The Creeping Dead: A Zombie Novel by Edward P. Cardillo Page B

boardwalk became a bit rowdier past eleven o’clock as some of the seedier elements came out to play. It was just past midnight.
    “Uh, do you think that’s a great idea given the time?”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Oh, c’mon Vinnie. We’ll be fine.”
    They walked the two blocks back to the boardwalk. Vinnie saw from the street that it was as packed as ever. They ascended the ramp and merged with oncoming traffic. He felt overdressed.
    “I wanna play some video games first.” Dharma grabbed his hand and pulled him into Big Shot Arcade. She pulled him over toward the racing car games and threw herself into one of the seats in front of the steering wheel. “Go heavy or go home,” she said, winking.
    Vinnie reached into his wallet, pulled out two dollars, and sat in the seat next to hers. He handed her a dollar, and they both fed their machines.
    “Now you’re talking,” he said. “But don’t think I’m going easy on you.”
    They selected their cars. He chose a yellow Corvette and equipped it with nitrous. She chose a Camaro and equipped it with neon underneath.
    “Very useful,” he teased.
    “You just worry about your car as you choke on my dust.”
    A scantily clad girl appeared on the screen between their two cars at the start line.
    “Hey, Vinnie, maybe you can ask her to dance.” She laughed wickedly.
    “Do I win her if I win the race?”
    Dharma playfully punched him in the arm.
    Vinnie took advantage of her distraction and was first off the line. “See, violence will get you nowhere.”
    “We’ll see about that.”
    He bumped into another car that jumped into his way, and she pulled up right alongside him.
    She jerked the wheel left and plowed her car into his, sending him crashing into a street lamp.
    “Hey, no fair.”
    “All’s fair in love and war.”
    “Oh yeah, which is this?” He didn’t believe he had the balls to ask, but he was nervous and the game distracted him.
    Dharma looked over at him with a playful look, surprised at his forward quip.
    Vinnie hit the nitrous and zoomed ahead of her. “Ah, you have to keep your eyes on the road.”
    Dharma bit her lip and weaved in between the other cars.
    Vinnie looked at her tan, toned legs out of the corner of his eye.
    “You’re one to talk,” she said, having caught his not so furtive glance.
    They came around to the end of the final lap, laughing all the way, and Vinnie had one nitrous left. “It’s curtains for you, kitten.” He hit the button, and his car went barreling forward, the background blurring to imply his speed.
    “Hey, Vinnie…” Dharma reached down, grabbing the bottom hem of her halter top, and yanked it up, exposing her white bra.
    Vinnie looked, and his jaw fell open as his car careened off a wooden bridge.
    Dharma pulled her shirt back down and flew ahead, taking second place.
    “I beat you!”
    Vinnie blushed. “That’s not fair.”
    “Weren’t you the one who said you should always keep your eyes on the road?”
    Vinnie looked around nervously. “This is a family establishment. There are kids here.”
    Dharma jumped up out of her seat. “C’mon, I wanna ride the carousel.”
    Vinnie got up as she grabbed his hand and yanked him out of the arcade, back onto the boardwalk. She didn’t let go of his hand as they walked.
    “So, I hear you have a classic car you’re working on.”
    “Yeah, it’s a 1969 Mustang.”
    “Is it fast?”
    “It’s got some muscle. Not the fastest car out there, but it’s a classic. They don’t make ’em like that anymore.”
    “Cool, so do you drive it around? I’ve never seen you in it.”
    “Right now I’m in the process of rebuilding the alternator, so at the moment, no.”
    “Where’d you get it?”
    “You know Mike Brunello?”
    “Over at Blackbeard’s Pier? The guy who runs the carousel?”
    “Yeah, that one.”
    “ He sold it to you?”
    “Yeah. It’d been sitting in his garage for years. He