Flip This Zombie - Jesse Petersen [72]
“I have no intention of shooting you, babe.” His eyes widened as he looked past me. “Unless you don’t move!”
I dove for the floor, flattening out as I skidded across the hall toward him on my stomach. His shotgun exploded again, echoing in my ringing ears at such close range. As I flipped around, I watched as the Non-Jimmy zombie collapsed forward into the hallway, most of his face gone from the shotgun blast. He hit the linoleum with a thud that reverberated all the way to me and then lay still.
For a long moment Dave and I were both silent, just staring at the carnage before us. And then I got up and threw myself into my husband’s arms.
“You came back,” I sobbed, not even aware I was crying until I felt the wet from his shirt against my face.
“Of course I did,” he said, holding me tight. His heart was throbbing just like mine. “I wasn’t about to let you get hurt. Once you got on the highway, I followed you all day today. I would have followed you for the next year if I had to.”
I pulled back and looked at him. He was beautiful and dependable and whole and mine. And I owed him a big fucking apology. And probably a blow job or something, because I had truly screwed up.
“You were right,” I said as I swiped at tears and pulled myself back together.
“I can never hear that enough,” he chuckled.
I didn’t laugh with him. The situation was just way too messed up. “No, I mean you were really, really right. The bionics do have that same brand as Kevin’s, just like you said they did.”
His smile faded and he looked at the dead bionic in the hallway with a deep frown. What was left of the creature’s head was turned away from us and even now I could see half the brand on his neck.
“They did come from his lab, David,” I whispered as I turned away from the proof. “He did make them, or at least he knew they were out here rampaging. And he lied straight to our faces about it.”
Dave blinked. “I sort of hoped I was wrong,” he finally whispered.
I stared at him. “You did? I thought you hated Barnes.”
“Not Kevin anymore, is he?” Dave asked with an arched brow that made me blush.
I shook my head. “Asshole, prick, freakazoid… but not Kevin, that’s for fucking sure.”
“Well, I do hate him,” Dave said with another slightly smug smile. “But that doesn’t mean I wanted what I said to be true. There was some part of me that hoped maybe he really did have everyone’s best interest at heart. That we really did have a prayer of ending this shit.”
“Hope, huh?” I asked as I took his hand. “I thought you didn’t believe in that.”
“Nobody’s perfect,” Dave laughed. “Now, where’s The Kid? I think it’s time for the three of us to pick up and go to new pastures. Barnes will be looking for us as soon as he figures out we know his secret and I’m sure as hell not delivering any more new lab rats for him.”
My eyes went wide. The Kid!
“Oh Jesus,” I said, pacing away from Dave down the hall. “The Kid, oh Christ, The Kid!”
“What?” Dave asked, staring at me. “Is he hurt?”
“No,” I shook my head. “Oh God, I don’t know. He isn’t with me.”
Dave’s mouth dropped open. “Not with you? Why isn’t he with you?”
I sucked in a gulp of air that hurt my chest. “He-he was still hurt from the accident. His wrist… I thought it wouldn’t be safe to take him when he might not be able to handle a weapon or fight off a zombie. So I…” My voice dropped to a whisper. “I left him behind. W-With Barnes.”
Dave covered his face. “Shit, oh shit. He’s back at the lab? He’s alone with that fuck face?”
I nodded as the tears I’d shed earlier came flooding back to my eyes. “Oh my God, David. That bastard was going on this morning about needing new specimens, ones of all types. He must want kids, too. He could do anything to Robbie. He could hurt him, he could test horrible things on him… he could kill him if he wanted to without us there to protect him.”
“Shit,” Dave whispered. “We have to get him.”
I was about to nod but before I could, the sound of a rifle action sliding into place cracked