Dead Endz by Kristen Middleton

her head began to spin, Marco had acted like her best friend, offering a pillow, blanket and a quiet place to rest. Then, when she’d realized it wasn’t her hand squeezing her chest, she’d elbowed him in the face. He’d hollered bloody murder when his nose started to bleed and then pulled out a set of brass knuckles. Unfortunately, he’d gotten her a few times in the face before the other guard, hearing the loud commotion, arrived and pulled him off.
    Splatters of both of their blood covered the pillow and she threw it across the room. “You’ll never own me, asshole,” she mumbled as he walked away.
     
    ***
     
    After driving around the city for an hour without any clues as to where Paige had been taken, Tiny pulled into the parking lot of a small corner grocery store.
    “I’m starving babe,” he said. “Let’s just take a break and see if there’s any food left in this place.”
    Kristie stared out the window, her face a mask of despair. “Fine.”
    He grabbed her hair. “Why don’t you wait in the van with Kylie and I’ll take Henry with me. As soon as we get back, we’ll keep looking.”
    She nodded.
    “Come on, gramps,” said Tiny. “Grab your shotgun.”
    “Okay,” he said and then cleared his throat. “Listen… Kristie, I just want you to know how horrible I feel. It was my fault she was taken, and I am truly sorry. I messed up.”
    She turned around and looked at him incredulously. “Oh, Henry. Don’t go blaming yourself. Please?”
    His lips tightened. “Easier said than done. I tell you what, though, I won’t give up until we find her, by golly. That’s my promise to you.”
    She nodded. “We’ll find her, because I’m not giving up either.”
    “Me neither, babe,” said Tiny. “And when I get my hands on the schmuck who took her, he’s going to wish he’d been eaten by a zombie instead of crossing us.”
     

Chapter Twelve
     
     
     
    The man who the soldiers had been beating up seemed to have disappeared into thin air. They’d watched him run into an alley behind several businesses and followed, but when it led to a dead end, he was nowhere to be seen.
    “We must have missed a door somewhere,” said Carly, backing out of the alley. It was now nighttime and hard to see much of anything. Especially in a dark alley. “Did you see him?”
    Kris sighed as tapped her finger nails on the door, nervously. “No.”
    “So, you knew him? Who was he?”
    Before she could answer, Carly slammed on the brakes. “What in the hell?”
    A large flower delivery van was blocking their path out of the alley. The lights were off and it was hard to tell if anyone was in it.
    “Obviously that wasn’t there a moment ago,” said Carly, grabbing the rifle. “I wonder if I should lay on the horn or fire a bullet?”
    Kris shook her head. “They’ve blocked us on purpose I’m sure.”
    Both women watched their side-view mirrors nervously, not knowing what to expect. There was nobody around and the driver’s seat appeared to be empty.
    “This is bullshit. I’m going out to investigate,” said Carly after her patience wore thin. She shut off the lights and whispered, “Keep the doors locked and stay low.”
    Kris nodded. “Okay, you just be careful.”
    Allie crawled up to the front of the vehicle. “What’s happening?”
    “Nothing yet but stay close to your mom, Allie,” said Carly as she shut the door behind her and stepped out into the darkness.
    Kris watched through her mirror as Carly crept towards the white van. The darkness seemed so ominous and she was almost certain that flesh eating zombies were going to pounce on poor Carly at any moment. Obviously, they weren’t the ones who’d driven the van, though. At least, she hoped not. Now that there were zombies lurking the streets, her mind was open to almost any possibility.
    Allie sighed. “So, where did Carly go?”
    “She just went to go check on something, honey. Don’t worry.”
    Allie’s eyes narrowed.