Zombie Games Book Five (End Zone)

by Middleton, Kristen

  “What is that horrible smell?” gasped Paige.

  “Don’t look at me,” said Henry.

  “The gate is open!” hollered Nora, triumphantly. “He waits for the offering!”

  A chorus of screeches echoed from inside of the hole and then rose to the top.

  “Hey… watch out!” shouted Kristie, stepping backwards. “Here come those flying things again!”

  Chaos erupted in the room as hundreds of winged creatures burst out of the pit, their screeches so loud that if felt like my ears were actually bleeding.

  “Cassie!” shouted Bryce, moving towards us.

  Seeing this, John got up and launched at Bryce. They tumbled to the ground with fists flying.

  “Nora,” I pleaded as the flying beasts lunged after my friends. “Let me go. Resist Travis.”

  “Good idea,” said Nora, releasing me. She reached out and grabbed Bobby, pulling him towards her. The warm light around him disappeared and she smiled.

  “No!” I shouted, reaching for his other hand.

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

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

  Chapter Twenty-One

  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.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  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 collar 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.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty – Three

  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.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  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 farther 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.

  “We should come back here if we survive,” said Kristie, eyeing the racks of clothes. “They’ve got a lot of interesting stuff. Quite the mix.”

  “Yeah, I just love this halter shirt,” replied Kylie, holding up a tie-dyed one. “What do you think, mom?”

  “Too revealing for a girl your age,” she replied, eyeing a vintage purple and green scarf.

  “I’ll wear a jacket with it,” said Kylie.

  “Come on you guys,” said Paige, leading the way out of the store. “No time for this.”

  “Hey, don’t leave without us,” ordered Kristie. She glanced sideways at Kylie and lowered her voice. “I think she’s worried about Justice.”

  “And Cassie,” replied Kylie, picking up the diaper bag.

  “Yes, and Cassie,” said Kristie, snatching the scarf.

  “Mom?” said Kylie, nodding towards the scarf.

  She wrapped it around her neck. “If this is my last day on the planet, I may as get myself a parting gift.” She grabbed a beige knit-cap. “Here, I’ll take this for Paige. So she doesn’t feel left out.”

  The corridors were quiet by the time they made it back to the center of the mall. When they reached the hole, they found Bryce and Henry, staring somberly into it.

  Paige stopped and stared in horror. “What’s happened?”

  Bryce turned towards her, his face filled with grief.

  “Bryce?”

  He shook his head and walked away.

  “Nora pushed all three of them in,” mumbled Henry, his eyes watery. He removed his hat and hung his head low. “Just like that, they were gone.”

  Kristie closed her eyes. “Oh, God.”

  Paige backed away from the hole. “No… no, I don’t believe it!”

  “It’s true,” said Henry. “I wish it weren’t.”

  “Paige, honey, come here,” said Kristie, handing over Adria to Kylie. She then walked over to Paige and pulled her into her arms. “Oh Baby. I know she was your best friend.”

  “I… I just can’t believe it,” said Paige in a muffled voice. “Cassie, Bobby, Nora, and Billie. All of them… gone.”

  Kristie patted her on the back, her own tears running down her cheeks. “I know, I can’t believe it.”

  “Someone has to find Allie,” said Kylie, staring at the hole in despair. She turned to them. “She needs to know.”

  “Tiny and Justice went to go search for her,” said Bryce in a hollow voice. “She’s supposed to be at Nordstrom’s.”

  “She’s going to be heart-broken,” said Kristie. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “That poor kid.”

  “Bryce, I’m so sorry about Bobby,” said Henry. “I almost thought that…”

  “What?” asked Bryce.

  “That he had some kind of power. That he could stop what was happening,” he replied.

  “You mean that he was the ‘Chosen One’? Well, I can assure you, he was just a little boy. A sweet little kid that didn’t deserve to die,” said Bryce.

  Henry nodded. “Seems you’re right. Looks like that was all talk.”

  Kristie released Paige and then walked over to the hol
e. She stared down into it. “The worst thing is, that it was all for naught. They all died in vain.”

  “Yes, but there is one thing we can agree on,” said Paige. “That Travis was a demon and he was responsible for all of this.”

  “We can’t argue that,” said Kristie. “That certainly wasn’t Nora doing those things. She had to have been possessed.”

  Bryce didn’t answer.

  “What’s going on?”

  They all turned to find Belinda walking towards them holding a gun. Her blond hair was sticking out of her ponytail and there was mascara under her eyelashes.

  “Belinda,” said Henry, moving towards her. “Thank goodness you’re okay.”

  “I’ve been better. What in God’s name is that?” she said, staring at the hole.

  “It’s a hole to Hell,” said Henry.

  Her jaw dropped. “What? You’ve got to be kidding?”

  “He’s right,” said Kristie. “At least that’s what we think it is.”

  “Then it is true… everything he said.” She stared pensively into the distance and scratched the side of her head. “Have any of you seen Bobby?”

  Bryce opened his mouth and then turned his head away, overwhelmed with emotion.

  “He took off on me,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “Dammit, I’d fallen asleep and he snuck out. I’m so sorry, Bryce. I feel horrible.”

  Kristie walked over to Belinda and put an arm around her. “We need to talk.”

  “Uh, sure. Did you see him?” she asked.

  Bryce nodded. “Yes.”

  As Kristie began explaining what had happened, the ground under their feet began to shake.

  “What’s happening?” hollered Belinda.

  A bright red light poured out of the hole and they all rushed back from the hole.

  “What’s happening?” asked Kylie, crying.

  A rush of fire and lava spewed up from the hole’s depths, filling the circle completely.

  “Look,” gasped Paige, pointing towards the molten bubbles.