Running Wild

by Kristen Middleton

  “Thank God!” hollered my dad, rushing towards me. He held me to him. “What happened to you?”

  I swallowed. “Austin.”

  “That crazy bastard,” barked my dad, looking at my head. It had stopped bleeding but hurt like crazy. “Are you okay?”

  I lied. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  Billie walked over from his SUV. “Bryce told me. It was Austin huh? I’ll bet that’s his truck parked down the road too.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “What do you mean by that?”

  “It’s the same lunatic who’s been terrorizing us,” he said. “His red pickup truck’s parked up the road. Your dad and I’ve been frantically searching for you and we stumbled upon it near this little farm.”

  “So it was Austin following us all along,” I said. “Well, he won’t be bothering anyone anymore. He turned into a zombie and Bryce shot him.”

  “So he’s dead?” asked my dad.

  I nodded. “Twice over.”

  “Good. He even started the gas station on fire, as a distraction, I guess, to get to you,” said my dad.

  “Well, he found me.”

  Paige and Kylie came over holding Goldie, “She’s been looking for you,” said Paige. She placed her on the ground and Goldie charged me, smothering my face with puppy kisses.

  “So, I wonder what’s going to happen to Tiny and Henry?” asked Billie.

  Paige snorted. “Are you kidding me? My mom has already invited them to ride with us. She can’t keep her eyes of Tiny’s bulging biceps.”

  “That’s okay,” said my dad. “We have the room and I owe Henry for helping Cassie out. Besides, Tiny would be a formidable partner against the zombies.”

  “Yeah but you can’t just wrestle them to the ground,” said Paige. “It takes more than muscles and a Zeus persona.”

  “Dave?” called Kristie as she stepped towards us. “I hope you don’t mind but I invited Henry and Tiny to ride with us. When we get into town we should be able to find them a new vehicle.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” he replied.

  Kristie shook her head and laughed. “That old man is one horny old goat. He keeps dropping things on the ground and asking me to pick them up.”

  “That’s creepy, mom,” said Kylie.

  “Yeah, I know. But I don’t want to offend him or his grandson.”

  “Why don’t you ask Tiny to pick the stuff up instead,” I said.

  She smiled wryly and nodded. “Yeah, then I can watch him bend over.”

  “Gross mom,” said Paige, shaking her head in disgust.

  Kristie grabbed her lighter out of her pocket just as Tiny walked over with Henry. She pretended to light her cigarette but then “accidently” dropped the lighter.

  My dad shook his head and mumbled something about “women” and being crazy, then he walked away.

  “You know, I think I’ve hurt my back. Ouch!” she said, pretending to wince. “Say, Tiny? Can you pick that up for me?”

  Just as Tiny was about to pick it up, Henry shuffled over and did it instead. We all grimaced to see his old man crack smiling at us. “Here you go sweet thing,” he said, holding up the lighter. “If you’d like me to light your fire, all you had to do was ask.”

  “Grandpa,” groaned Tiny, shaking his head.

  “What?” he asked with an evil grin. “I even have a wick she can use.”

  “Let’s get rolling!” called my dad from his SUV.

  “You’re riding with us?” asked Paige as the others started getting into their vehicles.

  I shook my head. “It’s too crowded now with Tiny and Henry,” I said. “I’ll just ride with my dad and Sara, again.”

  Shane and Dale each gave me a hug.

  “Remember, you’re always going to be one of my B.F.F’s.” choked Shane, wiping his tears. “Look at me, I’m getting all emotional.”

  I smiled. “I love you too, Shane.”

  He squeezed my arm one more time and then walked over to their SUV.

  “Thanks for being such a great shot,” said Dale. “You saved my life quite a few times. I’ll never forget you, Wild.”

  “I won’t forget you either. Take care of these guys for me.”

  He saluted me and then jogged over to join Shane in the SUV.

  “Well,” said Billie, with a sad smile. “I guess this is it for us. I’m sure going to miss you G.I. Jane.”

  I walked over and gave him a hug. “I am going to miss you too. Now, remember, if things go bad in Florida,” I said, “come to Atlanta. Safety is in numbers.”

  He nodded and then looked over at Bryce who was storming towards us with a scowl. “Looks like you have your hands full with that one.”

  I shrugged. “There’s nothing between us,” I said, “anymore.”

  Billie grinned. “Well, you’d better tell him. From where I’m standing, that boy is hot for you.”

  I snorted. “Right.”

  “Don’t think so? Let’s test this out,” he replied. “Just go with it.” Then he took me into his arm and pressed his lips onto mine.

  “Is he looking,” whispered Billie.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Billie let me go and stared into my eyes. “If there’s one thing I do know about love, it’s that it’s worth fighting for. Don’t let anything stand in your way, including yourself.”

  I nodded and smiled.

  Bryce’s face was scarlet by the time he reached us.

  “So long, Wild,” said Billie as he started backing away from me. “I’ll remember you in my dreams.”

  I laughed as he jumped into his SUV and started it up

  He was driving alone this time, following Shane and Dale.

  “Wow, looks like you’re leaving broken hearts all over the country, Wild,” said Bryce.

  I scowled at him while Shane pulled up next to us. “Whatever. Billie is gay,” I told Bryce. “He was just messing around.”

  Shane, who had his window opened, laughed. “That boy is not gay.”

  I raised my eyebrows “What?”

  Dale, who was in the passenger seat, filing his nails, snorted. “Girl, he’s as gay as Tiny and Henry.”

  “Pity too, he’s gorgeous,” said Shane.

  And with that they took off hooting with laughter at my stunned expression.

  “Wow,” I said. “I guess he never really said one way or the other, I just assumed.”

  “You do that a lot, Wild. Assume.”

  I glared at him. “Looks who’s talking! You assumed there was something going on with me and Austin.”

  He put his hands on his waist and scowled. “I saw the note. Whether it was real or not; how was I supposed to know?”

  “Kids, I’m not sure what’s going on here,” said my dad, pulling up in his SUV. “But we have to go. Bryce, why aren’t you driving the other vehicle?”

  “Tiny has taken over. I wasn’t about to argue with “the Tank”. Can I hitch a ride with you guys?”

  “What about Eva? Isn’t she going to have a fit?” I muttered, getting into the third row of the SUV. Sara and Megan were napping in front of me, and Bobby was riding shotgun again, sipping on grape soda and scoping out zombies to run down.

  Bryce got in on the other side and looked at me. “What does she have to do with anything?” he whispered.

  Before I could respond, my dad spoke up. “Good thing we’re leaving now, look at what’s heading our way.”

  Dozens of the undead were breaking through the cornstalks, making their way towards us.

  “The scent of blood must have driven them here,” said Bryce.

  I touched my head again and winced at the pain.

  “Are you okay?” asked Bryce.

  “I’ve been better,” I replied.

  “We’ll get you something for the pain at the next stop.”

  I didn’t say anything. I just closed my eyes and fell asleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “How is she?”

  My mom turned to m
e and smiled. “She’s doing very well.”

  “Thank God,” I said.

  She pointed to Allie. “Come closer, so she knows you’re here.”

  I walked slowly towards them but noticed that something was very wrong. “What’s going on?” I asked in horror.

  My sister was lying in a pink coffin. She opened her eyes and sat up. “Don’t be scared. I’ve been waiting for you, Cassie.”

  “Give your sister a hug,” urged my mother, pushing me towards her.

  My heart was pounding in my chest, but I wrapped my arms around the sister I loved so dearly, and held her close.

  “It’s good,” whispered my sister. Her breath was cold on my cheek.

  “What’s good?” I whispered back.

  “Blood. It’s so very good.”

  A chill ran up my spine. I tried to step away from her, but her grip was like steel.

  “Please, let me go,” I moaned.

  She pushed me away and began to cry. “You don’t love me.”

  “I…of course I love you Allie.”

  She covered her hands over her face and sobbed. “We’re sisters. We’re supposed to share everything,” she choked.

  “I would give you anything Allie. I love you so much,” I answered, touching her blond hair.

  She removed her hands from her pale tear stained face and gave me a chilling smile. “Don’t worry, it’s very good,” she said, pulling me into her coffin.

  Nodding, I said, “Okay, Allie,”

  I lay down and we wrapped our arms around each other. “Now, we’ll be together forever,” she whispered.

  ~~~

  I opened my eyes and shivered; my dreams were getting so creepy, I preferred being awake and tired.

  “How long of a drive is it to Atlanta?” I asked Bryce, who was staring out the window.

  He sat up straighter. “Over four hours,” he said. “You feel any better?”

  “A little. How long have I been asleep?”

  “Less than an hour,” he replied.

  “What in the hell?” barked my dad from the front.

  Before I could ask what was wrong, he slammed on the brakes and got out of the SUV. Bryce and I quickly followed suit.

  Tiny had gotten out of the van and was shaking his head as he walked towards us.

  “Why’d you stop?” asked my dad.

  “It’s that girl, Eva,” he said. “She started ranting and raving about wanting to see Bryce. She’s driving us all nuts.”

  We all turned to Bryce, who looked dumbfounded. “Hey, don’t look at me. I’m just as surprised as you are.”

  “Can you go calm down your girlfriend?” asked Tiny. “Paige is threatening to hit her with the bat, and I don’t really blame her, man.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend,” muttered Bryce as he stormed over to the van.

  “Do you have room for the little banshee?” asked Tiny.

  I chuckled. I already liked Tiny; he was a great judge of character.

  My dad sighed. “Yeah, I guess. Cassie,” he said turning to me. “If she rides with us, try and keep your cool with her.”

  “I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises.” I said.

  “Good enough,” said my dad.

  I watched as Eva held onto Bryce’s arm for support as they walked towards us. Eva actually looked a little pale.

  “I think her tantrum sucked up the rest of her energy,” mumbled Tiny. “You should’ve heard her.”

  “I feel dizzy,” said Eva as she got closer.

  “We have some crackers and water in the SUV, Eva,” said my dad.

  “Thanks,” she said breathlessly. She turned to Bryce, “Could you help me into the vehicle. I feel a little faint.”

  I followed them back to the truck, biting my tongue the entire way. She looked about as frail as Tiny did, but she held onto Bryce like she’d just been run over by a Mac truck. So, she’d gotten a little zombie blood in her mouth, it was better than getting kidnapped, mauled, and blown on your ass by an exploding bomb. It just didn’t seem quite fair.

  When we were all settled in again, Eva was in the third row with Bryce and I was in the passenger seat next to my dad. Bobby sat behind me with Megan and Sara, playing a card game.

  “Are we all ready, now?” asked my dad.

  “Just go dad,” I said.

  We took off and my dad put on an Eagles CD. I removed my boot and examined my ankle, which was still a little swollen and bruised.

  “This trip is taking forever,” mumbled my dad through clenched teeth. “I just want to get to Atlanta.”

  I glanced over at him, he looked so distraught. “I know dad. Which reminds me, what did mom say when you talked to her at Tiny’s gas station?” I asked.

  He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Actually, I couldn’t get ahold of her.”

  “Did you talk to anyone?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “Nobody answered the phone.”

  “Maybe the battery died,” I said.

  “Maybe,” he said looking at me. “How’s your head doing, honey?”

  “I took some ibuprofen a little while ago. My ankle is the one that’s really giving me problems,” I said raising my foot.

  He cringed. “Too bad there’s no more ice.”

  “I could sit next to Eva; she’s a pretty cold bitch.” I mumbled.

  My dad started laughing and then caught himself. He gave me a stern look. “Cassie,” warned my dad. “Language.”

  I hid my smile. “Right.”

  I closed my eyes and listened to my dad’s array of classic rock CD’s, which eventually, bored me to sleep. I was having a really pleasant dream and was just about to perform a roundhouse kick to Eva’s pointy chin, when I was jerked out of my dream by the screech of tires.

  “Figures,” I mumbled, trying to open my eyes.

  My dad cleared his throat. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. I guess we’re pulling over,” he said.

  It was then that I noticed we were at yet another gas station. I watched as Tiny and Kristie got out.

  My dad and I looked at each other and said, “Cigarettes.”

  Henry also got out of the SUV and started shuffling towards us, followed by Paige.

  “I need to get out and stretch my legs,” I said, opening the door.

  “Can I ride with you guys?” pleaded Paige.

  I smiled. “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Let’s just say mom’s acting like a giggling school girl. If I hear her compliment Tiny on his “massive pecks,” one more time, I’m going to hit myself with the zombie bat.”

  Henry chuckled. “Women can’t resist the men in my family,” he said, taking out his tin of chew. “It’s true; we give off a pheromone that makes them throw themselves at us.”

  “Oh, really?” said Paige, trying not to laugh.

  Henry nodded. “You may not know it by looking at me, but I’m pretty buff underneath this button down shirt.”

  Kristie screamed from somewhere inside of the gas station and we all took off running towards the sound. Well, I limped as quickly as possible. When we got inside my heart stopped, there were five zombies trying to get to Tiny and Kristie, who were behind the register and in the process of putting their shirts on.

  “What the hell, mom?” yelled Paige as she swung her bat, hitting a zombie who looked like one of my old gym teachers, minus the dead stare.

  “It’s not what it looks like,” said Kristie, throwing multiple cartons of cigarettes at the hovering zombies.

  The rest of the zombies started staggering towards us just as my dad burst through the door with his gun. He shot the last four.

  “See,” said Henry, spitting out a big wad of chew. “I told you the women treat us like “Boy Toys” when they smell that pheromone we give off.”

  “I smell a load of shit,” whispered Paige, close to my ear.

  Kristie shook her head. “No, that’s not it at all. When we walked into the store, som
eone had rigged a bucket of vinegar in a pail over the entrance. It splashed down on us when we walked in, burning the hell out of my eyes. We were only changing into these shirts when we noticed the zombies.”

  Both were indeed wearing t-shirts, although Tiny’s looked two sizes too small.

  “I thought it smelled a little fishy in here,” said Henry.

  “Who would do something like that?” asked Paige.

  Before anyone could answer, we heard the sound of a gun being cocked.

  “Get the hell out of my station,” snarled a man stepping slowly from the backroom of the store. “You’re all just a bunch of thieves.”

  My dad raised his hands. “Look, we were just passing through. No harm done, nothing taken.”

  The man was tall and thin, with a shaggy beard. He wore tan overall bibs that were stained with blood.

  “Listen, man,” said Tiny. “We just came in to buy some smokes.”

  The guy burst out laughing and pointed his gun towards Tiny. “I’ll bet you were going to leave the money on the counter too.”

  “Excuse me,” said Paige in such a sweet voice that I had to do a double-take. “We’re supposed to pick-up my aunt, Dolly, at her ranch before nightfall. She’s all alone and I think on the verge of losing her sanity with all the zombies around. Can we just pay you for the items and leave?”

  Instantly the man’s demeanor changed. He lowered his rifle. “Um, did you say Dolly? As in Dolly Parton?”

  “Oh,” said Paige covering her mouth. “I’m not supposed to talk about it. Tiny, over there,” she said pointing to the wrestler. “Is her new bodyguard and he said not to say anything to anyone, on account of its very dangerous bringing such a well knows celebrity back with us.”

  “Holy shit,” said the man, pointing his rifle down. “Tiny the Tank”? I didn’t even recognize you. And Dolly Parton? I’m one of her biggest fans. I have all her albums and have been to Dollywood at least a dozen times.”

  “We can get you her autograph,” said Paige. “My aunt is one of the sweetest ladies you could ever meet.”

  His face lit up and he nodded. “That would be wonderful,” he said. “Listen, you guys just forget about paying for the cigarettes. Get to your aunt and make sure she’s safe.”

  We thanked the station owner and walked out of the place.