Zombie Overload (Book 4): Determined To Live

by C. M. Wright

  Determined To Live

  Book Four in the Zombie Overload Series

  C. M. Wright

  Other books in the Zombie Overload Series

  Book One - Dying To Live (eBook)

  Book Two - Fighting To Live (eBook)

  Book Three - Learning To Live (ebook & paperback)

  *Dying To Live and Fighting To Live

  (Double Edition - eBook/paperback)

  Copyright © 2013 C.M. Wright

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover Copyright 2013 Trisha Wilko

  Cover Model Trisha Wilko

  Editors:

  Roxane Przygoda

  Brianna Whitmire

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental. The author has taken great liberties with locales including the creation of fictional towns. Some large cities and their names, streets, highways, and interstate names are true and as close to accurate, as possible. Any mistakes are entirely the fault of the author.

  Product names, brands, and other trademarks referred to within this book are the property of their respective trademark holders. Unless otherwise specified, no association between the author and any trademark holder is expressed or implied. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark, registered trademark, or service mark.

  This script remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

  Dedicated to the members of Vicki's Box Of Candi: Vicki Rose Stewart, Kris Pittman, Eric R. Asher, Nick Santa Rosa, and Brianne Whitmire - my friends. I love you all so much.

  Who's Who

  Characters from book one, two and three that are either mentioned often or are still active in whole or in part of book four.

  * "( )" indicates which book the character first actively appeared.

  Canada-Main character-Wife of Will. Mom of Bo and Ash. Homeschool Mom. (Bk 1)

  Will-Maintenance of elementary school. Husband to Canada. Father to Bo and Ash. (Bk 1)

  Bo-14-year-old son of Will and Canada. (Bk 1)

  Ash-11-year-old son of Will and Canada. (Bk 1)

  Marie-Nurse. Mother to Canada, Ricky, Andy, Ryder, and Rose. Wife to Ben. (Bk 1)

  Ben-Truck Driver. Husband to Marie. Dad to Canada and siblings. (Bk 1)

  Grace-Infant baby in the care of Canada and family. Baby sister to Kaleb. (Bk 2)

  Kaleb-Two year-old older brother to Grace. In the care of Marie and family. (Bk 2)

  Jake-Sergeant Major in military. Older brother of Greg. (Bk 2)

  Greg-Cancer patient. Younger brother to Jake. (Bk 2)

  Sam-Red-headed Irish man, also very short. Group saved from zombies surrounding his truck. (Bk 2)

  Sara-Backstabbing bitch found in second armory. Should have left her there. (Bk 2)

  Ma-Mother of Marie, Ma (grandma) of Canada. (Bk 2)

  Rose-Nurse. Baby sister of Canada. Engaged and living with Kurt. (Bk 2)

  Kurt-Electrician. Engaged to Rose. (Bk 2, although not formally introduced until Bk 3)

  Ricky-Canada's oldest younger brother. Successful businessman/computer expert. Married to Kally. Father to MaLayna and Alec. (Bk 2)

  Kally-Married to Ricky. Farmer's daughter. Mother to MaLayna and Alec. (Bk 2)

  MaLayna and Alec-Children of Ricky and Kally. (Bk 2)

  Andy-High-profile cop. Married to Lindey. Father of Avery, Laney, and Lyndsey. (Bk 2)

  Lindey-DFS Child Services Caseworker. Attending classes to be an ultrasound technician. Wife of Andy. Mother of Avery, Laney, and Lyndsey. (Bk 2)

  Avery, Laney, and Lyndsey-Children of Andy and Lindey. (Bk 2)

  Ryder-Successful business owner/computer expert. Married to Coco. Father of Joel and Gage. (Bk 2)

  Coco-Nurse. Wife of Ryder. Mother of Joel and Gage. (Bk 2)

  Joel-CDC Doctor. Oldest son of Ryder and Coco. Brother to Gage. (Bk 2)

  Gage-Governmental Bomb Squad Leader. Youngest son of Ryder and Coco. Brother to Joel. (Bk 2)

  Bianca-Friend of Canada and Will, coworker of Will's.

  Vayda-Bianca's dog

  Max-young boy found in the same house Bianca was rescued from.

  Dustin-Doctor with a unique - but disgusting - method of being able to walk among the dead. Refuses to use guns.

  Helen-Military Private from Nebraska armory. In a relationship with Sam.

  John-Military Private from Nebraska armory.

  Toby-Military Private from Nebraska armory.

  Chapter One

  As I step outside the barn door the sun blinds me for a few moments. When I can finally see again, I notice the old water pump at the side of the house. Relying mostly on my crutches, I make my way over to it and am relieved when - after just a few pumps - water gushes out. I clean the blood off my hands, face, and clothing the best that I can.

  Having wet clothes sucks - especially in the cold - but it's better than stiff, hard, dried blood. The icy water doesn't take all the color or the metallic odor out but it helps, a little anyway.

  Best I can do. Now, time to go find my husband.

  I go straight to my truck and dig out the military jacket that matches my fatigues. After zipping up, I head for the porch. I become aware of another truck sitting in the drive and realize it's Jake's. Hope flairs inside me.

  Did he find Will?

  As I'm standing at the bottom of the porch steps trying to determine how best to get up the damn things, my sister opens the front door and comes out onto the porch.

  Oh, thank God!

  I turn and lower myself onto one of the steps. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been a very easy - or very graceful - attempt to get my ass up those stairs.

  "Hey, Sis. Where's Jake?" I ask Rose.

  "I don't know. I didn't even know he was back. But with all these people, I probably could have talked to him and not known it."

  "True. But do you suppose you would have noticed Will if he'd been in there?"

  "Oh, I'm sure I would have remembered seeing him. He's not in there, Canada. I'm sorry," Rose tells me.

  I can't say anything as disappointment and panic overwhelm me, but I do give her a nod to let her know I heard her.

  Just then, the front door opens again and Jake walks out.

  Rose turns toward the door and says, "Oh, hey Jake. I didn't know you were inside. Must have missed you."

  Jake grins at her and says, "Had to go to the bathroom. Wanted to wash up and all that."

  "Great. Can we go now?" I ask impatiently.

  "Yep. Waiting on you," he tells me, with a grin aimed my way this time.

  Funny how at one time, that grin would have sent sparks shooting through me. Now, it pretty much just irritates me.

  I struggle to stand and he rushes down the steps to help. I tell him thanks once I'm upright again, then I give Rose instructions to call me if there's any news of Will and she promises to do so, immediately. Jake and I head for his truck where he helps me inside, then jogs to the driver's side. At last, we're off on our own search for Will.

  "I drove the back roads around here but didn't see any sign of him. Figured we'd go toward the interstate," Jake says.

  I nod my head, only half paying attention. My focus is on both sides of the road, trying to x-ray vision through all the buildings, trees, and bushes he could possibly hide behind. I know he's most likely much further away than this, but he couldn't have gotten all that far on foot. And of course, there's always the possibility―No!

  I won't think about that.

  We come to the turn-off
for the highway and Jake stops the truck, asking me which direction I want to start. If this had been anyone but Will, I would have immediately said to go toward St. Thomas. But it is Will, and with his horrible sense of direction, he could have gone anywhere. I start feeling frustrated, afraid of making the wrong choice, a choice that ends up being the one that kills him.

  Jake must realize this because he takes the decision away from me, saying it's better we go north first as he thinks the other guys who are also searching for Will, most likely went south. I nod my head in agreement and we turn to the right.

  Halfway to the Nebraska border, which is only about twenty miles from my sister's exit, is a small group of cars. In the center of those cars, we can see an undead bent over someone, tearing and ripping into his or her flesh.

  My heart lodges in my throat making it hard to breathe. It definitely makes it impossible to say anything - although I do let out a small, strangled moan. I look at Jake in desperation, begging him with my eyes to tell me it's not Will.

  Jake looks back at me, begging with his own eyes not to ask. He tells me to stay in the truck and gets out, gun in hand - eyes always aware and searching for danger.

  I hold my breath as he slowly - so damn slowly - makes his way to the undead and its victim. I watch as he raises his gun and pulls the trigger. The zombie falls over, slamming sideways to the asphalt, and then I see Jake kneel down by the victim's body. I can't stand it anymore so I struggle out of the truck and move as fast as I can until I'm standing behind Jake.

  I try not to look at the torn and bloodied body after I verify that it's a woman and not Will. I notice a four inch high-heeled shoe lying close by with its matching mate still on her right foot.

  Was it the high-heels that had slowed her down and got her ass killed? It damn sure couldn't have helped her any. Shit, I wouldn't have been able to walk in those things, let alone try to run!

  So my advice to all you women - and...uh...men too, I suppose - if you are in this situation, take the damn things off and run like hell! Yes, you will probably tear up your feet. Yes, you will probably freeze or burn the hell out of them, depending on the season. But come on, people! If you want a chance to live, don't wear shit like that. But if you wanna look sexy when you die, then by all means, go right ahead. Rotting zombie legs look so hot and sexy in four-inch heels...idiots!

  I feel sick and upset about the woman's death; but I won't lie, I'm very happy and relieved that it isn't Will lying on the ground - mangled and torn. I sigh and look away from the gruesome sight - and thank God I did - because what I see coming from Nebraska turns my blood to ice.

  Thousands of them! All I can see are moving dead bodies for as far as I can see. And the closest ones are only about two city blocks away!

  "Holy shit-balls, Jake! We gotta go. Now!" I grab hold of the back of his fatigue top and pull hard enough to knock him on his ass. I'm panicking, big time! "Jake, come on! Come on! Oh my God! Come on!"

  He scrambles to his feet but I'm already way ahead of him, moving faster than I ever thought I could on these damn crutches. I hear "Oh, God!" from behind me, and then the pounding of boots on the highway catching up to me quick. He comes up beside me and grabs my arm.

  I scream at him to, "Let me the hell go!" because he's screwing up the rhythm and limiting the motion I need in order to make the damn crutches move with me. He lets go and runs ahead to the truck where he throws my door open and stands facing me, waving his arms in a "Come on, come on" motion, screaming at me to "Hurry, hurry!"

  What the hell does this frikken moron think I'm trying to do!

  I can hear them. The undead. The zombies. The man-made freakin' freaks! Good Lord, they sound so close.

  Don't look back. Don't you dare look back, Canada!

  I actually listen to the voice in my head for once and I don't look back. I finally make it to the truck, throw my crutches over the seat, and jump inside...then I look.

  Oh, damn!

  I grab hold of Jake's shirt again and pull him inside on top of me. He slams the door just as the undead reach us.

  "Jake― Jake― Jake―" I can't stop but I can't finish what I want to say.

  Freaking the hell out here!

  "Canada, stop!" Jake gives me a hard shake and I focus on him. His face is right in front of mine, so it's a little hard not to.

  "How in the hell did they get here so fast?"

  "We've seen this before, back when you were all at that store in St. Thomas, remember?"

  I remember, and it freaked me out then too.

  I look further up the highway and see thousands of the original undead making their way toward us, but mixed in with them are even more of the fast ones. The ones already here are beating the hell out of the truck, making the windows shake. I'm really getting worried that they might just manage to break through the thick-ass glass.

  "Jake, I'm not dying today. So get the hell off of me, start the damn truck, and let's get the hell out of here before the rest of them get here and we can't."

  Jake nods and we play an impromptu game of Twister as he gets behind the wheel. I watch the things outside which are even scarier than the original versions. I had no idea it was possible to get any scarier than they were before, but here's the proof! Right...here! Dead people should not be so fast. Hell! Dead people should not be moving at all!

  I notice the truck still hasn't started and I whip my head around to find out just what the hell Jake thinks he's doing. He's just sitting, both hands turning a shockingly bright color of white where they grip the steering wheel. His face is just as white as his hands - if not more so - and his eyes are flooded with terror as they stare out the front window.

  Confusion mixed with rising fear is evident in my voice when I ask, "Jake? Jake, what's wrong? What the hell's the matter? You're scaring the hell out of me!"

  He doesn't say a word for several seconds - seconds that, in this situation, feels like a lifetime. Then slowly he turns his head to me, his expression one of complete and total horror. He shakes his head from side to side a few times, then finally opens his mouth - and the most terrifying words come out of the damn thing, "I lost the keys."

  He did what!

  I stare at him, speechless from shock - and hoping like hell he's just trying to be a frikken comedian at the worst possible time.

  But he's so not!

  And we are so screwed.

  Chapter Two

  "Jake! Are you kidding me? Oh my God! Where? Where are they? Out there? Seriously?"

  What do we do? What do we do? What do we do!

  Stop! Stop it, you idiot.

  Think. Think, damn you!

  I look around and let my mind and eyes do their job. When my eyes land on the steering column I hesitate, but then my brain starts doing a touchdown dance.

  Jake screeches when I grab and tug at him, then climb over him. He starts to question me but I scream at him to move. I ask him if there's a screwdriver or a battery-powered drill in this damn truck; I expect a screwdriver, but when he pulls out a case with tools from under the front seat, opens it, and hands me a power drill, I'm happier than a man on Viagra.

  This is going to be a hell of a lot easier than I'd hoped!

  I snatch it out of his hands and get to work drilling the key hole. Finished, I demand a flathead screwdriver or a knife and he hands me a screwdriver. I stick it in the keyhole and twist. I give Jake a satisfied and relieved grin when the truck fires right up.

  I notice the shocked look on his face and answer his question before he can ask it.

  "I wasn't friends with the "in" crowd in high school. Let's just leave it at that."

  I throw the truck in reverse and stomp down on the gas, moving as far back as I have to in order to be able to make a u-turn and get the hell out of there.

  We leave the undead eating our dust and as we near the exit to my sister's, my mind settles down enough to remember what we're supposed to be doing out here in the first place - Will - and that those
zombies will soon be close to my sister's house. Way too close.

  I yank out my phone and ask Jake to call Rose and tell her to get everyone loaded up in vehicles. There is no way they can defend that place - even if we all went back - against so many. And the property is not even close to being secure.

  "Tell her to drive the back roads at least twenty miles in the opposite direction of the Interstate, but to keep watch and be ready to move even then. Hopefully the horde will continue sticking to the highway, but no way in hell do we need to take any chances. And...and tell her a lot of them are the fast ones."

  Jake nods and pushes the buttons on my phone to connect him with my sister. I only half listen as he repeats what I had said. Mostly, I'm looking for my husband with a new intensity, even more scared for him now. He had a slim chance before, but now? Now there is no way he can survive if he comes face to face with that massive group behind us.

  I hear Jake say "Bye" and then hang up. He tells me my sister was already yelling at everyone to grab what they absolutely needed for the next day or so - just in case it's longer than a few hours - and to load up.

  I hope they hurry! I wish we were all there to help them - to make sure they were all safe. I wish I had my boys in my arms and my husband's arms around me.

  "Canada, do you think we should try that town on the opposite side of the interstate from your sister's; where your dad got the tow trucks?"

  "Good idea. But knowing my husband, he's going to hide - so we probably won't find him even if he is there." I slam my hand on the steering wheel in frustration, anger, and terror. "Damn it, Jake! I just want to find him - alive - and beat the hell out of him! He knows I'm going to go looking for him, put my own life in danger. Why can't he just think for once? He's so damn emotional; and apparently - after today - gullible, too. Men!"

  Jake coughs and says, "Well, some men may be―"

  "Oh just stuff it up your ass, Jake. All men are. You included. So just shut up and look for Will." I'm not in the best of moods, obviously. No apologies. I believe I've earned the right to rant and bitch when I want.