by Garth Ono
Kate moved closer and closer to the house, running from cover to cover. Soon she slipped under the house and approached the door to the enclosed stairwell. The door was locked, which surprised her. You'd think they'd be more confident within their own safe haven.
After checking to ensure safeties were off on both the sawed off shotgun and pistol, Kate moved to the back stairs up to the deck. Her heart began to race. She felt like a wound up spring eager for release. Knowing she might not leave there alive chilled her to the bone, but she had to save her friend. They could not have Daphne.
She looked up the stairs, paused to listen, and then took that first step. Two shadowy shapes separated from the night shadows to either side of her. Kate swung the shotgun around, but the man grabbed the double-barrels and forced them straight up as she pulled the trigger. And the other man pressed a pistol to the back of her head.
"Gotcha," Brody said.
Chapter 30
"We got her, boss!" Brody called.
Max smiled as he caught Daphne's eyes. The Goth chick's eyes were huge. She understood her usefulness just ended. He turned away to face the open door as footsteps approached on the deck.
Kate entered with her hands up and Brody holding onto her collar from behind. He had her own sawed off double-barrel pressed between her shoulder blades, and right over her heart. Oddly enough, she looked more annoyed than frightened. That would change shortly.
"You look good in black," Max said. "But with that body, I would've chosen black leather."
She graced him with a disgusted look. He was disappointed when she kept her mouth shut. Kate made up for it when she shared a long, soulful gaze with Daphne. That's when he decided to kill the Goth girl first and make Kate watch. That would break her heart.
"You didn't stand a chance," he said, and indicated a TV up on the wall.
"Security cameras?" she asked.
"And motion detectors," Brody replied.
"Yes. We have an extensive security system out of necessity, including a CCTV system with cameras everywhere," Max said. "Brody spotted your approach on the river with an infrared scope. Then we watched your progress on TV after that."
"You were quite entertaining," Brody said. "You thought you were Rambo, but we knew you were PeeWee Herman."
"Your pea brain couldn't come up with two women in cinema?" she replied.
"There are women in the movies?" he asked. "Who'd have thunk it."
Kate didn't look amused in the least. Max watched her carefully. Her eyes were constantly moving, checking out every nook and cranny. Looking for anything she could use as a weapon? She took note when her weapons were placed on the dining room table, including the sawed off shotgun.
"Tempting, aren't they?" Max taunted.
Brody, Carl, and Nolan all held her at gunpoint. She'd be dead before she took her second step toward freedom. Apparently, Kate wasn't ready to die. He found the fact she still thought she had a chance amusing. Max never did understand optimists.
"So tell us, Lady Brokenshire," Nolan asked with an atrocious English accent. "How stupid do you feel right now? Bloody stupid?"
She didn't acknowledge him at all. Kate looked at Max.
"You have me. Let Daphne go," she said. "It's not like you have to worry about her knowing your identities. Everyone across the river knows who you are. She's just an innocent bystander."
"Innocent bystanders make good zombies, too," Max said. "At least a quarter of the rotters in that barn you checked out were alive when we caught them. One bullet each turned them undead so we can sell them."
That shocked her. The look on her face made him all warm and fuzzy inside. He shrugged with a smirk to rub it in even more.
"The Zombie Lands are filled with wild, dangerous things, girlie. Zombies, vampires, head hunters, and smugglers are just a few of them," he said. Max moved up close, seized her jaw in a crushing grip, and leaned in close. "Sometimes the living are the biggest monsters."
That got him the look of horror and terror he wanted.
"You are monsters. Horrible, vile monsters," she said. Kate shook off his hand. "Those innocent people you murder to turn into zombies are sons and daughters, maybe even mothers and fathers."
"Not my problem," Max said. "They're a thousand dollars a head on the black market to me."
"And that's all you're worth, girlie," Brody said. "For just $1000 you will be sold to someone and be his undead slave. You will become a monster, killing and terrorizing innocent people for your master. I really hope you keep some memory of who you were and who turned you into a zombie."
She glared into Brody's eyes. Her eyes moved to his weapon, before cutting toward her weapons piled on the table across the room. Max watched her intently. He saw fear and dread flicker across her lovely face, but just for a second. Kate was trying hard to maintain her badass outward demeanor. Max knew it was all for show.
"Take them outside," Max commanded. "I don't want their blood all over everything in here." He caught Kate's eyes. "We were one body short for our last shipment, so had to off the maid. Nothing personal. Just business."
He laughed when she gave him the reaction he wanted. Her carefully constructed façade was crumbling fast. Max expected her to be a blubbery idiot before they were through with the two women.
Carl untied Daphne. She ran to Kate and they embraced. It took two men to pry them apart. Then Carl grabbed a fistful of Daphne's hair and forced her toward the door. Brody grabbed Kate's collar again, pistol pressed into her back, and made her follow. Nolan and Max followed.
"You two are in luck," Max said as they descended the stairs. "We were going to carve your faces into red ruin before killing you, but our customer called to complain about another we tortured like that. They want intact zombies."
"We can still do it, and then release them into the wild to roam the Zombie Lands," Nolan said. "What's a couple thousand dollars?"
"I'm game, as long as the money lost comes out of your cut," Max said.
Their casual banter about mutilating them had the desired effect on Daphne, but Kate was back to acting like she's a badass again. She was starting to become irritating.
"Take them over to the north chute," he said.
Kate perked up and looked their setup over with some interest. The other girl was an emotional mess and probably starting to go into shock already. At least the slayer was still coherent.
"This is how we do it," Max said. "We just sit here and wait for the zombies to come to us. It's easy enough to guide them through the gate and into the chute."
There was a gate in the fence that opened by lifting up. It opened into a ten foot long, narrow pathway with fencing arching over it. The zombie was lured down the chute to the pen, where another gate was lifted and he was let inside. All they needed was a live body walking outside the fencing. Zombies always went mindlessly for the living.
"It's almost too easy to catch them," Max said. He pointed to a gate at the halfway point in the chute. "After we tie your hands behind your backs, we'll kill you in front of that gate. Nolan will go around to the other side, so when you resurrect and lift your head, you'll see him and attack. Once you pass through the gate, we'll guide you to the pen. And you'll be ready to load up for shipment."
He wasn't sure how other smugglers did it, but Max was rather proud of their operation. There was more money in smuggling guns and drugs, but also you were more likely to be murdered by the men you dealt with. The zombie black market was easy money, and prices were steadily going up.
Kate and Daphne were forced to kneel in front of the gate. Nolan hurried around to the other side. Max opened the gate, before moving around behind them. Brody moved over behind Daphne. Max wanted to kill Kate himself.
"Your zombie slaying days are over. Good-bye, Kate."
Chapter 31
"I don't want to die!" Daphne cried.
"Say good-bye to your best friend, Kate," Brody sneered.
Kate's heart hammered, thundered
in her chest. A million things went through her head, and then she saw Daphne turn and throw an arm up. She blocked Brody's weapon to the side.
He fired, but missed. Daphne was on her feet in a flash. Brody shouted, and Max lunged at her. Daphne stumbled back a step, a look of shock and fear on her face. And then Brody shot again.
Blood erupted between her breasts. Daphne's arms flew wide as her eyes rolled up. She came off the ground and fell flat. Her back bowed up for a second, and then she went completely limp as her last breath rattled out.
"Daphne!" Kate screamed in horror.
She jumped to her feet as Max and Brody turned on her. Kate lashed out with a kick to Max's hand, sending his pistol flying away. She only knew how to fight zombies, so Kate did what she would do against a pair of rotters and ran between them.
Brody fired at her, but almost hit Max instead. Max shouted angrily. And then she noticed Daphne starting to stir. Carl called out a warning.
"Dude, you shot the girl facing the wrong direction," Carl said. "She's going to attack us."
"Take care of it," Max said, glaring at Kate. "She's not any stronger dead than she was alive."
"Even you can handle that, Carl," Brody said, smirking.
Kate backed toward the chute, looking all around for anything to use as a weapon. Nolan was behind her, and she had to assume he was armed. Still, she didn't think Max would allow anyone to kill her. He wanted that privilege too much. Max retrieved his lost pistol, and then he and Brody moved toward her.
Carl ran over and yanked Daphne to her feet. She looked a little discombobulated. Kate watched her look down at her chest, touch the bloody wound, and then look at her. They shared a long, intense gaze. Daphne smiled sadly, nodded, and turned quickly on Carl.
Kate's breath caught when her friend's mouth opened to reveal two long fangs. She grabbed Carl's hair and yanked his head to one side. He must've seen the fangs, because he cried out in fear as she rose up and sank her fangs in deep.
"What the hell, Carl, can't you even…" Brody taunted as he turned to look. "She's a vampire!"
Max and Brody turned and opened fire on Daphne. She was knocked to her back. Kate attacked them. Nolan called out a warning, but it was too late. Kate dove and plowed through the back of their legs. Both men went down.
"Kill Brody and Max!" Daphne commanded.
Kate rolled to her feet, grabbed hold of Max's pistol, and savagely twisted it out of his hand. Then she darted to the side as Brody started shooting. She slid to the ground feet first, like she was trying to take second base, and landed flat on her back. Nolan started shooting at her even as Max and Brody rose to their feet.
"What the hell, Carl?" Max said when their friend and cohort in crime attacked them.
Daphne attacked at the same time. Both men were obviously more afraid of the vampire, but Carl was keeping them tied up. So Kate turned her weapon on Nolan. He was standing upright and taking careful aim at her.
Kate shot him in the chest.
When she turned back to the fray before her, Kate saw Daphne sink her fangs into Brody's arm. He froze, eyes huge, and started shaking. That surprised her, since Kate thought the same as everyone else. A vampire had to bite you in the neck to claim you as a minion.
"I got that one wrong," she whispered. She took careful aim at Max's center of mass. "I'm going to kill you, Max!"
He turned to her, eyes wild, and she pulled the trigger. Max tensed, hands to chest, and stared at her a long second. Kate shot him in the head. And the zombie smuggler fell straight back, dead before he hit the ground.
"Go get Nolan and bring him to me," Daphne commanded.
Brody and Carl obeyed without hesitation. They walked past Kate without giving her a second look. They were minions. Daphne's minions. Then Max sat up, eyes filled with demonic rage. He looked at Kate and a snarl spread across his face. Daphne stepped up behind him, leaned over, and sank her fangs into his shoulder. Max actually gasped.
"Funny thing," Daphne said. "Blood tastes amazing. The living guys' blood tastes much better than the dead guys."
"I'm so sorry, Daphne," Kate said, tears rolling down her face. A profound sense of loss consumed her. "I'm so sorry."
Daphne rushed over, dropped to her knees, and they embraced tightly. The vampire kissed her cheek and stroked her hair while Kate cried.
"It's okay," Daphne whispered softly. "It's not your fault. I was acting out, being crazy and dangerous. If I'd minded my own business, left Mike and Carl alone, none of this would've happened. It's my fault, not yours. Besides, I think I kind of wanted this. Ever since Alex bit me I've been pulled toward the darkness."
Not exactly what Kate wanted to hear.
Nolan was dragged up, kicking and fighting every step of the way. The two minions looked grim as they forced the newly made zombie to kneel beside Daphne. She smiled at Nolan, stroked his cheek, and then bit his forearm. Nolan looked surprised for a second, and then relaxed. The crazy, rage-filled look never left his eyes, but he stopped fighting. Kate noticed Max was still sitting.
"Weird, I know," Daphne said. "They are completely under my power. It's kind of a heady feeling."
"What are you going to do? Stay here?" Kate asked.
"Can't go home," she said. Daphne looked around. "Not a bad place. Maybe. I have to see what my options are."
She stood up. "You have to leave right now. I love you with all my heart, but it takes everything in me to keep my fangs out of you. Get your stuff and get out."
Kate tried to reason with her, but Daphne wasn't hearing it. The vampire sent Brody to fetch Kate's weapons. She began walking Kate down to Johnny's boat. Daphne finally seemed at peace.
"I'll miss you," Kate said, giving her another hug and kiss. "And I'll never forget you."
Brody arrived and just tossed her weapons into the boat. Apparently becoming a minion didn't change how he felt about Kate. Brody and Carl pushed it back into the river. She climbed into the boat.
"What should I tell your father?"
The vampire thought for a moment. "Tell him I'm happy. Content. The Zombie Lands are my new home and it feels right." She waved and turned away, heading back toward the house. "Good-bye, Kate."
Chapter 32
Twilight. Downtown Tennyson. There were only a few cars parked on Main Street, and mostly in front of the diner. The windows above the diner glowed a warm yellowish-orange. Kate parked her Land Rover and got out.
"Some things never change," she said, a feeling of contentment filling her for the moment.
It had been a rough week since Daphne's death and transformation into a vampire. Her father took the news understandably badly, though Kate sensed he found some consolation knowing she wasn't completely gone. Though undead, he'd been able to speak to her on the phone. Daphne was adamant about keeping all of her family and friends well away. She was still struggling with her new vampire needs and urges.
Kate walked around to the passenger side and took out a plastic, throwaway plate stacked high with fresh brownies. She was known for her brownies. Everyone in town loved them.
Entering the diner, she nodded at her friends. Morgan, Teri, and Randy were waiting for her. Surprisingly, even Jason was sitting at the table. Then Mr. Chambers came out of the kitchen with a stern look on his face.
Kate lifted up the plate of brownies with a hopeful smile.
"Friends?"
Morgan had told her he didn't want Kate in his diner anymore. Her friend said the diner's owner/cook thought she was a trouble magnet. Kate wasn't sure he was wrong. The last month hadn't been her best.
He sighed and nodded. "I never could say no to you."
"Actually, you did," she teased. "That time I asked for a raise."
Everyone laughed. He accepted the brownies, let everyone have just one each, and then hurried to the back with the rest of the plate.
"You should give me and Sally brownies, too," Amy said. The forty-something waitress frowned at Kate. "You quit, and now you've take
n Morgan away. We have to work seven days a week until he hires weekend waitresses again."
Kate shared an excited look with Morgan. The blonde was going to move in with her to help with the rent, and become Kate's office manager. Morgan had no desire to slay zombies, but she'd hold down the fort, take the Got Zombies calls, and dispatch Kate to jobs.
But Morgan was still the weekend waitress for the next month.
"You're right. I owe you," Kate said. She hugged Amy. "I'll bake fresh brownies tomorrow and bring them over."
"I want more!" Mr. Chambers called from the back, making everyone laugh again.
"Never underestimate the power of homemade brownies," Jason said.
Kate grinned at him. "If you finish my place early, maybe you will receive a plate of brownies, as well."
She was actually there for a walk through to see the progress. Kate was putting a fire under him, because Mr. Rose wanted her out as soon as possible. Thankfully, after some doe-eyed begging, he agreed she could stay until Jason finished building her new place over the diner. Last word she had was it would take another month.
"The issues with the last inspection have been resolved, and we have the green light to finish," Jason said. He licked the crumbs off his fingers. "I'll do my best, because… Mmm, brownies."
Kate was eager to see their progress, so they all filed out of the diner, and entered the next door over. There was a small foyer and stairs. It was rather Spartan, but Kate had ideas for paint and other decorations. She climbed the stairs to find all of the walls sheetrocked.
"You have made progress."
Jason guided her to the office. It was more spacious than she'd imagined. There was more than enough room for two desks and filing cabinets. Kate wasn't sure if she needed filing cabinets, but she wanted them anyway. There was a window with a nice view of Main Street. Thoughts of how to arrange the furniture and decorate filled her head.
"We haven't framed out the door into the apartment," Jason said. "I wasn't sure if you wanted that door or not."