Free Surviving This Life by Salice Rodgers, N. Nieto

away from the car!” I yell to Tony as I stumble my way out of the door motioning for Becky to hurry up. She looks like a regular pack mule with all those bags draped over her tiny frame. She is hesitant at first until I knock the last flesh eater that is in front of me to the ground.
    “I’m not going to let you die while you have our things,” I snap at her.
    Wil is at the car trying desperately to find the right key to unlock the doors as I see a flesh eater staggering up behind her. Emily screams as it gets closer to them. I run as fast as I can, dodging the other eaters to get to them when I hear a loud bang and the eater drops behind them.
    “I got them covered you get Becky to the car,” Tony shouts.
    I look back at Becky as two fleshes eaters are slowly approaching her. She backs up until her back hits the now closed garage door. She is screaming and closes her eyes tight. I could just let her die now, but she has our supplies. “Fuck,” I mumble as I sprint to her rescue. I yank the first one back and bash him over the head. The second one is now grabbing at her arm as she swings it from side to side trying to free from his grip. I rear back and knock it over the head with all of my might. My bat smashes through its skull like a knife in hot butter. Brain matter and blood splash all over Becky. 
    “EWW! GROSS!” She hisses as she tries to wipe it from her face.
    I turn around and walk to the car in the now flesh eater free zone. I can’t help but have a huge grin on my face as I slide into the driver seat.
    Once everyone is in the car I crank it up and make my way back onto the road.
     
     

Chapter Seven
    Willow
    A few days ago I would have been getting up and getting ready for work. I had my dream job and the dream boyfriend any girl could ask for. I was working my way up the ladder at the coffee shop and soon I would be able to have my own and could make new kinds of coffee and snacks. Not everyone’s dream, but it was mine and I was slowly getting there day by day.
    Now I am sitting in the back of Tony’s car looking out the window watching flesh eaters as they walk around with no destination in mind until they hear a noise or see something moving, with no boyfriend and no job. The world has gone to hell and I am fighting to stay alive in it.
    “How much farther till Florida you think?” I ask Liv. 
    My tail end feels numb because I have been sitting on it for so long. And what would usually be a normal stop at the store for a soda is now a fight to make it out alive.
    “I am not sure. Becky how much farther once we hit the Florida state line?” Liv ask.
    “Umm not too far, maybe another four or five miles,” she speaks up.
    “So we have about another ten miles Wil,” Liv answers as she looks at me through the rearview mirror at me.
    “My rear end is dead,” I say and squirm in my seat giggling. Emily joins in laughing at the funny faces I am making and leaning up rubbing my butt cheek.
    “Do you want me to see if I can find a place to stop and stretch our legs?”
    “No, let’s just get there. So when we stop it will be the last one for a while I hope.” I smile.
    “Okay.” Liv steps on the gas pedal a little harder.
    The rest of the ride to Florida is in silence with neither Becky nor Tony talking unless someone says something to them first and in Becky’s case it is not very often.
    Becky leans in between the seats and points to a long road to the right. The road has orange trees lining both sides making a canopy over the gravel road.
    “Down this road. It’s the only house on the road.” She speaks to Liv quietly.
    Liv nods her head saying nothing as she drives down the road. Emily stirs beside me and rubs her eyes looking out the window. I feel a calm come over me as we drive down the driveway. Like maybe we will be safe here.
    Liv comes to an abrupt stop in the middle of the driveway.
    “There is a gate.” She turns to Becky, “Your house so you open it,” she says