Zombie Games (Uncut) Boxed Set Read online

  Eva touched Bryce’s arm. “I should come, too. My mom’s at the hospital and I’m not spending another night in a daycare.”

  I gave her a scathing look. “It beats being alone on the streets where we found you.”

  Eva had the decency to look embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just worried about my mom. I’m coming, if that’s okay?”

  “Just stay out of trouble,” I muttered.

  “Is it okay if I leave Chi Chi here, for now? She seems so happy with Goldie and I can pick her up when it’s not so dangerous out there.”

  “Yeah, she can stay,” I said.

  Kristie tapped her nails on the counter. “It’s settled then. As soon Sara wakes up, we’ll leave.”

  I nodded. “Okay. Let’s go look through my dad’s guns and ammunition. Kristie, can you shoot a gun?”

  She sighed. “Well, let me tell you; I can pull a trigger, I just don’t know if I can hit anything with the bullet.”

  I bit the side of my lip. “Okay. How about you wait until a zombie gets close enough for you to hit it, but not close enough for it to bite you. Aim right between the eyes and pull the trigger,” I replied.

  Bryce rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Maybe we should just let her use the bat.”

  “What about me?” pouted Eva as she traced circles on Bryce’s bicep using a perfectly non-chipped fingertip. “What should I do?”

  “Just stay out of the way so you don’t get hurt,” I snapped. I really wanted to hurt her myself right now. It irritated me how Bryce just let her touch him so casually. He was so clueless.

  Eva scowled at me then looked at Bryce. “Fine, I’ll just stay close to Bryce. I don’t think I’ve ever been in such capable hands.”

  He shrugged. “Considering what we’re up against, I think it’s wise if we all stay close together and be prepared for anything. Every one of us should have some kind of weapon, too, whether it’s a bat, a shovel, or a gun. Which reminds me. Cassie, let’s go look at your dad’s stash and figure out which ones to bring with.”

  “Eva, why don’t you get dressed,” said Kristie, putting an arm around her and guiding her out of the kitchen. “I don’t think your little nightie is appropriate for where we’re going.”

  Eva was still wearing her slinky baby-doll nightgown that barely covered her rear. She smiled coyly at Bryce and licked her lips. “Sorry, I didn’t have anything else to wear. I wasn’t planning on doing a slumber party when I packed it. I’ll change it so I’m not a distraction.”

  For the love of God, I thought. Why did we have to save her irritating life?

  Bryce looked amused but didn’t say anything as he followed me downstairs to my dad’s gun safe; he almost fell over when he saw all the guns.

  “Wow. Lucky for us your dad loves firepower,” he said.

  “Yes, he’s obsessed with guns,” I replied, pulling out a semi-automatic rifle. I’d never fired the gun but it seemed pretty impressive.

  “Have you tried all of these?” Bryce asked, picking up different guns.

  “Almost; not this one, though,” I said, opening the chamber. “My dad and I go to the shooting range every weekend so I’ve had a chance to try many of them.”

  He took the rifle from me and examined it. “I’ve been around guns all my life, my dad was a cop. Wow, this is an SKS. It’s good for long-range shooting. It will definitely come in handy. Let’s bring it with.”

  “So, where’s your dad now?” I asked.

  Bryce sighed. “He died about five years ago, trying to stop some asshole from butchering his wife.”

  I felt terrible for bringing his dad up. “Wow, I’m sorry. That must have been horrible.”

  He nodded. “It was. Good news is that the wife survived a gunshot wound to her chest. It barely missed her heart. They both had little kids at the time.”

  “What happened to your dad and the shooter?”

  He looked me in the eyes. “My dad made a bad decision that cost him his life. He thought he could stop the husband from killing his wife all by himself. The negotiator had pissed the shooter off and would no longer answer any phone calls. So my dad snuck into the backyard to try and get in. What he didn’t realize was that the man had hidden surveillance cameras and he was shot before he even made it through the window.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I replied softly.

  He smiled sadly. “It’s okay. It’s been awhile and I’ve learned to accept it.”

  “What happened to the husband?”

  “Well, he thought he’d killed his wife and blew his own brains out.”

  I shuddered. “How… tragic.”

  “Yeah it was pretty tough to handle back then, especially for a fifteen-year-old kid. That’s about the time I really got into martial arts to help me focus on something other than my old man’s death.”

  “And now you also have a passion for guns like he did?” I asked.

  “They’re impressive, what can I say? I still have my dad’s collection, but nothing compared to this assortment. But I still go to the firing range a couple times a month, have friends in the military who keep me up-to-date on the latest gadgets, and I have a magazine subscription to Gun Digest.”

  I laughed. “So you’re an expert on both firearms and the martial arts. Kind of a deadly weapon yourself, aren’t you?”

  Bryce smiled wickedly. “I’m an expert on other things as well. Let’s just say I’m not just a fighter, Ms. Wild.”

  “Okay, lover boy,” said Kristie, walking down the stairs, an unlit cigarette dangling from her mouth. “Keep your mind on the weapons.”

  He saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Pick out a gun, Kristie,” I said, attempting to change the subject.

  Kristie walked over and grabbed a Smith and Wesson handgun. “I’ve shot one of these before at the gun range with Dan. This will do; just load it for me and show me how to remove the safety.”

  “Wow, that was easy,” I said.

  She nodded and smiled “I’m a no-nonsense kind of gal, Cassie. I just need a gun to shoot and a target that’s less than twelve inches away.”

  I shook my head and giggled.

  We loaded Kristie’s SUV with the guns and ammunition. She yawned and stretched her arms. “I’m bushed and it’s still pretty early. I’m going to lie down for a while if that’s okay?”

  “Go ahead. You’re driving and we need you alert,” I said.

  Kristie left and it was just me and Bryce staring at each other.

  He yawned. “I’d better get some rest, too,” said Bryce. “So… care to join me, Wild?”

  It was tempting but I knew it probably meant trouble. “No, I’ve got to watch Megan. You can sleep in my room though. There won’t be any distractions there,” I replied, thinking of Eva.

  “Thanks. How about tucking me in?” he asked with a little smile.

  I blushed. “Maybe… next time.”

  “I’ll remember that,” he said, yawning again. He then brushed my lips quickly with his own and both of us parted, smiling.

  21

  “This is going to be tricky,” said Bryce as we stood in the garage several hours later. There were still a number of zombies stumbling around the driveway and we didn’t want to let them in. “I’m going to have Kristie drive and then I’ll take out any zombies that try to get into the house through the garage.”

  “Don’t forget to toss that rotting one out with them too. The horrible smell is starting to get into the basement,” I said.

  Bryce sighed. “Fine, I’ll drag it out… if you cover me.”

  I nodded my head. “Sure.”

  “Okay, are you feeling all right, Sara?” asked Bryce.

  Sara looked both frightened and determined at the same time. It had been almost two days since she’d spoken to Kevin and we all knew the chance that he was still alive was pretty slim.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Let’s just do this before I change my mind.” She’d been nervous abo
ut leaving Megan, but Kristie had reassured her that the zombies would never figure out how to get inside.

  “My hair looks so dull,” complained Eva, looking at herself in a mirror she’d pulled out of her tote bag. I couldn’t believe she was worried about her hair while we were worried about making it out of the garage alive. Although, truthfully, her red hair looked so shiny it was grating.

  “Your hair does not look dull,” replied Kristie.

  “It’s so shiny that I’m sure you’ll draw all types of unwanted attention,” I muttered.

  Bryce chuckled. “Okay, everyone’s hair in place? Everyone use the bathroom? Noses powdered?”

  “Wait, I need my cigarettes!” Kristie said, running back into the house. Seconds later she returned with two packs. “Now I’m ready for anything.”

  “Good thing you volunteered Paige to stay behind,” I remarked.

  She shrugged but I didn’t miss the gleam in her eyes.

  Everyone got back into the SUV but Bryce and me.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  I nodded. I had the gun out and my hammer in a utility type of belt that I’d concocted from an old leather belt and holster.

  “Wait,” he said, coming toward me. He grabbed the back of my head and pulled me toward him, stealing a quick kiss. He released me and looked into my eyes. “Just in case I don’t get a chance to do that again.”

  His words were like a splash of cold water as the reality of our situation set in. We were heading right into serious danger again, and it was more than feasible that any of us could be killed by a zombie.

  “Hey, Bryce,” sighed Kristie from the truck. “They don’t have any more like you at home, do they? Cause I got to tell you…”

  I chuckled. I knew Kristie was a hopeless romantic and it wouldn’t be long before husband number three would be in the midst. If there was anyone left.

  Kristie turned toward the back of the SUV and snapped, “Oh, Eva, would you just chill the hell out.” I knew then that Eva must not have enjoyed the kiss as much as I did.

  “Okay,” Bryce said, raising his gun and walking toward the garage door opener. “Get ready, everyone.”

  Kristie started the engine and rolled up her window.

  Bryce pressed the garage door opener, grabbed the dead zombie by its clothing, and started dragging him toward the opening. When the garage door was all the way up, Kristie pressed firmly on the gas and backed out, crushing two zombies who were staring stupidly at the SUV. I ignored the now-familiar bone crunching and moaning of the zombies and began firing my gun at the new ones coming toward us.

  “Behind you, Bryce!” I yelled as dead and rotted Mr. Hendrickson appeared behind Bryce.

  Bryce snapped his head back, hitting the zombie in the forehead. He turned around, kicked it in the stomach, then blew off Mr. Hendrickson’s slackened zombie face. Bryce scowled and brushed off the back of his head, trying to remove zombie brain particles.

  I shuddered. “That was… so nasty.”

  “To your left!” hollered Bryce.

  The crazy old lady from up the street was snarling and coming right at me. She’d always been a cruel and hateful woman, screaming at anyone who’d ever gotten too close to her yard, and God forbid if you should accidently kick a ball onto her lawn. She wouldn’t just keep it; she’d destroy it while you watched, smiling smugly and daring you to say anything. Needless to say, my mom had weathered many heated arguments with the old broad and I still couldn’t stand her, dead or alive.

  “Sorry, Hazel,” I said, raising my gun, “but your days of being a bitter old bitch are now over.”

  Hazel growled angrily and then fell backwards as the bullet entered her rotting skull.

  We killed the last two zombies trying to get into the garage, then closed it and jumped into the SUV.

  “Those things smell awful! God, I could smell them from inside the truck,” complained Eva.

  “That reminds me,” I said, pulling out the small jar from my pocket. “Vicks, anyone?”

  ***

  Zombies must have been waking up all over the city, because even the rural areas were plagued with them.

  “I had no idea,” whispered Sara, staring out the window in horror.

  The streets were like obstacle courses and it was difficult to navigate the SUV around both the abandoned cars and zombies. Fortunately, most of the zombies ignored us, staggering aimlessly with no real apparent destination.

  “Watch out!” said Bryce as a zombie stepped in front of our moving vehicle.

  Kristie cringed in revulsion as the zombie bounced off the front grill and over the hood. “That was… unpleasant,” she muttered, grasping the steering wheel a little tighter.

  We drove past the karate studio and noticed the large plate-glass window in the front was smashed. Zombies wandered around the entire mini-mall, shuffling through broken glass… paper debris… and other dead zombies.

  “I hope Master Jordan survived,” I said.

  “Well, I know he didn’t get the vaccine,” replied Bryce. “Neither did Mae; both of them are into natural herbal remedies. I’d bet anything that he’s alive somewhere. He’s definitely one guy who’s not going down easily.”

  “He’s a great guy. I hope you’re right,” I said.

  Sara’s place was located in a newer development where many of the homes were still under construction and thankfully, we didn’t run into any zombies.

  “Listen, Kristie and Eva; honk if you see any zombies approaching.”

  “Okay,” replied Kristie. She picked up the Smith and Wesson and placed it on her lap.

  “Can’t I come with?” asked Eva.

  “No, it’s too dangerous. You’re much safer in here,” he replied.

  It wasn’t the answer she was looking for. “Fine,” she sniffed.

  “Let’s go, I can’t wait anymore,” said Sara. She opened the door and jumped out of the SUV. Bryce and I got out and followed her to the front door.

  Sara pulled out her keys, but the door was unlocked. “Kevin?” she called, opening it. “Kevin, it’s me, Sara!”

  The house was eerily quiet when we entered. Like my house, it was a split-level, but much larger and newer.

  Sara tossed her keys onto a new granite countertop and turned to us. “The bedroom is upstairs. He’s probably sleeping,” she said.

  We followed Sara upstairs where there were three bedrooms and a bathroom. One of the doors was shut and that’s where she headed.

  Bryce grabbed my arm. “Be ready,” he said into my ear.

  I nodded as we followed her into the master bedroom. The room was huge with a built-in fireplace and a cozy chenille chaise off to one side of the room, a private bathroom with a built-in whirlpool bath on the other. It was the nicest bedroom I’d ever been in considering its current state. Discarded clothing, used tissues, and empty food containers lay scattered all over plush carpeting.

  “Oh, God,” moaned Sara, staring at the bed.

  22

  We followed Sara to the large maple sleigh bed where Kevin lay. As we gathered around the bed, she let out a sigh of relief.

  “He’s just sleeping,” she said quietly, brushing the sandy brown hair from his eyes.

  I turned to look at Bryce, who was frowning. He pulled me aside.

  “Do you smell that?” he whispered.

  I nodded; it was a smell I was getting all too familiar with.

  Sara sat on the bed. “Kevin? Sweetheart, wake up. It’s me, Sara,” she said softly. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

  I took a step closer to the bed and noticed that Kevin’s face was gaunt, his lips pale and dry. There was movement under his eyelids, as if he was dreaming.

  “You’re so cold,” Sara mumbled, touching his forehead. She stood up and lifted a goose down comforter from the floor that must have fallen. She spread it around him on the bed and tucked the edges under the mattress.

  My heart was hammering in my chest. To me, he didn’t look l
ike he was sleeping; he looked stiff and white, like a corpse. I cleared my throat. “Sara, maybe you should step back.”

  She shook her head vehemently. “No, I know what you’re thinking. He’s just sleeping, Cassie. He… he’s… fine.” She glanced at me and I could see that her eyes were brimming with tears.

  “What’s that?” I asked, grabbing a piece of paper from the nightstand. At the top of the page were the words Vaccination Side Effects. It listed the typical side effects of a regular flu shot. I showed it to Sara, who turned very pale.

  “No… he didn’t get the vaccination. I don’t understand,” she said, scanning the flyer. She looked up and shook her head. “This just doesn’t make sense.”

  Bryce took it from her and examined it. “Didn’t you mention the military was sending someone from their medical staff to check on him? They could have given it to him then.”

  A deep moan escaped Kevin’s lips and his eyes slowly opened.

  “Oh, God,” I whispered, putting my hand over my mouth. Kevin’s eyes were blood-rimmed and cold as death. They stared emotionlessly at Sara, who appeared oblivious to the truth.

  “Hi,” she whispered, smiling down at him. She stroked his hand.

  “Sara, don’t touch him,” demanded Bryce, pulling her away.

  Kevin sat up and began making deep guttural noises. He started flailing his arms around and greenish-red foam bubbled from his mouth.

  “No, Kevin,” she moaned, trying to reach out for him. “I’m here for you, honey.”

  Bryce grabbed Sara and pulled her away just as Kevin lurched toward her, making hideous smacking noises with his mouth. When he noticed that he’d missed her, he let out an alarming screech that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

  “Leave me be, Bryce!” Sara screamed as he tried to push her out of the bedroom. She eventually broke free and then rushed back toward Kevin, who was beginning to growl at her like rabid animal. She took a step back and stared at him in horror.

  “He’s a zombie now, not Kevin,” I said.

  Tears streamed down her face as Sara stood staring at the man she’d fallen in love with. He was now just an animated corpse, devoid of any human emotion. Shaking her head in sorrow, she raised her gun and pointed it at his face. “Oh, God,” she cried, her hands trembling. “I… I… can’t do it.” I watched in horror as she dropped the gun, leaving herself vulnerable to the zombie, who was prepared to leap at her.