by Dia Cole
The words died on my lips. Dominic was right.
They’ll need all the help they can get to deal with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade-size crowd of undead down the street. I can at least help them one last time.
Dominic’s gaze focused on the chaos surrounding the sports car. “Nice work with the car alarm.”
My insides warmed at the rare compliment.
Grady scoffed through his panting. “Nice work? She called all the zombies in the valley. How the hell are we getting out of here now?”
He’s right.
Every second more Biters appeared. They poured in from the surrounding side streets, clogging the area around the gas station.
Dominic held out his hand in front of me. “Radio.”
“I couldn’t pick anyone up,” I said, fishing it out of my backpack.
He clearly didn’t believe me, because he pounded the button. “This is Alpha One, over.”
A steel threaded voice answered back. “Copy that. This is Bravo Four.”
Darcy.
My mouth went slack with surprise. My heart began to pound a furious beat. She hadn’t responded when I’d call for help.
She left me for dead.
“We’re ready for pickup.”
For a moment there was static and then, “Copy that. What’s your position?”
The anger roaring into my ears blocked off the rest of their conversation.
I’ll kill that bitch when I see her again.
Across the street, the car alarm gave a high-pitched whine and then cut off.
For a moment, there was only the sound of us breathing. Reed and I exchanged panicked glances.
The throngs of undead began moving as one in our direction.
“Oh shit. We’re goners now,” Grady said, his flabby face paling.
I scanned the area around the sports car. Eden was gone. Crap. “Did you see where Eden went?” I asked Reed in a hushed voice.
He looked confused for a second. Then he shook his head, his gaze falling on the bloodstains near the now headless Biters on the ground. “I haven’t seen her since the animal hospital…”
I turned in a circle trying to catch sight of her. “She was over there.” Terror constricted my throat as I glanced at the cars around us. She could be anywhere.
Dominic spoke quickly into the radio. Then he turned to us. “It’s too dangerous to wait.”
Giving me no time to respond, he grabbed my arm and yanked me through the parking lot at a clip that had sharp pain gnawing at my ankle with every step.
Suck it up. Suck it up, I chanted under my breath.
As long as I wasn’t slowing them down, I could justify traveling with them.
I’ll help them get to the safe house, and then I’ll take my infected ass somewhere else to die.
As we neared the café, Dominic relayed a new pickup point over the radio. A cluster of Biters stumbled out of an alley. We all ducked behind the side of a late model sedan. The back doors were open, providing a clear view of the blood-covered infant car seat in the backseat. There was nothing inside it.
I let go of the breath I’d been holding. There were many things I could handle, but a zombie baby might push me over the edge.
The Biters moved closer. I tensed for their attack, but they turned toward the cries and moans of the horde behind us. Once they lurched out of view, we continued making our way through the maze of cars and debris. Trash, opened suitcases, and the prize possessions looters had stolen from nearby stores littered the street. I tripped on the edge of a flat screen TV and barely saved myself from a face-plant.
Wordlessly, Reed came up to my other side and wrapped his arm around me.
Dominic shot him a dark look but mirrored his movement.
Sandwiched between them, I struggled to keep pace.
Damn it. I’m slowing them down.
A massive group of Biters turned the corner in front of us, completely blocking the road.
We stopped short.
Grady rushed back to Dominic’s side. “What do we do?”
Reed glanced back. “The horde is behind us.”
I scanned the buildings around us. Restaurants and pubs lined the street. Most had been boarded up, but the broken windows of Eden’s favorite Thai restaurant shimmered like diamonds on the asphalt. A plan formed in my mind.
I pushed away from Dominic and Reed. “I’ll just slow you down. You guys stay out of sight, I’m going…” My voice shook as I looked anywhere but in their eyes. I cleared my throat. “I’m going to Lotus. I’ll make noise to bring them my way, then you guys get the hell out of here.”
Faster than a striking rattlesnake, Dominic’s fingers clamped around my wrist. “Like hell.”
My gaze darted from the determined expression on his face to the approaching Biters. I snatched my hand away. “Don’t argue.”
I’m already dead. At least I can give the guys a fighting chance.
I slung off my backpack and offered it to Grady.
He snatched it out of my hand.
Reed said my name, bringing my attention to him. “Lee, I can’t lose you too.”
The desperation and pain in his voice cut me to pieces. I held my hands up, as if to block myself from the emotional impact.
Dominic grabbed me again and spun me around. “I’ve already lost two civvies today. You’ll stay next to me from here on out.”
Reed growled, “She’s with me, man.”
“Is she?” Dominic cast a pointed looked between the two of us.
I couldn’t believe this. Death was bearing down on us, and they were playing it’s my bone like two junkyard dogs.
I had to tell them. “Guys, you don’t understand, I’ve been—”
Dominic shouted, “Eat dirt!”
Reed and I dropped to the ground. I bit off a groan as he landed on top of me and all six-foot, hundred-and-seventy pounds of lanky male crushed the air out of my lungs.
Dominic’s knife embedded into the forehead of a Biter who’d gotten way too close for comfort.
Reed helped me to my feet while Dominic retrieved his knife.
Grady paled and moved closer to us.
So did the group of Biters.
Goddamn it. I have to do something.
I’d already started to limp to the Thai restaurant when the sound of a large vehicle thundering down the street stopped me in my tracks.
“Finally,” Dominic said, exhaling a large breath.
A white SUV plowed through the zombies. It screeched to a halt in front of us.
Darcy stuck her head out the window. Sweat and blood matted her short hair to her forehead. “Get in.”
“Hurry,” Dominic said, waving us toward the vehicle. He drew his knife and stabbed a flailing Biter stuck to the hood of the SUV.
The rest of the infected were shambling to their feet. Uncaring of their broken limbs, they headed our way.
“Here, Sarge,” Darcy said, tossing her assault rifle out the window.
Dominic caught the weapon smoothly. Some of the stiffness left his body as he slipped the strap over his shoulder. “There’s ammo in the SUV. Get in and reload,” he shouted at us. Then he turned his attention to dispatching the flesh-eaters that were rising to their feet around us.
Wasting no time, Grady rushed to the front passenger seat. He flung the door open and dove inside.
Reed threw me a tight smile. “Guess he called shotgun.” He opened the backseat door. “Ladies first.”
I froze.
I can’t go back with them.
Dominic’s rules were clear about that. He’d promised a much less humane end than a knife through the skull to any survivor that hid a bite.
Darcy glanced back at me, her lip curling in a snarl. “Move it, Hooker. Don’t think I won’t leave your ass here.”
I saw red. “You’ve made that perfectly clear when you ignored my call on the radio.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “What are you talking about? I didn’t
hear you.”
I clenched my fists. “So that’s your story, huh? You left me to die just like you left my sister to die.”
Her lips curled into a snarl. “You can’t blame me for that. I tried to help that stupid bitch. There was nothing I could do.”
No one talks about my sister that way.
Something inside me snapped. I limped to the driver’s side window. Seizing the element of surprise, I reached through the window, grabbed her by the back of her head, and smashed her face into the steering wheel.
“Lee,” Reed shouted.
Grady looked up from loading his handgun, his mouth falling open in shock.
Darcy jerked her head up, blood streaming from her nose. “What the fuck?” She fumbled with her seat belt.
Reed stepped in front of me. “Lee’s not herself right now.” His bright blue eyes pleaded with me to back down.
Darcy flung open her door so hard it sent Reed crashing into the pavement. “List or no list it’s time to finally teach you a lesson in respect.”
My mouth dried at the sight of the huge soldier jumping out of the SUV.
Crap. I really should’ve thought this through.
Dominic ran over, looking irritated. “We don’t have time for this petty bullshit.”
He turned to Darcy. “Remember your mission, soldier.”
Darcy wiped the blood off her nose with the back of her hand and stood up ramrod straight. “Yes, sir.” Her amber eyes glinted with rage, as she clambered back into her seat.
Dominic glared at me. “Get in the fucking car, Lee.” He glanced down at Reed who was pulling himself off the ground. “You too, Hippie.”
Reed cast me a questioning look.
“Chop-chop,” Dominic said, clapping his hands together.
I waved him on, and Reed darted into the SUV.
Dominic held the door out for me. “Move it.”
My hands shook as the adrenaline poured out of me. I looked up into his too-handsome face. A pang of regret hit me hard enough to steal my breath.
I’ll never get the chance to see where this connection between us might have gone.
“I can’t. Get those pills to the girl. And please…” I glanced inside, where Reed looked expectantly at me. “Watch out for Reed.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Get in, or I will throw—Christ.”
I spun around to see what had him lifting the assault rifle.
Eden leaped over a black hatchback and landed ten yards away. Her gaze locked on us as she raised her head and howled.
8
Eden’s cry was a terrifying cross between a barn owl’s shriek and a wolf’s howl. It echoed off the boarded-up windows of the pubs and restaurants lining the street and made direct contact with the most primitive part of my brain. Every muscle in my body tightened.
She lowered her head and stared directly at me.
An entire lifetime of memories rose up in my mind. Protecting Eden from the nightmare of my father. Teaching her how to walk, ride a bike, and apply lipstick for the first time. Shouting at her for borrowing my clothes.
My heart wrenched in pain. I’d never look into my sister’s soft brown doe eyes again.
She’s gone.
The Howler’s penetrating silver gaze narrowed.
I backed away.
This…creature is not Eden.
As if sensing my fear, her lips twisted up.
My heart raced. Biters were reanimated corpses who shuffled around in an endless quest for human flesh.
They don’t run, or smile or…
Eden pointed one finger in my direction.
Terror constricted my throat.
“Run!”
My feet ignored Dominic’s order.
She charged.
So this is how it ends.
A strange numbness spread over me.
The crack of an assault rifle firing jerked me back to reality.
Dominic advanced on Eden. He stepped in front of me protectively, spraying bullets from his gun.
“Get in the SUV,” he yelled, never taking his finger from the trigger.
With a guttural roar, Eden leaped on the hood of a blue Camaro.
I took another two steps back toward the vehicle before remembering that I couldn’t flee with them. No matter how badly I wanted to escape this fate.
Dominic kept Eden in his sights. He fired the gun again and again.
Faster than humanly possible, Eden jumped to the top of another vehicle.
With the rifle pressed to his shoulder, Dominic changed his aim. “Go join the others.”
I took a deep breath and straightened my spine. “No. You go. I’ll hold her off.”
Dominic shot me a frustrated look. “Get the fuck in the vehicle.” His next shots ripped into her neck and head.
I blinked hard as the bullets corkscrewed out of her. They rolled down her face and tinkled sweetly against the side of the car before falling to the pavement.
How is that possible?
Eden shook off the next volley of bullets as if they were water and vaulted twenty feet up to the roof of the Thai restaurant.
Dominic cursed. “I’m out.”
While I craned my neck up to see what she’d do next, Dominic threw me over his shoulder and ran for the SUV.
Each jarring movement of his body sent a fresh wave of pain through my leg.
“Inside. Now.” Dominic flung open the side door and launched me into the back. I missed the seat and landed on the floor.
While I struggled to breathe, Dominic clambered in and slammed the door shut. “Go.”
Darcy twisted around. “We can’t risk that thing following us home.”
Reed grabbed my hand and hauled me into the middle seat.
Once again, I was squashed between him and Dominic.
Darcy’s gaze shifted from us to the view out the back window. Her eyebrows slanted upward. “We have company.”
I glanced back and almost wished I hadn’t. A mob of infected approached.
“Just drive,” Dominic shouted.
Something plowed into the roof with enough force to send the inside panel buckling down over our heads.
It has to be Eden.
“Shit,” Grady cried out.
Darcy must have slammed her foot on the gas because the SUV zoomed forward.
“Did you reload?” Dominic barked at Reed.
Reed gave a shaky nod.
“Then shoot.”
Reed’s face paled. “But…but…”
“Christ, Hippie.” Dominic ripped the shotgun from Reed’s hands.
I clamped my hands over my ears as Dominic fired into the roof.
Eden screeched. He must have gotten a direct hit.
Maybe a head shot?
Not that it seemed to matter.
There was silence for a heartbeat. Suddenly, Eden’s face appeared through the fist-sized hole in the roof.
“Darcy, shake it loose,” Dominic shouted. “Everyone, buckle up.”
My hands were trembling so badly it took me three tries to secure the seat belt.
The SUV careened to the right.
Reed’s thigh pressed into mine.
Then the vehicle lurched left, bringing Dominic’s muscular shoulder flush against mine.
The SUV lurched to the right again, avoiding the cars scattered in the road. The zigzag motion had my stomach rolling. My head hit the headrest as the vehicle picked up speed. Outside the window, strip malls and palm trees rushed by.
Darcy slammed on the brakes. The SUV screeched to a stop. I flew forward. The belt dug painfully into my chest as the smell of burning rubber blistered my nostrils.
Eden catapulted over the top of the vehicle, flew twenty feet, and smashed into the pavement a few inches from the colorful Western storefronts that pressed up against the street.
She lay crumpled on the black pavement—head turned at an impossible angle. The impact must have broken nearly every bone in her body.
; Grady cursed as Eden’s twisted limbs popped back into place.
“Put your foot on the gas,” Dominic ordered.
As Darcy put the SUV in gear, Eden slowly stood. The rough dance with the asphalt had ripped several holes in her jeans. She rotated her neck back and forth in a movement that was so normal and human it made my heart ache. Then she squared her shoulders and fixed her inhuman gaze in our direction.
Grady pointed his machete at Eden. “Run it over.”
Something icy crawled down my neck. I wasn’t much for superstition, but I sensed nothing good would come from tangling with Eden again.
Reed must have felt the same way. “Just drive away,” he pleaded.
“Grow some balls, Goldilocks,” Darcy said, aiming the vehicle directly at Eden. She slammed on the accelerator and shouted,“Time to die bitch.”
With the red saloon doors to the Western bar in the background and the clusters of barrel cactus dotting the median, all we needed was the slow whistling gunfight song.
A pit grew in my stomach. This will not end well.
Eden stood there unflinching, watching our approach. At the last possible second, she vaulted onto the vehicle. Her sneakers crunched into the hood.
Grady cursed, grabbing for his gun.
Crack. She punched a fist through the windshield and grabbed hold of Darcy.
Darcy let out a strangled yell before Eden’s fingers wrapped around her windpipe. The car veered wildly. Darcy clawed at Eden’s hand, her face turning purple.
Grady made a grab for the steering wheel.
Dominic raised the shotgun and cursed. “Out of the way, Grady.” He unbuckled his seat belt, leaned over my lap, and pointed the gun straight at Eden’s face. “Try coming back from this.”
Boom.
The point-blank blast blew off the side of Eden’s head. Bits of glass and skull flew everywhere.
Darcy tore Eden’s limp hands from her neck and collapsed into her seat. Eden rolled down the hood then disappeared. The vehicle bounced as it zoomed over her body.
“The wheel,” Dominic yelled.
Grady and Darcy grabbed for it at the same time.
The car swerved to the left and clipped an abandoned van in the next lane over. We fishtailed and jumped the curb. Glass shattered as the SUV barreled through the front doors of the Western Warehouse.
“Brakes,” Dominic shouted. He tossed the shotgun at Reed and buckled himself back into his seat.
