“They’re hanging back. Nora, why don’t you climb over and get next to Paige,” said Justice.
Nora crawled over the seat swearing. “My hand’s bleeding from the glass,” she said, clenching her teeth. Wincing, she pulled out a piece of glass. “Does anyone have a rag or something?”
“Here,” said Bryce, removing his T-shirt. He threw it at her and she wrapped it around her hand.
“Thanks. Dammit, if I get my hands on the person that did this, he’s going to need more than a bandage to stop the blood,” she muttered.
We pulled onto the highway. “Let’s see how far they’re meaning to go with this,” said Tiny.
I looked back. Sure enough, the white pickup turned onto the highway too. They weren’t giving up.
.
Chapter Six
Allie and Kylie
Billie walked towards them. “Girls, girls, girls… there is no escaping me, haven’t you figured that out yet?”
Kylie tightened her hold on Adria, who was staring up with frightened eyes. “Please, Billie, just let us go. We’ve never done anything to you.”
“Still think I’m Billie, huh?” He took another puff of his cigar. “Tell me, where does your faith lie?”
“What do you mean?” asked Allie.
“Who do you serve?”
“You’re asking us if we serve God, right?” asked Kylie, getting angry. “Obviously, I’m on his side. What does that have to do with anything, Billie?”
“Just curious. What about you?” he asked, turning to Allie who stared at him in fear. “Do you feel the same way?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” His eyes bore into hers. “You mean to tell me that you would love a God who has allowed all of this death and destruction without so much as offering a helping hand?”
Her eyes widened. “I-…”
He raised his voice. “A God who allowed your parents to be struck down so viciously? Does that sound like someone who has your back or cares what happens to you?”
“Don’t listen to him, Allie,” said Kylie. “He’s trying to confuse you.”
“The only thing confusing is why the planet has gone to piss and he,” he wrinkled his nose, “hasn’t raised one finger to help any of you.”
Kylie raised her chin. “Maybe he has and we just don’t know it.”
“Or, maybe this was his plan all along. Maybe, he’s taken all of his favorites and has turned his back on the rest of you. I mean, if you really take a look at the big picture, it makes much more sense. He has certainly taken more souls than what has been left behind.”
“No,” said Kylie, her face paling. “I don’t believe that.”
He smiled darkly. “Come on now. Deep inside, you’re beginning to have doubts.”
“You’re just trying to mess with our minds. To try and get us to do what you want,” said Kylie.
He snorted. “Pfft, I can already do that. But, I have to admit, you girls impress me. Your spunk and will to survive is very admirable. Qualities that shouldn’t be ignored.” He pointed his thumb up towards the sky. “Too bad someone else doesn’t appreciate you like I do.”
Neither girl said anything.
Lightening lit up the sky in the distance followed by a low roll of thunder.
“Here comes the rain again,” sang Billie as the drops began. He raised his palms up as it began to pour and tilted his face towards the moon. “Tears from the sky!” he hollered, grinning. “Excuse me while I relish this.”
“Creepy,” mumbled Allie as she and Kylie took cover by the side of the gazebo.
Still standing in the rain, he wiped his face with his hand and looked over at them. “Girls, we’re going for a ride!”
Allie and Kylie looked at each other.
“Don’t even think about trying to escape,” he said. “It will never happen. Just face it.”
“Where are you taking us?” asked Kylie.
He walked over and leaned against the side of the Gazebo. “Well, now, it’s a surprise.”
“We’re tired of surprises,” muttered Allie.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure you won’t want to miss this one. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
The girls stepped back.
“Don’t be frightened, now,” he said. “Jenny has prepared a bottle of formula for the baby and we have a guest who’s going to be joining us. Father Brambati.”
“Is he really a priest?” asked Allie.
“Of course he is,” replied Billie, tossing his soggy cigar onto the grass.
Kylie’s eyes narrowed. “You forget, but we heard what you said - about sacrificing Adria. A real priest wouldn’t allow it.”
He studied her quietly in the darkness and then smiled. “Actually, I only said that because I knew you were listening. I was pissed that you were trying to escape. I didn’t mean it.”
“You didn’t?” asked Kylie, in disbelief.
His eyes widened. “Sacrificing a baby? What kind of a person do you think I am? Now, if you want to know the truth, we’re taking you back to your family. It was Father Brambati’s suggestion. He actually helped me come to my senses, can you believe it? I have to admit, I haven’t been thinking clearly the last few days.”
“You are now though?” cried Allie, feeling relieved. “Really?”
A louder boom of thunder caused both girls to squeal.
Billie frowned. “The storm is going to get worse. We’d better leave.”
Kylie and Allie looked at each other nervously again.
“Well? You coming,” he asked, walking away from them and back towards the house.
“What should we do?” asked Allie.
“I don’t know if I really trust him,” replied Kylie.
Allie sighed. “You know what? Me neither, but, for some reason, I kind of feel that going with him is the right thing to do.”
Kylie nodded. “I know. Strange but, me too.”
They both looked at the baby who was sucking noisily on her fingers again.
“Don’t worry,” said Allie, touching the baby’s soft hair. “We won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Adria lowered her head against Kylie’s shoulder and closed her eyes.
Chapter Seven
Cassie
The truck continued to follow us as we entered Saint Paul.
“What are we going to do?” asked Kristie, looking back. “Just let them follow us all the way to the Mall Of America? See if they’ll join us for breakfast?”
“I think we should feed them to the zombies for breakfast,” sneered Nora. “Dirt-bags.”
“Actually,” said Tiny, tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel. “I have a better idea.”
“I hope so,” answered Kristie.
I glanced back at the lights, wondering why we were so important to the people in the truck. If they were only trying to steal from us, and now knew that we were armed, why wouldn’t they just go to an easier target?
As if reading my thoughts, Bryce leaned over. “Don’t worry, we’ll pull through this. We always do.” He looked back. “I swear, some people are just plain assholes.”
I stared at his shadowed profile, thankful that we were facing this together. His strength and confidence helped put me at ease. “They’ve got to know there are more of us than them. Why are they so gung-ho on chasing us like this? I just don’t get it. Especially after knowing now that we’re armed.”
Our eyes met again. As usual, I could feel myself blush under his scrutiny.
His blue eyes traveled to my cheeks and he grinned. “Hold still.” Raising his fingers, he removed a stray lash from under my right eye. “In answer to your question, they’re obviously nuts. Don’t think too hard about it. We’ll be rid of them soon. Either they’ll get tired of trailing us or, there will be some kind of standoff. Obviously, we’ll win.”
“Obviously,” I repeated, smiling at his cockiness.
Henry grunted. “I say we just pull over to the side of the road and ha
ve it out with the sons-of-bitches right now. Quit playing cat and mouse.”
“That’s too dangerous,” said Tiny.
“Well, from the look of things, we’re going to have to face them sooner or later,” he replied. “I’d rather do it now. Get it over with before I keel over and you have one less gunner.’”
Tiny turned on the windshield wipers as the rain began once again. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a plan.”
“So you said before. Well, I hope this plan involves some serious shooting, because my trigger finger is getting itchy,” said Henry, curling and uncurling his right hand. “And I tell you what, if anyone deserves a cap in their ass, it’s those fools.”
I ginned. “A cap in their ass?”
He nodded. “Damn right. Firing at us like that. We’ve got women and children in this truck. Hell, at least the zombies attack for good reason- they’re hungry. The rest of these yahoos are just doing it for kicks.”
Tiny pulled off the highway.
“Uh, where are you going?” asked Kristie, tensing up.
“Police station,” he said. “We need more ammunition and maybe we’ll get lucky and find some actual help.”
“They’re still following,” said Justice.
“Yeah, but they’re keeping their distance. I’m going to try and lose them,” said Tiny looking into his rearview mirror. “Everyone hold on.”
Kristie sucked in her breath. “Oh Lord.”
He turned a corner and then weaved through a couple of abandoned cars. When he reached the next corner, he took it sharp, and then floored it to the next street.
I looked back as he turned again and noticed the other vehicle still trying to keep up.
“Keep at it!” called Justice from the back. “A few more turns and we might get lucky.”
“Turn off the lights,” said Bryce.
“I can barely see as it is with the rain, but what the hell,” said Tiny, shutting them off. “Danger is my middle name.”
A few turns later, we lost them.
“Good job,” said Bryce.
“See,” said Tiny, grinning back at us in the rearview mirror. “Didn’t I tell you? My plans work, Dawg.”
“They’re obviously not too far away, so don’t go celebrating just yet,” scoffed Henry. “Dawg.”
“Tiny, do you know where the nearest police station even is?” I asked.
He glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Not exactly. Fortunately, I’ve never had to deal with the police in this state.”
“Turn left up there,” said Bryce. “We’re only a few miles away. I’ll give you directions.”
“Oh, and you’ve been there?” I asked.
He smiled. “Yeah.”
My eyes narrowed. “Why?”
Wouldn’t you like to know?” he teased.
I cocked an eyebrow. “What kind of a question is that? Why?”
He chuckled. “Relax. Just a couple of speeding tickets. My motorcycle has a mind of its own.” His face grew solemn. “Or at least it did.”
I reached down and squeezed his hand. “You miss your bike, don’t you?”
“I miss a lot of things,” he replied.
“Me too,” I said. “More than anything… I miss a normal life. One with my parents and sister.”
He pouted.
“And you,” I said, elbowing him playfully in the stomach. “A normal life with you, my family, and all of our friends.”
“You got that right,” said Kristie. “A normal life without zombies or assholes in white pickup trucks.”
“Speaking of,” said Tiny. “You guys keep your eyes peeled. Just in case. Hey, you getting wet from the rain back there, Justice?”
“A little. But I won’t melt.”
“Good. How’s your hand doing, Nora?” asked Tiny.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s still bleeding, but I’ll live.”
“Good.” Tiny turned left as we all watched uneasily for the headlights while Bryce continued giving directions. When we finally reached the police station, there were three squad cars parked in the back lot, along with a few regular ones. The building, unfortunately, was dark like the rest of the city, and didn’t look very promising.
“It looks pretty empty,” said Kristie, craning her neck as we drove around the building. “Otherwise wouldn’t there be lights somewhere? I’m sure they’d have had to have a backup generator.”
“Even if this place is inhabited, I’m guessing they’d be conserving energy,” said Tiny. “Especially this late at night.”
As we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a couple of familiar shadows lumbering around the garbage dumpsters. As soon as they noticed us, the zombies turned and began shuffling our way in earnest.
Frowning, Tiny backed up the SUV until the fender was up against a tall metal fence. “There, this should make it harder for any of those bastards to get in through that broken window.”
Kristie’s forehead wrinkled. “Well, let’s hope. There’s still a little clearance.”
“It will be fine,” replied Tiny.
The zombies approached the SUV in the rain, their gaunt faces slick with water. If anything, I thought they looked even more gruesome.
“I suppose we should take these two out,” said Tiny.
“I’ve got ‘em,” said Justice. He climbed out of the back window holding a baseball bat and charged after them.
“Be careful, Justice!” hollered Paige.
“See what I mean?” said Kristie. “If a big kid like him can get out, they can certainly get in.”
“He still had to inch his way out. The zombies aren’t going to figure out how to maneuver their way in,” replied Tiny.
“Let’s hope not,” she said.
“Uh, you guys better get out there and help Justice,” said Paige, watching as several more zombies rounded the corner of the precinct.
Tiny pulled a gun out of the glove compartment, stuck it into his jeans and then grabbed a wooden mallet sitting by Kristie’s feet. “After we take care of these guys, you should be just fine waiting for us out here.” He looked back. “Hey, you coming, Gramps? I’m sure you need to stretch out your legs and relieve some pressure in your back.”
Henry didn’t answer, he was sleeping.
I picked up the crowbar. “He’s out cold.”
“Whoa, what are you doing?” asked Bryce.
I nodded towards the building. “What does it look like I’m doing? You need my help.”
He touched my arm. “Oh no… you stay out here with the girls. Tiny, Justice, and I can handle this on our own.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You don’t know exactly what’s in there. There could be a dozen zombies wandering around.”
“Even better that you stay out here,” he said.
“Look,” I said, clenching my teeth. “I think I’ve proven time-and-time again that I’m not a liability, Bryce. Don’t start getting all macho on me again…”
“Cassie, why don’t you just stay out here with us,” said Kristie. “I seriously think the three of them can handle it.”
“Actually, I think we should all go inside the station,” said Paige, biting her lip as Justice dislodged the bat from one of the zombie’s crushed skulls and then aimed it towards another. “What if those guys in the pickup somehow find us?”
“I hope they do,” said Nora, removing Bryce’s shirt from her hand. Seeing more blood seep out of the largest cut, she grimaced. “So I can thank them personally for this.”
“Honestly, the chances of those guys finding us are pretty slim,” replied Bryce. “I’m sure you’ll all be safer out here in the SUV.” He held out his gun to me. “Especially, if you’re armed with this.”
“Fine,” I said stiffly, taking it.
“Gross,” muttered Kristie, as a male zombie, most of his jaw exposed, began stroking the window with his tongue. “God, do they honestly think if they keep licking the glass like that, they’ll get to us?”
“Uh, someone better get out there,” reminded Paige, as three more zombies surrounded Justice. “Hurry up, you guys!”
“Paige is right, we’d better take care of these guys before they attract even more attention,” said Tiny. He opened the door and joined a very winded Justice.
“Be careful!” cried Kristie as Tiny raised the mallet and charged the nearest zombie.
“Actually, Bryce, I think they could both use a little help out there,” said Nora, wincing as Justice tripped over one of the zombies on the cement and landed on his back. Another leaped on top of him and tried gnashing at his face with her teeth. She was tall, at least six feet, and carried a lot of weight, especially for a zombie.
“You’re underestimating them,” answered Bryce. “Hell, Tiny lives for this stuff. He’s a wrestler and enjoys the challenge. Let him have some fun before I get out there and finish the rest of these guys.
I couldn’t help but snort.
“Maybe so, but I don’t think Justice is having fun with that Amazon woman,” replied Paige, chewing on her lip.
Scowling, Justice tried flipping the zombie off of him, but her weight was too much, even for a muscular guy like him.
“Tiny! Help Justice!” hollered Paige.
Tiny, cursing loudly ran over to Justice, picked up the zombie as is she weighed nothing more than a pencil, and tossed her into the garbage dumpster.
“Nice,” chuckled Kristie.
Tiny smiled cockily and flexed his muscles.
“Mm…. mm… mm…” said Kristie. She blew him a kiss. “What a man.”
“Wild, you know, I’m not doing this to piss you off,” said Bryce, opening up his door. “Just remember that.”
“I know exactly what you’re doing,” I said, annoyed. “Trying to protect me when I don’t need it.”
Another zombie, an older fellow with dark skin and a missing upper lip, staggered over towards Bryce, his arms outstretched. Before the creature could get too close, his face met with Bryce’s right foot and he toppled backwards.
“Is that such a bad thing?” he asked, holding the zombie down with the heel of his boot. He reached down and stabbed him in the forehead. “Protecting someone I care about?”
Zombie Games Book Five (End Zone) Page 5
