Zombie Games (Book 4): Road Kill (14 page)

“You have a long way to go.”

Justice chuckled. “Tell me about it.”

“Well, you’re in luck because we’ll be passing through that way. Have some business to take care of in Canada. You may as well join us.”

“You don’t mind?” asked Justice.

“Hell no,” said the man. “In fact, it’s your lucky day, kid. We’ve got space as well as food and water. That’s why we’re using this rig.” He grinned and patted the outside of the door. “It came fully supplied with life’s little necessities.”

Truth be told, he
was
parched and the thought of water made his mouth feel even drier. “So, what about your friend in the cab- he okay with that? Sharing a ride along with your supplies with a stranger?”

The man turned to the driver and said something, then turned back. “He
said to get in, time’s a-wasting.”

Justice turned towards
the woods, wondering if he was making the right choice. Plus, they still didn’t know about the girls.

“You’re friends are also welcome,”
said the driver, leaning over to the open window.  He smiled warmly. “We have plenty to spare and would be honored if you joined us.”

He stared at the red-haired man
and wondered he’d known about the girls.

***

Five minutes later, Justice sat between the two men while the girls rode in the back sleeping area.

“So, what’s your name?” asked the dark-haired man, who was a lot bigger than Justice had originally thought.

“Justice.”

“I’m Travis,” said the driver. “And that’s Dwayne. Glad you could join us.”

“Uh, sure. Thanks for inviting us.”

“So, where’d you hook up with those two girls?” asked Dwayne
, his eyes glittering with a little too much interest for a man his age.

Justice’s eyes narrowed when he
noticed Dwayne’s tear-drop tattoo. Having spent time in a tattoo shop, he was well aware of the symbolism of Dwayne’s tattoo. “Met them a few towns back. When did you get the tat?”

“Which one?” he chuckled, raising the bottom of his t-shirt until his inked torso was exposed.
He had had dozens of them- from dragons and skulls, to pierced hearts and black roses.

“
I was talking about the one under your eye.”

Dwayne
sighed. “Well, got that one a while back.”

“You kill someone?”

“Now, if I asked you that question right now, I am pretty sure we’d both have the same answer.”

“
The people I kill are already dead,” said Justice.

He chuckled
. “Well, the ones I’ve killed should have been.”

“Don’t worry about him,” interrupted Travis. “He won’
t kill unless instructed to.”

Realizing he was serious, Justice
tried to remain calm. “Oh, yeah?”

“
Yes, his priorities have been adjusted.”

“That’s…refreshing.”
This conversation was both disturbing and crazy
, he thought.

“Now, Justice, d
on’t get yourself all flustered. I have no issues with you at the moment. In fact, I believe you could be very helpful in our mission,” said Travis.

“Ah…what kind of a mission are we talking about, besides staying alive?”

“It’s a little complicated,” he answered. “And, I don’t think you’re quite ready to appreciate the enormity of our
plans or your current situation. But something tells me, you’ll step up to the plate when… properly persuaded.”

He frowned.
“Is that right?”

Travis smiled darkly. “Oh, yes.
We’ve been watching you, Justice. You’re a good soldier, very dependable. The way you risked your life to help those two girls in the parking ramp. My master was quite impressed with your determination and fighting skills.”

“
Your master? And… what the hell, were you watching us?” asked Justice, tensing up. “You could have offered to help out a little if that was really the case.”

Travis laid a hand on his forearm. “Calm down,” he said
in a hypnotically smooth voice. “Or you’ll scare your friends in the back. You don’t want that now, do you?”

Justice felt
a strong wave of nausea and his lungs felt as if all the air had been sucked out. He attempted to pull his arm away from Travis’s firm grasp, but instead found himself immobile.

“Your fear,” hissed Travis, his eyes turning a golden-red hue, “is
… intoxicating, I must admit. I wonder how exhilarating it would be if I were to tear the three of you, from limb to limb, starting with the lovely little girls in back? Let you listen to their terrified screams and watch all of that sweet agony, all the while knowing that you’re next…hmm?”

Justice
tried to talk, but couldn’t move his mouth.

Travis went on, his strange eyes dancing with delight.
“It would be quite fun for me, I assure you, but fortunately for you, we need you to help our cause.”

It was then that Justice noticed the
truck was still moving forward on the road, on its own, without any help from Travis.

Who was
this guy?

“
Oh, I am one of your worst nightmares,” said Travis. “That’s all you need to know.”

I
still don’t understand
, thought Justice, staring in horror at Travis’s glowing eyes- they seemed to penetrate into his very soul.
And why does he need me?

B
ecause you’re an atheist
, proclaimed the amused voice in his head.

Cassie

The nuns had generously offered us food, bottled water, and blankets for our journey. We had just finished loading the Honda with the items when I felt as if I was forgetting something else. I closed my eyes and did a mental list of what we’d need and what
might
still be missing but just couldn’t put my finger on it.

“You’re leaving?”

I opened my eyes and turned around to find Kallie staring up at me with tears in her eyes. 

“Yes,”
I said, feeling a tug at my heart. I bent down on one knee. “I have to go look for my grandparents, and Nora needs to find her father.”

“Take me with you,” she pleaded
, throwing her arms around me. “I’ll be good. I promise!”

I hugged he
r back. “I can’t, honey,” I said, now feeling sad myself. “It’s too dangerous out there for you. Heck, it’s too dangerous for all of us.”

“But you can’t leave me!” she cried, pulling away. “What if my mother wants to hug me
, again?”

I groaned inwardly
- me and my bright ideas. I shouldn’t have ever mentioned her mother. “Kallie, if your mother wants to hug you, she will. Whether it’s in the form of Sister Theresa or any one of the other nuns, you will get that hug. She doesn’t need me to do it.”

“But I felt something
special when you hugged me! I’ve never felt that way with anyone else. You have to take me with you, Cassie. Please!”

Sister Francine stepped
behind the young girl and put a hand on her shoulder. “Now Kallie, you have to let Cassie get ready for her trip.”

“But she’s has to take me with her!”
she cried, clutching me tighter.

“I just can’t, Kallie. It’s not safe.”

“What’s going on over
here?” asked Henry, chewing on some kind of beef-stick.

“Someone wants to come with,” I said, looking up at him.

His eyes softened. “Looks like you’ve made quite the impression here, Wild.”

I smiled.
“Looks like.”

“You know, w
hen we come back this way, we could pick her up and take her back to the hotel with us. There’s plenty of room. Hell, Belinda always wanted a little girl of her own- we’ll bring her back as a gift.”

“Oh Henry.
She isn’t a doll,” sighed the nun. “She’s a little girl, who needs a family, a real family.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Sister, as far as I’m concerned, we
are
a real family. A little unconventional, but we all look out for each other, try our best to keep one another safe. Seems to me this little girl has taken a fancy to one of our own and obviously, vice-versa. It would be a shame to cause any more sorrow or pain in Kallie’s life, don’t you think?”

“Well, obviously we all just want what’s best for her,” she replied.

“Well, good. Then, it’s settled. We’ll be picking her up on our way from Minnesota within the next week.”

“Did you hear that,
Kallie?” I murmured, “we’ll be coming back for you, real soon.”

She pulled away and stared into my eyes. “You promise?”

“I promise,” I said.

“You shouldn’t make promises you might not be able to keep,” said the nun, after
Kallie had skipped off to tell her friends. “What if something happens to you?”

“Sister,” said Henry. “I’
m surprised. Aren’t you the ones always encouraging others to have faith?”

She smiled
. “Well, I guess you’ve got me there.”

“Whoa,” said Bryce, raising his hands. “I’m friend, not foe. In fact, I know the Wild family.”

“Oh, sorry,”
said the man, smiling broadly as he lowered the gun. “Wasn’t sure if you were here to steal from us or what your deal was. Name’s Ted,” he said, holding out his hand. “Ted Jones.”

“Bryce
De Luca,” he answered, shaking it.

“So, kid, what are you doing out here?”

“Well, looking for Cassie and her grandparents, Steve and Irene Wild.”

“
Well, unfortunately, they’re gone,” said Ted. “At least, Steve and Irene. I’m not sure about Cassie, haven’t seen her for a long time.”

“Where did Steve and Irene go?”

He sighed. “Well, they heard from their son Dave a couple of weeks ago and left for Atlanta- when the cell phones were still working. Haven’t seen anyone since.”

Bryce’s stomach dropped- they could be anywhere.

If they were still alive.

“Ted!” hollered a woman’s voice.

“It’s alright, Linda! He knows the Wilds!” called Ted, leaning over the side of the boat.

Seconds later, a dark-haired woman climbed o
ut of an old fiberglass canoe and onto the yacht. “Well,” she grinned, setting her oversized bag onto the deck. “We don’t get very many visitors, unless their dead and inviting themselves to dinner.”

“
I bet. In fact, I met one on my way out here,” said Bryce. “Have either of you noticed how the zombies have started entering all the lakes and rivers.”

“Yeah.
Started a couple of days ago. Something seems to be drawing them in,” said Ted.

“Something as in
‘blood’,” said Linda.

“Oh, Linda,” sighed Ted.

“Oh, Linda, nothing. The water is turning into blood,” she turned to Bryce. “Ted, here, doesn’t want to believe it, though. Thinks I’m going crazy.”

“I never said that. I just don’t think we should start packing-it-in because
the water looks a little different.”

“I’m
with you, Ted, ” said Bryce. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”

“Okay, be stubborn, both of you. But I’ve already told you what I think, Te
d. Don’t go discounting that.”

“I won’t.”

The couple stared at each other silently, an unspoken message passing between them.

“It smells funny, too,” said Linda, turning back to Bryce.

Bryce nodded. “I know, I had to swim in it.”

“So, what are you going to do?” asked Ted. “Do you have somewhere to go?”

“Yeah, after we find Cassie and her sister, we’ll be heading back to Atlanta.”

Linda’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, they’re lost?”

Bryce went over everything that had happened with the Wilds, including the death of Dave and Kris.

Linda’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God,” she moaned. “Steve and Irene are going to be devastated.”

Bryce nodded. “It was a horrible experience for everyone, especially the girls.”

“How are they
handling it?” she asked.

“Well, they’re handling
it because they have no choice. Fortunately, both of them are pretty tough girls.”