Read Zombies! (Episode 6): Barriers Collapse for Free Online Page A

managed to expose a portion of her neck and chest and that was where it put its teeth next. The poor girl screamed as it tore the flesh from her throat and sternum. Then the panic ensued.
     
    Arrick took another bite of his sandwich.
     
    He could tell that people wanted to get out the door. They had that rabbit look in their eyes, scanning for the nearest exit. But the exit was blocked and they didn't know what to do. There were no heroes among them. All at once, the customers found their feet and rushed toward the kitchen. No one tried to help the girl. No one . Granted, she was beyond help. The bite wound had seen to that. Of course, John Arrick had been bitten and here he was in a Brooklyn deli enjoying dinner and a show.
     
    "Well that's quite enough of that," he said to himself and stood.
     
    The girl was already gone. The zombie had hit an artery and there was blood everywhere. So much for its expensive suit. There were twenty feet between Arrick and the zombie and no one in their way. He didn't want to get bitten. He wasn't sure that he was immune to the disease, nor was he willing to risk his luck by having to fight it off again. But he knew that this situation was only going to get worse and he was the closest thing to invincible in the immediate area.
     
    But how to put down the zombie…
     
    Arrick's experience as a zombie fighter included exactly one fight. And, to be honest, he'd come out with a bite wound that should have killed him so he wasn't exactly an expert. In order to defeat Suzanna, he'd had to bash her head against the bathtub. The opportunity to do so had been a result of their struggle. He couldn't hope for that opportunity again and didn't really care to get that close anyway. When he began looking around for a weapon, he noticed that the entire crowd had gathered behind him. They were looking at him. How had that happened?
     
    Before he knew it, someone was shoving a mop into his hand. A small Mexican man pushed it forward and nodded as if it was going to be tremendously useful. Well, not unless they expected him to clean up the blood. But the man grinned and made a rolling motion with his hands. Looking down, Arrick saw that the head was screwed on. He unscrewed the head and held up the handle. It was better than nothing.
     
    Taking a deep breath, Arrick moved in toward the zombie. It was on the floor, tearing at the girl's chest, probably confused by all of the bone. It didn't even bother to look up as he approached. Stopping just before it, Arrick looked back once at the crowd, then again at the zombie. He was apprehensive and a little squeamish. Timidly, he pushed the mop handle forward and poked the zombie in the forehead. It didn't even take notice, just kept on trying to find flesh around the bone. Arrick poked a bit harder, this time pushing its head back away from the girl. This time, he was noticed. The zombie looked up, reached up, and grabbed the mop handle. Arrick was so taken by surprise that he just let go. Frozen in place, he watched the confused zombie struggle with the thing in its hand. Then its eyes fell upon him. And then the crowd behind him.
     
    Struggling to its feet, it shuffled over the girl's body, dragging the mop handle behind it. A terrible moan escaped its blood soaked lips. Frozen in place, Arrick just watched as it came right up to him, brushed past him, and made for the fresh meat at the back. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. He didn’t understand what had happened, why it hadn't attacked him. But now it was headed for the people. Just before it moved out of reach, he grabbed the end of the mop handle. The zombie stopped, unable to wrench the handle free and unable to let go. Apparently stuck, it turned its head and focused on Arrick again. Arrick pulled at the handle and knocked the zombie off balance. Due to some instinct, it let go and spun. This time, Arrick was ready. He brought the pole up and down in a quick fluid motion and hit it in the