put in the Prius before answering.
“This swarm came up pretty quick, no time to raise the alarm.”
I chanced a better look at our foes.
“What do you mean they came on quick? You mean they move fast or they happened to wander through a blind spot?”
His forehead wrinkled as he lifted his silenced pistol.
“I mean look at them; they all look recently dead. They haven’t overdone it and torn all the tendons yet. These fleshies are still going full tilt at anything that moves.”
A crow landed at the side of the road. Three of the creatures were on it with gnashing teeth before it could flutter its wings. I counted at least ten others rushing to join the meal.
Only two seem to be injured; the others move like lightning. Dammit. No advantage until sunset and that’s not for six or seven hours.
I tapped Vincent on the shoulder and tilted my head to the dump truck at our left. It was a solid ten yards of open ground, but it was away from the others in our vehicles and it seemed high enough to keep the Dead at bay. Assuming we could get to it and over the back gate.
What’s the worst that can happen? Wait, don’t think about that...
He looked at me and back at the faces of our friends and lovers. Concern made their eyes appear larger than possible and their breathing fogged the windows. We gave them a wave and pointed at our watches. Chase nodded and crossed himself for us. Taking a big breathe, we counted down with our fingers. And then we RAN.
We fled for the refuge without looking back. Heavy footfalls and death rattles fell in behind us. I pumped my legs faster and forced myself to breathe. Swinging my arms further out I grabbed at the air for assistance; as though the molecules would somehow give me grips to pull my body forward at an accelerated rate. The former soldier outstripped me and reached the truck immediately.
Why isn’t he climbing in?
Every inhale burned inside my lungs and my ribs were stretched as much as my legs. Vincent clasped his hands together and screamed to me.
“Foot in hand an over!”
I followed the instruction and used his palms as a springboard. As soon as I reached the top of the truck, I reached down to pull him up. His grip was tight and he flung his body next to mine in one smooth movement. We hopped into the back of the dump truck and tried to catch our breath. The slamming of frantic cadavers into the side of the automobile drowned out the sound of our panting.
“Your parents would be proud.”
Vincent gave me a bewildered look.
“Why?”
I laughed, “Even while running for your life from reanimated corpses, you still took the time to be a gentleman.”
I attempted a straight face and we both broke into a fit of chuckling. I snorted and wiped away a tear. I stretched my burning calves and stood to survey the situation.
The swarm of zombies surrounded the construction vehicle and several others were joining them from the brush along the highway. The others peered out the cracks at the top of the windows. I waved to let them know we were okay. Sunny gave us a thumbs-up while her husband did a little happy dance and threw his arm around Bubba.
“Vincent, your sweetie is waiting. Let him see you.”
He rose and smiled. We waved over the heads of the ravenous cadavers like we were riding a float in the worst parade ever. After a few minutes, I pointed
“This swarm came up pretty quick, no time to raise the alarm.”
I chanced a better look at our foes.
“What do you mean they came on quick? You mean they move fast or they happened to wander through a blind spot?”
His forehead wrinkled as he lifted his silenced pistol.
“I mean look at them; they all look recently dead. They haven’t overdone it and torn all the tendons yet. These fleshies are still going full tilt at anything that moves.”
A crow landed at the side of the road. Three of the creatures were on it with gnashing teeth before it could flutter its wings. I counted at least ten others rushing to join the meal.
Only two seem to be injured; the others move like lightning. Dammit. No advantage until sunset and that’s not for six or seven hours.
I tapped Vincent on the shoulder and tilted my head to the dump truck at our left. It was a solid ten yards of open ground, but it was away from the others in our vehicles and it seemed high enough to keep the Dead at bay. Assuming we could get to it and over the back gate.
What’s the worst that can happen? Wait, don’t think about that...
He looked at me and back at the faces of our friends and lovers. Concern made their eyes appear larger than possible and their breathing fogged the windows. We gave them a wave and pointed at our watches. Chase nodded and crossed himself for us. Taking a big breathe, we counted down with our fingers. And then we RAN.
We fled for the refuge without looking back. Heavy footfalls and death rattles fell in behind us. I pumped my legs faster and forced myself to breathe. Swinging my arms further out I grabbed at the air for assistance; as though the molecules would somehow give me grips to pull my body forward at an accelerated rate. The former soldier outstripped me and reached the truck immediately.
Why isn’t he climbing in?
Every inhale burned inside my lungs and my ribs were stretched as much as my legs. Vincent clasped his hands together and screamed to me.
“Foot in hand an over!”
I followed the instruction and used his palms as a springboard. As soon as I reached the top of the truck, I reached down to pull him up. His grip was tight and he flung his body next to mine in one smooth movement. We hopped into the back of the dump truck and tried to catch our breath. The slamming of frantic cadavers into the side of the automobile drowned out the sound of our panting.
“Your parents would be proud.”
Vincent gave me a bewildered look.
“Why?”
I laughed, “Even while running for your life from reanimated corpses, you still took the time to be a gentleman.”
I attempted a straight face and we both broke into a fit of chuckling. I snorted and wiped away a tear. I stretched my burning calves and stood to survey the situation.
The swarm of zombies surrounded the construction vehicle and several others were joining them from the brush along the highway. The others peered out the cracks at the top of the windows. I waved to let them know we were okay. Sunny gave us a thumbs-up while her husband did a little happy dance and threw his arm around Bubba.
“Vincent, your sweetie is waiting. Let him see you.”
He rose and smiled. We waved over the heads of the ravenous cadavers like we were riding a float in the worst parade ever. After a few minutes, I pointed
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