Dead Endz

2

2

Paige

For what had to be the hundredth time in just that hour, Paige held back from using her bat. Her mom and Tiny were doing the kissy-face thing again, and it was driving her completely insane.

You’d think they were a couple of teenagers who couldn’t keep their hands off of each other, she grumbled inwardly.

The good thing, however, was that Tiny had kept her mom from smoking any more of her beloved cancer sticks.

“Smoking is bad for you,” he’d scolded her mom playfully when she’d asked him to locate more cigarettes after finally running out.

“Oh, I think you’re bad for me, too,” her mother had replied with a pouty face.

“Baby, I’m bad, but I guarantee I taste better than a cigarette,” he chuckled.

“Okay... okay... okay...” Paige snapped, interrupting their banter. “Remember we are still back here, and there aren’t any puke bags in this vehicle. Either you two find an abandoned motel room, or quit with the disgusting innuendos.”

Kristie turned around and frowned at her oldest daughter. “Paige, seriously? We’re just having some fun. You really have to lighten up, honey.”

“Lighten up? All of our friends are still MISSING. They could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere, for all we know. And you two don’t even seem concerned in the least.”

It had happened soon after a devastated Bryce had carried Cassie back to the other SUV. Apparently she’d lost consciousness after being bitten by Eva, who’d turned into the Zombie b***h from Hell. What was even worse was that Paige didn’t get the chance to take that final swing. She was cheated out of killing the only zombie that Paige would have given her right arm to destroy. Such irony, and it was still eating away at her conscience.

The attack on Bryce had occurred when they’d placed Cassie in the back of the SUV. A big, black Dodge pickup truck had pulled up behind Dave’s, and before anyone knew what was happening, there’d been guns pulled. As soon as the first shots were fired, Tiny had taken off like a bat out of Hell. Unfortunately, Dave’s SUV hadn’t followed as they’d expected. When Tiny had finally turned back around to see if Dave and Bryce needed any help, everyone was missing.

“Hey, we are worried,” said Tiny, tightening his hands on the wheel. “In fact, I feel like a total s**t that I left those guys so quickly. It’s just that I didn’t want anything happening to you girls. And you too, gramps.”

Wanting to comfort her daughter, Kristie reached back, squeezing her lightly on the shoulder. “I know you’re scared, but you have to remember, they’re a tough group of people. In my heart I truly believe that we’ve just been separated for a little while. Before you know it, we’ll be in Atlanta and you’ll realize that everyone is doing just fine. Have some faith, sweetheart.”

Paige turned away and looked out the window, trying not to cry. “I hope you’re right,” she said.

“Your mom is right,” said Tiny. “And we should be in Georgia soon anyway, so you can see it for yourself.”

Paige straightened up. “About that – Tiny, you keep repeating how we’ll be in Georgia every so often, and yet, we’re still not seeing any road signs confirming it. You’re not lost, are you?”

Henry, who’d been sleeping up until that point, cleared his throat and chuckled. “Of course he isn’t lost. He’s traveled the country and has probably been to Georgia a dozen times; right, boy?”

Tiny, who was a pro wrestler and would have probably pounded anyone else in the face that referred to him as “boy”, only nodded back toward old Henry. “Uh, yeah, gramps. I’ve been to Atlanta quite a few times.”

“And you’ve actually driven there?” asked Paige, crossing her arms under her chest.

“Well,” he answered in his high-pitched voice – one that sounded more like Michael Jackson and nothing like the Herculean giant driving the van. “I’ve flown, mostly, but it can’t be that hard when you follow the road signs.”

And that was the problem. The last road sign indicating Georgia that Paige could even remember had been a couple of hours ago, and yet they still hadn’t reached the state. Apparently, Tiny hadn’t thought that was odd.

“Hon... did you take a wrong turn or something?” asked Kristie as they entered the small town of Deer Ridge.

Paige felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up as they slowed down. Deer Ridge appeared to be nothing more than another zombie wasteland on the outside, but she sensed there was something even more sinister to it. In fact, it was almost like driving through an old ghost town where tumbleweeds rolled by and eyes peeked at you from behind dark windows. Right now she’d bet anything the undead were stumbling around somewhere, maybe on the verge of an attack.

Tiny snorted. “Wrong turn? I don’t think so.”

“We could really use a new map,” said Paige. “Then we’d know for sure.”

The last time he filled the tank, he’d lost the old one by swatting a fly with it and absently tossing it away somewhere.

“Yeah, good idea. Let’s fill up at the next gas station and grab one,” replied Kristie.

“Just be on the lookout for thieves,” said Henry. “They’re going to be crawling out of the woodwork now, by golly.”

“By the way, Henry,” said Kristie. “How’s your back? You gonna make it?”

About an hour ago, they’d pulled over to the side of the road so the guys could relieve themselves. Henry had stumbled backwards over a rock and complained about his back hurting.

He shook his head. “It’s a little tender but I tell you what... this stallion isn’t ready for the glue factory just yet. I’ve got a lot of ride left in me.”

Kristie smiled politely. “I’m sure you do, Henry.”

With a gleam in his eyes, he added, “You want to brush off my saddle, purdy lady, you just give the word.”

Paige groaned. She liked Henry, but they’d been driving together for hours and hours and he really needed to shut the hell up about his riding skills.

“Oh, grandpa,” chuckled Tiny.

“Henry,” said Paige, “I think you need to forget about your saddle and help us figure out where the heck we are.”

“We’re definitely lost, that’s where we are,” he said, pulling out his tin of chew. “It ain’t rocket science, honey.”

“You really think we’re lost?” asked Kristie, looking concerned.

Tiny didn’t answer this time and Paige wanted to scream.