The Undead Situation by Eloise J. Knapp Page B

is yours,” she said as she dropped an angry, squirming ferret in my lap. “Don’t thank me. I’m not interested.”
    My mouth hung open. I couldn’t say I word.
    She turned the car on, while all of us remained silent.

Chapter 12
     
    The Hummer was untouched. I was surprised, since I thought any insane rapists left alive might use it to escape. As we drew closer to it, and the entrance of the prison, the area remained empty.
    My time with Blaze was drawing to a close. Since she had a car, there was no logical reason she’d want to stay with us. She pulled the Mustang alongside the Hummer, keeping her foot on the brake instead of parking it. I opened the door and pushed the seat forward so Frank and Gabe could exit.
    We all turned our heads when we heard the faint echo of a gunshot from within the prison.
    I handed Pickle to Frank who took her into the Hummer, leaving Blaze and me alone. I wasn’t ready for our time to finish. There were only a few people on Earth, most of which were probably dead, who I found interesting. Blaze was…
    “Cyrus! Let’s go!”
    I glared at Gabe for the interruption. She sunk back into the cushioned backseat before slamming the door shut. Through the window, I saw Frank looking anywhere but at me.
    “We’re going east,” I said. “We’ve got a cache of guns and supplies in the Hummer, and a safe destination.”
    Blaze’s eyebrows rose, but I didn’t think she was surprised. Her expression made me feel like a toddler.
    “Follow us until you have a better plan,” I said.
    “Alright.”
    “Boy,” came Frank’s voice.
    Gabe I could ignore, but when Frank used that tone it meant “Get in the Hummer right now, or else.” He was right. I was acting like we were out of danger.
    I tried not to act giddy as I shut the Mustang door and hopped into the Hummer.
    “Is she coming with us?” Gabe asked.
    “Yes.”
    Gabe opened her door and got out.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “I’m riding with her. Why would I stay with you if I have a choice?”
    She wanted to have girl time with Blaze. Call it a hunch, but I didn’t think Blaze was the kind of woman who would like that. Before I could stop her, she got in the front seat and slammed the door shut.
    I started the Hummer and drove until I found the front gates of the prison. They were shut, but not many stiffs were in front. Frank volunteered to open it, and left me alone before I could object. I watched as he walked to the gate, noticing a limp I hadn’t before.
    As he got closer, three Zs lined up in front of him. He pulled out his handgun and shot each in the head before pushing the gate open.
    “Let’s go to the gas station and regroup,” Frank said once back in the vehicle.
    “Fine”
    Backtracking wasn’t my favorite thing to do, but the gas station was the only place we could go to rest. I was running on adrenaline. My wounds needed cleaning, but my highest priority was to eat and remain stationary until I felt up to moving again.
    The gas station had a few new visitors. We debated and decided to park the car behind the pumps closest to the building. It was close, but partially blocked from the street. Blaze parked her car at the entrance of the parking lot, drawing the Zs who’d gathered around us away so we could handle them. After a brief dispatch of some shambling zombies, the four of us went in. The doors had bolts on the top and bottom, which we engaged, offering us mild protection or warning against intruders.
    I roamed the aisles looking for anything nutritionally acceptable. There was no point in eating any of my MREs since there was sustenance readily available. With heavy resignation, I settled on a couple of energy bars, washing it all down with a bottle of Aquafina.
    Blaze and Gabe sat on the floor behind the register, apart and clearly uncomfortable. Frank read the back of a bag of chips. Tired, I sat down between the girls, working on the chewy mass of granola bar.
    Females were strange.