The Zombie Chronicles - Book 5 - Undead Nightmare (Apocalypse Infection Unleashed Series) by Chrissy Peebles

‘em got nothin’ on my nine older brothers, and I survived growing up with them.”
    “Well, I’m glad you’re part of the team,” I said. “You’re so much like my sister.”
    “Yeah, Val’s a tough cookie, and those little fashionista girlfriends of yours and Nick’s are catching on pretty quick too—becoming real G.I. Janes in their own right.”
    I glanced below us and saw the beam of a flashlight waving around. “Kate’s pretty tough too,” I said.
    “Yeah, but she needs a thicker skin and a bit of a reality check. She still thinks this whole zombie mess is just temporary, like some nightmare we’ll all magically wake up from and return to our normal lives in a couple years.”
    “You don’t think we can rebuild?”
    “No. Dean, we’ll never get rid of those dead freaks, not even with that deadly magic potion of yours.”
    “The serum just needs to be researched and adjusted, like all medicines. Don’t give up just yet, Asia.”
    “I’ve been running, running, and running some more, and I’m tired, Dean. Still, I’ve accepted that this is how the rest of my life is going to be. Kate has a long way to go…and so do you.”
    “Wow. You’re almost as blunt as Nick,” I said.
    “Yeah, I guess we’re both straight-shooters. Thing is, I admire Nick. He’s tough, loyal, and clearly always has your back. He doesn’t put up with any crap, and he tells you how it is, whether the truth hurts or not.”
    “Yeah, everyone loves Nick.” I chuckled. “Well, maybe not the gang who ran him over the bridge.”
    Asia laughed. “Yeah, definitely not them, but they were just jealous and wanted to run things. That’s why they gave you all that trouble back at the nursing home.”
    “Probably.”
    “Hey, Dean?”
    “Yeah?”
    “You’ve made mistakes, and you’re still learning the ropes, but deep in my heart, I believe you’re destined for something great. Not everything and everyone in the world is still hopeless.”
    My face beamed. “Thanks. Nice to have your vote of confidence.”
    She glanced over at me, taking her eyes off her assigned coordinates for only a moment. “You know what movie character you remind me of?”
    “Hmm. Rambo? Rocky? Dirty Harry?” I said.
    She laughed. “I think you’re more like that kid, John Connor, in those Terminator movies.”
    “Not exactly who I had in mind.” I shook my head as she smiled. “So you think I’m a rebellious teenager?”
    “No, but you are a rebel, of sorts, and you have a mission in life. John Connor might have grown up to declare war on the machines, but Dean Walters is gonna lead the rebellion against these freakin’ zombies.”
    “But I thought you said you don’t think we’ll ever get our world back. You must think I’ll suck as a leader or something.”
    She smiled. “Meh, maybe I’m having a change of heart. Maybe fate has destined you to lead humanity into a glorious new zombie-free existence.”
    I was flattered to know that Asia didn’t think of me as a bumbling idiot like my brother, that she saw me as a leader. I felt honored. She was so beautiful, and I couldn’t help being attracted to her. It felt like a mistake to be on that roof with her alone, especially when I was so tempted to kiss her.
    “John Connor, huh? Hmm. That’s pretty deep,” Kate said from below, letting us know she’d been eavesdropping. “Nice of you to stroke Dean’s ego, Asia, but I’d feel a whole lot safer if I knew you were paying more attention to the woods than to flirting with Mr. Connor reincarnate.”
    “Sorry, Kate,” she said, staring at me with the most beautiful smile on her face. “You can relax. My eyes are right back where they’re supposed to be.”
    I let out a nervous laugh, like a little boy with a schoolyard crush.
    “Um, Dean, how about you take a turn patrolling down here?” Kate asked. “Maybe I can face my fears and come sit with Asia up there for a little while.”
    “Sure thing.” I shot Asia one last