Life After The Undead (Book 2): Death to the Undead (44 page)

“It’s
really
nice
to see
you
alive,
sir,”
the
driver
said.
“We
were
told to
expect
the
worst.
We
thought
the
rebels
might
try
to
attack
us.”

Liet
chuckled. “You don’t
have
to worry
about
the
rebels.”
He
spit the
word
out like it
left
a
bad
taste
on his
tongue.
“They
aren’t
even
close
to being
a
threat.”

I
opened
my
eyes
and
tried to shoot
lasers
into the
back
of
his
head.

“That’s
good
to know, sir.
I’m
sure
The
Families
will be
happy
to hear it,
too.”

The
vehicle
drifted into
silence. After
a
few minutes,
snores
sounded
from
the
front.
Liet
fell
asleep.

“When’s
the last time
you
saw
a
zombie?”
I
asked
the
soldier
across
from
me.
She
didn’t look much
older
than
me,
maybe
a
couple
of
years.

“You
don’t have
to answer,
Private.”
The
driver’s
voice
was
low,
authoritative.
“You
can
make
the
prisoner
shut up.”

Again,
I
tried
to
make
lasers shoot out of my
eyes
into the
back
of
his
head.

“It’s
all
right,
sir.
She’s
not
bothering
me.”
She
focused
her
gaze
on me.
“It’s
been
a
while. I
bet
you’ve
seen
a
lot.”

I
shrugged.
I
wasn’t trying
to
make
friends,
I
was
just sick of
silence.
Besides, any
voice
other
than
Liet’s
was
more
than
welcome.
“It
varies
from
day
to
day,
but
there’s
never
a
dull
moment.
Lots
of opportunity
to
keep
my
skills
sharp
and
use my
brain.
Every
day
is an
adventure
filled
with
excitement.”

She
looked
at
me
skeptically. “What’s
the most
zombies
you’ve
ever
killed
at
one time?”

I
could’ve
made
up a
story,
made
myself
into a
heroine,
but
what
was the
point?
I’d
been
through
and
seen
a
lot.
I’d
faced
down
and
killed
more
zombies than
I
could
count. I
could’ve
told
her
about
International
Falls
or
about
the
gauntlet
we
had
to run to
get
into North Platte
or
even
about
the
hordes
that
roamed
the
highways,
but
she
wouldn’t
have
believed me. She
would
probably
politely
nod,
all
the
while
cursing
me in
her
mind
as
a
liar.
I
didn’t need her approval or
awe.

I
smiled. “You
wouldn’t
believe
me if
I
told
you.”

She
pursed
her
lips.
“I
might.
We’ve
heard stories
down
here. Are
there
really
millions of
creatures?”

“Probably
worldwide.
No one
knows how
many
there
are
here.
No one’s
taking
the time
to study
them.”

“Why
would we
study
them?”
The
driver
didn’t
attempt
to
keep
the
contempt
out of his
voice.

I
shot a
dirty
look at the
back
of
his
head. “You’re
not the
least
bit
curious
where
they
came
from?
What
caused
them to be
zombies?
Is
it a
virus?
Bacteria? Can
they
be
cured?”

The
Hummer
sat in silence
for
a
moment.

“Even
if we
don’t study
them, why
isn’t something
being
done
about
them?”
I
interrupted
the
quiet.
“Why
do the
humans
have
to cower in
Florida
while the
zombies
roam
free
on our
land?”

Liet
adjusted
in his seat and
cleared
his
throat.
After
a
few
minutes,
the snoring
resumed. I
leaned
my
head
back
on
my
seat.

“I
guess
complacency
is
easier
than taking a
stand. I
guess
being
told what to do is
easier
than thinking
for
yourself.
I
wouldn’t
know.
I’ve
been out
there,
trying
to
make
a
difference.” I
cocked
my
head
to the
right. “Is
it
easier?”

“I
do
my
part.” Her
tone
was
defensive.

I
nodded.
“Sure
you
do.” I
directed
my
attention
to
the
driver.
“What
about
you,
Captain
Butt
Kiss?
Does
complacency
and
moronicy
make
life easier?”

“This
conversation
is
over. Private,
refrain
from
talking
to the
prisoner.”

I
smiled
and
focused
my
gaze
out the
back window.

***

Our
menagerie
drew quite a
crowd
at
the
high
school.
Of
course,
I’m
sure
watching
me shuffle
by
with
my
tied
legs,
handcuffed
to
Liet,
and
surrounded
by
armed
guards
was
the most exciting
thing
the kids
had
seen in a
while.
It
gave
them something
to
talk
about other
than who
was
dating
who
and
what
outfit they
were
going
to wear the
next
day.
I
glanced
back
at
the
gawkers,
a
smile on
my
face.
I’m
sure
they
thought
I
was
insane. I’m
sure
they
wandered
why
I
didn’t walk with
my
head hanging
low,
ashamed
of
what
I’d
done,
defeated.
Oh,
if
they
only
knew
the
truth. Poor,
brainwashed sheep.

We
walked
into the
school, past the
front
desk,
and
headed
directly
into
the
elevator.
Four of
us
made
the
trip
up: 
me,
Liet,
Captain
Butt Kiss, and the
soldier
who
sat
across
from me
in the
Hummer. I
called
her Private
Lamb
Chop in
my
mind, she
reminded
me so much of
that
puppet.
Plus, if she
ever
did run into a
zombie, she
probably
would
get
slaughtered.