Free Those Lazy Sundays: A Novel of the Undead by Thomas North

loomed over him, his mouth open, pinkish saliva dripping from his whiskered chin. His chest had two gaping wounds from Brent’s shotgun, but he was still moving.
    “Jesus Christ!” Brent yelled, giving the shotgun another hard pump, sending an expended shell flying through the air. “This guy got kevlar on or something?”
    He fired again, tearing a third hole through the man.
    The man with the goatee moaned and reached down for Kyle, who recoiled, instinctively throwing his hands over his head to protect himself. Mary screamed as the man grabbed Kyle’s arm and leaned in, gnashing his teeth. With a surprisingly quick movement, the man snapped at Kyle’s arm near his bicep. Kyle fell over sideways and tried to pull his arm away. The man’s teeth caught on part of Kyle’s dark green jacket, but Kyle yanked it away, the goateed guy coming away with a mouthful of cotton and polyester.
    Not giving up, the man turned his attention to Mary, who was frozen with fear, hypnotized by the situation unfolding in front of her. He leaned down, reaching out for her. She screamed, and recovering her senses, pushed herself backwards. Thinking quickly, Andy grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled hard, causing her to fall backwards onto him. The man swiped at her, but missed.
    He turned, focusing on Andy and Mary, preparing for a second attack. He took one plodding step, then a second, before a fourth gunshot rang out. The man’s head jerked backwards. His eyes went wide and he fell over, his head smacking on the pavement in front of Kyle.
    Kyle, staring at the dead body a few inches in front of him, jumped to his feet and stepped backwards, almost tripping over Sarah, who hadn’t moved. He looked straight ahead, the police station to his back. He counted seven more people, their mannerisms unmistakable, walking towards them. He pointed, getting the attention of his friends and the two men standing in front of the police station.
    Andy jumped up, pulling Mary with him. “Guys let’s get the hell out of here!” he said, almost screaming. “We need to get Jack and Kate!”
    He looked around, counting four more people across the street, and looking down the street past the police station, another five moving in their direction, with several more that were staggering around in odd directions. Kyle and Sarah pulled themselves off the ground and moved towards the van. Brent aimed his shotgun at the four people across the street and motioned at the four people outside the police station.
    “Everyone, inside the station now!” he ordered, stepping back toward the building.
    “We’ve got friends we left out there,” Andy said to him. “We need to get them.”
    “Like shit you are! I said everyone inside."
    “I’m going,” Andy said resolutely, moving to the van and blocking the open passenger door with his body.
     “You guys, go inside with them.” He looked at Mary, Kate and Kyle. “I’ll find Jack and Kate and get them back here.”
    “Andy, I’m coming with you,” Sarah said defiantly, grabbing his arm.
    “No! Stay with these cops. You’ll be safe. I’ll be back soon,” he said. Before she could react, he jumped in the van and slammed the door, locking it.
    Sarah scowled at him. She banged on the window angrily, and then, realizing that the side door was still open, headed for it. Seeing her move, Andy slid to the back of the van and slammed the side door shut. Sarah swore at him. He pointed at the men who were alternately watching the quarreling couple and the approaching people.
    “Go,” Andy mouthed, then paused, and mouthed, “I love you.”
    Sarah glared at the van while Andy hopped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
    “If you two are done, we'd love to get back inside the damn building!” Brent yelled.
    Sarah took one look back at the van before dashing up the steps to the police station, Mary and Kyle following close behind. The metal doors of the two vehicles screeched as Andy pulled the