by Chelsea Luna
Rachel pulled Adam to his feet.
“Let’s get out of here before Manny comes up.” Adam reached for his backpack. “He wasn’t bluffing when he said he’d shoot us if we weren’t out of here in five minutes.”
Chapter Seventeen
Rachel grabbed Morgan’s hand as they gathered near the door. It reminded her of their escape from the Wooden Barrel. Rachel knew this would be far worse than the horde they’d faced outside the bar in Flint. They were in inner city Detroit, with a countless number of zombies roaming the streets. They didn’t have a car and they’d have to go on foot in the dark.
Not good.
Nicky undid the row of locks. Cage slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a quick kiss. He’d saved her. Again.
When Jorge grabbed her in the kitchen, she knew she was dead. He’d caught her by surprise and dragged her across the floor with his machete pressed against her neck. Rachel knew the mindset of garbage like Jorge. She’d known it all her life.
Once he dragged her to the basement — where no one would be able to hear her scream for help — he would attack her. Once he was done doing what he wanted to her, he would’ve killed her. She was certain of that.
Thank God Cage and Nicky showed up before Jorge could do any real harm. He had punched her in the gut and torn her shirt, but that was it. She could still feel the machete’s rough blade against her throat.
Cage had been so calm and in control. Rachel didn’t believe Cage would shoot, especially with her so close. She’d underestimated him. Cage was different from the frightened quarterback she’d met at Cecilia’s Pizzeria. He was harder around the edges. Tougher. Heck, after what they’d been through, they had all changed over the past few days.
Rachel felt Adam’s eyes on her. She gave him an encouraging smile. He nodded. She knew he’d be okay. Adam was strong. He just needed time to get over the shock of Selena’s abrupt death. Maybe they all did.
Nicky unbolted the last lock and opened the door. They stumbled out of the house and onto the porch.
“Ah, the scene of my shooting,” Nicky said. “This wasn’t such a good place, Adam. Despite the steady flow of lemonade and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I got shot with an arrow and Rachel was attacked by a machete-wielding-psycho.”
“Nicky.” Lindsay elbowed him in the ribs. “Leave Adam alone.”
Adam closed the door behind him. “No, he’s right. We shouldn’t have stopped here.” His eyes landed on Rachel and roamed down to the cut on her neck. He raised his hand and his fingertips hovered over her wound. He sighed. “I’m sorry about Jorge. I should’ve known he’d try something like that. He was bad news, but everyone was always too afraid of him to do anything.”
Adam turned to Cage. “That was quick thinking on your part, because Jorge wouldn’t have hesitated to kill you or Rachel.”
Cage nodded.
“You should’ve seen Cage take him out,” Nicky said. “Cool as a cucumber.”
“How far is Ford Field?” Lindsay asked.
“About a mile or two,” Adam said. “The sun won’t be up for a few hours. We need to be careful.”
They descended the porch stairs. The zombies’ moaning from the backyard sounded significantly louder now that they were outside. Nicky banged his axe handle against Manny’s warning sign.
Rachel noticed two slow-moving zombies down the street. They weren’t an immediate threat, but once they started moaning, they would attract the group surrounding Manny’s backyard. Rachel gave Morgan’s hand to Nicky and hopped the chain link fence.
“Me? I’m not the babysitter,” Nicky said. “How did I get demoted from the fight team to the nanny? You watch little Rachel and I’ll take out those zombies.”
Rachel grinned. “You were effectively demoted when you were shot by an arrow. Carmen said you shouldn’t move your arm for a day or two.” She sprinted down the street. It felt good to be moving again. Doing something.
Footsteps stomped behind her and she knew it was Cage. “Just like old times, huh? Running through the city streets at night?”
“Hopefully we won’t run into any pit bulls,” Cage said.
The two zombies moaned. Rachel pumped her arms faster, but Cage easily blew past her. He reached the two zombies and took them both out with his tire iron before Rachel reached them.
“Turning on the jets, are we?” She asked, out of breath. “I didn’t know you were that fast.”
Cage breathed normally. “Figured it was the appropriate venue to display my speed.”
Rachel turned in a circle. Moaning and growling carried in the wind, but she couldn’t tell which direction it was coming from. The road was empty and the street lamps were the only source of light in the early morning darkness.
“I think the quarterback won that race,” Nicky said, once he reached them. “You can’t beat Cage Vance in a foot race. He’s a football god, in case you forgot.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Rachel smiled and noticed Adam held Morgan’s hand.
Nicky followed Rachel’s gaze and put his hands in the air. “Little Rachel dropped my hand and went to Adam. She left me in the dust and, to be honest, it kind of hurt my feelings. We all know Adam’s tall, dark and handsome, but ouch. Heartbreak.”
“I’m sorry,” Morgan said to Nicky.
“Don’t listen to him,” Rachel said. “You’re safer with Adam, anyway.”
The corner of Adam’s mouth twitched.
“Burn,” Nicky said. “I think you hurt my feelings, too. Everybody watch out for those Cole sisters.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “How do we get to Ford Field? I don’t like standing out here in the street like this.”
“Agreed. Manny’s going to bust out of his front door with his bow and arrow any second now.” Nicky glanced at the blue house and then at Cage. “He was pissed at you, Quick Draw McGraw.”
Cage looked away.
“Down that street,” Adam said, ignoring Nicky. “That should get us back onto Michigan Avenue and then we can take Washington Boulevard from there. Let’s get on the sidewalk.”
“Sidewalk?” Lindsay said. “Shouldn’t we stay in the street? Away from dark alleys and bushes?”
Finn shook his head. “There’s light in the street.”
“Light is good,” Lindsay said.
“Not if there are gangs out.” Finn shifted his backpack on his shoulders.
Rachel suppressed a grin.
Nicky patted Finn’s head. “Well, lookie here, we have a leader in training. I’m going to start calling you Little Adam.”
The group moved onto the cracked sidewalk where they weren’t as exposed as they were on the street. Even though Rachel had rejoined the group, Morgan still held Adam’s hand.
They turned onto Michigan Avenue, a normally busy street, but it was now abandoned. There was no sign of any people or gangs or zombies. No sign of life, really. They raced down the deserted road and onto Washington Boulevard.
A sliver of a moon hung low in the sky between a cluster of tall buildings. The city sat on the Detroit River, which gave almost immediate access to Canada. Nestled in between the soaring buildings were the combined outlines of Tiger Stadium and Ford Field. The two stadiums sat across the street from each other in a sports fan’s heaven.
“There it is!” Lindsay squealed. “How far is that? Eight blocks? Nine?”
“Probably,” Adam said. “We still have to be careful. There’s no telling what’s in between us and the stadium.”
“The stadium lights are on,” Rachel said. “That’s a good sign.”
“The city looks abandoned to me.” Nicky scratched his head.
“Come on, stay close,” Adam said.
Washington Boulevard was a wide street with a row of trees planted in the median to divide the lanes. Gigantic buildings rose from both sides of the street, making it seem like they were running in a canyon. The lack of people unnerved Rachel. Where was everyone? At Ford Field?
�
�Look!” Adam pointed up at the People Mover.
The white electric tram encircled downtown Detroit. People Mover was Detroit’s version of an aboveground subway system. The tram, racing high overhead, rushed over the raised concrete tracks in the silent city. The lights were on in the tram, but Rachel couldn’t make out one single person riding.
“At least Detroit hasn’t suffered a blackout yet,” Lindsay said.
“Did you believe Jorge?” Rachel asked. “When he said that parts of America were going dark?”
She shrugged. “Why would he lie about that?”
Rachel hadn’t wanted to believe anything that came out of Jorge’s mouth about the state of the country, but what had he to gain from lying? Fear? Maybe. Whatever the case, for the time being, Detroit had juice pumping through the city.
They stayed in the tree-lined median as they ran up Washington Boulevard. The thick row of trees provided good coverage, but the empty train bothered Rachel. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
Adam slowed as Washington Boulevard came to an abrupt end at a small park. They scurried across the street like rats and darted into the trees. The two benches and cluster of trees was some urban planner’s dream of putting some “green” into the downtown city center. They raced through the tiny park, past the Edison Memorial Fountain, and onto Woodward Avenue.
“Wait!” Lindsay said.
“What’s wrong?” Nicky asked.
The group slid against the building for cover. Lindsay hunched over with her hands on her knees.
“Are you okay?” Nicky bent to her eye level.
“I have to catch my breath,” Lindsay said. “We’re running like our lives depend on it.”
“Well, it kind of does,” Rachel said.
“No,” Adam said. “Lindsay’s right. No one is chasing us at the moment. We’re only a few blocks away. Let her catch her breath. Kids, do you want something to drink?”
Adam dug through his backpack and handed Morgan a bottle of water. Rachel fought the urge to tap her feet on the cement. They were so close.
“We only have to go one more block and then turn right. That’s the road that will run directly into Ford Field,” Adam said.
“There are people around here.” Cage pointed down the street. “See those two trash cans on fire down there?”
“Why would they make a fire?” Lindsay was still hunched over. She looked ridiculous in a halter top and denim skirt. “It’s like eighty degrees out.”
“Maybe to cook food?” Rachel suggested. She took a swig of water from Cage’s bottle. “Are we ready?”
Adam nodded.
They repacked their backpacks and moved down the street. The Fox Theater and the Hockey Town Café were ahead on the left. The theater’s bright lights looked strange with no one around. Rachel moved to the front of the group with Cage and Finn. They slowed at the corner of Woodward Avenue and East Adams Street.
Rachel leaned around the building to get a look at Ford Field, but something zipped by her ear. There was a loud pop followed by a cloud of dust. She turned and saw the tiny hole embedded in the brick.
“What was that?” Finn asked.
Cage pushed Rachel to the ground. “Gunshots!
Chapter Eighteen
Adam wasn’t surprised.
As soon as Cage had pointed out the fire in the trashcans he knew something was bound to happen. He knew it was bad people. It had to be. If they were good people, why would they be set up outside of a safe zone?
Cage, Rachel and Finn crawled back to the building’s alcove that provided cover from the gunfire. Two more shots fired since the initial bullet zoomed past Rachel’s ear.
“Are you okay?” Adam moved to Rachel. He reached to touch her, but he dropped his hand as Cage put his arm around her shoulder.
She nodded, her eyes locking onto his.
“What the hell?” Nicky cradled Lindsay against his chest.
“I guess we’ve just met the gangs,” Cage said bitterly.
“Gangs?” Adam said.
“Yeah, gangs.” Rachel bent to tie her shoes. Her cheeks were flushed. “Like zombies weren’t enough to deal with. Manny said gangs have been terrorizing the city since the outbreak.”
“Fantastic.” Adam checked the bullets in his gun.
“We need to get out of this doorway,” Cage said.
“Seems safe to me,” Nicky said.
“Until those gangsters come down and find us.” Rachel peered around the corner. “Then it will be like shooting fish in a barrel.”
“Did you see where they were shooting from?” Adam asked.
“I think it came from the top of Fox Theater,” Cage said. “They’re probably trying to stop people from getting into Ford Field.”
“Why would they do that?” Lindsay asked.
Cage shrugged. “The military won’t risk leaving the safe zone. The gangs must’ve claimed the area outside of the zone.”
“What’s our plan?”
“We have to get to Ford Field,” Adam said. “Now more than ever.”
“Maybe we can go back around,” Nicky said. “Go in from the back?”
“We can try,” Rachel said. “But I have a feeling there’s more than one sniper up there.”
“We need to go in smaller groups,” Adam said. “Use anything you can for cover — cars, trees, mailboxes — anything. Don’t run in a straight line. Run in a zigzag pattern so you’ll be a harder target to hit.”
Cage moved to grab Finn’s hand, but Finn stepped back. “I can run.”
“Are you sure?” Cage asked.
“I can run,” Finn repeated.
“We’ll go back the way we came, around this block, and back up the street.” Adam picked up Morgan. “Nicky and Lindsay, go first. I’ll carry Morgan.”
“What? Why us?” Nicky said.
“Fine, Nicky,” Rachel said. “Cage, Finn and I will go first.” She walked over to Adam. “You’ll take Morgan?”
Adam nodded. “I’ll keep her safe.” He bit back the doubt. He’d failed his mother. Failed to keep Selena alive. Would he fail Rachel, too?
Morgan squeezed her arms around Adam’s neck.
Rachel rose on her tiptoes and kissed her sister’s forehead. Rachel’s eyes fell on Adam and she squeezed his arm. “Thank you,” she whispered.
No, he wouldn’t fail Rachel.
Rachel smiled and then, with Finn in hand, the three of them disappeared around the alcove. The quick snap of gunfire sounded. Adam’s chest tightened.
“Go!” Adam shouted to Nicky and Lindsay. “Go. Zigzags, remember!”
Lindsay squealed as Nicky pulled her around the corner. The gunfire blasted through the city’s eerie silence.
Adam silently counted in his head. At least three shooters. He prayed that Rachel and the others had made it safely to the end of the block. “Are you ready, Morgan?”
The girl nodded, her neck nuzzled under his chin.
“All right,” Adam said. “Keep your head down.” He put one hand on the back of Morgan’s head, pressing her into his body, hoping that no part of her was visible to the snipers on top of the building. He would not lose Morgan.
Adam raced around the corner and onto the sidewalk. The quick tatter of gunfire filled the air as soon as he exposed himself. It was some type of semiautomatic gun. Adam pumped his legs, willing them to run faster.
Lindsay and Nicky rounded the corner in front of him.
Zip.
A bullet exploded in the concrete near his foot. Adam veered to his left and then his right.
Zip. Zip.
Bark from a thin tree planted in the middle of the concrete flew in the air.
“Almost there,” Adam whispered, breathing heavily. Morgan had gone rigid with the first sound of gunfire. She had a death grip on his neck.
He turned the corner, his eyes scanning for Rachel. Lindsay and Nicky were twenty yards ahead. Rachel, Cage and Finn were at the end of the block. He
exhaled. The gunfire had ceased as soon as he rounded the corner. Maybe the snipers were only stationed on top of Fox Theater?
The others huddled against the building. All eyes landed on Adam as he reached the group. They were waiting for him to give orders on what to do next. He had to keep them safe. He couldn’t let them down like he’d let down his mother and Selena.
Rachel stuck her neck around the building. “The entrance to Ford Field is fifty yards away. Three zombies are in the road. A tall wire fence surrounds the entrance. Once we reach the fence, we’ll be exposed again to the snipers on top of Fox Theater.”
Nicky clapped. “Great scouting report, Rachel.”
Lindsay rolled her eyes.
“All right, let’s be quick,” Adam said. “Same groups as before. Meet at the end of the building — don’t go into the fence yet. Rachel and Cage, can you take care of those three zombies?”
“Sure can,” Cage said.
Rachel, Cage and Finn raced down the street, staying close to the building. They quickly disposed of the deadheads. Lindsay and Nicky went next and Adam trailed behind with Morgan in his arms.
No gunshots fired as they reached the end of the building.
They huddled on the street corner looking up at the two massive stadiums. Floodlights glinted off the giant twin tigers above the gates of Tiger Stadium. The doors to the baseball field were wide open, as if it was an early game day and no one had decided to show up. Directly across from the baseball field was their destination.
Ford Field.
The enormous football stadium towered over them. Adam’s stomach sank. The road in between the two stadiums — Brush Street — had been shut down to vehicle traffic. Barriers were erected on both sides of the street. A handful of military tanks and Humvees were parked strategically in front of the stadium.
An eight-foot chain link fence topped with a roll of razor-sharp barbed wire was crudely erected in front of the football stadium. Sandbags were used to reinforce the cheap metal barrier. The gate to the stadium was open.
Not good.
“Let’s go before they can take a shot at us,” Adam ordered.
