Read The Zombie Chronicles for Free Online

Got it?”
    I nodded, even though Nick’s back was still turned on me.
    We walked as fast as we could, remaining silent. My nerves were on edge, and my ears strained to pick up any unusual sound, but the only noise I could hear was the steady thump-thump of my heart, beating like a drum in my ears.
    I broke the silence first. “So, we’re gonna get ourselves a cool set of wheels? I like that idea.”
    “It’s not exactly a shopping spree. Going into town at all is risky. Our goal has to be to get in, get what we need, and get out—as quickly as possible. You got that?” Nick said without turning.
    “Yeah, I got it.” His camouflage shirt stuck to his sweaty back. I wished he’d let me take a turn carrying Val.  
    We walked for another minute or so before footsteps thudded behind us. I swung around, ready to battle whoever it was. As I squinted against the glaring sun, I made out two figures in the distance, running straight toward us. My first thought was to run away, but then I came to my senses. Z ombies can’t run that fast. Who could that possibly be?  
    “Quick, take Val!” Nick handed our sister to me and whipped out his pistol.
    I could only make out long hair, so I figured we were being approached by women. “It looks like a couple of girls, running from something. Put the gun down, Nick!”
    Ignoring me, Nick held his weapon steady. “No! One of them has a weapon. Don’t you know the first rule of survival out here in Zombie Land?”
    “Huh? But—”  
    “Take no chances!”
    “Don’t shoot!” a female voice shouted.
    “Drop your weapon!” Nick shouted.
    She dropped it on the ground and raised her hands in the air. “It’s a stun gun.”
    I craned my neck to get a better glimpse as she inched closer. Fear mirrored in her wide, green eyes. Her dark hair hung over her skinny shoulders in long, disheveled clumps. From the looks of her, she’d fallen in the mud while running. A pair of sandals dangled from her hands, and her bare feet were black and dirty.
    “Please don’t hurt us!” she yelled again. “We’re already being followed by zombies.”
    The cute brunette with blonde streaks was a teenager about my age. In spite of being sweaty and dirty, she still looked hot in plaid shorts and a black shirt that showed off her tan midriff and naval piercing. I tried not to stare, but she was gorgeous.
    Nick refused to put his gun down. “Have you been bitten or scratched in any way?”
    She gasped for air. “No! I swear we haven’t.”
    He slowly lowered his arm, but hesitation was clearly written on his face. “C’mon then, we need to keep moving.”
    The girl sighed relieved. “Thanks.” A frown appeared across her forehead as she reached down and picked up her stun gun.
    Nick resumed his previous brisk pace.  
    The girl rushed to keep up. “I’m Jackie.”  
    My brother kept moving but shot her a glance. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nick, and this is my brother Dean.”
    “Nice to meet you,” I said, stepping carefully over a few moss-covered logs. If I took one wrong step, Val would fly right out of my arms.
    Jackie stomped down on a large fern in her path. “It’s nice to meet you too. And this is my cousin, Claire.”  
    I turned my attention to the redhead standing behind her, wondering how I could’ve missed her before. The girl was in her early twenties. She wore a sundress with a low V-neck and was pretty cute herself. Though she didn’t speak, the look on her pale face told me all I needed to know: She was scared to death.
    Nick broke through a patch of vegetation. “I wish we coulda met under better circumstances.”
    “Yeah, tell me about it,” Claire said, pushing aside a dangling branch.
    “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay now,” I said trying to ease her nerves.
    “Yeah?” she said. “That’s what the last group of people told me. You know what? They’re all dead now.”
    “Really?” my brother mocked. He hated being underestimated.