Running Wild (2 page)

My dad turned to Austin and if looks could kill he’d be deader than anything I’d shot in the last few days. He smiled coldly. “I think I can take care of my own daughter Tex,” he replied in a strained voice.

“For the last time, I can take care of myself,” I stated. “I think I proved that in the last few days.”

Bryce nodded. “She did a great job, too. Tex could probably take some lessons from her.”

Austin shook his head. “I didn’t mean any insult, sir. I’m just a man of my word and I promised Kris I’d protect her daughter in any way that I could.”

“That’s very honorable but I think you’d better stay with Eva and Bobby. They need protection too,” replied my dad.

“Bryce could stay here,” interrupted Eva.

Over my dead body
, I thought as she twirled her long red hair around her finger nails and stared at him hungrily. Bryce, as usual, remained impassive.

My dad shook his head. “No, I need Bryce to cover me at the dealership. Unlike Austin, his shoulder isn’t injured and things could get pretty nasty. Cassie needs to accompany us, so that she can drive the Sierra back. I might need that truck again.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m going to change my clothes,” I said tightly, leaving the kitchen. I didn’t trust myself around Eva, especially with all of the loaded weapons on the table.

Chapter Two

When we stepped outside of the house, several zombies greeted us with open arms.

“Stay back, honey,” ordered my dad, raising his gun.

“Dad,” I pointed towards one of the zombies. “Look; it’s Schmitty.”

My dad groaned at the sight of our neighbor, who was now among the undead. They’d been semi- friends and to see him walking around with half his torso ripped apart, was unsettling.

“Sorry, man,” he told the zombie as it lumbered towards us with its mouth wide open. “I hate to be rub it in your face, now, err… what’s left of it, but I guess I won the gun debate.” Schmitty had always been dead set against fire arms.

I turned away from the sound of my dad firing his rifle and watched as Bryce shot three zombies who couldn’t have been more than fourteen. They’d also lived in the neighborhood and my sister Allie had started crushing on one of them, a boy named Jason. Jason had always been a trouble-maker with a very smart mouth, which didn’t sit well with my dad. Earlier this spring he’d ridden his skateboard around the cul-de-sac, showing off, when my dad had come home from work. He’d been in my dad’s way and had taken his own sweet time moving. Then, later my dad found him trying to kiss Allie and had really blown his top. He yelled at Jason, who only smirked and took off on his skateboard.

“Dad,” I said as we got into the truck.

“What?”

“Bryce killed the zombie who was trying to kiss Allie a couple months ago.”

My dad chuckled. “Looks like that boy finally got a kiss, “
the kiss of death
.”

I shook my head and groaned at his lame joke.

Bryce jumped into the truck looking very pale. “I just can’t get used to killing these kids.”

“Remember, they aren’t kids anymore,” said my dad.

“Still, it doesn’t make it easier,” said Bryce.

“Hey dad?” I asked, looking across the street.

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t we just use the Hendrickson’s van? They won’t need it anymore.”

He sighed. “I’m not touching that thing, he bought it used and didn’t buy it from me. For all I know it could conk out any minute.”

“Oh,” I said.

“I also know for a fact that one of the Hendrickson’s wore adult diapers. Allie told me she saw them carry a big box in one day. From the urine smell in their house, they didn’t get changed enough.”

Bryce and I cringed.

“I much prefer that “new car smell” from that “old crotch smell”, you know what I’m saying?”

I looked at him in horror. “Oh my God, dad! That’s gross!”

He smiled innocently. “What?”

Bryce laughed and I reached over and smacked his shoulder. “Don’t encourage him.”

My dad, who was still chuckling at his own gross humor, started the engine and we left for the dealership with Bryce riding shotgun and myself in the back. The Sierra’s club cab was a little tight for a full sized adult and I could see why we definitely needed something roomier, especially if everyone was going with us to Atlanta.

As we began driving, I noticed most of the roads were deserted and there were only a handful of zombies in the vicinity of my neighborhood. We shot the few that were shuffling lifelessly to lessen the chance of them finding their way back towards our house.

“Check that out,” said Bryce, pointing towards a small group of zombies near the local movie theater. They were about two hundred yards away and moving pretty quickly. As their gaunt white bodies lumbered closer to us, we slowed down to study them.

My dad pulled out a pair of binoculars. “These guys are pretty emaciated. I’m surprised they’re moving this quickly.”

“Dad, I heard they get more aggressive when they’re starving,” I answered.

“These guys must be famished, because they’re coming in strong.”

Bryce turned to me. “Wild, do you have any weapons on you?”

“No, I wasn’t thinking.”

I wanted to kick myself for being so careless. I’d set the war hammer down on our patio in the backyard while taking Goldie outside to pee and like a moron, left it there.

“It’s okay sweetheart. I’m sure we’ll be fine with our guns. Get ready to fire Bryce,” ordered my dad.

Bryce raised his rifle and as they moved closer, started firing rounds. When he hesitated for a moment, I noticed the young zombie girl in front, leading the pack. She was scampering towards us, her brown hair bouncing behind her. The zombie couldn’t have been more than four or five years old.

Bryce’s lips curled in disgust. “Another kid; this is just sickening,” he mumbled.

As the little girl got closer I could see the features of her face and it was a mask of terror.

“Wait!” my dad and I yelled simultaneously. He then tossed his binoculars aside; threw the truck in park and flew out the door, cussing. I watched as he ran towards the frightened girl with his gun raised, firing away at the closest zombies trying to reach for her. When he made it to the child, he lifted her into his arms and started running back with four zombies coming in quickly.

Bryce hopped out of the truck and started firing at the zombies. One of them caught up to my dad, threw himself forward and would have taken both of them down if Bryce’s shot hadn’t been so accurate. He quickly took care of the last three and I was able to breathe again.

“Take her,” said my dad, opening the cab door.

I grabbed the girl, who was sobbing and held her in my arms. Her body was trembling as she clung to me like I was some sort of life preserver.

My dad and Bryce jumped back into the truck.

“She okay?” asked my dad, still out of breath.

I somehow peeled the little girl off of me and looked into her small face, which was dirty and flushed from running. Her lips were dry and she looked very frail. I still couldn’t believe she was alive.

“She’s terrified,” I said staring into her haunted blue eyes.

“Give her some water,” said Bryce, handing me a bottle.

The little girl took it from me and began drinking greedily. When she started choking, I patted her gently on the back. “Slow down,” I murmured.

“Great shooting Bryce,” said my father as he wiped the sweat from his forehead using the back of his hand. “Damn, those zombies are getting more agile.”

“Yeah, I was getting a little worried back there. That one almost took you both out,” replied Bryce.

“Well, if it wasn’t for you, things would have gotten uglier. I appreciate your good aim.”

“Can it get much uglier?” mumbled Bryce, looking at the girl. “Bunch of zombies chasing down a little girl for a quick snack; why she’s still alive is a mystery to me.”

“It’s definitely a miracle,” answered my dad.

My heart swelled as I thought of Bryce and the way he’d saved my dad and the little girl. Sitting in the back seat, I had the most incredible urge to run my hands through his dark wavy hair and nuzzle the side of his neck. He was so damn sexy and I was already missing his incredible mouth. Right now it was a struggle to keep my hands off of him; instead I tried to focus on the child in my arms

I cleared my throat. “Honey, what’s your name?” I asked the little girl. She stared at me, her eyes like a scared rabbit, but she remained silent. When she didn’t respond the second time I prodded her, Bryce turned around and gently touched her curly brown hair.

“It’s okay, you’re safe with us. We won’t let anything happen to you,” he said softly.

The little girl’s eyes grew round and filled with tears. She threw her arms around my neck and began howling in terror again.

He lifted his hands and gave me a bewildered look. “What?”

I gave him a reassuring smile. “She’s obviously traumatized, Bryce. Don’t take it personally.”

Our eyes met and held. Remembering the passion in our kiss the other day, I felt the heat creeping up to my cheeks. He must have sensed my thoughts, because he smiled devilishly and licked his lips.

My father spoke up and broke the spell. “We’re almost there guys. Let’s hope the zombies aren’t shopping for cars.”

I snorted. “Hey, you were the one complaining about lack of customers the other day. I’ll bet they’d be an easy sale dad.”

With a wry smile my dad said, “Some of them zombies are so passive, I could probably sell them on extended warranties too. I wonder if they can still hold a pen even with rigor mortis?”

“They’d probably just sign it in your blood,” I replied.

Bryce interrupted us. “You know, I’ve been thinking, if we keep picking up extra passengers, we might need two vehicles.”

“That sounds like a good idea. And if one breaks down, we’d still have the other as backup,” replied my dad.

“Let’s do it then,” smiled Bryce.

“I do have access to any car I want. This could be interesting.”

I looked at my dad. “Just don’t take that corvette you were eyeing last week dad. That thing is only a two-seater.”

My dad sighed and rubbed his stubbly chin. “Thanks for bursting my bubble, daughter.” 

“Corvette, huh? That would have been a sweet ride,” said Bryce.

“You’re telling me Bryce. The one the showroom floor is a ZR1 with 638 horsepower.”

While they talked cars, I looked down at the girl in my arms. She’d stopped crying and was now asleep. Her little blue sundress was ripped to shreds and because she was shoeless, her feet were torn up and bloody.

“I can’t believe this little girl survived out there with those things,” I said.

Bryce turned around again. “Someone must have been taking care of her at one point.”

“Maybe,” I sighed, laying her down on the seat next to me. She suddenly reminded me of how much I missed my younger sister. Although Allie was already twelve, it seemed like just yesterday when I used to carry her around in my arms. She’d idolized me, but, like most siblings, I’d taken it for granted. If I ever got the chance to hold her in my arms again, I probably wouldn’t ever let go.

We passed the exit leading to St. James, the hospital where my mother had taken Austin. Several severely decomposing zombies were stumbling down the frontage road that we’d taken previously.

“I wonder how the St. James is holding up,” I murmured. If it hadn’t been for Austin’s grenades, I still don’t know if we’d have made it out alive.

Bryce looked back at me. “I doubt they’re holding up at all. There had to be close to five hundred zombies surrounding that hospital when we left.”

“Well, I guess I do owe Austin for helping to protect you,” said my dad.

“Austin’s a nice guy. He’s just trying to fulfill an obligation he feels he owes mom. It’s a little irritating, but I guess I understand it,” I said.

“That and the fact that he has the “
hots
” for you,” snickered Bryce.

“What?” asked my dad.

I snorted. “He doesn’t have the “
hots
” for me, Bryce.”

“I don’t think you even know when someone has the
“hots”
for you Cassie,” answered Bryce.

My dad looked at Bryce, his eyes narrowing. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

Bryce cleared his throat. “I’m just saying that Austin obviously likes her and she doesn’t even see it.”

“It doesn’t matter if he likes me,” I replied. “I’m not interested.”

“Good,” replied Bryce and my dad at the same time.

Chapter Three

After navigating around several abandoned vehicles on the freeway and killing some curiously alert zombies, we finally pulled into my dad’s car dealership. Thankfully, it appeared both lifeless as well as deadless.

“Okay,” said my dad parking in front of the large glass entrance. “Cassie, you jump into the driver’s spot as soon as we exit the truck. When we find a couple of suitable vehicles, we’ll pull around with them.”

“Got it.”

Bryce glanced at me and I thought for a brief moment that he was going to kiss me, just like he did the last time we were getting ourselves into a dangerous situation. Instead, he pursed his lips and jumped out of the truck.

“Wimp,” I muttered. He was definitely staying cool around my dad. I knew it was a matter of respect, but it was also, very boring.

I watched both of them as they entered the dealership. Carrying the rifles, they reminded me of two outlaws getting ready to rob a bank, and I was their nervous get-away driver.

I heard a whimper from the backseat and turned to see the little girl, now awake and sitting up. She still looked very frightened and her eyes darted from window to window.

“Hi,” I tried again. “I’m Cassie, what’s your name?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Can you talk?”

She stared at me for a moment then stuck her thumb into her mouth.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe with me in this truck,” I reassured her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”