Free Zombie Rage (Walking Plague Trilogy #2) by J. R. Rain, Elizabeth Basque Page B

depended on the zoo staff to take care of them. She fought down her anxiety. She wanted to be good. She knew her father wanted her safe. And Jared, too.
    Anna stepped into her father’s room and brought back the box of ammo he kept in his dresser. Jared made sure the gun was loaded and ready to go. He put up a brave front for her. He hadn’t told her that he couldn’t get in touch with his own parents. That would be just one more thing for her to worry about. There was nothing to be done about it anyway, he supposed.
    “Better get a jacket,” he said. “The fog’s going to be heavy tonight.”
    Anna, feeling a touch of rebellion, grabbed a sweatshirt instead.
    They started walking up the tree-lined streets toward the Greek Theatre. It would have been a nice walk. Except for the fog. Except for the fear of what Anna was now calling zombies .
    “ They don’t act like zombies,” Jared kept up the conversation. Even though they were talking about some crazy shit, it felt good just to talk. But the fog was rolling in quickly now, and their voices echoed in the mist. They found themselves speaking softly.
    “ I know, weird symptoms,” Anna agreed. “But then they want to kill. Mike almost killed my father.”
    The way leading up to the Greek Theatre was unusually quiet. Normally, people were out walking their dogs or going for a run. On this evening, Anna and Jared were alone.
    “True,” Jared said, “but then he got cured.”
    “ Yeah. Not enough information, I guess. Maybe we can go online again if we can get into the observatory.”
    “ Right,” said Jared, taking her hand. He was getting a little nervous. All of the houses were locked up tight, a minimum of lights on.
    Suddenly, Anna stopped. “Shh,” she whispered, glancing behind them.
    They stood silently. Somewhere back there in the dense fog, they heard a sound. Distant but definitely there. Like something dragging along the street.
    “ Shit,” Jared said. “Come on, Anna.”
    They started running, still holding hands in the fog and descending dark. Just a few blocks to go, Jared told himself. They could now only see about ten feet in any direction.
    They were moving as silently as they could, not only to remain unheard but to listen.
    Jared stopped abruptly, yanking Anna back. Up ahead, and close. The same dragging sound...
    They froze. Behind them, now in front of them.
    “The trail,” Anna whispered.
    Jared remembered her father’s instructions...except the trail seemed their only option now. “What if we get lost? Carla’s waiting.” I hope to God she is, he added to himself.
    Anna was about to answer when it materialized before them, seemingly out of the fog itself, moving slowly straight for them. Human but not human, gnashing its teeth, eyes blood red.
    Anna screamed. Jared let go of her hand, took off the safety, and drew up the pistol.
    He aimed for the head and squeezed the trigger.
     
     
    Chapter Twenty-five
     
     
    The head exploded.
    Blood and brain spattered as the zombie fell to the ground, twitching, then lying still. Jared couldn’t believe what he had just done but there was no time to think about it. Because Anna had bolted for the trails.
    Jared took off after her. He didn’t know these trails as well as she did. But he had to get to her. Sweating, panting, he rounded a corner and tripped over a rock, crashed into the brush. The gun slipped out of his hand.
    It was almost fully dark now.
    “ Anna!” he yelled out. He moved his shaking hands out in front of him. The gun, I have to get the gun I have to get the—”
    Anna shrieked somewhere in the distance. Jared’s instincts were to run toward her cry. But he needed that gun. He heard footsteps ahead of him, coming fast.
    “Shit, oh, shit!” He was coming undone.
    He made one last effort, moving his hands around on the ground. His right hand fell on cold steel. He picked it up, rose up, and Anna came crashing into him.
    “Jared!” she sobbed.
    Jared swore to