Myopia (Young Adult Zombie Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria Series) (12 page)

“This is really bad,” Steven surmised. “Isn’t it?”

“We found over forty or fifty biters less than a mile from here last week. Andrew McDowell guesses there at least one hundred in the town, but no one’s been in here to check; the soldiers think it’s too dangerous.”

“Right.” The blood drained from Steven’s face.

Turning away, she moved toward the door. “Let’s go,” she told David and Garfield.

“You’re not leaving us here?” Steven grabbed her arm.

“I…” She paused and shook her head. “I came for my brother. You can make your own decisions.”

“And I heard you saying the army’s not going to let us back on the island.”

“No one’s getting back to Smythe tonight. Try and find somewhere to hide.” Forcing past him, she kept on walking toward the door.

Steve swore and yelled, “No.”

“Sixty-three White Lake Avenue. Try to get there. The bunker down there can hold two or three.”

“How can you just go?” Steven demanded.

“Let the bitch go,” Yvette slurred. “We’ve got enough guns to protect us until soldiers get here.”

“Right, you might be lucky and no biters will show up, fire that thing and I promise, you will have all kinds of
visitors
in no time.” Garfield stormed past the girl.

Wisteria made it through the fire escape, checking to make sure David and Garfield were with her. When she saw Amanda following, she suddenly felt a surge of anger. The girl should’ve just stayed on the island. Now Wisteria wasn’t certain if the pit could hold them all.

“Our car is in front,” David informed her as they walked out of Fox’s.

“You have a car?” Garfield frowned.

“We stumbled across one on our way here. The keys were in the ignition,” Poppy explained.

“But I don’t think we’ll all fit. There are six of us,” Amanda said.

“How the hell did you get six?” Wisteria counted David, Amanda, Garfield, Steven and Poppy.

“They aren’t coming with us,” Garfield insisted.

“Steven, what are you doing out here?” Hailey came out with Yvette.

“Wisteria thinks there are more biters on the way here,” Steven replied.

“Seriously, Steven?” Hailey jeered. “You’re going to listen to your stalker?”

“Hailey, you need to come with us,” Steven said.

“Shut up, Steven,” Hailey snapped.

“I’m leaving, so either you come with us or you’re going to be left here alone,” Steven retorted.

“We can fit in the car. Which way is it?” Wisteria asked her brother, ignoring the couple entirely.

“Don’t you feel a little guilty for not warning everyone?” Hailey asked. “You should at least give everyone a fighting chance. Unless you’re lying.” She glared at Wisteria.

“I told Steven and it’s his party, right? Do you think any of those kids in there will believe a word I say? If you did, you wouldn’t all be out here
again
. But if you really want to ensure everyone finally takes it seriously, that there are biters outside of Smythe? Go ahead. We’ll be waiting here until you get back.”

Garfield laughed. “We might be awhile, but just keep waiting and waiting, someone will eventually show up.”

“We believe you now,” Steven insisted.

“I don’t. I still think your stalker’s looking for reasons to bang you,” Hailey retorted. “I’m going back inside.”

“Hailey, didn’t you see the headless biter?” Steven yelled.

“Yeah, I saw one, not a horde and not a swarm or whatever.” Hailey attempted to leave, but her boyfriend held her back.

“My car’s this way.” David took them to the end of the alley. “This way—Crap!”

The group froze at the sight of three biters staggering toward them from the main road.

Hailey screamed.

Poppy took out a handgun. Before anyone could stop her, she fired in the general direction of the biters, emptying all the bullets, but not hitting any of the infected.

Wisteria ran toward the first biter, slicing its head off, as Garfield drew his crossbow, taking down the second.

The third growled from only a few feet away and headed toward her.

She stabbed it between its eyes and it dropped. Stomping over to Poppy, she took the gun from the younger girl and threw it to the ground. “Do not use a gun.” Returning to the main road, she saw several more ambling toward them.

“Is it safe?” Garfield whispered from behind her.

“Where’s your car, David?” she asked her brother. The street was littered with various vehicles. Most appeared abandoned, so she couldn’t tell which was his.

David had backed away into the alley, to get away from the three biters. He no longer seemed so sure of himself. Cautiously, he moved closer to his sister, and pointed to a dark hatchback “That.”

The car was parked directly in front of the main entrance to Fox’s and that meant moving closer to the swarming biters.

“Someone needs to bring the car over here,” Steven pointed out.

“Give me the keys,” Wisteria offered after no one volunteered. “I’ll go.”

“No,” David protested. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Are you offering to go?” Garfield asked.

David didn’t respond.

“The keys?” she repeated.

“Wisty, don’t go out there,” her brother pleaded. “Steven, get the—”

“I’ll go.” Garfield took David’s keys. “Wisteria, I’d love to debate this with you, but right now isn’t the time.” The boy sprinted toward the car and the approaching biters.

Suddenly, she heard screams, followed by kids barreling out of the fire escape. Looking back on the street, she saw dozens of biters around the hatchback, banging and clawing at the car. Thankfully, Garfield was locked inside. Several more infected broke through the shop window directly across the street from them and the creatures were quickly advancing.

“Get out of here,” some kids screamed, running into the streets.

Looking back at her friend, she saw the car was almost completely covered with the biters. There was no way he’d be able to help them now.

“I’m leaving. Your warning was useless.” Hailey brushed past and ran into the street. “Come on, Steven.”

“Yeah, you’re on your own, Hailey,” Steven replied as his girlfriend stomped back.

Wisteria examined the side of the building, which had two floors. In fact, all the houses in this part of Woolmer had two floors. “Let’s get on the roof. These are Terrace houses, so we should be able to get to the end of the street.”

A girl from the group burst out of the club and staggered toward the group, dazed, showing David her bloody arm. In the center was a large bite mark. “I feel funny.”

With her terrifying appearance, no one needed to be asked again. They all climbed up the side of the adjacent building.

Wisteria swiftly climbed up first. Reaching the top, she was shocked as Andrew helped her to her feet. “What are you doing here?”

She saw Rebecca standing behind him.

“Did you find David?” Andrew asked, while Rebecca was busy helping the others onto the roof.

“Yep, David’s here,” Rebecca answered for her.

“Coles sent you here to get him, didn’t he?” Wisteria realized aloud.

“You should’ve had more faith,” Andrew remarked as the other kids climbed up. “I told you that you could trust me.”

“He sent you out even though he's locking the gates and shooting anyone who returns?” Wisteria was relieved they were there. Somehow, it now felt like less of her problem.

“How many people are with you?” Andrew asked.

“Seven, I think. Out of about sixty kids.” She sighed. “I don’t know how to get the rest out.”

Andrew peered over the edge of the building. “If anyone knew how to do that, the government wouldn’t have fallen. There’s nothing we can do. Get them to—”

“Number 419 Cashmore Road,” she replied. “But some will have to go to 63 White Lake.”

Several biters clambered up the side of the building, growling.

“How are they getting up? They cannot climb,” she noted.

“They used the stairs on the side of the building.” Rebecca shot down the approaching biter with her dart gun. “So, we’re splitting the group? We need to move.”

“Some go to White Lake Avenue and the rest to Cashmore,” Andrew said. “Rebecca, take, Yvette, Poppy, Amanda and get them to Cashmore. The rest of us will try and get to White Lake.”

“I’m not going with that crazy cow,” Poppy protested, referring to Amanda, but no one listened.

“Run,” Wisteria cried.

The group ran across the rooftops. As she fled, she saw biters assembling below. Where did all these biters come from? There had to be over a hundred and more were coming.

They got to the last house on the street and now they had to get down and cross to the other side. This would also be where Rebecca’s group split from Andrew’s. But this wouldn’t be easy as the ground below was swarming with biters.

“We can’t stay here.” David pointed to biters that were staggering toward them.

“Yeah, the biters are going overrun these now that they know there’s food in there,” Wisteria muttered.

“I’ve got a real gun.” Poppy waved another handgun.

“Give that to me.” Rebecca seized the weapon from her while swearing at the girl. “If you want to die, I’ll feed you to the biters myself.”

The biters on the roof continued to advance.

“We’re going to have to chance it,” Rebecca suggested.

“Actually, I’ve got an idea.” Andrew took the gun from her and checked the bullets.

“If you fire that, we’ll just be attracting more biters,” Rebecca pointed out.

“Exactly,” he said. “When the time is right, you guys climb down and run as fast as you can to the bunkers.”

“What are you saying?” Wisteria asked.

“I need to create a diversion.” The soldier hurried to edge of the building.

“Wait—no.” Rebecca went after him. “Andrew, you can’t do this!”

“I have to, Rebecca. Get them to safety.” He kissed Rebecca’s lips before descending the side of the building.

“No, Andrew,” Wisteria whispered. “Come back.”

“He’s right.” Steven stopped her from going after Andrew.

Climbing down the side of the house, Andrew ran into the swarm. Using a bowie knife, he fought several biters before firing the gun at them.

“They’re moving.” Steven pointed as the swarm ambled in the direction of the gunshots.

Andrew fired again and more biters swarmed around him.

“Go,” Rebecca instructed. “We won’t have much time until the biters realize there isn’t enough food for all of them.”

“Are you sure?” Yvette hesitated.