Zombie Games (Uncut) Boxed Set

by Kristen Middleton

  “I… I’m sorry,” he said, horrified of what he’d just done.

  Bring the child, demanded the voice in his head.

  He turned to run, again, when someone grabbed his arm, yanking him backwards.

  “Thank you,” said Cassie, snatching the baby from his arms while Bryce subdued him with a strangle-hold.

  “Let me go,” he pleaded, his voice hoarse. “I have to bring the baby to him.”

  “Bullshit,” snarled Nora, storming toward him. “Let him go, Bryce.”

  Bryce released him and the last thing he remembered before the darkness came, was Nora’s foot slamming into his chin.

  23

  Cassie

  “Don’t you ever leave me again,” he whispered into my hair.

  “Bryce,” I said, “I can’t breathe.”

  He loosened his arms around my waist and sighed. “What were you thinking? Seriously, what were you thinking?”

  I stepped back, avoiding his eyes. “Don’t start with me.”

  “They’re in Atlanta, you know. Your grandparents. If you wouldn’t have taken off the way you did, you’d probably be reunited as we speak.”

  “Atlanta is a big city, Bryce. Chances are we wouldn’t have passed each other on the streets.”

  “Your sister is still out there.”

  My heart stopped.

  My sister?

  I looked up at him in horror. “What?”

  “Guess you two have more in common than you thought. She left with Kylie and Luke, to search for you.”

  “When?” I asked.

  “Right after you left.”

  “Oh, my God,” I moaned, closing my eyes. “It’s too dangerous for those girls to be out on the road.”

  He nodded. “Exactly. Too dangerous for all of you. My only consolation was that you had Henry backing you up. Luke, though, Luke is just a kid.”

  “We have to find them,” I said, storming out of the bedroom.

  I had to find her.

  My little sister.

  He followed me. “Yeah, well we’ve been trying to do that without any luck. I think we should stick around here, see if they show up, like you guys just did. I think our odds are better there.”

  I began to pace. “I just found her and now she’s missing again? And now Kylie, too! Oh, my God, what were they thinking?”

  “What were they thinking? Isn’t it obvious?”

  I stopped. “What, that she feels like I abandoned her?”

  “Those are your words, not mine. Obviously, she loves you and wants to be with you.”

  Sitting down in the armchair, I put my head in my hands. “I don’t know what to do now.”

  “Like I said, we wait here for a few days and see if she shows up.”

  I nodded and stood up. “Okay. Meanwhile, I’m going to the Mall of America.”

  His eyes widened. “Excuse me? Now isn’t the time to shop for a new purse.”

  I told him about the man on the radio and how they were urging other survivors to join them. “Maybe the girls heard him, too, and decided to go there first?”

  “Maybe. Well, obviously I’m coming with you,” he said.

  Just then, Paige walked into the living room. “Okay, where are you going now?”

  I told her what we’d heard on the radio and she immediately volunteered to join us.

  “You should stay here,” said Bryce.

  She glared at him. “Don’t tell me what to do. Kylie is my sister and I’m leaving here with you guys.”

  “She should come,” I said. Paige had already gone off on me about leaving her behind in Atlanta and I wasn’t about to piss her off again. Besides, it was her sister that was missing, just like mine.

  Bryce sighed. “Fine.”

  “Well, Billie is still unconscious,” said Kristie, walking into the room. “We have him tied up and Nora is watching him.”

  “What in the hell was he doing with Adria?” asked Paige. “Is he going crazy or something?”

  Bryce shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s been acting strange ever since that zombie bit him.”

  “A zombie bit him? How long ago?” I asked.

  “About four hours,” answered Bryce.

  I closed my eyes and sighed.

  Poor Billie.

  My fault.

  “Nora is pretty distraught,” said Kristie. “First, seeing her father, and now Billie. I think she really cares about him.”

  “Has he been showing signs of aggression or other disturbing behavior?” I asked, opening my eyes.

  “Stealing a baby and running off into the night, that’s pretty disturbing,” said Bryce. “He was also mumbling something about taking the baby to ‘him.’ We just can’t trust Billie anymore.”

  “He might pull through this,” I said. “Allie and I did.”

  “Maybe. But for now we’re going to have to watch him closely and keep him away from the baby,” said Kristie. “Where’s Henry and Adria?”

  “I think they’re outside on the porch,” I said. “Watching the sunrise together.”

  Kristie smiled. “Did you see the way his eyes lit up when Adria smiled at him?”

  “He loves children,” I said, and then told her about our ordeal at the church.

  Paige scowled. “What kind of a person would try to torch a church?”

  “And one filled with children,” I added. “God, I hope Allie and Kylie don’t run into these guys. The chances are slim, but…”

  “Which way were these two knuckleheads traveling?” asked Kristie.

  “I have no idea,” I said.

  “Well, let’s get going,” said Bryce. “We shouldn’t waste any more time.”

  Kristie’s eyebrows shot up. “Where in the hell are you going now?”

  I filled her in on the radio transmission.

  “You think Allie and Kylie might have gone out there to meet that guy?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s worth checking out. For all we know, the girls beat us to Minnesota, heard the announcement, and decided to see what was happening there. You know those two and malls.” I smiled. “An open mall with designer clothing and millions of shoes at their disposal. It’d be like winning the lottery for them.”

  She smirked. “Now I’m starting to get jealous! Well, we’ll hang out here and see if they show up while you go to Bloomington. Who knows, you might even find your grandparents there.”

  “They’re supposed to be in Atlanta,” I said.

  “Are you kidding me? Nobody is where they’re supposed to be,” said Kristie.

  “This is true,” I said.

  “I’m going with them,” informed Paige.

  Kristie nodded reluctantly. “Fine, but listen to Bryce and don’t try any more crazy heroics.”

  “Okay,” said Paige as Kristie kissed the top of her head.

  “I’m going to tell Henry,” I said, walking out the front.

  “Tell me what?” he asked, as I shut the door and joined him on the porch. Adria was in his arms and he was in my grandfather’s favorite rocking chair, rocking her gently.

  “We’re going to MOA.”

  He snorted. “Leave it to teenaged girls and shopping – not even a zombie apocalypse will stand in the way.”

  “Well, you heard that guy – there should be other survivors out that way. More people we might know. Maybe even Allie and Kylie.”

  “Maybe,” he said. “Well, obviously I’m coming with you, too.”

  “No, you should stay here,” I said. “Get some rest.”

  “Oh, I’ve got all eternity to rest,” he said, holding the baby out to me. “Here, now take little Adria, so I can go drop some kids off to the pool before we set sail.”

  I looked down at the sleeping baby and felt an odd sense of peace. Here we were, in the middle of an apocalypse, my sister and Kylie were missing, Billie had been bitten by a zombie, and we’d witnessed Nora’s father getting murdered by her zombie grandmother. But amazingly, for the first time in we
eks, I felt a wave of hope wash over me. Even with all of the obstacles we still faced, something told me that things were going to be okay.

  Her eyelids fluttered open and she stared at me.

  “Don’t worry, Adria,” I whispered. “Things are going to be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Her little bowtie lips curled up into a smile and something told me that she believed it.

  24

  Cassie

  “Hey,” said Bryce, grabbing my hand. “We need to talk.”

  “I thought we already did,” I said, following him into the bedroom. He’d taken a shower and was wearing a new pair of Levis and a white T-shirt that hugged his still very-chiseled pecs. I had to admit, even though he’d lost a little weight and had dark circles under his eyes, he still made my pulse race with that sexy little smile of his.

  He closed the door and then turned to me. “We have talked, several times, but you never seem to really listen to what I have to say. So I’ve decided to try another approach.”

  Before I could respond, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, feeling my cheeks turn pink. “I don’t think we have time…”

  “We don’t,” he whispered, staring into my eyes. “And that’s why we have to make every minute count.” Then his lips found mine and I soon found myself underneath him on the bed.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he said, pulling my shirt over my head.

  “Me too,” I answered, gasping as his hands began moving around my body.

  Four minutes and twenty-three seconds later, he was gasping above me and I was staring up at him in amusement.

  He turned onto his side and touched my lips with his fingertips. “You’re so beautiful.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Sorry,” he said, smiling sheepishly. “I know that was too fast, but I just lost control.”

  “No, it was fantastic,” I said. “Short and sweet. Kind of like those miniature candy bars, where they’re so awesome that you just can’t eat one, but if you only have one, it leaves you still craving more.”

  He stared at me for a second and then burst out laughing. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  “I’m just saying… I wasn’t… dissatisfied, I’m just still… craving you,” I said, kissing his lips.

  “I don’t know what’s more disturbing, comparing me to a miniature candy bar, or reminding me that it just wasn’t enough to settle your craving. Both could be construed as rips on my manhood.”

  I stood up and slipped my shorts back on. “Are you kidding me? Your manhood is… just… awesome. I mean, it’s the best out there, I’m sure.”

  “Because you’ve had so much experience, you’d know?” he said, his eyes sparkling.

  “I know that I’m more than happy, and that’s all that matters.”

  Someone began pounding on the bedroom door. “Hey, you two done talking about candy in there?” hollered Henry. “Because we’re all waiting for you so we can leave.”

  My face turned bright red.

  “Don’t worry,” whispered Bryce, kissing me, again, “he doesn’t know what we were up to.”

  I bit the side of my lip. “Okay.”

  After we left the bedroom, I overheard Henry teasing Bryce about adding a little more nuts to his candy bars, and I had to leave the room so he wouldn’t see me laughing.

  ***

  “Everyone set?” asked Bryce, starting the van. “You all have weapons and water?”

  “Yeah,” I said, buckling my seatbelt. Paige and I both had metal bats, Henry had his double-barrel shotgun, and Bryce had found a hunting knife along with one of my grandfather’s guns, a three-fifty-seven Magnum, in the basement. I couldn’t believe he’d left it.

  “Take this, too,” said Bryce, tossing me a pocket knife. “I feel better knowing that you have a backup if you lose the bat.”

  “What about me?” asked Paige, who was sitting next to me in the second row.

  “Well, you’re all set, girl. You’ve got that bat and a sharp tongue. The zombies don’t have a chance.”

  She slapped his shoulder. “Not funny.”

  “I wasn’t joking,” he said, and then flinched when she raised her fist to club him.

  “Now, let Bryce drive, Paige,” said Henry. “You can beat the tar out of him later. Kick him in the Snickers.”

  Page snorted. “Snickers?”

  “Well from what I understand, they certainly aren’t Almond Joys,” chuckled Henry.

  “Okay, enough,” said Bryce. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “That’s right,” I said. “Besides, we need to focus on finding the girls and not Bryce’s goodies.”

  Paige wrinkled her nose. “Uh, I agree. Unless you want me to hurl, don’t mention sex and Bryce in the same sentence.”

  Trying not to laugh, I changed the subject. “I hope they can handle Billie if he becomes a zombie,” I said, remembering how volatile Eva and Austin had become when they’d both went through their changes.

  “I think Nora can handle him, along with a dozen other zombies, at the same time, with her eyes closed,” said Paige.

  I stared out the window and smiled. “Yeah, she’s one person I’m glad to have on our side, that’s for sure.”

  The rain started and everyone became silent. Bryce turned on the wipers as we turned onto the highway.

  “Looks like this one is going to be another doozy,” remarked Henry, staring up at the dark clouds. “Mother Nature’s been pretty moody these last few days. So unpredictable.”

  “It’s been like that for a while,” I said. “Nobody’s noticed it as much because we’re all focused on staying alive.”

  “True,” said Henry, lowering his hat over his eyes. “At least we don’t have to worry about earthquakes in Minnesota. That last one in Atlanta was a little unnerving.”

  Bryce snorted. “You spoke too soon, Henry. There was one yesterday.”

  I leaned forward. “What? An earthquake in Minnesota? Seriously?”

  Paige nodded. “Yeah, we had a couple of them yesterday. Nothing major, but you could tell it was a quake.”

  “That is so weird,” I said.

  “Billie and Tiny think it’s the end of the world,” said Paige.

  “Huh. Well, it’s not the first time we’ve heard that statement in the last few days,” I said. “Is it, Henry?”

  “Nope.”

  “The nuns we met the other day also claimed the same thing. Said it was the ‘End of Days’.”

  “Okay, please clarify exactly what that means. End of everything, shorter days, what?” asked Paige.

  “Well,” I said, “if you’ve ever read the Bible –”

  “No, can’t say that I have,” she replied, smiling sheepishly. “But I’ve watched the History Channel quite a bit. There’s more stuff on there about our rocky future than what happened yesterday.”

  “I know. So, um, what did the nun say, again, Henry?”

  He cleared his throat. “Oh, she mentioned the seven signs of the apocalypse.”

  “What are they?” asked Paige.

  He sighed. “Deadly plagues, hunger, and earthquakes. Then the sky will turn dark, and the water will turn to blood. Finally, Satan will emerge to fight the final battle between good and evil.”

  “Billie said the same thing,” replied Paige.

  “Well, at least the water hasn’t changed color,” I laughed. “Then I’d be a little more paranoid.”

  Paige looked at me. “Seriously, did you not notice the lake by your grandparents’ house?”

  “Uh, I guess not.”

  “Bryce, tell them.”

  “The lake wasn’t red, Paige, it was pink,” he replied.

  “See, there you go,” said Paige.

  “Like I said before, there could be a number of reasons,” said Bryce. “We already went over this.”

  “Yeah, well w
hat about the river?” said Paige.

  He shrugged. “Same thing.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “The river was red?”

  “It was just pink,” said Bryce. “And it smelled awful so I’m sure it was contaminated. Somehow.”

  Paige groaned. “God, that man of yours is so close-minded.”

  His jaw clenched. “It’s not the end of the world and I’m not jumping on that bandwagon. The world is going to Hell, but it’s because of us and what we’ve done to it. Nothing spiritual or based on religion. I mean, come on.”

  “Do you believe in God?” she asked.

  I held my breath. I hadn’t even asked Bryce, and now that we were engaged, I was a little unnerved of what his answer was.

  “To tell you the truth, I don’t really know. Obviously, I want to believe that there is something else out there and not just us.”

  “Are you talking aliens or God?” smirked Paige.

  Bryce sighed. “Okay, let me rephrase my statement – I hope that there is a God. I hope that all of these people who were killed, the ones who became zombies, are not just… lost forever.”

  “What about you, Henry?” asked Paige.

  Henry didn’t answer, he was too busy snoring.

  “Cassie?” she asked me.

  “You know how I feel,” I said to her.

  “Not really. It’s not like we sit around talking about religion and what shade of lip gloss looks the best under the chapel lights.”

  I smiled. “You goof.”

  She stared at me. “Seriously, tell us.”

  I pulled my hair to the side. “I’m a Christian, what more can I say? What about you?”

  She sighed. “Me too, and that’s why I’m scared to death of what may or may not be happening.”

  “Paige, any one of us could die at any moment. I mean, who knows, we could be walking into some kind of trap at MOA,” I said. “Hell, after getting kidnapped more than once these last few weeks, I’m not discounting anything.”

  “In other words, this could be another suicide mission?” she asked, a horrified look on her face.

  I sighed. “I’m just saying that you shouldn’t dwell on something that may or may not happen. Live for now and quit worrying about ‘signs’ and bloody rivers and lakes.”