Zombie Games Book Five (End Zone) (20 page)

“If that’s the way you want it!” yelled
Nora.

Before I could stop her, s
he swung around and with incredible strength, managed to shove all three of us into the abyss.

Cassie

I screamed in horror as we descended down the hole, mile after mile, in complete darkness. As we plummeted deeper and deeper, the air seemed to grow colder and soon… I lost hold of Bobby’s hand.

“Bobby!” I choked
, flailing my arms.

He didn’t answer nor did he scream.

Oh God, I’d failed him,
I thought, consumed with grief.
I didn’t care if he really was the
Chosen One
. To me, he was just Bobby – a sweet little boy who I’d grown to love and cherish. I cried as I thought about the first time we’d met and how we’d played games and watched movies together. He’d had so much fun and hadn’t stopped talking about it, even weeks after that first tragic night. And now, I’d failed to protect him and more than likely, the remaining apocalypse survivors.

I closed my
eyes in despair and waited for an excruciating landing. Sure, the hole seemed infinite, but everything had an ending, and there was no doubt that mine was coming soon. And even worse, if Lucifer really was waiting at the bottom, I hoped to God that I wouldn’t have to see him.

All hope gone
, I said a couple of prayers, especially for my sister and Bryce, and then I braced myself for the horrible impact, which was taking forever to come.

Just get this over with!” I screamed into the darkness as I continued
my descent into darkness. With every mile I fell, the more terrified I became. “I can’t take this anymore. Just let me die already…”

Then, out of nowhere
, I felt Bobby’s hand touch mine.

Bryce

Bryce howled in anguish as he watched them go over the edge and into the hellish hole. The two people he cared about most in the world were now gone.

Sobbing, he lifted Father Brambati up by the co
llar and dragged him over to the pit. “You love this damn hole that much? Then have at it!”

The priest screamed in horror as Bryce
shoved him over the edge.

“
Don’t forget to pray for forgiveness you asshole!” he hollered, watching the priest disappear into the darkness, screaming.

“Bryce, look out!” yelled Henry.

He looked up just as one of the winged creatures swooped towards him. Fueled by rage, he swung his fist up, knocking the small monster to the ground and cutting his hand. When it landed, he stomped on the creature’s head with the heel of his boot. He then turned and raced after another one, wanting to share the misery that was now burning a hole in his heart.

***

Cassie

After Bobby took my hand, the fear left my body and everything became surreal. He was once again surrounded by light, only this time, I was too.

Don’t be afraid.
His lips weren’t moving and I knew he was in my head.

I’m not anymore.

I wasn’t sure if it was the light or the fact that he had my hand, but a warm calmness spread over me.

Focus on me
.

Okay
.
It seemed to be working and then I looked down and finally saw what was at the end of this abyss.

Hell.

It was exactly what I’d imagined it to look like with fire, brimstone, and a three headed beast waiting for us with anticipation. As we grew closer, I shuddered, thinking the beast looked like some kind of messed up pit-bull with jaws sticking out of each muzzle and razor sharp nails protruding from his four paws. He was standing next to an open gate and all three heads watched our descent, which had slowed until we were floating slowly.

Bobby
squeezed my hand.
Don’t let this scare you.

Too late, Bobby.

He smiled.
You’re with me and they can’t hurt you.

They?

I followed his gaze and noticed another figure now standing next to the beast. Its body seemed to be made out of fire and its eyes were as black as death. The smile on its gloating face gave me the chills.

It’s just
Travis. In his true form.

But what about Lucifer?
I asked.

He’s here and all around us. But
, I’m protecting you.

I looked into his eyes.
What’s going to happen?

That’s not of your concern.

Are we going to die?

Death is life.

What about here?

Here
, there is only suffering.

Crap.

He smiled.
Your worries are for naught.
 

My eyes filled with tears
. I’m sorry that I failed you.

You haven’t failed anyone.

Sure looks that way.

The three-headed beast let out an unearthly roar as we descended closer.

Bobby’s face became stern as he stared at the beings at the gate.

Bobby?

He turned back to me.
You’re not going to remember anything else from here as it would be too terrifying for you to handle.

Huh?

In answer, there was a blinding light that engulfed us. It was the last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness.

Allie

The kitchen timer went off, waking Allie, who’d fallen asleep
in a tangle of shower curtains. She quickly shut it off and wondered if Cassie had found Kylie and Adria. Even more so she wondered if Travis had found
her
. The fact that her sister hadn’t returned was a very bad sign.

Cassie will be fine
, she told herself.
She always pulls through these things.

Still terrified but unable to sit still anymore
, she grabbed the ax and walked timidly through the kitchen area until she reached an exit leading outside of the mall. When she saw that it was still dark outside, she frowned.

Had she slept longer than an hour
? Why was it dark still?

“Allie!”

She froze.
Was it Cassie?
She couldn’t say for certain.

“I’m over here!” she hollered back
, hoping at the last minute that she hadn’t given herself away to the bad people. With her luck it would be one of Travis’s followers.

“Allie, where are you?”

She sucked in her breath. She knew that voice! “Grandma!?” she screamed, her heart pounding madly in her chest. “Grandma! Is that you?”

“Allie!
I hear you! Where are you, honey?” called a second voice.

“Grandpa!” she hollered, seeing the top of his head by the
coffee makers. “I’m here!”

“Steve! She’s
over by you somewhere!” yelled Irene, getting closer.

Her grandfather
turned his head and his eyes filled with tears as he locked on to Allie. She ran over and flung herself into his arms.

“Oh my God,” sobbed Allie
, closing her eyes. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“Thank God you’re alive,” he replied in a husky voice
, hugging her tightly. “We’ve been so worried!”

“Steve! Did you find her?”

Allie turned around just as her grandma rounded the corner. Overwhelmed with joy, she released him and charged after her.

“You’re really alive,” cried Irene
, wrapping her arms around her. “We didn’t think we’d ever find you!”

“
I was scared that nobody would come back for me,” said Allie, closing her eyes.

“Well, we’re here now, honey. And don’t worry, we won’t leave you.”

Allie stepped back and wiped her tears. “How
did
you find me?”

“Well, it’s kind of a long and crazy story,” she replied, wiping at her own tears. “
I’ll tell you all about it once we find your sister.”

Allie’s lip began to tremble. “She never came back for me. I think something is wrong.
Really wrong.”

Steve and Irene
’s eyes met.

“We need to look for her,” said Allie.

“Where was she going?” asked Steve.

“
Into the mall. To find Kylie and Adria,” said Allie. “Adria is…”

“We know,” said Irene
, squeezing her shoulder. “She’s the one they believe is the ‘Chosen One’.”

Allie stared at her in shock
. “How do you know about that?”

“Because
we think we’ve met the real ‘Chosen One’, honey,” replied Irene. “Believe it or not.”

“
There really is a ‘Chosen One’?”

Irene nodded.

“And we didn’t really believe him,” said Steve. “I mean, he’s just a little boy...”

“He’s definitely more than that,” said Irene, looking up at him. “
This definitely proves it.”

“I’d say so,” he replied.

“Who is it?” asked Allie.

“Your friend, Bobby,” replied Irene.

Allie stared at her in shock.
“
Bryce’s
little brother?”

“I guess so, although we’re finding that this little boy’s family tree stretches out much f
arther than him,” replied Irene, with a small smile.

***

“Mom,” whispered Paige. “I think we should really get out of here. See what’s going on.”

“
No, we should wait,” she whispered back. “Tiny saw us go in here. He’ll let us know if and when it’s safe. Besides,” she swallowed hard. “If Lucifer really made it into the mall, I certainly don’t want to run into him.”

“Crap, don’t say that,” said Paige, looking horrified. “If that happens we’re all done.”

“That’s why I think we should just hang out here a little longer,” said Kristie. They were hiding in a hipster store, in one of the over-sized dressing rooms.

Paige frowned.

“Do you think Bobby and Cassie are okay?” whispered Kylie.

Kristie sighed. “We can only hope. Bryce was there, though. I’m sure once those flying creatures started dive-bombing everyone, he took action. That guy has some mad karate skills.”

“But what if he couldn’t help them?” asked Paige, peeking out of the dressing room.

“Let’s not go there right now,” said Kristie
, rubbing her forehead. “I don’t even want to think about that.”

“
’m sorry mom, but I just can’t stay here anymore. I feel like we’re sitting ducks. I think it’s safer to move,” said Paige. “Rejoin the others. Safety in numbers, you know?”

Kristie groaned, wishing she had a cigarette. “I don’t know, Paige…”

Patting Adria’s back, Kylie burped her. She’d just finished a bottle of formula and was gurgling and content, oblivious to the horrors in the other parts of the mall. Fortunately, before the scene with Nora and Bobby, they’d found a shop that had baby supplies, including formula and diaper rash crème. “I’m kind of agreeing with Paige. We have to find out what happened,” said Kylie, wiping Adria’s mouth.

“
Fine,” said Kristie, standing up. “I’ll go see what’s happening. You two stay in here until I get back.”

“Oh no,” said Kylie. “You’re not leaving us again. Every time someone says that, they go missing.”

“She’s right,” said Paige. “We need to stick together.”

Kristie
sighed. “Okay, let’s go. But you girls do exactly what I say. When I say
run
, you don’t hesitate or ask questions. Got it?”

“
Yep,” said Paige.

“Don’t worry,” replied Kylie. “I’ll be running.”

“Here, let me take Adria,” said Kristie. “And… find yourself a clean shirt, Kylie.”

Kylie looked down
at her T-shirt. “Oh, yeah… I forgot about that.”

“Pee stains went out last season,” said Paige
with a smirk. She walked out of the changing room and up to a rack of shirts. “Here,” she said, tossing her a T-shirt with a beagle puppy on the front. “This will work.”

Kylie ran back into the changing room and less than thirty seconds, came out wearing the clean shirt.