Running Wild

by Kristen Middleton

  “Wait!” my dad and I yelled simultaneously. He then tossed his binoculars aside; threw the truck in park and flew out the door, cussing. I watched as he ran towards the frightened girl with his gun raised, firing away at the closest zombies trying to reach for her. When he made it to the child, he lifted her into his arms and started running back with four zombies coming in quickly.

  Bryce hopped out of the truck and started firing at the zombies. One of them caught up to my dad, threw himself forward and would have taken both of them down if Bryce’s shot hadn’t been so accurate. He quickly took care of the last three and I was able to breathe again.

  “Take her,” said my dad, opening the cab door.

  I grabbed the girl, who was sobbing and held her in my arms. Her body was trembling as she clung to me like I was some sort of life preserver.

  My dad and Bryce jumped back into the truck.

  “She okay?” asked my dad, still out of breath.

  I somehow peeled the little girl off of me and looked into her small face, which was dirty and flushed from running. Her lips were dry and she looked very frail. I still couldn’t believe she was alive.

  “She’s terrified,” I said staring into her haunted blue eyes.

  “Give her some water,” said Bryce, handing me a bottle.

  The little girl took it from me and began drinking greedily. When she started choking, I patted her gently on the back. “Slow down,” I murmured.

  “Great shooting Bryce,” said my father as he wiped the sweat from his forehead using the back of his hand. “Damn, those zombies are getting more agile.”

  “Yeah, I was getting a little worried back there. That one almost took you both out,” replied Bryce.

  “Well, if it wasn’t for you, things would have gotten uglier. I appreciate your good aim.”

  “Can it get much uglier?” mumbled Bryce, looking at the girl. “Bunch of zombies chasing down a little girl for a quick snack; why she’s still alive is a mystery to me.”

  “It’s definitely a miracle,” answered my dad.

  My heart swelled as I thought of Bryce and the way he’d saved my dad and the little girl. Sitting in the back seat, I had the most incredible urge to run my hands through his dark wavy hair and nuzzle the side of his neck. He was so damn sexy and I was already missing his incredible mouth. Right now it was a struggle to keep my hands off of him; instead I tried to focus on the child in my arms

  I cleared my throat. “Honey, what’s your name?” I asked the little girl. She stared at me, her eyes like a scared rabbit, but she remained silent. When she didn’t respond the second time I prodded her, Bryce turned around and gently touched her curly brown hair.

  “It’s okay, you’re safe with us. We won’t let anything happen to you,” he said softly.

  The little girl’s eyes grew round and filled with tears. She threw her arms around my neck and began howling in terror again.

  He lifted his hands and gave me a bewildered look. “What?”

  I gave him a reassuring smile. “She’s obviously traumatized, Bryce. Don’t take it personally.”

  Our eyes met and held. Remembering the passion in our kiss the other day, I felt the heat creeping up to my cheeks. He must have sensed my thoughts, because he smiled devilishly and licked his lips.

  My father spoke up and broke the spell. “We’re almost there guys. Let’s hope the zombies aren’t shopping for cars.”

  I snorted. “Hey, you were the one complaining about lack of customers the other day. I’ll bet they’d be an easy sale dad.”

  With a wry smile my dad said, “Some of them zombies are so passive, I could probably sell them on extended warranties too. I wonder if they can still hold a pen even with rigor mortis?”

  “They’d probably just sign it in your blood,” I replied.

  Bryce interrupted us. “You know, I’ve been thinking, if we keep picking up extra passengers, we might need two vehicles.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. And if one breaks down, we’d still have the other as backup,” replied my dad.

  “Let’s do it then,” smiled Bryce.

  “I do have access to any car I want. This could be interesting.”

  I looked at my dad. “Just don’t take that corvette you were eyeing last week dad. That thing is only a two-seater.”

  My dad sighed and rubbed his stubbly chin. “Thanks for bursting my bubble, daughter.”

  “Corvette, huh? That would have been a sweet ride,” said Bryce.

  “You’re telling me Bryce. The one the showroom floor is a ZR1 with 638 horsepower.”

  While they talked cars, I looked down at the girl in my arms. She’d stopped crying and was now asleep. Her little blue sundress was ripped to shreds and because she was shoeless, her feet were torn up and bloody.

  “I can’t believe this little girl survived out there with those things,” I said.

  Bryce turned around again. “Someone must have been taking care of her at one point.”

  “Maybe,” I sighed, laying her down on the seat next to me. She suddenly reminded me of how much I missed my younger sister. Although Allie was already twelve, it seemed like just yesterday when I used to carry her around in my arms. She’d idolized me, but, like most siblings, I’d taken it for granted. If I ever got the chance to hold her in my arms again, I probably wouldn’t ever let go.

  We passed the exit leading to St. James, the hospital where my mother had taken Austin. Several severely decomposing zombies were stumbling down the frontage road that we’d taken previously.

  “I wonder how the St. James is holding up,” I murmured. If it hadn’t been for Austin’s grenades, I still don’t know if we’d have made it out alive.

  Bryce looked back at me. “I doubt they’re holding up at all. There had to be close to five hundred zombies surrounding that hospital when we left.”

  “Well, I guess I do owe Austin for helping to protect you,” said my dad.

  “Austin’s a nice guy. He’s just trying to fulfill an obligation he feels he owes mom. It’s a little irritating, but I guess I understand it,” I said.

  “That and the fact that he has the “hots” for you,” snickered Bryce.

  “What?” asked my dad.

  I snorted. “He doesn’t have the “hots” for me, Bryce.”

  “I don’t think you even know when someone has the “hots” for you Cassie,” answered Bryce.

  My dad looked at Bryce, his eyes narrowing. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

  Bryce cleared his throat. “I’m just saying that Austin obviously likes her and she doesn’t even see it.”

  “It doesn’t matter if he likes me,” I replied. “I’m not interested.”

  “Good,” replied Bryce and my dad at the same time.

  Chapter Three

  After navigating around several abandoned vehicles on the freeway and killing some curiously alert zombies, we finally pulled into my dad’s car dealership. Thankfully, it appeared both lifeless as well as deadless.

  “Okay,” said my dad parking in front of the large glass entrance. “Cassie, you jump into the driver’s spot as soon as we exit the truck. When we find a couple of suitable vehicles, we’ll pull around with them.”

  “Got it.”

  Bryce glanced at me and I thought for a brief moment that he was going to kiss me, just like he did the last time we were getting ourselves into a dangerous situation. Instead, he pursed his lips and jumped out of the truck.

  “Wimp,” I muttered. He was definitely staying cool around my dad. I knew it was a matter of respect, but it was also, very boring.

  I watched both of them as they entered the dealership. Carrying the rifles, they reminded me of two outlaws getting ready to rob a bank, and I was their nervous get-away driver.

  I heard a whimper from the backseat and turned to see the little girl, now awake and sitting up. She still looked very frightened and her eyes darted from window to window.

  “Hi,” I tri
ed again. “I’m Cassie, what’s your name?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “Can you talk?”

  She stared at me for a moment then stuck her thumb into her mouth.

  “Don’t worry, you’re safe with me in this truck,” I reassured her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  The little girl’s face suddenly turned white and she began to shriek so loud, I thought my eardrums were going to burst.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to reach her hand.

  She pointed to my side window and when I turned, I screamed at the horror just inches from my face. A tall zombie with maggots crawling from open sores all over his mottled face was staring hungrily at me. One eye had been ripped out and his dark black hair hung below his shoulders with large tufts missing from its rotting skull.

  “Fuck!” I shouted and then cringed. I turned to the little girl and smiled sheepishly. “Um, sorry; that’s a naughty word, don’t ever repeat it.”

  To my surprise, she smiled.

  The zombie began to make demonic growling sounds outside of my window again. Before I could react, he’d found the door handle and was jiggling it as if attempting to get in. When the door actually began to open, I gasped in shock then jerked it back hard.

  The zombie shrieked in anger and tried again, this time without success because I’d locked it this time.

  I stared at him and shivers ran down my spine; these zombies were intelligent enough to open doors now?

  “No!!!” cried the little girl. She was pounding on the inside of her door and scratching at the windows, trying to escape.

  “Hey, it’s okay honey, the doors are locked. You’re totally safe in here,” I said, trying to calm her down. “The guys will be back and they’ll shoot this thing. They have big scary guns.”

  She must have understood what I was trying to say because just like that, she quit crying and stuck her thumb back into her mouth.

  “Good girl,” I said smiling.

  Then the frustrated zombie started throwing a tantrum. He began pounding on the windows, growling and shrieking, wrecking what little progress I’d made with the terrified girl. When she opened her mouth and began to sob hysterically again, I completely lost it. I unlocked the door and slammed it hard against the salivating zombie who in turn lost his balance and toppled to the ground. I hopped out of the truck, raised my foot and kicked him hard in the head with my mountain boot. When he lifted himself back up to try and reach me, he met with a hard swivel kick, which sent him flying backwards.

  “You couldn’t just leave well enough alone could you?” I snarled down at the stunned zombie. “You just had to freak the poor child out all over again. Well, dumb ass, you asked for this!”

  I kicked him several times in the head as hard as I could while he tried desperately to grab my leg. This went on for several seconds, me kicking him in the head and him asking for more. When he finally stopped moving, I came to my senses and my stomach rolled with nausea; the zombie’s face was one big smear of gore.

  Someone cleared their throat and I turned around.

  “Honey?” asked my dad who’d pulled up in a brand new Yukon during my tantrum. He tilted his head and smiled wryly. “Is it you’re special time of the month?”

  “Ha, ha; you’re next old man,” I said with a sneer. He was always giving my mom; my sister and I crap about our moods during a certain time of the month. Yes, he walked a very fine line in a household of three women.

  “Wow,” said Bryce who suddenly appeared driving some kind of souped up conversion van with tall meaty tires. “I guess we know who won the battle. Good going Wild!”

  I looked at the carnage I’d caused again and sighed. “Hate to say this, but these zombies are learning some new tricks.”

  “What do you mean?” asked my dad.

  “This one was able to open the door to the truck,” I said.

  “Shit,” said my dad, rubbing a hand over his face. “Next they’ll be learning to pick locks.”

  “Hey, get back in the truck!” yelled Bryce. “There’s more heading this way!”

  I turned and saw about ten zombies rushing through the lot of new cars and they were coming straight for us. I scrambled back to the Sierra, got inside and locked the door. As they drew closer my dad and Bryce shot them all in the head.

  “Brooke,” whispered a tiny voice in the back seat. “I’m Brooke.”

  I turned around and found the little girl smiling shyly at me. I returned her smile and then started the engine. “Very nice to meet you, Brooke. Let’s go meet your new family.”

  Chapter Four

  When we arrived back at my house, I washed the bloody mess still left on my boot with the yard hose then carried Brooke, who’d fallen back asleep, inside. It was getting dark and I was glad to see Austin and Eva had lit more candles throughout the house.

  Goldie began barking happily as soon as she saw us and then tried to jump on my legs to get a better look at Brooke.

  “Not now girl,” I murmured, trying not to trip over the excited dog.

  I laid Brooke down on one of the cots my mom had used for the daycare and covered her with a light blanket. She was still filthy but I figured she needed the rest more than a bath at the present moment.

  “Hey, where’d you find the little one?” asked Austin, coming up behind me.

  I turned to find him standing very close so I took a step back. “Zombies where chasing her near the movie theater. We almost shot her, thinking she was one of them.”

  He kneeled down and touched her hair. “Wow, I’m surprised she’s alive,” he said softly.

  I nodded. “You and me both.”

  Austin stood up and smiled at me. His shirt was open and it looked like he’d changed the dressing on his wound. I tried not gawk at his chiseled pecks but they were hard to ignore.

  I swallowed. “Um, so how’s your shoulder?”

  He lifted his arm and winced. “It’s...healing. It’d feel much better if I had something more for the pain other than aspirin.”

  I frowned. “Didn’t they give you anything at the hospital that was stronger?”

  “Hell no they didn’t. But come to think about it, one of the other soldiers in my troop had some Vicodin stored in his duffel bag.” He rubbed his chin and stared off into space. “You know, I’ll bet it still there too.”

  “Where’s his bag?” I asked.

  “We’d left all of our military vehicles about three blocks west of here,” he replied.

  I touched his arm. “Hey, maybe Bryce can drive you back there and you can pick it up.”

  His face hardened. “The hell if I’m asking that guy for anything; he’s got something against me.”

  “No, he doesn’t,” I lied.

  He smirked and shook his head. “Wild, you’re not a very good liar.”

  I studied Austin; with his blond hair, thick lashes, and wide “aw shucks” grin, he reminded me of an All-American Cowboy; a pretty handsome one at that. I figured Bryce felt a little threatened, which was ridiculous; my heart already belonged to him.

  “He’s just being protective. Bryce has this insane idea that you’re sweet on me,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I told him to quit being such a dope; that you’re just trying to help.”

  A slow smile spread across his face and his light brown eyes burned into mine. “Tell you the truth that very same thought crossed my mind as well.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was talking about Bryce or being sweet on me so I looked away and quickly changed the subject to food. “Did you hear that? I think that was my stomach. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” I said patting my tummy.

  He shook his head and chuckled. “I’m fine,” he said then followed me into the kitchen.

  I opened up one of the cupboards and located some dill pickle potato chips. Setting the bag on the counter, I began washing my hands. “Want some?” I asked, glancing his way.

  He leaned back against the opp
osite counter and winked. “Don’t let me come between you and your dill pickles.”

  I laughed out loud. “She told you, didn’t she?” My mother must have mentioned that I was a dill pickle fanatic. I could eat them in my sleep. In fact, many nights I’d gotten up to have one for a late night snack.

  He nodded and pointed to the towel I was drying my hands with. “She also told me about your little germ phobia. She actually thought it was cute.”

  “Cute?” I said, smiling sadly. My mother found humor in almost everything. It made her that much more lovable. I missed her so much.

  “Yes. She wanted to keep me awake during the ride to the hospital so she kept rambling on about anything she could think of. You’re mom’s a special lady. I admire her tremendously.”

  I looked away so he wouldn’t see the tears gathering in my eyes. I knew my mom was safe now and that it was my little sister who was in real danger, but it didn’t soothe the ache in my heart. I loved them both so much and couldn’t wait to get to Atlanta.

  He cleared his throat. “So, besides finding the little girl, how was your trip to the dealership?”

  I told him about my episode with the zombie and how he’d been wise enough to open the door.

  He frowned. “Well, it certainly sounds like they’re evolving into something a little more dangerous.”

  Just then my father stepped into the kitchen and tossed me a brand new automobile charger for my cell phone.

  “Awesome, dad!” I shrieked, throwing my arms around him. “Now I can charge my phone so mom can finally reach us!”

  He frowned. “I lost my damn phone a few days ago, so yours is the only way we can communicate with her. Start charging it right away.”

  I nodded, feeling giddy for the first time since Bryce had kissed me passionately in the garage the other day.

  My dad rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Listen kids, I’m going to bed, I can’t remember the last time I slept.”

  “Yeah, we definitely could use you alert when you’re behind the wheel,” I answered.

  He nodded. “It’s about a twenty hour drive so I’d like to leave here at daybreak, if that works for you? In fact, why don’t you get everyone to start packing some supplies for the trip. There’s bottled water and a boatload of non-perishable food items in your mom’s pantry.”