Zombie Games (Book 4): Road Kill (11 page)

Kylie nodded.
“Yep.”

“That’s kind of blowing
things way out of proportion, isn’t it?” asked Justice. “I mean you shouldn’t jump to that conclusion just because a vaccine caused some pretty horrifying side-effects.”

“Yeah,” said Allie. “Don’t go there, Kylie. Unless we get slammed with more earthquakes and the water turns to
blood, I don’t want to hear any more about predictions that you’ve learned about on the History Channel. It’s scary enough out there as it is.”

“
Exactly. Besides, if the Devil or Antichrist is here on earth, I’m sure we’d know by now,” said Justice.

“
Not necessarily,” said Kylie. “He may have already been around for a number of years and we may not have known. Like a snake, waiting for the right moment to strike. Who knows, maybe he tampered with the vaccine that created the zombies.”

Allie felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. “Okay, you’re really freaking me out. Let’s just not talk about this anymore.”

“Fine, but-.”

Allie closed her eyes.
“Seriously. Stop.”

Kylie didn’t say anything more. Not even when they passed by a pink-tinged
lake where two entranced zombies appeared to be heading.

Cassie

 “Just keep your mouth shut and I won’t hurt you,” whispered Dwayne, covering my mouth with his calloused hand as he pulled me into the darkness.

Althou
gh I’d lost my gun during our scuffle, he had no idea what he’d started. Weapon or not, there was no way I’d go down without a struggle. In fact, I’d purposely allowed him take me outside and away from the church, as I figured kicking someone's ass in a holy place
had
to be sacrilegious. 

I nodded, trying to appear scared and as unthreatening as possible. The truth was, after everything I’d been through, I figured this would be
cake. Plus, I needed a little sparring practice.

He dragged me around the church and that's when he made his first mistake.

He released me.

I turned to face him. “What do you want?”

“Just to talk,” he said, but the look in his eyes said otherwise.

I snorted. “Oh, that’s how you get a girl to talk? You must have been quite the catch back in your hometown.”

“I was,” he said, moving closer. “Gals lined up to be with me.”

I smirked. “Lined up, huh? You must be referring to the showers at that prison you were incarcerated at.”

His face darkened and he grabbed me by the throat.

Crap
.

“That’s not funny. Don’t joke about things like that,” he spat, his eyes bulging. “You have no idea what a man has to do to survive in a place like that. What he has to give up. No clue.”

My eyes were watering. I tried digging my fingernails into his hands but unfortunately, I’d bitten them down to the skin. I then tried to position myself so that I could ‘knee’ him between the legs, when he suddenly released me and took a step back.

I bent over to catch my breath. “Sorry,” I rasped.

“That's better. Apology accepted.”

“No,” I said straig
htening up. “Sorry that I underestimated you.”

Then, before he had a chance to respond, I spun my leg around and delivered a roundhouse kick to his chin, using as much force as I could. He fell backwards with a grunt and I smiled in satisfaction.

Good thing I hadn’t taken off my mountain boots.

“You bitch,” he growled, scrambling back up.

“Is that what they called you in prison?” I taunted as he launched at me. I ducked his attack, then turned and kicked him in the back of the leg, sending him into a prickly Evergreen bush.

“What’s going on out here?” hollered Henry, who stepped out of the darkness with his shotgun raised.

“He, um, started it,” I said, smiling sheepishly.

Dwayne stood up slowly, a grimace on his face. “Just wanted to talk is all. Had no idea she was such a crazy broad.”

“If you knew what was good for you,” muttered Henry. “You wouldn’t call Wild a broad
and
you’d stay away from her.”

I frowned. “Hey, I’m also not crazy.”

Henry ignored me. “Looks like you’ve overstayed your welcome, Dwayne. Now, you need to get your friend and high-tail it on out of here.”

He scowled. “I don’t think that’s your decision. Besides, this is a church.
A place of God. He doesn’t turn
anyone
away.”

“Once you turn
him
away,” said Sister Theresa, stepping around the corner of the building. “There is only darkness.”

“
And
an exit door with your name on it,” said Henry.

I just co
uldn’t resist. “That' shouldn't be too difficult for him to find. Dwayne is
no
stranger to the 'exit door'.”

He shot me a
scathing look and I was relieved that Henry was the one holding the shotgun.

“I’m not sure what’s going on out here,” said Sister Theresa, her face solemn. “But this is a sacred church and we don’t condone any immoral behavior. Now, for the protection of the children and our other
guests, I suggest that you, and your friend Travis,
leave
without giving us anymore trouble.”

“You people are all nuts,” said Dwayne, shaking his head. “I ha
ven’t done anything but receive a few lucky kicks from this crazy chick.”

“They were deliberate, not
lucky
,” I snapped, putting my hands on my hips. “And
you
were lucky that Henry saved your ass or I would have handed it back to you on a platter.” 

“Right,” snorted Dwayne.

“Here’s the other one,” hollered Nora, clutching an ax as she followed Travis, who clearly did not look happy. “Kallie told us what happened and so I woke this one, too.” 

“What did you do?” snarled
Travis, getting into Dwayne’s face.

Dwayne’s face paled.
“Nothing.”

“He was trying to have his way with young Wild, here,” said Henry. “I’d say that was
something
.”

“I t
old you to behave here,” snapped Travis, grabbing the larger man by the front of the shirt. “To keep your shit in check.”

“Please. I wasn’t going to do anything,”
replied Dwayne, with real terror in his eyes.

Henry and I
glanced at each other in surprise. Although Dwayne was much bigger than Travis, it was obvious as to who was in charge.

Travis’s shoulders relaxed. He released Dwayne and then turned to me
. “I’m sorry, kid. If I would have known he was pulling that shit, I would have kept a better eye on him. We’ll be on our way.”

I didn’t say anything. Although Travis appeared sincere, something in his eyes told me that
he was much more dangerous than Dwayne.

“We’d appreciate that,” said Henry.

Travis nodded and then smiled at me. “You’re a brave girl,” he said, his eyes so black, they were unsettling. “I’m sure your parents would have been proud of you. If they would have survived.”

“
Well, I’d hope so,” I said, wondering how he knew they were both dead. Of course, with the current zombie apocalypse going down, it was an easy assumption.

He studied me intently and then
said, “Something tells me that we’re going to meet again.”

For some reason, I knew he was right and t
he hair on the back of my neck stood up. “Oh?”

“
Yes. Definitely. Now, don’t lose that courage,” he said, turning away. “If you want to survive for a time in this war. I’m sure they’re going to need all the help they can get.”

I was confused.
“War?”

He motioned towards Dwayne who nodded and then glanced back at me one last time. “You
do amuse me, child. You really do. You and your antics. Unfortunately, sides have been chosen and yours is,” he wrinkled his nose. “nauseatingly obvious. So, without further adieu, I’m going to leave all of you with a parting gift, or rather, a message…for
him
.”

“For me?” asked Henry.

Travis smiled darkly. “Oh, Henry. It’s not always about you. Although I do appreciate your vanity, yes I do. No, this message is for he who creates such false hopes amongst his children. The one who thinks he can still destroy my master. He has no clue, however. No clue as to the powers that Apollyon possesses.
”

“
Apolly-who? What in the hell are you talking about, psychopath?” snapped Nora.

Instead of getting angry, he laughed.
“Exactly. We are living in pure hell right now, aren’t we? You’d better all get used to it, because it’s only going to get worse.”

Before a
ny of us could respond, he raised his hand and a ball of fire appeared.

“
Lord, God, Almighty, help us,” said Sister Theresa, clutching her cross. “And have mercy on this man’s soul.”

“His mercy isn’t welcome,
here,” smirked Travis, his eyes now glowing the same color as the flames.

Her eyes widened
and she held out her cross. “Be gone, Demon!”

We all watched in shock as he
raised his other hand and began spinning the fire until it was the size of a large beach ball. Then he turned towards the church and cast it into the air.

“No!” I screamed, as the fire
ball hit the church.

He looked back at us and his smile chilled me to the bone.
“Well, good luck with all of that.” Then he left, his laughter echoing through the darkness.

After leaving the
disturbing scene at the lake, they quickly found the street leading to Cassie and Allie’s grandparent’s home.

“There’s the house
,” said Kristie, pointing to a small cedar home nestled halfway up the block.

“Looks pretty quiet around here,” murmured
Tiny. “I don’t know if that’s a good sign or a really bad one.”

“
Not a lot of zombies lurking around is definitely good for us,” said Bryce, getting out of the SUV.

The rest of them go
t out of the vehicle and splashed through the new puddles until they reached the front porch.

“Should we knock?” asked Tiny cupping his hands around his eyes as he tri
ed looking through a large bay window.

“Why not?
It’ll draw the attention of any zombies in the house and we’ll know what we’re dealing with,” said Kristie, rapping on the door.

“Ring the doorbell too,
in case someone is in the back of the house,” said Bryce.

After ringing and knocking several times, they walked around the back to the three-season porch. Fortunately the backdoor wasn’t locked.

“Let’s just go inside,” said Kristie, pushing the door open. When they entered the living room, she sighed. “Hate to say this, but something tells me we’re all alone in here.”

“Keep going,” said Paige. “Maybe they’re downstairs or in one of the other rooms.”

“Maybe.”

They walked towards
the back of the house until they reached the kitchen.

“Check this out,” said Bryce, picking up a piece of paper. “They left a note.”

To our loved ones,

If you’
re reading this then our prayers have been answered, and you’re alive! As you can see, we are not at the house but have taken refuge with Ted and Linda on their yacht (Her Escape) on the Saint Croix River. We have stock-piled some supplies and have anchored near the Stillwater Bridge, so if you can join us, please do, because we miss and love you so very much!

Hugs and Kisses, 

Us

Bryce sighed. “Great. Well, I guess we have some more driving to do.”

“
Hmm… It’s going to be dark soon and I think we should wait around here a little longer,” said Kristie. “In case Kylie and Allie show up.”

“Or,
Bryce and I could drive to Stillwater right now and look for the yacht, while the rest of you hold tight here,” said Billie.

Tiny shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to split up. What
if something bad happens or if one of you get hurt? Then you guys would be missing, too.”

“
If we sit around here, we’re wasting more time,” said Bryce. “Billie and I should leave right now, in case Cassie and Nora have already headed out to Stillwater and need help. We wait too long, and we may miss them totally.”