by Chelsea Luna
Cage jumped over the driver’s seat and placed Morgan in the front bench. “Lindsay, start the bus!” He yanked the lever to open the door and jumped down the stairs to help Adam, Nicky and Rachel.
Rachel swung her bat. “Get on the bus!”
“You get on!” Adam yelled. “I’ll cover you!”
The rumble of the bus’s engine momentarily drowned out the growling. Zombies flowed out of the dormitory and into the parking lot.
“For God’s sake,” Nicky said. “Can we all just get out of here?”
“Fine! Let’s go!” Adam swung again.
They raced up the stairs and onto the bus. Lindsay pulled the door lever just as Cage hopped inside, shutting the door on his heels.
“I can’t drive this thing!” Lindsay screeched.
Adam pulled Lindsay out of the seat and slid behind the steering wheel. “Everyone hold on, this is going to get bumpy.”
Zombies slapped against the metal, snarling and growling. Rachel had Morgan on her lap in the front seat. Lindsay and Nicky sat across the row. The sea of zombies surrounded the bus. Selena held Finn, but it seemed like Finn was comforting Selena and not the other way around.
Adam shifted gears and the bus lurched forward. A mass of zombies blocked the way. Adam pressed his foot down on the gas. Bodies slammed against the front bumper. The bus rose slightly off the ground as the tires crushed over the bodies.
The bus rocked back and forth as the wheels rolled over the creatures. Adam shifted gears again and the bus gained speed. The road gradually turned from bumpy carcasses to smooth cement.
Nicky whipped around in his seat. “See ya, you bastards!”
“Is everyone okay?” Rachel asked.
“I’m fine, except for the accident in my pants.” Nicky smiled.
Lindsay slapped his arm.
“I think everyone is okay,” Selena said.
“Where are we headed?” Morgan asked.
Adam turned onto East Main Street. “Detroit. We’re going to stop by my cousin Manny’s house, and then go to Ford Field. They say it’s safe there.” His eyes flickered in the rearview mirror and met Cage’s glance.
Cage knew what Adam was thinking. If Ann Arbor was this badly infected, how bad would Detroit be? Detroit was eight times bigger than the small college town and a forty-five minute drive away. Would they even be able to get into the city?
The gigantic University of Michigan football stadium towered over them. Zombies staggered around the ticket booths, wandering aimlessly on the sidewalk surrounding the stadium.
“Why couldn’t that stadium be the safe zone?” Selena asked. “That would be so much easier.”
They sped past the university’s golf course. Dozens of trees were on fire. Smoke billowed up in columns from the once lush green grass. Adam turned left onto East Stadium Boulevard. “I played golf with some of the guys from the station at that course. It was beautiful. Now look at it.”
“They are destroying everything,” Rachel said. “Even if the government finds a way to defeat them, it’s going to take years of rebuilding to get things back to the way they were.”
“If they find a way of defeating them,” Nicky said sourly. “I think we have a bigger problem than the zombies.”
“How can any problem be bigger than the zombies?” Lindsay asked.
Nicky reached into his backpack. “How much water do we have? I have one bottle in here. What about food? It’s not like we can pull into a McDonalds and order a value meal.”
No one said anything, but Nicky was right. They needed more supplies. There was no telling how long it would take to get to Ford Field.
The bus sailed along South State Street and over Eisenhower Parkway. Clusters of abandoned cars littered the road, but there weren’t as many zombies on the streets. Adam maneuvered around a downed power line, careful to stay away from the sparks igniting around the smashed transformer.
“Oh my God,” Rachel breathed.
As they entered the I-94 onramp, the Briarwood Mall came into view. The parking lot was filled to capacity, but not with cars. It looked like a concert, but no one in the crowd was alive. Hundreds upon hundreds of zombies surrounded the mall.
“Do you think people are in there?” Finn asked. “Humans, I mean.”
“Definitely,” Nicky said. “Didn’t you guys see Dawn of the Dead?”
There was a chorus of noes and one yes. Finn.
“What happened in Dawn of the Dead?” Rachel asked. “I feel like I should’ve watched all of these zombie movies to be more prepared.” She peered out the window at the zombies flocking to the mall.
Nicky turned around in his seat. “Finn, do you want to take this one, man? These people have zero horror movie knowledge. It’s downright depressing.”
Finn poked his head above the seat. “After the zombies attacked, a group of survivors went to a shopping mall to hide out. They boarded up the entrances and lived in the mall for a while.”
“That’s more my style,” Lindsay said.
“There’s probably tons of supplies in there,” Rachel said. “Food. Water. Clothing. Secure shelter. Everything. Do you think people are hiding in that mall?”
“Definitely,” Cage said. “Why else would there be a swarm that big surrounding the building?”
Adam slowly accelerated, as if trying to get accustomed to driving the bus. “If there’s a movie about a mall safe haven during the zombie apocalypse, then I’m sure people went there just because they couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.”
“Do you think it’s safe?” Selena asked.
“It doesn’t matter. We can’t go there,” Rachel said. “We’d never be able to get inside. There are thousands of zombies surrounding that mall.”
“I know we can’t go there,” Selena said. “But do you think the people already inside the mall are safe?”
“As long as the doors hold,” Nicky said. “However long that is. Or until a motorcycle gang breaks in and messes up everything.”
“A motorcycle gang?” Rachel made a face. “Really?”
“That’s what happened in the movie,” Nicky said. “The gang wanted to loot the place. When they broke in, they let all the zombies inside.”
“That’s so stupid,” Lindsay said.
Morgan looked at Finn. “What happened to the people in the movie? The good people hiding in the mall. Did they survive?”
“Only two of them did,” Finn said quietly.
Chapter Eight
“I would kill for a steak right now. Like, literally, kill.” Nicky drummed his fingers on the bus seat to a heavy metal song that he couldn’t get out of his head. He couldn’t remember the name of the song, either.
“That’s disgusting,” Lindsay said. “How could you even think about eating meat after what we’ve seen?”
“I’m with Lindsay.” Selena sipped from an almost empty water bottle. “I think I’m going to be a vegan from now on. I might vomit if I see a piece of red meat on my plate.”
“Not me.” Nicky drummed harder. What was the name of that tune? It was going to drive him insane if he couldn’t remember the name. “Once we get to Ford Field, I’m getting the juiciest T-bone steak there is. Like a forty-eight ouncer. I want to order the same portion as a contestant in a food-eating competition.”
Lindsay placed her hands over his fingers to stop the drumming. He liked the way her hands felt soft against his skin.
“It’s a rescue camp,” Cage said. “I doubt they’ll be serving four-course meals. We’ll be lucky to get water and a can of beans.”
Nicky didn’t want to think of that. Ford Field had to-die-for nachos during the Lions games. They’d have better food than cans of beans.
Lindsay’s hand still covered his. He threw Lindsay a sideways smile and she rolled her eyes.
He was making progress.
Highway I-94 East toward Detroit was, so far, relatively safe. It looked a hell of a lot safer than what they saw at the U of M. Thi
s stretch of highway outside of Ann Arbor was residential — mostly affluent Detroit suburbs. They passed rows of houses, many of them identically built.
The infection had clearly reached the area. Most of the homes were in some form of chaos — boarded windows, flames sprouting from the roofs or zombies surrounding the structure. The early morning sun had retreated behind a band of clouds, but it was bright enough to see the destruction that spread for miles. Not to mention the stench — a mix of death and smoke strong enough to penetrate the closed windows.
The whole state was going to shit.
For the first time since the initial outbreak, they saw people. Not just the random straggler or hitchhiker, but actual groups of live people. Maybe it was because they were closing in on Detroit. People rode in cars packed full of luggage and others walked along the edge of the highway. Most of them were bloody and dirty and all of their faces had that same zoned-out look — like all hope was lost.
Hell, maybe it was.
Nicky didn’t want to look anymore. It was too depressing. He discreetly sniffed his armpits. He hadn’t showered in days and he’d been sweating nonstop. Zombie guts and blood covered his clothes. Dirt packed underneath his fingernails. He needed a shower. Bad. How was he going to get Lindsay to fall in love with him when he smelled like a gorilla?
“Where are you from, Finn?” Rachel brushed through Morgan’s blonde hair with her fingers.
Finn looked up. “Bay City.”
“That’s a nice area,” Adam said. “I used to do some fishing up there.”
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Finn said. “My dad and I went fishing in Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron every summer.” He grew quiet and became preoccupied with a loose string on his sleeve.
“I’m sure your parents are fine,” Cage said.
Finn shook his head. “No, they’re dead. Zombies by now, I’m sure.”
Nicky turned sharply to look at the boy who seemed absolutely positive that his parents were dead. He hadn’t really noticed the kid before — light brown hair, green eyes and a splash of freckles across his nose.
“You don’t know that, kid,” Nicky said. “They could be hiding somewhere.”
Cage frowned. “You said there was a chance that your mom was at Ford Field.”
“I just said that so the professor would let me go with you,” Finn said. “I called my parents when everything happened. My cell phone still worked back then.”
Rachel braided Morgan’s hair. “You talked to them?”
“Yeah, my dad said that he and Mom had been bitten by a homeless man who wandered into the backyard. Dad said the guy was crazy and attacked him. Mom tried to help and they eventually got away, but they were both bit. They were on their way to the hospital to get the bite treated.” Finn looked straight ahead. “I’m sure they’ve turned into zombies by now.”
Nicky felt bad for the kid. He was so young and he didn’t have a soul in the world. “You’re with us now. We’ll protect you,” Nicky said. “Then you and I can share a big fat juicy steak at Ford Field. Sound like a good deal?”
A ghost of a smile played on Finn’s lips. “Deal.”
Lindsay nudged Nicky in the ribs and grinned.
“I forgot to tell you what a nice job you did back there, Sugar Plum,” Nicky said to Lindsay.
“What are you talking about? And did you just call me Sugar Plum?”
“You helped me cross those ledges and then you found the right key to get us on the bus. Pretty impressive, if you ask me.” Nicky winked.
She rolled her eyes again, but she kept grinning. “Thanks.”
“How far is Manny’s house from Ford Field?” Cage asked Adam.
“A few blocks.”
“Do you think there’s a chance that he went to the rescue camp? Since he’s so close to Ford Field?” Rachel asked.
“No.” Adam maneuvered around a fiery Jeep. Zombies reached into the burning remains of the car. “If I know Manny, and I do, he’s holed up in his house. Sitting pretty good, too, I’d imagine.”
“Why do you say that?” Selena rubbed the back of her heel and winced.
“Manny is a survivalist. He’s a marine and he was always into that prepping stuff. He’s had food and guns stockpiled in his basement since he returned from his third tour in Iraq. Manny always said the world was going to shit one day. He was right.” Adam shifted gears. “Hopefully, I can convince him to come with us. He’d be useful.”
“He’ll have food?” Nicky asked.
“Definitely,” Adam said.
“Will he have beer?”
“One hundred percent.”
“I like this Manny guy already,” Nicky said.
Once they passed Dearborn, the road became crowded with cars, abandoned vehicles, zombies and survivors. They were a few miles from Detroit and it was the most people they’d ever seen.
“Am I the only one who thinks it’s strange that everyone is heading out of Detroit and we’re the only ones heading in?” Nicky watched a young family push their belongings, including a baby, in a shopping cart along the highway’s shoulder. The dad wore an enormous camping backpack and the mother held a rifle with both hands. They jogged at a good pace, constantly checking over their shoulders.
“I’m sure everyone isn’t heading out of Detroit,” Adam said. “Maybe there’s something on the radio.”
Cage walked up the aisle and crouched near Adam’s seat. He took over the radio controls, so Adam could focus on the road. He twisted the knob until a recording blasted over the speakers: “A safe zone has been established in the following two state-wide locations: Spartan Stadium in East Lansing and Ford Field in Detroit. Military crews along with medical equipment and food supplies have been established at these locations.”
It was the same recording they’d heard on their way to Ann Arbor.
“Looks like Ford Field is still up and running,” Cage said.
“Maybe the people leaving the city wanted to take their chances in the country or on their own,” Rachel said.
Nicky shrugged. “Or maybe they don’t want to be stuck with thousands of other people eating beans. Remember how bad the Superdome was after Hurricane Katrina? That place became disgusting, really quickly.”
“I don’t care how crowded Ford Field is,” Selena said. “As long as it’s safe and the military is there, I’m all for it.”
“Me, too,” Lindsay said.
Adam glanced in the rearview mirror. “Then it’s settled. Next stop is Detroit.”
~ ~ ~
Highway I-94 East turned into the “Detroit Industrial Expressway” closer to the city. Cage wasn’t too familiar with the area. He knew where the sports stadiums were, of course, but he didn’t visit the city that often.
Detroit was a tough place. It had recently seen bad times — high crime rates, economic problems and bad press. The worst of it happened last summer when the city declared bankruptcy. It was an embarrassment for the entire state.
Cage had never been a fan of Detroit. He didn’t like the urban feel — the concrete and tall buildings. He’d rather be in the country. Where the air was fresh and the grass was green. In the city everything was gray — the ground, the buildings. Even the sky had turned gray as they closed in.
Actually, the sky looked pretty threatening. Maybe the gray wasn’t just because of their proximity to Detroit. The beautiful morning sunrise was long gone. Dark clouds raced across the vast expanse of sky as a thunderstorm rolled in from the west.
That’s all they needed.
Cage pulled his eyes from the window and reached over the seat. He scratched the top of Rachel’s head. Morgan slept on her lap.
“We’re almost there,” she whispered.
They were only a few miles from Detroit, which meant a few miles away from the safe zone. After everything they’d been through, it was strange to know they’d soon be safe. Cage couldn’t wait until he could sleep without one eye open, take a hot shower and eat a decent meal.
&n
bsp; How long would they stay at Ford Field? There had to be some type of quarantine measure in place to ensure the safety of the camp. Were tents set up on the field? Were they supposed to stay there until the outbreak was contained? Was the government shuttling survivors down to the uninfected zones in the south?
He had so many questions and zero answers. Hopefully, he’d get them soon enough. Rain fell from the sky. First in slow drops that pattered against the metal roof and then in thick heavy sheets. At least they weren’t stranded on foot in this storm.
Cage closed his eyes and said a prayer for Edward and Lacey. When they reached the safe zone at Ford Field, Cage would notify the authorities about Edward and Lacey’s location. Hopefully, they could send a rescue squad out to retrieve them. Maybe the military was conducting small-scale rescue operations. Just because Cage hadn’t personally seen it, didn’t mean it wasn’t happening.
The bus decelerated. Cage figured Adam was slowing because of the slippery roads.
“Holy shit,” Nicky whispered.
“What?” Cage turned to Nicky. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to get off the highway. Now.” Rachel sat up in her seat with Morgan still sleeping on her lap.
Cage blinked. It took a moment to process what he saw before him. It was difficult to see through the heavy sheets of rain. Or maybe it was too much for his brain to process.
A pile-up of abandoned cars covered the westbound lane of I-94 headed out of Detroit. The pile-up consisted of about ten or fifteen cars — hardly the size of the mess they’d seen on their drive down from Flint to Ann Arbor in the Suburban.
The difference was what was behind the pileup.
A line of traffic, at least a couple miles back, strung along the highway. Hundreds of headlights illuminated the darkness. The cars were full of people. Humans. Living, breathing, scared-out-of-their-minds human beings.
Cage’s stomach sank as he heard the sounds coming from the traffic jam. Honking and screaming. Children crying. The road was so jam packed that vehicles drove on both sides of the road, on the grass, over the short metal median and even over other cars. Trucks rammed cars. Vehicles were stuck in the muddy grass as the unrelenting rain fell from the darkened sky. Wheels spun uselessly in the mud, going nowhere, only trapping the next vehicle behind.