“Come in, honey,” said Belinda, motioning to me. “I don’t blame you one bit for being angry. Men can be such pigs.”
I nodded and then followed her in, scowling at Bryce.
“Seriously, Wild?” he said, looking at me with a slightly amused expression. “Don’t even go there.”
Belinda, who didn’t seem to hear Bryce, lit a cigarette and took a long drag. Then she smiled apologetically at me. “Listen, I’m sure he thought you were dead when we had sex, honey. Don’t blame him.”
My jaw dropped, once again, and I glared at Bryce, who stood behind her. He shook his head vehemently.
Just then the bathroom door opened. “Bryce!” smiled a teenager dressed in pajamas.
“Hey, Luke!”
Luke stared at me and smiled. “Hey, who’s the babe?”
“That’s Cassie. Get dressed, kid, we’re leaving.”
“What do you mean leaving?” asked Belinda.
“Yeah, what do you mean?” asked Luke. “I love it here.”
“It’s a great hotel, but you can’t stay here. This operation of Tony’s is an abomination. He’s killing innocent women. Ask Cassie.”
“What are you talking about?” said Belinda. “Tony’s making adult movies.”
I snorted. “Adults shouldn’t even watch the movies he’s making.”
Belinda’s eyebrows rose. “I still don’t understand. He isn’t making adult movies?”
“He’s created this game,” I said. “It involves innocent women dying at the hands of zombies. They kidnap women and force them to play the game.”
Belinda’s eyes blazed and she stood up. “What the hell? Are you serious?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’ve played the game and watched two other women get eaten alive. It was horrifying.”
“That son-of-a-bitch,” growled Belinda as she began to pace angrily around the room. “Adult movies is one thing. Shit, I used to star in pornos when I was younger. But this… this is pure bullshit.”
That explained a lot.
“It is,” said Bryce. “That’s why we’ve got to get the hell out of here.”
“Okay,” she said. “If you don’t mind, I’m coming with you. I don’t trust him, and I certainly don’t condone killing innocent women.”
Before we could respond, the door opened up and Tony walked in with two of his thugs. All three of them were holding guns.
“Put the gun down,” growled Tony. “There are three of us and only one of you holding a gun. Unless you want to watch Wild die first?”
Bryce gave him the gun.
“So, what’s going on in here, Belinda?” asked Tony, waving his gun around. “You having a little party without me?”
She ignored him. “Is it true, Tony?” she asked, her eyes flashing angrily.
He shrugged. “What?”
She walked up to him and pointed at his face. “That you’ve concocted some kind of game where you feed women to zombies?”
A purely evil grin spread across his face. “It’s true. Pretty ingenious. isn’t it?”
“Ingenious?” barked Belinda.
“You mean barbaric,” I said.
“Are you insane?” she asked.
“I’m a businessman,” he said. “And a successful one at that. Don’t get all holier than thou with me, Belinda, you aint no saint.”
“What are you talking about? A businessman?” hollered Belinda. “We’re in the middle of a damn zombie apocalypse if you haven’t noticed!”
“First of all, this shit isn’t going to last forever. It’s just a burp in time. When all this garbage is cleared up, there’s going to be a demand, and I’m going to be prepared.”
She snorted. “A demand for what?”
“Drugs. coke, heroin, pot, uppers, downers, you name it,” he said with a look of contempt. “You don’t have a clue about the real world, so don’t even try to argue with me.”
“I know right from wrong,” she cried, “and what you’re doing is definitely wrong.”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong, what your friends did to Marcus. You know, your nephew?” snapped Tony.
“Marcus?” asked Belinda.
“They beat him up and stuck him in the bathtub.”
“That true?” she asked Bryce.
He nodded. “Well, a girl did it, but he kind of asked for it.”
“He beat up my friend really bad,” I said.
Belinda sighed. “What the hell did you drag me into, Tony?” she asked.
“I didn’t drag you into anything. You came to me,” he said.
“Well, I’m not going to be a part of this shit,” she said, picking up her purse. “I’m leaving and so are my friends.”
Tony burst out laughing. “You can leave, I have no problem with that, Bel, but Wild and this prick here aren’t. No fucking way. I especially need Wild for the next game. And Bryce – he double-crossed me, so I think I’m going to let him play, too.”
I glanced at Bryce. I didn’t know if he had a plan or what I should do. The fact that we were staring down the barrels of three guns didn’t give us many options.
“No, Tony. You have to let Bryce go and his girl,” said Belinda.
Tony’s face darkened. “I don’t have to do nothing. In fact, you keep this up, and I might have to let you play.”
Just then, the door burst open again and it was Marcus. He stared at us with murder in his eyes. “Where’s the other bitch?” he growled, looking around.
Thank goodness Paige wasn’t with us.
“Check the bedrooms,” said Tony. “You three get on the couch and keep your mouths shut. Luke, what do you have to say about all of this?”
Luke swallowed. “I, um… I like zombie games?”
Tony went over and put an arm around his shoulders. “Good answer, kid. Why don’t you go back to bed? Don’t let this shit bother you.”
Luke nodded and then shuffled quietly back to his bedroom.
When Tony was satisfied that nobody else was in the penthouse, he grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the couch. “Where’s your friend?” he asked.
I shrugged.
Tony’s mouth twisted into a scowl and he grabbed me by the back of the hair.
“Owwww!!!” I hollered.
His eyes glared into mine. “I ask you again… where’s your friend?!”
“Leave her alone!” growled Bryce as two of Tony’s guys restrained him.
Tony slapped me across the face. “Where’s your friend?” he asked again.
Tears filled my eyes but I remained silent.
“Hey!” yelled Belinda, who rushed forward and began hitting him in the chest. “Leave her alone! She’s just a kid!”
He let go of my hair and backhanded Belinda, who fell backward. “You stay out of it!”
Belinda screamed as she got up off the floor. “You son-of-a-bitch! I oughta kill you!”
Tony laughed mirthlessly. “Is that how you treat family, Bel?”
“Screw you,” she said, spitting into his face.
His face turned beet-red as he grabbed her by the neck and shoved her against the wall. “You just gave me a great idea. See, you are gonna be the next contestant in tonight’s game. In fact, you’re definitely all playing.”
The room was completely silent except for Belinda’s sobs. When he finally released her, she slid to the floor and covered her face. I had an urge to comfort her, but the incredible rage on Tony’s face scared the crap out of me.
“Now,” said Tony as he took out a handkerchief and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. “Bring them down to the pool. The next game will be in an hour. I want all of them ready. And find that other girl!”
30
When they brought us down to the main floor, we passed the bathroom where we’d told Paige to meet us. With Marcus’s gun, she was our only chance to escape.
“Um, can I use the bathroom?” I asked Donnie, who’d met us by the elevator.
“You can use the one by the po
ol,” he said.
“But I really have to go now,” I pleaded.
He shrugged. “Too bad. I’m done with giving you special treatment.”
I swore under my breath and followed behind Bryce as we were ushered into the pool atrium. This time the zombies were already waiting in the cage on the deep-end and there were ten of them this time. They snarled and reached out toward us as we passed them. Their stench alone made my stomach roll.
“Holy shit,” said Belinda. “Are you kidding me?”
“Yeah, nothing holy about their shit, though,” I stated.
“Now, this is how it’s going to be,” said Donnie, pointing his gun at all of us. “The game doesn’t start for forty minutes, so you’re going to sit in the pool and behave while we set everything up.”
“Donnie,” pleaded Belinda. “Come on, hon. Don’t let Tony do this,” she said. “I’ve known you since we was kids. I used to babysit you, for Christ’s sake.”
He scowled at her. “Oh yeah, I remember you hollerin’ at me all the time and puttin’ me in bed early so you could drink my parents’ liquor, get high, and screw your good-for-nothin’ boyfriends.”
Her jaw dropped. “I never sent you to bed early.”
Donnie wagged his finger at her. “Seven o’clock, Belinda. You made me go to bed when all the good shows came on. I mean, shit, I missed Rockford Files and Hawaii Five-O whenever you was over. Those were my favorite!”
“Forty years later and you’re still bitter?” remarked Bryce.
Donnie turned to Bryce and scowled. “Shut up. I’m going to enjoy watching you die, you shithead.”
Bryce shook his head and smiled.
As we were shoved toward the shallow end of the pool, I heard a familiar voice somewhere close.
“Get your hands off of me, you piece of shit!”
Nora!
“You bitch,” hollered Marcus. “Nobody bites me. Johnny, would you hold her!”
There was a loud slap and I held my breath, wondering what was happening.
“She just hit me!” yelled Marcus. “Jesus, could you restrain her a little better?!”
I smiled, thinking about the nice red mark on Marcus’s face.
“What is with these teenaged girls?” growled Marcus. “They’re all a bunch of little she-devils.”
Then I watched as Marcus and Johnny dragged Nora into the atrium while she fought like a wildcat to get away. She was definitely giving them both a good fight and I was surprised they hadn’t threatened her with a gun.
“Oh, for crying out loud, control that girl,” barked Donnie.
Nora stopped struggling when she noticed the zombies on one end of the pool and us in the other.
“Into the pool,” said Marcus.
Confusion turned to horror as it became clear to her what was happening.
“You get it now? You’ve just been selected as another contestant for the game,” spat Marcus. “You crazy broad!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she snapped.
“No joking here,” snapped Donnie. “Marcus, get her into the pool.”
“Don’t you dare touch me again,” glared Nora as she stomped toward us, dressed this time in jeans and a T-shirt.
“Okay, all of you – sit down and behave,” said Donnie, waving his gun around, “before I start shooting every one of you shitheads.”
“You can’t treat me like this!” hollered Belinda. “I’m family, for God’s sake.”
“Not my family,” said Donnie.
“Marcus,” she said, pleading. “What would your mother say if she knew you was feeding her sister to the zombies?”
Marcus laughed. “She’d have been smart and kept her yap shut. Unlike her big-mouthed sister.”
“My family is really screwed up,” said Belinda.
“You think?” asked Nora.
Belinda covered her face with her hands and began sobbing.
“Don’t worry,” said Bryce, putting an arm around her. “We’re going to get out of this.”
She must not have believed him because she started crying even harder.
“Wild, what the hell kind of shit did you get me into?” huffed Nora as she sat down next to me.
I raised my eyebrows. “What? I didn’t get you into anything!” I whispered loudly.
“Right.”
“Nora, how’d you wind up here?” asked Bryce.
“Been looking for Wild,” she said, nodding toward me. “When Billie and I found this hotel, I used myself as bait and they kidnapped me, too.”
“Where’s Billie?” I asked.
Her mouth twisted into a grin. “He’s around,” she said. “And don’t worry, he’s not alone.”
31
Marcus and Johnny left the atrium to have a cigarette and to round up the rest of their prisoners. When they returned with the scared group of women, Carly, who looked exhausted, was also forced into the pool.
“You got a free life last game,” smiled Donnie. “Let’s see if you’ll survive this round.”
Carly scowled and flipped him off.
“No, sweetheart,” chuckled Donnie. “You’ve got it backwards. You’re the one that’s screwed.”
She shook her head in disgust and walked over to me.
“Hi, Carly,” I said.
She squeezed my hand and smiled sadly. “Hey, kid.”
“Hey, listen… I have an idea,” said Bryce under his breath. “When they release the zombies, we lead ‘em toward our captors.”
I nodded. “Yeah, that might just work if they don’t shoot us first.”
“There are too many of Tony’s men,” said Belinda. “We’d never pull it off.”
“If we don’t try something, many of us are going to die,” said Bryce. “I can hold my own against some of these zombies, but let’s face it; without a weapon, none of you girls are safe.”
“Hello? Nora and I know karate,” I said.
“But, Cassie, it takes more than a few karate moves to kill the zombies,” he said. “You know that.”
Carly grabbed my arm. “Your first name is Cassie?”
I nodded.
She sighed. “Well, your mom’s been searching all over for you.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You know my mom?”
She nodded. “Kris, right?”
I smiled. “Yes, Kris Wild.”
“I guess I didn’t even make a connection before. I’ve been too worried about staying alive,” said Carly, rubbing her forehead.
“I can’t believe you know my mom. Do you have any news about my sister, Allie?”
Before she could answer, Tony showed up and demanded everyone’s attention.
“Oh, good, everyone’s here,” said Tony, “Mikey, you got the cameras ready?”
“Yeah,” hollered Mikey.
Tony nodded. “Good. We’ll be live in ten minutes.”
“Oh, for the love of God, Tony!” hollered Belinda. “What in the hell are you doing?”
“God had nothing to do with this, Belinda,” he answered, “and I have nothing more to say to you.”
“What happened to you?” she moaned. “You was once a decent kid.”
“Now I’m a leader in this shitty world, and as far as being decent? Well, I make a hell of a decent living,” he said with a smug look.
The zombies were getting restless in the cage, some of them attacking each other. The groans and snarls were enough to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
“Oh, I forgot,” smiled Tony as two of his goons showed up carrying a plastic bag. “I was going to make you all strip, but the thought of seeing Belinda running around naked left a bad taste in my mouth. So, we’re going to make this more interesting by doing something a little differently.”
“Oh, goody,” said Carly.
“You… shaddup!” hollered Donnie.
“See, I’ve watched Wild in action, and I know De Luca would put up a good fight. That’s why I’m going to handcuff those two together,�
�� Tony said, reaching into the bag. “That should even up the odds a little bit. Make it a bit more fun.”
“Fun for who?” snapped Nora.
“Why, for us, obviously,” answered Tony with an evil grin.
I looked at Bryce, who looked pissed as all hell.
“Just remember, De Luca,” said Donnie. “You put yourself in this situation. Now, you’ve gotta pay.”
The next thing I knew, we were approached by two of Tony’s men and handcuffed, back to back.
“Listen, I’ll do the running,” whispered Bryce. “I’ll lean forward and you can ride my back.”
Normally I’d have been excited about touching Bryce, but the thought of us getting mauled by zombies together was utterly horrifying. I knew if I was attacked and couldn’t defend myself, I’d be dead weight for Bryce. He’d never survive.
“Okay,” I answered with uncertainty.
“Just remember, no matter what happens, I love you, Wild,” he whispered, lacing a couple of his fingers through mine.
I let out a ragged breath. “I love you, too, Bryce.”
A few minutes later, we were live on the Internet and Tony was giving his usual “Welcoming” speech.
“Tonight we have a treat for all of yous watching,” said Tony. “We have ten zombies instead of five, and our main event fighter, Ms. Wild, will be handcuffed to another player. Get your popcorn ready and enjoy the show.”
Then, as before, the zombies were released and dropped to the bottom of the pool.
“Holy crap,” muttered Nora as they stumbled to their feet and began charging.
Before I knew what was happening, Bryce had me on his back and was running toward the steps of the pool.
“I don’t think so, De Luca,” snapped Donnie as he aimed his gun, forcing us back in.
I heard screaming from Belinda and angry cussing from Nora as the zombies attacked and they fended them off. One of the zombies approached us and I yelled. “Turn around, I’ll kick him!”
Bryce turned around and I began kicking with all of my might at a zombie, whose eye hung down his cheek by some kind of fleshy tendril. I kicked him in the stomach and he fell backwards. Then another approached and I kicked him between the legs. Unfortunately, it didn’t have much of an effect.
Zombie Games (Uncut) Boxed Set Page 42
