Free Arcadium by Sarah Gray Page A

across
the boot and then back down to the road and swerve left. I cut
between two cars and shift right, narrowly missing a side mirror
with my hip.
    Behind me I
hear an engine start and I duck under the belly of a sideways
truck. Now I have to push even harder. The road ahead is clear of
vehicles and I can hear the car speeding up to me but infected
people are swarming towards me like moths to a light.
    It’s become a
life and death game of Bull Rush, but instead of tagging me and
sending me to the sideline the infected will just eat me. Game
over. At least school did prepare me for something.
    I duck left,
almost catching a clawing arm to the face. The infected spins and
topples over as I flash past. I cross into the next lane and surge
on. God, they’re everywhere. I reel back as one comes flying across
me, and then I launch myself over his fallen body. Where’s that
car?
    It flashes past
on my right and the back door flings open. The pace is too quick
for me; I’m tired and falling back and loosing hope. The car slices
across the road sending up a rooster tail of rain spray and I see
Kean leaning out, holding the door open. He’s beckoning to me like
I’ve got some magic ability to run as fast as a car.
    The brake
lights flash and suddenly I’m at the car so quick I almost run
straight into the door. At the last second I propel myself sideways
and Kean grabs me.
    Trouble floors
it and the engine roars. There are hands everywhere, pulling me in,
legs poking in every direction and my face is pressed against the
other door. I kick my legs in and the door slams shut, muting the
rain and the moans.
    Someone’s
talking. It sounds like chanting. For a moment it’s unfamiliar and
then I realise it’s actually me, just repeating oh crap, oh
crap, oh crap . My hand is still clutching the siphon. I’m lying
over Henry, and Kean is hunched over me in the mess of the
backseat. I’m soaked.
    Liss is up
front with Trouble; she’s gripping the seat staring back at me. My
mouth is all gross and slidey like it’s full of spicy dishwashing
liquid. But I’m alive. We’re alive. And the rain is still
applauding for all of us.
     

Chapter 8

    “That was
intense,” Henry says, shuffling over.
    I twist around
so I’m sitting upright and hold myself up on the front seat
headrests. Trouble reaches over and pats my hand as he drives. Liss
still hasn’t formed any words.
    Trouble swerves
right and I fall against Kean. “Sorry,” I say.
    “Wow, you
really don’t have to say sorry. That was… incredible. You just
saved all our lives.”
    I shrug. “You
can get it next time.”
    Kean cracks a
half smile and looks at me strangely. I look down at my hands,
inspecting them for scrapes and cuts but they seem good.
    “Liss, can you
pass me my bag?”
    I shove the
siphon tube into the backpack and take out an antiseptic wipe
because now I’m in an enclosed space, the stench of petrol is
making my head fill with butterflies. Everyone is watching me.
“What?” I say.
    Everyone averts
their eyes, except Liss. “Are there any Chupa Chups left?” she
asks.
    “Um...” I rifle
through my backpack and pull out the plastic bag. Exactly five
left. I pass her the packet so she can have first choice.
    “You can have
the last watermelon,” she says, holding out the lollypop to me.
    I stare at her
but keep wiping my hands clean. “Watermelon is your favourite.”
    “I know.” She
jabs it toward me, waving it in my face. “Take it.”
    My eyebrow
arches but I take it anyway. Liss passes around the packet and then
starts unwrapping one for Trouble, since he’s driving. She kneels
on the seat and leans over, putting it straight into his mouth.
    Trouble smiles
and nods and gives an enthusiastic thumbs-up. And that makes me
smile. Liss slumps back into her seat and stares out the
window.
    “I’m starting
to like him,” Kean says, nodding at Trouble. “What’s his deal?”
    “As far as I
can tell,” I say, “he’s a Chinese