Chapter 11 #2
I topple down, my ass hitting the metal car roof with a loud thud as pain radiates up my spine.
I cry out, both in shock and agony, as I’m dragged toward the horde of zombies by my ankle.
Maws gape open at me, yellowed teeth and blackened gums waiting to bite down and inject me with the venom-like virus before tearing the flesh from my bones.
One zombie clamps their jaws around my boot and chews, thick saliva dribbling down the leather and its chin while another zeroes in on my calf. I kick out and try to pull away, but my fingers find no purchase on the metal car that’s slick with gore.
This is it. This is how I die.
And then a car slams into the zombies in front of me, causing them to collapse to the ground. The hold on my leg disappears, and I scramble away and stagger to my feet. It takes a moment for me to realise that the car that saved me has no driver. What the fuck?
I look around and that’s when I see it. Or rather her.
Ollie, the warrior goddess, has somehow enacted a domino effect on the surrounding cars, causing one to slam into another.
Zombies scatter across the tarmac, both whole and in pieces.
There’s still an unbelievable amount of them, but the horde has thinned enough to where both me and Rhys have a chance.
But the warrior goddess isn’t done.
She nocks an arrow and draws her bow, her hands steady as he aims before letting the arrow fly.
Only this isn’t just your normal arrow, it’s a fucking flaming arrow, like the kind you see in films. It flies through the air and slams into the ground.
For a moment, I just stand there, disappointed as she releases two more flaming arrows, both of which just harmlessly hit the ground.
And then there’s a whoosh, and the tarmac ignites.
Only then do I smell that, beneath the stench of rot, there’s the chemical aroma of petrol and oil.
Somehow, Ollie spilled enough onto the ground that it’s able to burn.
And fuck does it burn. The fire erupts around the cars, engulfing everything in its path, including zombies.
Inhuman moans and screeches fill the air alongside the crackle, hiss and pop of the fire.
The stench of burning flesh and rubber fills the air, making me gag.
“Theo, move your ass!” Rhys shouts from a few cars away from me before he hops onto another.
I shake myself from the shock and do as I’m told.
I leap from one car to the other, the path now clear thanks to the fire and cars.
The zombies are more interested in the fire, like the heat is messing with their senses, so they pay no attention to me as I rush past them.
The smoke and toxic fumes burn my eyes, nose and throat as I run.
Tears stream down my face and it’s a fucking struggle to breathe, but I’ll take this over certain death any day.
I’m not sure how long it takes before I’m clear enough away that I can hop down from a car and run on solid tarmac.
As soon as I do, all I want is to drop and kiss the ground.
And then kiss Ollie because she just saved my ass.
But I don’t do any of that because the moment my boots hit the ground, my knees give out and I collapse.
Familiar hands grab me before my head can smack the tarmac and lift me up. “I got you,” Alex murmurs as he hoists me upright with his hands under my armpits.
“Are you bit?” Rhys asks, his voice shaky, both from exhaustion and worry.
“I don’t think so,” I croak. It feels like there are shards of glass slicing into my throat.
“Here. Wash his face,” Ollie says from somewhere behind me. I try to look up, to make sure that she’s okay, but my body refuses to cooperate.
Cold water splashes onto my face, causing me to gasp and jerk in Alex’s arms. The big guy keeps his grasp firm so I don’t topple as the water soothes my burning eyes and nose. Then something metal presses against my lips.
“Drink,” Rhys orders softly.
I open my mouth and gulp down a few mouthfuls of cool water, sighing as some of the burning pain from my throat eases. The metal disappears from my mouth and Alex adjusts his grip on me.
“I’m going to lift you up since you can’t walk and we need to move,” Alex says before he hoists me up into a fireman’s carry.
My sore, exhausted body cries out in protest, and I wince. “I feel like a damsel in distress,” I croak as we move.
“Does that make you the Disney princess now?” Ollie teases back, the relief stark in her voice.
Aw, was she worried about me? My lips curl into a smirk. “No, that’s still you, princess. You and your animal sidekicks. Just waiting for you to break into song any minute now.”
She snorts and I can almost feel her shake her head in exasperation. “I already told you I don’t sing.”
I chuckle, which turns into a coughing fit that hurts like a bitch. Don’t inhale toxic fumes or smoke, kids. It fucks with your lungs. Let’s just hope I’ve done no permanent damage.
“We’ll keep moving until we find a water source to get cleaned up,” Rhys says.
No one argues, which reminds me.
“One order down, two to go,” I mumble to Alex.
He snorts and I can feel him shake his head. “You’re an idiot.”
“Yes, but I’ll be an idiot with a delicious bar of Toffee Crisp.”
“You haven’t won yet.”
I just smirk. Not yet, but the day is young and I’m sure there will be plenty of orders for Ollie to disobey. And then victory will be mine.
What a good day to be alive.