempting to block out the growling.
Her little sister’s cheeks were tear-stained.
Rachel ran her hand over her face. Think. Think. The snarling grew too loud. She couldn’t hear her own thoughts. It didn’t help that the only thing she could think about was Cage, but Nicky was right. She couldn’t help Cage if she became a zombie. He needed Rachel to have a clear head. A flash of their last kiss on the floor of Gianni’s Pizzeria appeared before her eyes. Focus.
A splintering crack filled the room. Rachel looked behind her. The zombies were splitting the door in half. They’d be inside the room within minutes.
Adam whirled around. “Pile all the furniture against the door. Now!”
Think. The window wouldn’t open — no doubt a safety precaution. You couldn’t have college students jumping to their deaths during finals. Rachel closed her eyes. Cage is depending on you. She had to concentrate on what was happening now. You need to get Morgan safely out of the room. Everyone is going to die unless you think of something.
“What is Rachel doing?” Lindsay asked. “Has she finally lost it?”
“Lindsay, push that desk over,” Adam said. “Don’t worry about Rachel right now.”
“But she’s not helping,” Lindsay squeaked.
“Lindsay!” Adam shoved the twin bed against the pile of furniture. “Do it!”
The lone window was huge — wider than Rachel’s extended arms and almost floor to ceiling. She pressed her forehead against the glass, but she couldn’t see the ground. Screw it. She swung the baseball bat at the window. Shock waves vibrated through the aluminum bat and down her injured arm. The glass cracked, resembling a giant spider web of fissures, but it didn’t shatter.
“Rachel?” Selena stepped in front of Morgan. “What are you doing? We’re too high up. We can’t jump from the fifth floor.”
“She’s losing it!” Lindsay yelled. “I told you —she’s a psycho!”
“Rachel?” Morgan whispered. “Are you okay?”
Rachel glanced at her little sister. “Stay with Selena. I’m going to get us out of here.” She lifted the baseball bat and swung again.
It took four more swings before the glass shattered and rained down from the giant window. Rachel covered her head as shards of glass fell over her hair and face. She used the bat to knock out the jagged edges surrounding the windowpane. Moist warm air blew against her face.
Adam poked his head out the window, too. “I know what you’re thinking, but we can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
Rachel pointed at the door. “That’s more dangerous.”
Nicky and Lindsay pushed furniture against the pile, ducking away from the bloody arms reaching in through the splintered door. Fingernails scratched at the wood. The growling and snarling echoed in the room.
Adam exhaled. “What are you thinking? Do you think we can make it?” He raised an eyebrow. “All of us?”
A two-inch wide concrete ledge bordered the bottom of each window. A three-foot gap loomed betwee
n the ledges. Six windows over, at the corner of the building, stood a metal fire escape. They would have to inch out onto the fifth-story ledge and hop over the open space to the next ledge.
Six times.
Rachel looked at Adam. “I don’t think we have a choice. I’d rather fall to my death than —”
“I get the picture. Let’s go before they break the door down.” Adam turned to the others. “We’re going out through the window.”
“We’re jumping?” Lindsay shrieked.
“Sweet.” Nicky pushed his weight against the dresser. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Rachel placed a pale pink quilt over the windowsill to cover the exposed glass. She clenched her hands together to stop the trembling. Everyone was depending on her; she didn’t have time to be frightened. “Morgan, you can ride on my back.”
“No,” Adam said. “I’ll take her.”
“I can take her,” Rachel said.
“You’re not strong enough to carry her and keep your balance. There’s a significant distance between the ledges.”
“Wait,” Lindsay said. “What do you mean? What do you mean by ledges?” She stuck her head out the window. “No way. Absolutely not. I’m not Spiderman. I can’t make that jump. Are you crazy?”
“You don’t have a choice,” Adam said calmly. “You’re stronger than you think, Lindsay. You can do this. I know you can.”
Lindsay made a face, but she didn’t argue.
Adam turned to the others. “Go with your stomach pressed against the brick. Whatever you do, don’t look down. There are six ledges before you get to the fire escape. We can do this. All of us. I’ll go first with Morgan. Nicky, can you go last? We’ll need your muscle to hold the door until the last possible moment.”
“The sacrificial lamb,” Nicky said. “I dig that.”
“You’ll be fine,” Adam said.
“Said the guy who’s going first.” Nicky grinned. “Can we get this show on the road? I can’t hold this door all day long.”
Rachel dropped to her knees in front of Morgan. “You have to be brave for me right now. This is my friend, Adam. He’s a firefighter. He’s going to carry you to the fire escape.”
Morgan glanced at Adam, sizing him up. “He saves people from fires?”
Rachel smiled. “He does. He’s a hero. You’ll be safe with him. We’re all going out after you, so I’ll see you in a few minutes, okay?”
“A hero is stretching it a bit,” Adam said.
Rachel poked him in the chest. Her fingertip hit hard muscle and her cheeks grew warm when she realized she was touching his bare skin. “You’re a hero.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Uh, hello? Can we hold off on the Hallmark moment?” Nicky pointed behind him. “Hundreds of zombies are chilling on the other side of this door, remember? I’m losing my grip. Move it people, move it!”
“Everyone who’s not going out the window will help Nicky hold the door,” Adam said. “As soon as one person is out, the next one goes. Let’s make this quick. Lindsay, take off those sandals, you’ll do better barefoot. Rachel, can you carry my backpack?”
Lindsay rolled her eyes, kicked off her high-heeled sandals and shoved them in her bag.
Adam led Morgan to the window and swung her onto his back. Morgan wrapped her arms around his neck. “Morgan, whatever you do, don’t let go. Okay?”
“Don’t worry,” Morgan said. “I won’t.”
“Wait!” Selena ran to Adam and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Be careful!”
Adam hoisted himself onto the windowsill and ducked out onto the ledge. He inched across. His fingers gripped the rough brick. The veins and muscles bulged in his forearms. Morgan closed her eyes as Adam stretched his leg over the gap to the next window ledge.
Rachel couldn’t watch either. She glanced down at the five-story plunge to the parking lot below, but that view wasn’t any better. Adam will keep Morgan safe.
“We’re good.” Adam and Morgan moved to the second ledge. “When I get to the next ledge, send Selena or Lindsay over.”
Rachel exhaled. “Selena, do you want to go next?”
Selena stood from her crouch against the dresser. Curled zombie fingers reached through the cracks in the broken door. The pile of furniture shoved against the door was the only thing keeping them back.
Selena slipped on her backpack. Rachel half lifted, half shoved Selena onto the ledge just as Adam and Morgan reached the fire escape.
“You can do it, Selena,” Adam said. “Just don’t look down.”
Lindsay and Nicky held the pulsating dresser against the pile of furniture. The top hinge had busted from the doorframe. Limbs and heads shoved through the gaps in the wood.
“Lindsay, you’re next,” Rachel said.
She shook her head. “Nicky said he’d help me cross the ledge. You go, then me, and then Nicky.”
“Fine.” Rachel put on her backpack and heaved Adam’s heavy bag onto her shoulder. She tucked the baseball bat into the backpack, but it stuck out awkwardly.
“Lindsay, go as soon as you can’t see me anymore,” Rachel said. “Nicky, you go right after. That door is about to come crashing down.”
“Aye aye, captain.” Nicky nodded.
Rachel hopped up to the windowsill and inched onto the ledge. Adam’s backpack was heavy, really heavy, and it kept sliding down her arm. Her fingers searched for a grip in the brick, but there wasn’t much to hold on to. She shuffled across the ledge, but Adam’s heavy bag slid down her arm again.
The shifting weight pulled her backward, throwing her off balance. Rachel tried to correct herself, but the ledge was too narrow. Her foot slipped.
“Rachel!” Morgan screamed.
It all happened too quickly. One moment she stood on the ledge, the next she was falling. She grabbed, only feeling air, until her fingers caught the rough concrete ledge.
“Nicky! Lindsay! Help Rachel!” Adam yelled. “Hurry!”
“I can’t move! They’re about to break through!” Nicky answered.
Adam moved in her peripheral vision. “Rachel! I’m coming! Hold on!”
Rachel’s fingers slipped to the edge. She couldn’t hold on much longer. The weight and gravity of the two backpacks pulled her down. Something moved inside the room. Had the zombies broken through the door?
Lindsay’s blotchy face appeared in the window.
“Help me,” Rachel said. “I’m losing my grip. Lindsay?”
Lindsay’s eyes were hard. She leaned over the windowsill and lowered her voice to a whisper. “It’s your fault the zombies attacked me in the hallway.”
“What’s wrong with you? Help me!”
Lindsay placed her hand over Rachel’s wrist. Long manicured fingers dug deep into Rachel’s skin. “It’s your fault Cage is gone.”
Chapter Two
The way Lindsay leaned out of the window made her ass look cute. Nicky Ayers’ body shot forward two inches as the zombies banged against the broken door.
“Lindsay, can you pull Rachel up?” Nicky pushed back against the dresser, his feet slipping over the linoleum. He couldn’t gain any traction. It was pointless. He was one man against the strength of a hungry mob.
Lindsay whispered something to Rachel. What was going on over there? Girl talk? Lindsay wasn’t doing any lifting and Rachel was still dangling from the window ledge.
“Lindsay?” Nicky shouted again. “What are you doing? Can you help Rachel up or do I need to come over there?”
Lindsay glanced over her shoulder at him.
She was totally hot. Blonde hair, blue eyes, five-foot-six inches of Barbie doll perfection. One of those rich girls you’d see in the mall carrying tons of shopping bags and looking all sophisticated and cute. The kind of girl that wouldn’t give you a second glance as she strutted by in her designer heels.
But it was the end of the world and pickings were slim. Selena had Adam. Rachel had Cage — if he was still alive. Lindsay had no one
. Nicky could swoop in and snag a top-notch beauty. She’d fall for him eventually. If they survived. Crazier things had happened — like the dead reanimating and eating the living.
The door’s bottom hinge busted from the wall, propelling Nicky forward on his butt.
Dammit.
Lindsay leaned out the window on her tiptoes. She grunted and the top of Rachel’s pretty blonde head appeared. Nicky could see Rachel’s face now, followed by her neck and shoulders. Lindsay had pulled her up with all of her rich-girl strength.
“The three of us need to get out of here now!” Nicky said. “Rachel, leave Adam’s backpack. I’ll take it. You’re too skinny to carry it anyway.”
Rachel stood on the windowsill. Her face was pale from her brush with death. She tossed Adam’s bag in the room and then disappeared, but not before glaring at Lindsay. What was that about? Hadn’t Lindsay just saved Rachel from falling to her death?
“Go, Lindsay, I’m right behind you,” Nicky said.
Lindsay took a deep breath and vanished out the window. Nicky didn’t wait. He shot off the floor and raced to the ledge. Now that his weight no longer held the dresser, the zombies came crashing through the broken door and climbed over the heap of furniture.
Nicky grabbed Adam’s heavy-ass backpack and jumped onto the windowsill. He looked down. Big mistake. He pivoted until he faced the brick and tried to calm his nerves. The ledge was narrow — too narrow — and the majority of his sneakers hung off the edge. He angled his body forward and scooted over, but Lindsay was frozen. She was too afraid to make the lunge to the next ledge.
Zombie arms reached out the window. They stormed the opening like there was a fire behind them.
Nicky inched over. The zombies could reach him from where he stood, but he couldn’t go anywhere because Lindsay blocked the next leap. He pushed his body next to her. “Go! They’re coming!”
“I can’t do it!” Tears stained her cheeks. “I can’t!”
