Hunter gunned it down the road. He had been driving for at least fifteen minutes. He hoped that Doc would be easy to find, because he was planning on picking him up. The herd vanished quickly in his rear-view mirror at this pace.
When the farmhouse came in view, he felt instant relief. There were not many of them left, and those that were had gone back to slowly pushing on the barn.
Doc poked his head out from the basement as soon as he heard the screeching car. "Get in!" screamed Hunter as the few remaining herd turned towards the car.
The mini mob moved in unison again, this time faster than before. Doc came lumbering out; he looked slow, but he was moving faster than he’d ever done in his life and his face was all red. He was panting and lumbering closer to the car.
"Get your horse butt in here!" screamed Hunter, his frustration elevating. He pulled his gun and fired at the closest one of the herd. It hit him in his knee, and he stumbled, giving Doc his chance.
The car rumbled and shifted at the extra weight of the bigger man as he slipped into the passenger seat. Doc shut the door and Hunter gunned it again. The mob, the big one, was still on the road. It was bigger and closer than Hunter had imagined it could've been. He swallowed hard. "Hang on."
They swerved off the road and bumped and bounced through a field. The car kept screaming, demanding pavement.
Doc said, "Don't ruin my car!" The man sounded exasperated.
"Do you want to live or do you want the paint job?" snapped Hunter as the car bounced again and a large bush tickled the side with its branches.
Doc opened his mouth as if to protest, but then he shut his mouth. He frowned and crossed his arms. "Fine, ruin the paint."
They bounced around the mob, finally pulling themselves back onto the dirt road. Hunter sped up but then slowed down as the mob started to fall behind them a little further.
Doc anxiously gripped hold of the car handle. "They’ll catch us!"
Hunter had to move the herd. "No they won't. Besides, I need to draw them away from town." He needed a plan of what to do with them. "They push down buildings," said Hunter, talking aloud and hoping that he and Doc could come up with a plan. "They bite people, they move together."
Doc raised his eyebrow and glanced over at Hunter. "And they can't see."
“They can’t see?” Hunter asked. He straightened his hat nervously, grateful he hadn’t lost it.
Doc shook his head. "They are basically brain-dead. Their eyes didn't dilate. The humanity, all of their…" He coughed slightly. "All of their autonomic functions, eye dilation, reaction to noise, reaction to pain; those seem gone… It's not normal." He put his fist against his lips and tapped them.
Hunter looked over at Doc. "Let’s not give up on them just yet. What if we get them to fall in a hole?" The car was still bumping down the road, and the herd hadn’t hesitated even a little. It was still following behind the cellar door dragging along behind the car.
Doc was confused with Hunter’s idea. "What hole?" asked Doc.
Hunter couldn’t believe he’d not thought of it sooner. "The irrigation canal is still drained. They haven't filled it up this summer. It's about six feet deep. I think most of them would have a heck of a time getting out. That could contain them until… Until we figure out a better plan. Or a cure." Hunter nodded and adjusted his hat.
Doc’s eyes widened as he tried to figure it out. "But how?" Doc paused, then smiled. "You're going to go to the bridge."
"Yup," said Hunter, accelerating slowly, letting the herd fall behind just a bit.
"But how will…" Doc paused. "How will you make them fall in?" He turned back and looked at the swarm of people. It was steadily growing, people in fields joining on the sides of the herd.
Hunter grinned at Doc. "I don't know yet." He laughed. "Any ideas?"
They could see the bridge coming closer. It was several thick logs laced together. The bridge was old and it had been built before permits were even required for such things. Hunter glanced back at the herd, trying to get some distance so he could slow down at the bridge without them catching up.
Doc raised his finger. "I have an idea!" he said as the bridge came close. "Let’s just get on the other side and make a racket."
Hunter nodded in approval. "I like it," he replied as he straightened his sheriff’s hat. "That's a great idea."
Hunter gunned it a little, pulling away from the herd. He'd have to balance the idea of getting too far away that they couldn't hear him, and then being too close that they made it over the bridge. Then he slowed down to cross the bridge that had no rails.
He rolled the car forward, keeping his eye on the rearview mirror. They were still following, but they looked confused … as if they had lost him a little.
The mob slowed. It was hesitating.
Hunter had driven at least ten car lengths away from them. He was too far away. He turned sharply to the right after crossing the bridge, stopping so he was on the other side of the canal. Hunter slammed on the horn.
The herd turned, suddenly following the sound. They moved together, walking at a quick pace. The swarm was huge now, at least a thousand people. It'd been growing as they had been going down the road, as if somehow the herd was a magnet for more of them. They came walking quickly towards the canal. The first ten people fell in, then the herd slowed.
Two more people fell in the canal and then the herd stopped.
Hunter honked the horn.
The grocery teller that Hunter knew was standing near the front of the mob. He shuffled forward slowly, testing the air with his foot. But as soon as he felt the nothingness, he backed up. The herd stood incredibly still. He could hear their clacking teeth from across the canal.
Hunter honked again, louder, leaning on the horn. It belted into the night, but the herd slowly started to turn around. They were walking to the nearest farmhouse.
Hunter took off his hat and wiped his sweaty brow. "Why didn’t that work?"
Doc shook his head in disbelief. "They are smarter than we thought," he said.
Hunter’s mind instantly went to the school. If these could get smarter… He needed to rescue his kids.
"We need to drive to town and get my kids,” said Hunter.
Doc looked at Hunter with disagreement. "I'm not coming."
Hunter had no intention of giving Doc his car back. "What do you want me to do with you, then?"
Doc waved his hands. “I just meant I’m not coming to school with you. You can drop me off on the way. I'm an old man. If the world is really falling to pieces, I just want to sit home and watch my I Love Lucy reruns until my house collapses. I don't need to save the world, besides…" said Doc with a grin. "I've got all that astronaut ice cream," he said, pulling one out of his jacket pocket.
Hunter burst out laughing. "All right. Let's get you home."
Hunter stared at the herd. They were already pushing together on the farmhouse. The building rocked back and forth and would fall eventually. There were too many of them now for him to stop. He had to protect his family and warn the town.
"Let's go," said Hunter, and he took the squealing car down the road, away from the herd, towards the town.
Hunter flew down the road with Doc in the passenger seat. They hit a pothole and the car shuddered. He was a little bit nervous to keep going at this speed. He could pop a tire. Doc seemed to give up on the idea that his car was going to stay intact much longer. The herd ignored him entirely, pushing on the building.
Hunter kept glancing in the rearview mirror, the car still screaming and squealing down the road.
There weren't many sick following behind; in fact, it seemed like the earlier path down the road had cleared the entire countryside of… people.
Doc leaned forward and fiddled with the radio, begging for a song to break the silence. But it was still static. He looked over at Hunter. “Thanks for coming back for me.” Doc smiled.
Hunter laughed. “No need to thank me, just doing my job,” he said,
tapping his badge.
Doc watched as they passed empty houses. "Do you think there is any help coming from the bigger cities?" he asked.
Hunter remembered the grocery bagger, the guy who was bad with the eggs. Maybe the bigger cities already had it worse. "Yeah, I think the Army will show up … I don't know. But I think we'll be fine," he said, lying to Doc, trying to keep hope alive.
Doc turned his head slowly and stared at Hunter with very curious eyes. "I'm an old man. No reason to lie."
Hunter’s throat was dry. He swallowed slowly, trying to think of something to say. And finally, he went back to one of his favorites. "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
Doc let out a laugh. It was like the punch line didn't even matter anymore. And never really mattered with chicken jokes.
"To see the village idiot," said Hunter with a grin. He glanced over at Doc, who was still chuckling. "Knock … knock."
Doc had a grin on his face. "Who's there?"
"It's the chicken!" said Hunter. This time, he burst out with hard laughter, Doc joining in.
Doc laughed. "I haven't heard that one before." He composed himself. “That’s my house just here.”
Hunter hit the brakes, then popped the car into park. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"
Doc shook his head. "No, I want to stay here.” He smiled.
“Take the box of food,” Hunter said, pointing at the box of dried meals.
Doc hesitated for a moment, but then grabbed the box. “Thanks.” Doc rested his hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “I’d invite you in, but I know you’ve already got plans for the rest of the day.”
Hunter smiled at Doc. He was right; Hunter had plans. He was going to rescue his family. Hunter winked at Doc. “Enjoy I love Lucy.”
Doc smiled and headed into his house. Hunter hoped that the mob wouldn’t crush Doc’s home.
Hunter looked on the horizon. He’d have to go past his church, through the town, and to the school on the other side. He’d be there in no time at all.
Unless there was a herd waiting for him.
About Mixi
Hello Gorgeous,
It’s Mixi. Me and Hayley have been working on this zombie series for a while, and I do hope you enjoy our efforts!
Leave us a review, we always work on the next book in the series with the most reviews :)
Love,
Mixi
www.mixijapplebottom.com
[email protected]
About Hayley
Join my mailing list!
Also by Mixi J Applebottom
Deadlocked Dollhouse
Padlocked Penthouse
Sunblocked Summerhouse
Firelocked Funhouse
Picklocked Powerhouse
Landlocked Lighthouse
Batlocked Bunkhouse
Gridlocked Guesthouse
Jaspierre
Jaspierre’s Descent
Jaspierre’s Last Chance
Run, Girl
Zapacolypse
Zapacolypse Page 6