“Well, I’d hope so,” I said, wondering how he knew they were both dead. Of course, with the current zombie apocalypse going down, it was an easy assumption.
He studied me intently and then said, “Something tells me that we’re going to meet again.”
For some reason, I knew he was right and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. “Oh?”
“Yes. Definitely. Now, don’t lose that courage,” he said, turning away. “If you want to survive for a time in this war. I’m sure they’re going to need all the help they can get.”
I was confused. “War?”
He motioned towards Dwayne who nodded and then glanced back at me one last time. “You do amuse me, child. You really do. You and your antics. Unfortunately, sides have been chosen and yours is,” he wrinkled his nose. “nauseatingly obvious. So, without further adieu, I’m going to leave all of you with a parting gift, or rather, a message…for him.”
“For me?” asked Henry.
Travis smiled darkly. “Oh, Henry. It’s not always about you. Although I do appreciate your vanity, yes I do. No, this message is for he who creates such false hopes amongst his children. The one who thinks he can still destroy my master. He has no clue, however. No clue as to the powers that Apollyon possesses.”
“Apolly-who? What in the hell are you talking about, psychopath?” snapped Nora.
Instead of getting angry, he laughed. “Exactly. We are living in pure hell right now, aren’t we? You’d better all get used to it, because it’s only going to get worse.”
Before any of us could respond, he raised his hand and a ball of fire appeared.
“Lord, God, Almighty, help us,” said Sister Theresa, clutching her cross. “And have mercy on this man’s soul.”
“His mercy isn’t welcome, here,” smirked Travis, his eyes now glowing the same color as the flames.
Her eyes widened and she held out her cross. “Be gone, Demon!”
We all watched in shock as he raised his other hand and began spinning the fire until it was the size of a large beach ball. Then he turned towards the church and cast it into the air.
“No!” I screamed, as the fireball hit the church.
He looked back at us and his smile chilled me to the bone. “Well, good luck with all of that.” Then he left, his laughter echoing through the darkness.
Chapter Ten
After leaving the disturbing scene at the lake, they quickly found the street leading to Cassie and Allie’s grandparent’s home.
“There’s the house,” said Kristie, pointing to a small cedar home nestled halfway up the block.
“Looks pretty quiet around here,” murmured Tiny. “I don’t know if that’s a good sign or a really bad one.”
“Not a lot of zombies lurking around is definitely good for us,” said Bryce, getting out of the SUV.
The rest of them got out of the vehicle and splashed through the new puddles until they reached the front porch.
“Should we knock?” asked Tiny cupping his hands around his eyes as he tried looking through a large bay window.
“Why not? It’ll draw the attention of any zombies in the house and we’ll know what we’re dealing with,” said Kristie, rapping on the door.
“Ring the doorbell too, in case someone is in the back of the house,” said Bryce.
After ringing and knocking several times, they walked around the back to the three-season porch. Fortunately the backdoor wasn’t locked.
“Let’s just go inside,” said Kristie, pushing the door open. When they entered the living room, she sighed. “Hate to say this, but something tells me we’re all alone in here.”
“Keep going,” said Paige. “Maybe they’re downstairs or in one of the other rooms.”
“Maybe.”
They walked towards the back of the house until they reached the kitchen.
“Check this out,” said Bryce, picking up a piece of paper. “They left a note.”
To our loved ones,
If you’re reading this then our prayers have been answered, and you’re alive! As you can see, we are not at the house but have taken refuge with Ted and Linda on their yacht (Her Escape) on the Saint Croix River. We have stock-piled some supplies and have anchored near the Stillwater Bridge, so if you can join us, please do, because we miss and love you so very much!
Hugs and Kisses,
Us
Bryce sighed. “Great. Well, I guess we have some more driving to do.”
“Hmm… It’s going to be dark soon and I think we should wait around here a little longer,” said Kristie. “In case Kylie and Allie show up.”
“Or, Bryce and I could drive to Stillwater right now and look for the yacht, while the rest of you hold tight here,” said Billie.
Tiny shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to split up. What if something bad happens or if one of you get hurt? Then you guys would be missing, too.”
“If we sit around here, we’re wasting more time,” said Bryce. “Billie and I should leave right now, in case Cassie and Nora have already headed out to Stillwater and need help. We wait too long, and we may miss them totally.”
“He’s right,” said Kristie. “Knowing Cassie, once she knows her grandparents are safe, she’ll head back to Atlanta. You forget, she doesn’t even know about the girls missing.”
“Maybe they’ve already reunited,” said Tiny.
“No,” replied Bryce. “I doubt the kids made it to Minnesota before we did.”
“You’ve convinced me,” said Tiny, throwing the keys to Bryce. “Leave us some food and water before you take off, though.”
“Sure,” said Bryce.
“I’m coming with you guys,” said Paige.
“Absolutely not, young lady,” said Kristie.
She rolled her eyes. “For God’s sake, mom! I’m not sitting here, watching you two play kissy-face while these guys go off to find Cassie. Besides, like I said earlier, I’m an adult now and should have the right to make my own decisions.”
“You’re still my kid. Look, it’s too dangerous out there. You’re staying here with us and that’s final,” said Kristie.
Paige’s face fell. “You never let me do anything. I mean, come on, haven’t I proved that I can protect myself against the zombies?”
“Listen, it’s not just the zombies that I’m worried about, Paige. Look at what happened to you and Cassie in Atlanta. There are some dangerous people out there and I’m not taking any chances of you getting hurt. I mean, hell, we don’t even know where your sister is! I’m not about to lose you out there, too. So just chill out here with us and stop trying to take on everything.”
Paige stared at her for a minute and then nodded. “Fine.”
Kristie walked over and pulled her into her arms. “Thank you. Now, why don’t you help Tiny gather some food from the SUV before these two take off. Then, if I were you, I’d try and get some rest. I can’t even remember the last time you slept.”
“Okay. I am kind of tired.”
“I bet. I’m going to see if there are any candles around,” said Kristie, opening drawers in the kitchen. “It’s going to be dark soon and we’ll be walking into walls.”
Tiny handed her a flashlight. “Take this and check the laundry room, too,” said Tiny. “That’s where I usually kept my candles.”
Paige followed the guys back out to the SUV where they grabbed a jug of water, some beef jerky, and a bag of popcorn.
“At least the rain stopped,” said Bryce, staring up into the sky.
“For now,” said Paige.
“So, we should be back in a couple of hours,” said Billie, getting into passenger side of the SUV. “I would think all of that food would tide you guys over until then.”
“I’d use the bathroom here, if I were you, two,” said Paige, leaning into the window. “Stillwater is almost an hour away.”
Billie sighed and then got back out of the SUV. “Probably a good idea.”
“She’
s right,” said Bryce. He smiled. “For once.”
“You’re a barrel of laughs, Mr. Miyagi,” she said, with a smirk.
“Didn’t your mother tell you to go take a nap or something?”
“Yes she did and for once, I’m not going to argue.”
“Amazing,” he said, getting back out of the SUV.
When they walked back into the house, Paige told Kristie that she was going to lie down in one of the bedrooms.
“Okay, honey. I’ll wake you up if I hear anything.”
She kissed her mom on the cheek. “Love you, mom.”
Kristie smiled. “I love you too, Paige.”
Fifty minutes later, as Bryce maneuvered the SUV around a group of zombies in downtown Stillwater, Kristie brought a candle into the bedroom Paige had disappeared into, only to find it empty.
“Paige?” she hollered, checking the other rooms in the house. “Paige!”
“What’s wrong?” asked Tiny, chewing on a piece of dried beef.
She rubbed her forehead in frustration. “I think that Paige took off with the boys.”
“Oh.”
She sat down on one of the recliners and sighed. “I should have known something was wrong when she gave up so easily, earlier. When I told her she couldn’t go with them to Stillwater. She’s usually not so compliant. I should have known she was up to something.”
Tiny rubbed her back. “Don’t worry about Paige, hon. I’m sure the boys will take good care of her.”
She looked up at him. “They’d better because when she gets back, I swear, I’m going to tear into her harder than any freaken’ zombie, dammit.”
***
“Is that the boat?” asked Billie, thirty minutes later.
They’d parked on the Stillwater Bridge overlooking the river and there was an older model, fifty-seven-foot Jefferson anchored in the water.
Bryce lowered the binoculars. “Yep, that’s the one. Her Escape.”
“You see anyone?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s too dark. They could all be sleeping. It’s after ten.”
“Let’s hope that’s all it is.”
“You should park at the marina over there,” said Paige, over Billie’s shoulder.
“Jesus!” he gasped, turning around.
“Paige!” barked Bryce. “You scared the hell out of us. What are you doing here?”
She smiled. “I’m here to help. Chill out.”
“Did you tell your mom that you were coming?” asked Bryce.
She snorted. “Hell no.”
“When did you sneak into the SUV?” asked Bryce.
“When you guys were relieving yourselves in the house.”
“Figures.”
“Kristie must be worried sick,” said Billie. “You shouldn’t have done this.”
“Look, there was no way I was going to stay behind picking my butt while you guys took off to go where the action is. No way.”
“Is that what girls do when they’re bored?” laughed Billie. “Pick their butts?”
She pushed his shoulder. “Oh, shut up you nerd.”
“Paige, this is dangerous,” said Bryce, motioning to a pack of zombies already moving towards them from across the bridge. “It’s not an adventure or a game. Its real life and death situations. Now, not only do we have to worry about finding the others, but we have to worry about you.”
Her eyes flashed angrily. “Why does everyone assume that I can’t take care of myself?”
“I’m sure you can, to a point. But when you’re surrounded by zombies and neither of us can get to you, what are you going to do? Swing the bat and hope for the best? I don’t want to sound sexist, but you’re a girl and not even a very big one,” said Bryce.
“I’m five-ten, so I’m not that small and definitely not stupid. For God’s sake, I’m not just going to put myself in a dangerous situation.”
Bryce threw up his hands. “What do you think you’re doing now?!”
“Calm down,” said Billie. “What’s done is done and we have to move forward. Let’s find a place to park at that marina. Paige can wait in the SUV while we walk to the river’s edge and try to get their attention.”
“I’m not waiting in the SUV,” said Paige. “I’m coming with you guys.”
“Oh no,” said Bryce.
“I have to agree with Bryce. That’s where we draw the line.”
Paige sighed. “Fine.”
“We’re serious, Paige. Stay in the vehicle,” warned Bryce.
“Heard you the first time,” she yawned.
“Good,” he replied, turning on the engine. “Because I’m not going to save your ass if you disobey. Seriously. I don’t care if Kristie kills me because of it. I have too many other people to worry about these days.”
“I get it.”
Knowing how unruly Paige’s best friend was, Bryce wasn’t so sure.
Chapter Eleven
“Shit,” said Justice, tapping on the gas gauge, thirty minutes out of Rockford. “I think we’re running out of gas, already.”
Allie leaned over and looked at the gauge. “Why does it say that it’s half-full, then?”
“Must be broken.”
“Are we going to make it to the next town?” asked Kylie, staring into darkness, which held nothing but fields, trees, and the walking dead.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I think we’re screwed.”
“How far is it to the next town?” asked Allie.
“Janesville is another thirty miles, but we should be able to find an abandoned vehicle along the way. A farmstead or something,” he replied.
“We have to walk?” squeaked Kylie, in horror. “In the darkness, all alone?”
He shrugged. “Well, you can wait in the truck until I come back with something more suitable.”
“Oh no,” she said. “Been there, done that. We’re coming with you.”
Within minutes the truck began to coast on the fumes alone. When it finally stalled, they got out of the truck and started walking.
“Pace yourself,” he said, staring forward into the darkness. “We probably have a very long walk a head of us.”
“It’s so dark,” said Kyle, biting her lower lip. “And there are so… many trees. Anything could be lurking in there, waiting for the right time to attack us.”
“True, so keep your eyes open,” he replied, “and your voices down.”
“At least it’s not raining anymore,” whispered Allie.
“True, but it left us with the smell of dead fish,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Hell, the smells on this planet just keep getting better and better every day.”
“And copper,” said Kylie. “It smells like copper, too.”
Justice sighed. “You’re not going to start with that bloody water thing again, are you?”
“Why can’t you open your mind along with your eyes?” she said. “This is only the beginning of what’s going to happen. A beginning to an end.”
“Dun, dun, dun…” chuckled Justice.
“You really think this is the end of the world?” whispered Allie, a knot forming in her stomach. She was exhausted and Kylie’s fanatical predictions were starting to really get to her.
Kylie’s eyes glittered in the darkness. “Well, I believe that it’s the end of something and that the zombies are just the prequel. Soon we’re going to be in the middle of something so profound, that it’s going to change the rest of humanity, forever. For some, it’s going to be exhilarating and beautiful, for others, it’s going to be devastating.”
Allie stopped in her tracks. “Okay, you’re beginning to really freak me out. I’ve never heard you talk like that. You sound so…prophetic. Is that even a word?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“So, this is all of the stuff you watched on the History channel?” asked Justice.
“Um, well… a little. But, I know you’re both going to think I’m crazy…”
“What?” asked Allie.
“I’ve been having these dreams,” she said. “Crazy wild dreams, about war and death.”
“War and death?” frowned Allie. “Seriously? That sounds so morbid.”
She nodded. “I know, right? I’ve had several these last couple of weeks. I’ve dreamt about, now don’t laugh, but angels fighting demons. Demons that are being led by Satan.”
Justice’s eyebrows shot up. “Satan? Oh boy. Look, I’m going to be honest with you- I’m an atheist. A firm atheist. So, obviously, I’m going to tell you that your mind is playing tricks on you. That there is no such thing as the Devil, demons, or even God.”
“Seriously?” asked Allie, turning to him. “You really believe that?”
“Of course. If there was a God, why would he have allowed so many people to die? Innocent people. And don’t tell me that only the really wicked ones were killed, because my little sister was as sweet and virtuous as they come,” he said, his eyes moistening up. “She didn’t deserve to die the way she did, with her throat and insides ripped out.”
“I’m sorry,” said Kylie, touching his arm. “You know that we’ve all lost people we loved. But you have to believe that it was part of a plan. One bigger than all of us.”
“No,” he said, his voice thick. “I’m sorry, I can’t. We’re all alone… and when we die, we die. Everything about us dies and those are the facts.”
Kylie frowned. “But-.”
“No more talk, please,” he said, moving ahead of them. He looked back. “Just, please, respect my beliefs by keeping yours to yourself.”
Allie and Kylie stared at each other silently and then began walking again.
“I’m not saying that I don’t believe you had those dreams,” whispered Allie. “But you have to admit, all this talk about the end of the world and a fight between good and evil, it’s just too much.”
She nodded. “I know, but Allie, I swear to you, these dreams are so vivid, so real. I’m not psychic, but I believe that someone is sending me a real message. One that’s very relevant to what’s been happening.”
Zombie Games (Book 4): Road Kill Page 8