Zoey and the Zombies (A Mondamin Court Adventure)

Chapter Twenty Three

Zoey stood, looking through the fence for most of the day in a state of intense anxiety. Holly, Kyle, Ethan, and Jessica took turns staying with her, trying to keep her calm. Too many emotions fought for her attention. She didn't want him back, not after he'd hit her. But she didn't want him on drugs either, or to leave.

A few zombies wandered outside the fence. Zoey took little notice of them, and as long as she was quiet, they took no notice of her either.

The whine of a motorcycle engine broke her troubled thoughts. It grew louder and louder and finally came around the corner of the nearest side street. The zombies looked up, drawn by the noise.

Caleb had left the halberd behind apparently and instead had Zoey's katana strapped to his back. His pistol was shoved in his belt. He swerved to avoid a couple of zombies, but seemed unconcerned.

It was clear the moment he parked the bike and jumped off that he was still high as a kite. His pupils were wide, and he had an extra swagger in his step.

"Honey, I'm home!" he shouted at her. Kyle went to the gate and began to work frantically at the padlock to open it. "I got you something, a present," Caleb said to Zoey. He tossed a small pill bottle over the fence.

Zoey raced to catch it. "What is it?" she asked, then, "Look out!"

Caleb spun as the first zombie approached. He yanked the gun out of his belt and rammed the barrel into the creature's forehead. The shot splattered brains across the street as far as the sidewalk on the other side, and the beast crumpled. Caleb held the gun up and blew across the barrel. He smiled.

He put the gun back in his belt and unslung the sword. Two more zombies were cut down by his wild swings.

Zoey threw herself against the fence. "Caleb!" She pointed in the direction from where he'd just come. A horde of at least thirty zombies had rounded the corner, drawn by the noise. "Kyle, hurry!" she shouted.

"I'm trying," he whined.

"No," Caleb said. "It's too late. I'll draw them off, double-back later." He jumped on the motorcycle and kicked the starter. It roared to life.

Kyle stopped working the lock and watched him. He roared the engine a couple more times, looking back to see that the horde was focused on him.

"Caleb," Zoey said. He turned, smiled, and winked at her. Then he took off down the street.

A second horde, at least as big as the first, appeared around the corner—directly in front of Caleb. He saw them too late. The bike swerved and piled into the mass of undead.

There was a long, loud scream. Zoey's heart pounded. She wasn't sure if she was screaming, or Kyle. Both of them likely.

The others—Philip, Darren, Shawntae, Lydia, and Nicky—ran down the street in their direction, drawn by the commotion.

Zoey turned away from the gate. She noticed, dimly, the pill bottle still in her hand. She read the label. "Estrogen 1 mg." This was what Caleb had risked and lost his life for? Her chance to be a girl, to transition. She balled up her fist and screamed again, this time in rage. It wasn't fair. She'd finally discovered who she was, what she wanted. But she couldn't transition now. The world was ending rather than letting her be a girl.

"Zoey!" Lydia barked, and Zoey froze. She heard the moaning first, then the creaking. She looked back.

Both hordes had converged on the other side of the gate, probably a hundred or more zombies, all told. Ashen, ghoulish faces pressed against the fence, causing it to lean and creak. Fingers fought to get through the chain-link mesh. Mouths moaned; teeth gnashed.

"We've got to back down, lie low for a while," Holly shouted.

The fence creaked again and began to slowly pitch forward.

"Too late," Lydia yelled. "Everyone, get inside, lock your doors. Ethan, run, warn the others, now!" She bolted down the street with Ethan hard on her heels.

Jessica grabbed Zoey's arm, and they ran for Jessica's porch as the fence fell and the undead began to tumble into the U. Kyle and Holly followed, and once everyone was inside, they slammed the door shut behind them.

Zoey peeked out the window and saw one zombie shuffle up the front steps, intent on investigating the noise. Holly pulled her back, out of view.

Michael had been watching from inside the house. He dropped the blinds. "If it can't see us, it will lose interest soon enough."

It took what seemed like forever for Zoey's heart to stop hammering. Looking around the room, everyone must have been feeling the same.

"Now what?" Holly wondered.

Michael just shrugged.

Zoey's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out. Jessica, Kyle, and Holly were all fishing in their pockets as well.

Jack came in over their local network. "This is Jack. I'm at Lydia's. Ruth got here with the goats. Everyone check in."

Knowing her mom would be worried, Zoey answered quickly. "Zoey here, at the Crightons's. Kyle, Holly, and I are all here. The Crightons, of course. Everyone safe."

Philip was next, at home with his wife. Shawntae and Darren had made it home. One by one, they all checked in.

Sara Harrish sounded out of breath. "Rick had to fight one of those beasts off, but we made it."

Ethan had not only made it down the entire block, he was back home with Maggie and Esther. A sobbing Danielle said she was safe with Barry in their house. Nicky's check-in was clipped and unreadable, but she was safe. In fact, the only person who hadn't checked in was Cherie. No one had heard from her all day, but that wasn't unusual. She did her share of work, but otherwise stuck to herself.

"Wherever you are," Jack said when everyone else had checked in, "you are safe for right now. Don't forget that. We've survived this long. We'll figure something out. But not today. It's getting late already. Let's just all stay put. By morning, Lydia and I will have a plan, okay?"