The Living Dead Boy (Book 3): Journey Across Zombie Texas

by Rhiannon Frater

  The pickup and SUV sped along much faster than Dulce had dared to drive. The wooded hills and open pastures gave way to orderly fields bordered by fences.

  “But there’s a horde nearby?” Troy gave Josh a worried look. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

  “Yeah, but we’re ready. We already fought one off yesterday.”

  “Where are they coming from?” Corina asked.

  “Sadly, evacuation convoys. Towns closer to the cities got overrun when the infected people arrived looking for help. Then, when the survivors fled, the zombies followed. So there are big packs of them roaming the countryside.”

  “Is that why the city people have to go to San Angelo?” Troy asked.

  “San Angelo is one of the airlift locations. There are several of them. They were airlifting out of DFW, but I heard it was overrun a few hours ago.” Daisy shook her head sadly. “The evacuations were so disorganized in the beginning. The government is trying to fix it now.”

  “Is it working?” There was hope in Corina’s voice.

  “I don’t know. We’ll see. Right now there are multiple convoys on the way to various evacuation points. There are specific routes being transmitted to everyone’s smart phones and GPSes. People gotta stay on those paths, since they’re protected.”

  “Why were you out here?” Josh asked. “Driving around if there is a horde and some of the convoys are infected sounds dangerous.”

  Daisy chuckled. “That it is, but we were looking for you. Sergeant Rondell reported that the convoy he was leading was almost overrun at a designated stop and that there might be survivors headed our way.”

  “That’s my dad,” Josh said excitedly.

  “Oh? Really? Well, he reported that there were children survivors on foot, and that they might head toward us. Since the convoy had picked up survivors from Nathan’s hometown, he was hoping against hope that Sam was alive. He’s been driving around on all the backroads looking for you guys all day. I volunteered to help him look this afternoon.”

  “And he found Sam. Cause Josh kept him alive.” Corina peeked around the edge of her chair to smile at Josh.

  Josh blushed. He couldn’t help it. Corina’s approval was important. It made him feel like he was capable of leading his friends to San Angelo.

  “Can I talk to my dad?” Josh asked hopefully.

  “The radio is for official business only, hon, but we’ll send out a message that we picked up the missing kids.”

  “That’s good, right?” Troy whispered to Josh. “Then your dad can come get us.”

  “I don’t know,” Josh answered in an equally hushed tone. “But if he can’t, we have to keep going. Get on an evacuation route.”

  Troy looked ahead toward the pickup ahead. “Do you think they’ll let us?”

  Josh stared at the side of Daisy’s face. She seemed nice, but there was a stern set to her jaw. Sadly, he shook his head. “No.”

  Chapter 8

  The town was small and easy to see from a distance. It sat nestled among farmland with the country road slicing straight down the middle. The SUV came to a halt outside of a heavily fortified barricade set across the road. Josh stared out the window at the end of a field lined with barbed wire and a sparse line of oak trees. On the other side of the trees was an old faded wooden fence with an advertisement for a soda and hamburger combo at the local diner. When Josh spotted a man standing on the top of the building behind the fence with a rifle, he felt a little better about entering the town.

  “Is this safe?” Corina asked.

  “All the buildings are boarded up on the ground floor. All the roads at the end of town are barricaded. No one gets in unless we let them in. Since this is a farm area, we have barbed wire or wood fences along most of the perimeter. But in the areas where it’s open, they’re moving the manufactured homes from the trailer park to use as a wall. My brothers spent most of this morning reinforcing all the fences around my family’s property.”

  Josh wasn’t sure if Daisy was trying to assure the kids that the town was safe, or reassure herself. She looked a little nervous as the pickup slid through the gate that had to have been erected in just the last few days. Armed men and women waved as the SUV followed.

  The first block of the town was older houses. Just like Daisy had described, all the windows were boarded up on the outside. Peering down the distant road, Josh saw a barricade made up of old refrigerators, washers, dryers, furniture, and heavy farm equipment, cutting it off from the field that bordered that side of town. The next block was more houses, but there was also a gas station and a farm feed store on one corner. Another block opened onto the downtown area. It looked a little rundown, and Josh couldn’t tell if the windows were covered because the stores were out of business or because of the zombies.

  The SUV passed a squat brown building with lots of activity around it. There were various emergency vehicles, trucks, and lots of people with guns milling around.

  “What’s that?” Josh asked.

  “City hall. That’s the hub of all the planning. That building over there is the recreation center. We moved all the elderly there, and people from out of town who arrived that weren’t infected,” came the answer.

  Josh almost asked what happened to the city people who were infected, but thought better of it.

  “Is that where we are going?” Corina asked.

  The building was big, beige, and had a pool in the back surrounded by a chain-link fence.

  “We’re going to highway patrol office. At least for now.”

  The town was so small it was easy to see the end of it just by peering down the roads. Yet, there were a lot of people visible along the barricades.

  As if reading Josh’s mind, Daisy said, “A lot of the farmers brought their families into town to help keep everyone alive. It’s better to band together right now.”

  When they arrived at the very small building that looked more like a pre-fabricated house than an office, Josh wasn’t sure if he was relieved or not. There were several highway patrol vehicles and one sheriff car parked in the small parking lot. There was a fence all around the property, but the gate was open. The windows were boarded up, but the front door was glass. That worried Josh.

  After the SUV and pickup were parked, the kids were herded into the building. As they walked, Josh noticed Corina was slightly limping. The bandage on her thigh was looking grungy, and dried blood stained her skin. At some point he hoped they could get her some medical attention.

  “Whatever they said is a lie,” Chad said to Nathan as the two groups were reunited. “I was trying to be their leader, and they were being stupid little noobs.”

  “Look, kid, you really don’t want me to deal with you right now,” Sam’s father answered. “Just shut your yap and go inside.”

  “Yeah,” Sam said with a sneer. “Shut up.”

  “Sam, settle down. Let the adults handle this,” Nathan said.

  Sam pouted, but obeyed.

  When Josh entered the small lobby area, he was relieved to see heavy plywood planks nailed together resting next to the door. On the floor was a nail gun. His shoulders relaxed. Obviously, they had a plan if zombies got close to the building.

  “Take a seat,” Daisy said, waving her hand at the hard plastic chairs that bordered the walls.

  “I don’t want any grief out here while we decide what to do next,” Nathan instructed. He appeared soft and boyish like Sam, but there was steel in his voice. Pointing a finger at Chad, he added, “This especially means you.”

  “They’re liars!” Chad blurted out.

  “Zip it. Now!” Daisy ordered.

  Furious, Chad looked away from her, but sat down in a chair far from the rest of the kids.

  On one wall was a glass reception window that revealed a small office space that was currently empty. Two doors were on one wall. One opened into the receptionist area, while the other probably led to offices. The building didn’t seem that big, so Josh doubted there was much more
to it.

  Daisy and Nathan ducked into the reception area and shut the door. Though Josh could hear the murmur of their voices as they spoke, he couldn’t make out the conversation between Sam’s dad and the highway patrol officer.

  “She looks mad,” Troy whispered.

  “He looks madder. His face is so red,” Corina replied.

  “Mad at Chad for being a turd head,” Sam said with a victorious smile at the surly teenager.

  Chad started to respond, but Dulce pointed to the adults behind the window. He closed his mouth, but glowered at her.

  “We told them all about Chad,” Danny confided to Josh. “All the crap he pulled.”

  “We did, too,” Troy replied.

  “They should put him in jail. Maybe they will,” Sam said.

  “Shut up, fa—”

  The door swung open. The sheriff thrust his head out. “What did I say?”

  Face flushed with anger, Chad lowered his head and stared at his feet.

  The door clicked shut.

  “Your dad was looking for you, Sam,” Josh whispered. “Did you know that?”

  “He said he looked for me all over our town, but couldn’t find me. Then a fire broke out and started burning everything down. That’s the fire you started to kill all those zombies, right, Josh?”

  His chest hurt at the thought of his zombified mother. He’d burned down his family home to escape, and she’d been trapped inside. He hoped she was at peace. “Yeah. I think so.”

  Sam nodded eagerly. “So, when the town started burning, he gave up. He didn’t know we are friends now, Josh. He didn’t know we were hiding in the treehouse. He came here because he’s dating that lady!” Sam’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know he was dating anyone!”

  “He said they had one date,” Danny corrected.

  “I think he’s going to marry her,” Sam said excitedly. “I’ll have a stepmom.”

  “Right now I think they’re just trying to figure out how to keep us safe,” Corina said, placing her hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

  Sam blushed an even deeper red at her touch. “Okay.”

  The door reopened and the two officers approached the waiting children.

  “Okay, here’s the deal. Everyone but Chad is coming with me,” Daisy started.

  “What? You can’t do that!”

  “Kid, I’m warning you,” Nathan said in a harsh voice.

  It appeared for a few seconds that Chad might defy the adult, but he backed down and returned to sulking.

  Daisy set her hands on her hips and stared at the row of children in front of her. “I’m going to take you to stay with my parents until we get off duty. My family owns several houses on a street not far from here. There’s enough room for you all at my house. Nathan and I feel it’s best to keep you together for your wellbeing. Also, he’ll know that Sam is safe with my family while we’re on patrol.”

  “And Chad?” Sam asked.

  “He’s going to go to the rec center with the rest of the evacuees. He’s old enough to be on his own there,” Nathan said.

  “That’s not fair!” Chad protested.

  “It’s more than fair after the crap you pulled,” Daisy replied.

  “Let’s go, punk,” the sheriff ordered.

  “This isn’t fair!” Chad insisted.

  “Do I need to handcuff you?”

  Sputtering, Chad’s gaze swept over the faces of the children he’d tormented throughout the day before it settled on Corina. “C’mon, Corina. Tell them!”

  Corina didn’t answer. Instead, she clutched her bag closer to her chest and stared at him with obvious hatred.

  Gripping Chad’s arm, Nathan pushed him out the front door and toward the sheriff car parked near the SUV.

  Daisy stared at the remaining kids, rubbing her hands together. “Okay. First off, call me Daisy. Since you’re going to be living with me, we might as well make this informal. You can call the sheriff Uncle Nathan, or sir. He’s more old-fashioned than I am.”

  “Even me?” Sam looked confused.

  “No, honey. You can call him dad.” Daisy looked amused. “We decided that instead of turning you over to the people handling the evacuees, we’ll take care of you ourselves.”

  “Except for Chad,” Danny said.

  Daisy widened her eyes. “Yeah. He definitely needs to be where he can be watched all the time.”

  “Daisy, I have a question,” Josh said, his stomach feeling even queasier.

  “Yeah, hon?”

  “Can someone take us to my dad instead? We need to make it to San Angelo.”

  After a slight hesitation, Daisy answered, “We’ll do what we can, Joey.”

  “Josh. My name is Josh.”

  “Right. Josh. Sorry. I promise I’ll get all your names right by the end of today. Anyway, let’s get going. I’m sure you’re hungry and tired.”

  “What about the truck?” Troy asked.

  “We’ll leave it out there. We’ll turn the supplies over to the rec center, and figure out what to do with the pickup. You don’t have anything personal out there, right?”

  Corina clutched her bag even tighter, shaking her head.

  “Okay. So let’s go.” Daisy gave the kids an encouraging smile.

  Josh hung back, letting the others file out after the officer first. He looked into the receptionist area, hoping to see a radio that would let him contact his dad. There was a place with loose wires where it looked like a radio had sat, but had been removed.

  “Don’t worry,” Corina whispered in his ear. “We’re not staying.”

  Josh stared at her in surprise.

  “Josh? Corina?” Daisy called out from the doorway. “Hurry!”

  “Coming,” Josh replied, relief filling his veins.

  If Corina was on his side, then chances of resuming his quest were very high. They’d just have to wait for the right time to make their escape.

  Chapter 9

  Water dripped from Josh’s hair as he tugged thick white socks over his swollen feet. He’d left his towel in the bathroom, so he slicked his bangs back from his forehead to keep the drops out of his eyes. The sweat pants he wore were so big he rolled up the cuffs. The T-shirt fell to mid-thigh, but he liked that it had Deadpool on the front. Daisy had raided her youngest brother’s dresser for clothing the boys could wear while their clothes were in washer. After wearing the same clothes for days, Josh had been glad to throw them into the dirty clothes hamper. It was strange to be so relieved to wear clean clothing again. His life had changed so much that the basics of life now felt like a luxury.

  Josh finished putting his shoes on and stood. He was the last to finish showering, and the last to leave the messy bedroom that belonged to Daisy’s teenage brother. It was where the boys had changed into the borrowed clothing. The normalcy of the room–from the posters on the wall, the gaming console set in front of an old television, a desk loaded with homework and a laptop, and piles of laundry on the floor—seemed foreign now. When was the last time he’d slept in his bedroom? Three nights ago? He wasn’t sure anymore. The days had blurred together. His room was a charred ruin along with his collection of zombie films, books, and memorabilia. But this boy still had his life, his family, his home.

  Josh envied him.

  Stepping into the hallway, Josh spotted Corina through the archway into the dining room. As always, his heart sped up at the sight of her. Dressed in blue jogging shorts and a plain grey T-shirt, she looked pensive as she lightly brushed her fingertips over the dark bruises on one of her wrists. Corina hadn’t been her regular self since Chad had attacked her. Though Josh had sat next to her for most of the day in the pickup, she’d been distant. He’d caught her staring at her wrists many times as the bruises changed color as they day wore on. With all his heart, he loved her, and it made him angry that Chad had hurt her. There had never been a moment that seemed right to talk to her about what happened with Chad at the farmhouse and how she was dea
ling with it. Watching her study the deep purple and green marks on her skin, he knew he should talk to her soon. It would be what a good friend would do.

  Voices drifted out of the dining room. Corina smiled when she caught sight of Josh. She moved her tote bag from the seat next to her and pulled the chair out from under the table so he could sit down. The whole house was very dark because of the boarded windows, but the dining room felt homey with its orange walls, brightly-colored ceramic decorations and heavy wood furniture. Overhead was a fancy light fixture made of bright blue glass in a fancy copper lattice frame that illuminated the room. All the Zombie Hunters were present except for Dulce.

  “Feels good to be clean, huh?” Corina asked when Josh sat next to her.

  “Yeah. Really good.”

  “I remember when I used to babysit and you hated when I told you to go take a bath.”

  Josh frowned. “Well, I was a little kid back then. I’m almost a teenager now.”

  Corina nudged him with her elbow. “I was just teasing. And yeah, you’re not the same little kid anymore. You’re our leader.”

  Blushing, Josh gave her a shy smile. “Well, I’m doing what I have to.”

  “I know. We all are.”

  “Ow!” Sam wailed.

  “Don’t be a baby,” Troy chided.

  “It hurts.” At the end of the table Sam winced as Daisy’s mother, Teresa, swabbed one of his cuts.

  They all had their fair share of bruises and cuts from the scrapes with the zombies and Chad.

  “Corina got stiches. She didn’t act like a baby,” Danny said.

  Josh frowned when he saw black thread crisscrossing the puffy red skin surrounding the ugly cut on Corina’s thigh.

  She saw his concern and shrugged. “The barbed wire got me good.”

  “Does it hurt a lot?”

  “Not so much now. She put a lot of medicine on it since it’s getting infected.”

  Josh felt bad for not even asking Corina about the gash. The whole day didn’t even feel real. At times he was convinced he’d wake up and discover everything was a bad dream. Instead, he was sitting in a stranger’s dining room watching his friends be bandaged up.