Zombie Attack! Army of the Dead (Book 3) Page 3

  “I thought that was what the zombie army was about…,” I paused, “…to march in and take it from them by force.”

  “That's shortsighted,” John countered. “Sure, you wanna let them know that you're a serious force to be reckoned with. That's why you march them right up to the edge of the warlord’s territory, to get his attention. Once he's all ears, you make him an offer he can't refuse: the gift of life, of resurrection for him and his loved ones, of a do-over. Everybody's lost someone along the way since Z Day. What if you could bring them back?”

  “That's a hell of a sales pitch,” I admitted. “So you trade their land for a few doses of antidote?”

  “No,” John said. “That's the best part. We give them a choice. They can either cede the land to us, forfeiting any right to it forever, or they can keep it in their kingdom by agreeing to join our new union and abide by its rules and laws. Nothing changes except, of course, that we can now call on any of their residents at any time for any reason to be conscripted into our service. Usually that kind of thing only happens in times of war, or if there is a betrayal.”

  “What if they just give you the land?”

  “It hasn't happened so far,” John said. “But hypothetically, they'd get all their antidote at once, as opposed to us holding it in safekeeping for them, which is our usual agreement. Then again, hypothetically, it would also mean that we'd have to wipe that warlord off the face of the map to keep the peace. Truth is, if they knew there was a cure it would only be a matter of time before they attacked us and tried to take it. That's just human nature.”

  Not for everyone, I thought. Some of us are just happy to be alive without having to mess with other people.

  “So the people you've made these deals with haven't been making you give them the antidote right away,” I concluded, putting the pieces together at last.

  “That's correct,” he agreed, heading up a dirt incline.

  “But they'd have certainly wanted a dose or two to try out,” I continued. “That means you must be running low, which is why you are so desperate to make more. If your warlords discover that you don't actually have the ability to fill their requests when they need them, they're going to lose interest in working with you real fast.”

  “Took you a bit, but you got there,” John muttered as he reached the top of the hill and looked down into the valley below. The sun was just starting to set in the west, filling the sky with golden light and pink fluffy clouds. “I love the view up here. It really is amazing. It's like there are never the same two sunsets in a row. You'll see. You're going to stay with us a while. That way your brother will have time to fetch us what he stole, and also let us make some new batches for our allies without causing any problems. Who knows? Maybe in that time you'll start to get a sense of perspective, of history, of purpose. This is the new Manifest Destiny. This is the way forward for the entire human race.”

  I was just about to open my mouth to fire off more snarky remarks, when John turned and stared into my eyes with deep conviction.

  “I meant what I said the last time we met,” he began. “You're a natural leader. You've got a talent that just needs to be developed. It's your heart that gets you into trouble.”

  “It's also what makes me human,” I replied.

  “Let's just hope that over time you'll decide you want to be on the winning side,” John said. “Otherwise, eventually, we won't need you anymore and, well, I'm sure you can guess how well that will end for you.”

  “And if I run?”

  “Then Sam and Felicity will pay dearly for your cowardice,” John said, looking pensive. “You wouldn't want their blood on your hands would you? And besides, let's not forget that I found you once. I will find you again, only this time I won't be so nice.”

  “If you touch a single hair on Felicity's head,” I began to huff, but John laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.

  “I know, I know,” he sang back, “you'll kill me. I get it. Let's head on back. I'm starting to get hungry and it smells like the squirrels are already on the grill.”

  He turned with an easy smile and walked back down the way we'd come, whistling a carefree tune as he went. I raced to keep up with him, but neither of us spoke. John acted like nothing had happened, like he hadn't just threatened my life and the lives of the people closest to me. It was just another routine day to him, as far as I could tell.

  I hate him, I thought, more than I hate Tank. How did I end up back here again? The first chance I get, I am making a break for it and taking everyone with me. Besides, it's not like I can really believe a word he says. For all I know this was just another trick to get me away from Felicity.

  My stomach turned at the thought, filling me with hot fear and anxiety until I felt like a teakettle waiting to boil over. I ran ahead of John, and he called out after me.

  “Leave some for me.”

  I didn't stop or look back. I couldn't. All I could think of was Felicity.

  How could I be so stupid? How could I let them take her away? I should never have agreed. They've probably already made her a zombie. Or worse.

  I remembered how unnerved Felicity had been the last time we'd been here, how being a girl made things even scarier at times.

  I did my best to force the terrible images that came flooding in out of my mind. My feet stung as I picked up speed and ran as fast as I could for the room where they were keeping Sam and Felicity. Heads turned and men with guns uneasily began pointing them in my direction as I tore down the hill toward the building. John called out behind me again.

  “It's okay,” John assured his men, who seemed to relax at the news. “He's just working off some pent-up steam. Let him go.”

  I turned the corner and bolted toward the open front door. There were two armed guards outside, but they let me pass without a word. I saw Sam sitting on the floor in front of an old board game. He looked sad as his eyes came up to meet mine.

  “Where is she?” I managed to get out, my lungs burning from my quick sprint.

  “Who?” Sam asked, looking genuinely confused.

  “Felicity Jane,” I gasped. “Where did they take her?”

  I heard the toilet flush and the sound of running water. Sam's eyes turned toward the bathroom. The door came open and Felicity walked out looking no worse for wear than when I'd left her over an hour ago.

  “You better not have been cheating while I was using the powder room,” Felicity said cheerfully before seeing me. Her face went into a state of shock at my overly excited appearance, and she froze in place. I darted over and took her in my arms.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Xander,” Felicity breathed, her voice quivering a little. “Is everything all right? You're scaring me.”

  “Sorry,” I said, pulling back. “I just got worried, that's all.”

  “We've been entertaining ourselves while you were gone,” Felicity explained. “Sam here was telling me the story of how you met.”

  “How far did you get?” I asked, trying to regain my composure.

  “I was just telling her about how you gave me the Snickers bar,” Sam said, “before you sent me back to Vandenberg. I ate it right away too. I didn't know how long it would be until I turned, and I wanted to enjoy it.”

  “That's okay, buddy,” I reassured him. “That's what it was for in the first place. I'm glad to hear you got something out of it.”

  “What did John tell you?” Felicity asked. “Did you find out what's going on? Or what they plan on doing with us now?”

  “I did,” I answered back. “They're going to keep us around, for a while at least. It's all part of a plan to blackmail Moto into cooperating. We've just got to bide our time. I'll tell you more after dinner.”

  “Dinner?”

  “That's right,” John encouraged, walking into the room with a magnanimous smile. “You're my guests so you get to sit next to me. A word of caution, however. My men are fiercely loyal. They're dedicated to my vision of a new world, a be
tter world. As such, many of them won't take kindly to your particular brand of sarcasm and backtalk.”

  “So basically you're telling us to just sit there and play nice?” Felicity asked, cocking her head and putting her hands on her hips.

  “That's right,” John cheered, “it's for your own good. Now let's get moving before the roast critter gets cold.”

  He turned again and walked outside. Felicity gave me a look of disbelief and I shook my head in reply. We simply didn't have a choice. Either we played along with John and were nice or we risked earning the wrath of his men, from Tank down to the common rank and file. Either way, we were in this for the long haul.

  “It's not so bad,” Sam said, trying to break the tension in the room. “They're nice guys for the most part.”

  Yeah, I thought. They're real nice until John orders them to hack you to pieces and feed your bloody limbs to their zombie army. Bunch of real good Samaritans, otherwise.

  “Lead the way,” I said, nodding and smiling at him. Sam walked out ahead of us. Felicity took my hand and squeezed it hard.

  “I'm working on it,” I whispered in her ear.

  “I know you are,” she whispered back.

  We walked out of the door together, holding hands.

  A large group of warriors no longer wearing masks sat at the tables eating chunks of bread with strips of cooked rodent meat. There were no longer any bioluminescent lamps hanging about, they used fiery torches instead. John sat where Bryan Crowe had sat, and we joined him with Sam like we had with Benji. I got an eerie sense of déjà vu as I listened to him speak.

  “Where's Tank?” I asked.

  “He's working out some issues of his own,” John disclosed. “Yet again, he isn't thrilled with my decision on how to handle you. From the minute you two met something about you just seemed to get under his skin.”

  “How do you plan on keeping him from doing what he did last time and trying to set me up to kill me?” I asked.

  “Don't worry. He won't touch you until I give him permission.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Felicity asked.

  “I just know he won't,” John shook his head. “He don't like it. That's for sure. But he understands what's at stake. You don't have to like something to accept it. That's usually the way things are anyway. You'd think you'd know better than anyone how that works, being a woman and all.”

  I didn't like the tone of his voice and wasn't sure what he was getting at. I felt the urge to lash out verbally at him, but made a sweeping glance around the table at the rogues’ gallery of villains assembled nearby and thought better of it. It burned to hold back my vitriol, but I did my best not to show it.

  “Speaking of lady friends,” Felicity said, slamming her bread crust down on the table in frustration. “When can we expect yours to make an appearance?”

  “That's a good question. She was supposed to be wrapping up a piece of business, but she should be along before long. I know she'll be anxious to see you again, Xander.”

  “Why's that?” Felicity probed.

  “She took a liking to him back in Hellfire,” John chuckled. “Says she's looking forward to seeing you stripped and bound again. I told her not to get her hopes up. A lesser man might be jealous to hear his woman talk that way about one of his sworn enemies, but after meeting the delightful Miss Felicity Jane here, I'm suddenly inclined to keep an open mind about a lot of things.”

  John took Felicity by the hand and smiled like a mischievous child. The men around the table all broke into laughter. I could feel the blood pounding in my face as I bit my tongue to keep from saying something that would get us all killed. Felicity, on the other hand, had heard enough for one night. She pulled her hand free of his to a chorus of boos, then turned and indignantly stormed off back to the room.

  “Go on then,” John dismissed her with a wave of his free hand. “You can't let her just storm off like that and not chase after her. It's what she wants. It's what they all want, more attention.”

  The men laughed even harder as I got up and followed Felicity, leaving Sam behind. I caught her by the door and turned her to me. Her face was red and streaked with angry tears.

  “Felicity, wait. I'm sorry.”

  “It's not your fault,” she cried. “It's Sonya's. I can't believe she did this to us.”

  “It's going to be all right,” I promised her, walking her back into the room and kissing her on the top of her head.

  “How is it going to be okay?”

  “I'm not sure yet,” I admitted. “I just know that it is. You'll see. We'll find a way out of this. We always do.”

  “I'm scared, Xander,” she said, turning and holding me. “I'm tired and angry and hungry, but more than all of that I am scared of what they're going to do to us.”

  “They're not going to hurt us,” I promised her. “Not yet anyway. They can't if they want Moto to go along with their big plans.”

  “What does that mean?”

  I sat and told her everything John had told me on our walk. It felt good to get it out, to hear it again from a different perspective, but it brought up more questions than it answered. We reclined on the bed and I held her in my arms, brushing her long hair through my fingers while she listened to my heartbeat. Before long I felt the familiar pull of sleep tugging at me. It had been a horrendous day and I was happy to be escaping into the vast emptiness of my dreams. The last thing I heard before going all the way under was the sound of her softly snoring.

  CHAPTER THREE

  I was chained to one of the wooden poles of the circus tent, and Felicity was chained to the other. Both of us had ropes of metal rings fastened around our waists. We were on the main stage of the circus-turned-slaughterhouse, slipping in the bloody remains of several former human victims. There was a large spotlight shining down on us from overhead, blinding us with its overwhelming brightness. From out of the moaning darkness came zombie clowns in groups of two and three, edging their way forward onto the platform with hunger spawning in their dead, merciless eyes.

  I thrashed about trying to free myself, but to no avail. Rows of ghoulish hell-clowns ringed the stage, reaching out toward us with snarling, bloody mouths.

  At least they can't reach us on their own, I thought.

  Looking over I saw that they were climbing the steps like normal people, helping each other out!

  My God, I thought. If they've learned to communicate for real, then we're all doomed. How can we stop them if they move like us? Think like us?

  I glanced out at the audience in the packed stands. They all wore the black leather vests I'd come to associate with biker gangs, but instead of faces they had gleaming human skulls. They laughed and threw money and drank blood from the severed heads of children as they waited for the zombies to tear us to shreds. Sheer horror flooded me as I realized that they were betting on how we would die. I looked up to see several undead clown henchmen holding Felicity's arms and legs, while an evil clown doctor carefully dissected her, handing out her organs like treats to the waiting swarm at ground level.

  I turned and watched the skeleton men in the stands exchange bills, some laughing and others shaking their fists in pure anger. They handed each other some small cages with dirty, naked children in them, and passed them back and forth, using the small kids for currency the way a farmer might trade a chicken for groceries.

  A loud roar near me pulled my attention back. Felicity was now gone, her torso pulled open and emptied down to bare bones and skin. Next to me, the zombie clown doctor gave a cheerful honk of his horn, holding up a scalpel in the other. I fought with all my might, but cold, wet hands pinned down my arms and legs. I screamed out, but the nightmare doctor only laughed as he brought his arm down and cut into my skin.

  A loud whistling object went buzzing past my ear, and the doctor’s face froze in fear. A shiny dart stuck out of his face, showing cheerful red and white plastic wings. The doctor’s face began to melt into soft butter, caving in on itself. S
oon he was nothing more than an oily puddle on the ground in front of me. I heard several more darts go flying past me. Soon I was alone, unchained, standing in the middle of the platform in a soft puddle of silky liquid. All around me the skeletons roared their disapproval as I trudged forward toward Felicity's corpse. I reached her and lifted her head like I was pulling a dead petal from a flower.

  “Xander,” she said urgently.

  “Felicity,” I cried out. “Stay with me, baby. Don't go.”

  “Xander,” she said again, more urgently this time. She stared deep into my eyes and I stared back, waiting for her to pass some important final message to me and praying I would know what it meant.

  “Wake up.”

  “Wake up?” I looked up to see the skeleton men were now closing in on the stage. They were advancing from all sides, angry and screaming with fire blazing within their hollow eye sockets. “What does that mean?”

  “Wake up!”

  I felt a sharp nudge in the ribs and came to with a start. Felicity was sitting up, dead still, with her head turned toward the front door.

  “Someone is out there,” Felicity whispered.

  “Are you sure?” I was still trying to shake the dream off of me.

  “Positive,” she said. “I could swear I just heard them take out our guards. One minute there was a sort of whizzing sound and the next there were two crashing noises followed by heavy breathing, like snoring but quieter.”

  Memories of the whizzing noises I'd heard in my dream floated back to me.

  Turns out they really were darts after all, I thought.

  “Who would be coming for us?” I wondered out loud. “No one knows we're even here.”

  “Except Tank,” Felicity worried. “You heard what John said at dinner. He's not taking any of this well. What if he decided to come in the middle of the night, when no one was looking, and kill us as we try to escape?”

  “Sounds like him, if you ask me,” I whispered.