Love & the Zombie Apocalypse (Book 1, Zombie Apocalypse Trilogy) (7 page)

“Who are they?”  Adam
nodded to the teenagers. 

“Dunno,” Nicky said.  “Just met them.”

The boy and girl walked over.  The blonde girl was pretty – really pretty – even with a blotchy face and tear streaks.  She had beautiful dark blue eyes, a tiny nose and pouty full lips.  If Adam were ten years younger, she’d be his type, but she couldn’t have been older than seventeen.  Either way, the teenage boy had a firm claim on her.  She hid behind him and Adam wasn’t sure if the girl didn’t trust them or she was embarrassed about her outburst. 

“T
hanks for helping us,” the boy said to Selena.  He nodded at Adam.  “My name is Cage Vance and this is Rachel Cole.  We appreciate you letting us inside.  You saved our lives.”

Adam recognized the name. 
“You’re the quarterback at Flint Prep.” Adam had played football in high school and kept tabs on all of the city teams.  He’d heard nothing but praise about the kid. 

“I am,” Cage said. 

“He’s your father?”  Selena asked Rachel as she pointed to the dead zombie.

Rachel
looked warily at Selena.  “Foster father.  Why?  Do you know him?”

“I work here.”

Something passed between Selena and Rachel.  Adam couldn’t tell what it was – understanding? 

Rachel tugged
Cage’s arm.  “The keys.  I forgot about the keys.”  She ran back to the obliterated zombie and searched the man’s pockets.

Tony groaned and arched h
is back.  His skin glistened with sweat, despite the air conditioning pumping frigid air from the overhead vents.  Blood had soaked through the dishtowels and created a dark stain on the velvet.   

Rachel
searched the corpse.  Her movements were sporadic now.  Almost frantic. 

Cage ran
to her.   “What’s wrong?”

“They’re no
t here.  How can they not be here?  I don’t understand.”

“They have to be there.
” Cage dropped to his knees.  “He drove the truck here.”

Adam walked over to the
teenagers.  “What’s wrong?”

“We need his truck keys,” Cage said.  “
That’s why we came here.  I have to get home and she has to get to the U of M to rescue her sister.”

Selena’s gasped
. “Adam?”  Selena and Vivienne backed away from the pool table.  Tony’s body went deathly still.  “He’s going to turn.”  Vivienne shook her head back and forth as if it would make the fact not true.

“Do him now, dude.
” Nicky edged away from the pool table.  “That way you won’t have to fight him off.  You know he’s going to turn.  And that is one big son of a -”

“The keys are gone,
” Rachel said behind him.

Adam
ignored the teens for now.  This was about to be a huge problem. 

“Dude, smash his brain
s.” Nicky raised his weapon.

“He’s my friend,” Adam said weakly. 

It was a lame excuse.  Adam had seen the rapid transformation from human to death to zombie first hand.  Tony’s bite was on his thigh near the femoral artery and, from Adam’s experience, the closer the wound was to the heart or a main artery, the quicker the change.  Whatever it was – some virus or something – it traveled rapidly through the bloodstream. 

Tony’s body twitched.

“Dude!”  Nicky screamed. 

Adam’s heart pounded in his chest.  He didn’t want to
do it, but Nicky was right.  It would be harder to kill Tony once he reanimated. 

Tony’s
limbs quivered on the table in vicious tremors.  Adam sighed.  He raised the lead pipe in his hand and plunged it into his best friend’s head. 

Chapter Nine

Cage was so upset that they couldn’t find the truck keys that he barely noticed Adam ramming the pipe into his friend’s head.  Rachel was hysterical.  A void of desperation filled her eyes.

“They’re not here.
” She slid back on her butt.  “I don’t understand.  Where are they?  What are we going to do?”

Cage
grabbed her limp hand.  “It’s okay.  We just have to get to my house.  You can take my dad’s car.  We have guns at my house – hunting rifles – all kind of weapons.  We’ll be all right.  Rachel?”

She
stared blankly at the body.

“I’ll get you to Ann Arbor,” Cage said.  “
I promise.”

Rachel swallowed.  “Don’t you live on the other side of town?
We barely made it here and that was only three blocks. How are we going to get to your house?”

“Whe
re do you live, kid?”  Adam stood behind them.

“
On Mercer Road in the Summer Hills Subdivision.”  

“
That’s not far from where I’m headed.  My fire station is on Dye Road.  I want to check in, see what the situation is, and pick up supplies.  You are more than welcome to come with us.  We can see about getting you a ride home when we get to the station.”

Rachel looked up at Adam.  “You have a car here?”

Adam nodded.  “Truck.  Out front.  We’re going to clean up and head out in half an hour, before more of the dead show up.”

“You’ll give us a ride to the fire station?”  Cage asked.  “You’d do that?”

“Sure.  Just help us fight.”  Adam smiled.  His eyes moved to Rachel and he frowned.  “She’s been bitten.”

“No.
” Cage rose to his feet.  “We ran into a pit bull.”

“A pit bull?”

“It’s true.” Nicky picked through a bowl of mixed peanuts.  “She already had the bite when I met them over an hour ago.  If that were a zombie bite, she’d already be sick from it.  Or turned - into one hot zombie chick, I might add.”  He winked at Rachel and tossed a peanut in his mouth.

“
You should clean that up before we go,” Adam said.  “The bathroom is in the back.  I can give you a dose of antibiotics when we get to the fire house.”

“Thank you,” she
said. 

Cage
helped Rachel to her feet.  She laid a tentative hand on Nicky’s back.  “I’m sorry about earlier,” she said to him.  “You know, pulling a gun on you and calling you a criminal.  Thank you for helping us.” 

Nicky shrugged
.  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve been called much worse.”  He winked again.  “Besides, I’d probably threaten to shoot me, too.”

“Let’s clean
your arm.” Cage pulled Rachel away from Nicky. 

“I can do it,” Rachel said.

“There might be more zombies in the back,” Cage said.  “I’ll go with you.”

Rachel
looked like she wanted to protest, but she didn’t say anything.  Selena tossed a soft cloth bandage at Cage.  “This might help.” 

“T
hanks,” Rachel said.  They walked to the girls’ restroom in the back of the bar.  She flipped on the light switch.  “Zombie-less.” 

She
unwound the t-shirt from her arm and chucked it in the garbage.  The bite was still bleeding, but not too badly.  The skin near the wound was puffy and Cage knew it had to hurt like hell.  Rachel winced when she rinsed her forearm with soapy water. 

“Are you a
ll right?”  Cage asked.

“It stings a
little.”

“I didn
’t mean the bite.” He watched her reflection in the mirror.  “I mean, with what happened out there with your foster father.”

Her eyes
dropped to the sink.  “I’m sorry.  I lost my cool.”

“I understand.”

Rachel gave him a look in the mirror that told him he clearly
didn’t
understand.

Cage s
hifted his weight.  “He wasn’t a nice man?”

She laughed, but the sound was humorless.  “Nope, not at all.”

Cage didn’t know what to say.  It was clear that she didn’t want to talk about it and he didn’t want to upset her.

She
glanced at him in the mirror and her features softened.  “Gene was one of a string of foster fathers that Morgan and I had the joy of living with.  Actually, he wasn’t as cruel as some of the others, but he was a nasty, terrible man.  Trust me, the fact that he’s out of this world makes it a better place - even if it is crawling with dead people.”

“Where are yo
ur real parents?”  Cage asked.

“Gone.”

“I’m sorry.”

Rachel
leaned against the sink.  “That’s why I have to get Morgan.  I’m the only person she has in this world.  No one else is looking for her.  Just like no one is looking for me.  I have to find her.”

Cage unwound t
he cloth bandage and held out his hand to her, not sure if she’d accept his help.  “Here, let me do it.” 

She tentatively
placed her injured arm in his hands.  Standing face to face, he realized how small she was – the top of her head came to his chin.  He wanted to kiss her forehead and tell her everything would be okay, but he didn’t know how she’d react. 

Instead, h
e wrapped the bandage around her tiny arm.  “You know, if you are the only person in the world searching for Morgan, I’d say there wasn’t a better person for the job.”

“Thank you,” she
whispered. 

“You’re
welcome.”

“I feel bad that I was
mean to Nicky.”

“
Nicky?  Nah, he gets it.  You were protecting us.”

“He’s not so ba
d.  We wouldn’t have made it inside without him.”

“Probably not,” Cage conceded.  “
Though, I have a vague suspicion he might be drinking himself giddy right now.  That or harassing those girls.”

“
What do you think of the others?”

“I like them,” he
said. “Adam seems like a nice guy and Selena didn’t have to open the door, but she did.  There, all done.”

She inspected
her newly bandaged arm.  “Thank you.  You should rethink that whole football thing.”

“Yeah?”

“You clearly have a promising future in the medical field.” Rachel tugged the rubber band out of the messy bun and shook out her hair.  “I’m sorry for how I treated you, too.”

Long hair fell
to her waist.  It was wavy with dark and light streaks of blonde.  Cage had visions of those shampoo commercials with the models shaking out their hair.  He caught a whiff of strawberries and had to stop himself before he breathed in too deeply.  Her words finally floated to his ears.  “What?  Treated me?  What are you talking about?”

“
I’ve been selfish.  All I’ve been talking about is Morgan, but I know you’re worried about your parents, too.”

“
Hopefully, I’ll see them soon.  Then we’ll get you to Ann Arbor.”

“Should
we go see what the plan is?”

They walked
out to the main room.  The place was a mess.  It looked like a tornado had hit – tables and chairs were overturned.  Glass and zombie bodies covered the floor.

“Y
ou place the rags in here, like that.” Selena ran her hand over a row of liquor bottles.  “Then we light them like a giant candle.  Molotov Cocktails are a Russian specialty.”

“I think I’m in love,” Nicky said.

“Hands off,” Adam said playfully.  He kissed the top of Selena’s head.  “She’s taken.”

“What about her sister?” 

Vivienne made a face.  “I have a name and I’m standing right here.” 

Adam
noticed Cage and Rachel.  “How’s the arm?” 

Rachel held it up.  “Better. 
Thank you for the bandage.  What’s going on?”

“
We were discussing our escape plan.  We’re going to firebomb their asses.” Nicky took a swig of vodka.  “Whew, I needed that.”

Selena grabbed the bottle from him.  “You’re drinking the ammunition.”

“Where’s your truck?” Cage asked.

Adam led him
to a small window and pointed across the parking lot.  “That beauty over there.”

A
two-door red Chevy Silverado was parked thirty yards away.  Twenty-five zombies filled the space in between them and the truck.  Street lamps lit the parking lot like it was daytime.  There was no way to stay in the shadows and sneak to the truck.  They’d have to make a run for it in plain sight. 

A
dirty palm smacked the glass. 

“How will
the six of us fit in your truck?” Cage stepped away from the window. 

Adam win
ced.  “Not everyone can fit in the front cab.”

Nicky slapped
his forehead.  “A truck.  Why couldn’t you have a Hummer or something?”

“I’ll ride in
the back,” Cage said. 

“Me, too,” Rachel said. 

“I’ll ride in the back, too,” Vivienne said. Cage noticed Vivienne’s hands tremble.  She squeezed them together to stop the shaking.

“No,” Selena said.  “No, you’re my sister
and it’s Adam’s truck.  You’re riding in the cab.”  She frowned at Cage, Rachel and Nicky. “I’m sorry, but I think that’s fair.  We’re already giving you a ride.”

“
We understand.” Rachel nudged Nicky. 

“No,” Vivienne said.  “I’m a good shot.  I’ll be more effective in the
truck bed.”  Sweat glistened across her forehead.  She tossed her apron on the table. 

“Vivienne,” Selena said.

“No more arguing.  I’m the older sister, remember?  I’m riding in the back of the truck.”  Vivienne started separating the liquor bottles into groups.

“
Does everyone have a weapon – besides the Molotov cocktails?”  Rachel asked. 

“These pool sticks would be cool to use,” Nicky said.
“I could poke one of those things in the eye.”

Vivienne
grabbed her forehead and slid to the floor.  The liquor bottle she was holding crashed to the ground. 

“Vivienne!  W
hat’s wrong?  Are you okay?”  Selena unleashed a string of Russian. 

Vivienne’s face was pale.  “I’m fine.  Just a little dizzy.”

“You’re not fine,” Adam said gently.  He kneeled beside her.  “Where were you bit?”

Selena gasped.
  “She wasn’t bitten!  What are you talking about?”  Sweat dripped in beads off Vivienne’s forehead.  “Tell him you weren’t bitten,” Selena said to her sister.  “Tell him.”

Vivienne
lifted the hem of her t-shirt.  Four angry claw marks ran the length of her stomach.  The scratches were red and swollen.  Water filled Selena’s pale green eyes.  “When did that happen?” 

“
When the zombie knocked me down by the dumpster.  He clawed me before I could get away.”

“W
hy didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think it mattered
.  It was only a scratch.” Vivienne lowered her shirt.  “I started feeling bad about an hour ago.  I guess it’s not only the bites that will do you in.”

“You’re going to be okay.
” Selena lowered her forehead to her sister’s.  “You’ll be fine.  Don’t worry.”

Vivienne wasn’t going to be
fine, but Cage doubted that Adam or Selena would be in favor of leaving her behind.  Vivienne was turning into a zombie because of the scratches, but maybe the transformation would take longer than an actual bite. 

T
he window shattered.  Bloody arms pushed through the jagged glass.  Nicky tried to cover the window with a piece of broken table. 

“We need to go
before this place gets overrun,” Cage said.  “I can carry Vivienne.”

“No, we need yo
ur gun.” Adam shook his head.  “And mine.”

“I’ll carry her,” Nicky said. 

Several arms reached through the window.  The growls grew louder.  Cage turned to Rachel.  “Do you want my gun?”

She shook her head.  “I feel better with the bat.”

Nicky slid his arms under Vivienne’s body and scooped her up like a rag doll. Adam gave Selena the lead pipe and placed a bottle of vodka in her hand.  “Can you do this?”

Selena nodded.

“As soon as we light these bottles, we need to be out the door.”  Adam patted his pants until he located his truck keys.  “Nicky, Vivienne and Cage will ride in the back,” he said.  “Selena and Rachel, you ride up front with me.  Is everybody ready?” 

Cage
breathed a sigh of relief.  Rachel would be in the safety of the truck cab.  She could roll up the windows and not worry about claws and teeth.