Free Zombie Games by Kristen Middleton Page B

terror in her eyes.
    “Mom, we heard some gunfire and screaming outside”
    “What?” she cried and raced up the stairs.
    I scrambled up the steps after her and crouched next to her by the family room window. She slid her hand between the blinds and tugged the window open.
    “It looks pretty deserted out there,” I whispered. “I wonder what happened to all of those soldiers who were supposed to be helping us.”
    She held up her hand to silence me. “Do you hear that?” she whispered.
    My heart stopped as I heard the faint sound of a man moaning for help.
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    The front door slammed shut and we both jumped.
    “Sara,” I pointed out the window as our pregnant houseguest bolted away from the safety of the house, her white maternity shirt a beacon in the darkness.
    “What is she thinking? It’s not safe!” protested my mother.
    I felt a sudden surge of fear and adrenaline. I stood up and raced after Sara; determined to keep Megan’s mom and her unborn child safe.
    “Cassie!” my mother shrieked. She bolted down the stairs after me and grabbed my arm before I could make it out the door. “Where in the hell do you think you’re going?!”
    I tried pulling away. “Mom, Sara may need help! You have to let me go.”
    She shook her head vehemently. “I don’t think so! Give the gun to me, I’ll go after her.”
    “You don’t know how to use this thing. You won’t be able to help her!” I hollered.
    Her hazel eyes hardened. “Bull crap. You give it to me young lady. Now!”
    Frustrated, but unable to defy my mother, I reluctantly handed her the gun.
    “Okay, now stay away from the door and windows. I don’t want you to get shot if there are stray bullets.”
    I groaned. “Mom…”
    “I’m serious,” she said, shaking her index finger at me before she raced out the door.
    This is nuts , I thought. I felt like pulling my hair out. I was not only terrified for my mom, but also for the kids sound asleep in the house; which, reminded me.
    I ran back upstairs to the guestroom, where Megan was still sleeping peacefully. I checked the window to make sure it was secure, then hesitantly snuck back out.
    Next, I scurried back downstairs to find Bobby still sleeping on the couch. He looked so peaceful. I sighed at his innocence and then thought of brother, who should have arrived by now. I pulled out my phone and tried calling Bryce but he didn’t answer. Neither did he respond to a text.
    Bryce, where are you ? I wondered, trying to stay calm. And where in the heck was my dad?
    I went back down to the cellar and grabbed my dad’s new Beretta, which he’d been so proud of. It was a nine millimeter and held seventeen rounds, perfect .
    “Cassie!” hollered my mom from the upstairs landing. “Grab the first-aid kit, quickly!”
    I sighed with relief, then grabbed the kit from the laundry room and rushed back up the stairs. I skidded to a halt at the hellish nightmare before me; Sara sat on the steps trying to use her phone, tears streaming down her cheeks, while my mother knelt on the floor, pressing a bloodied towel over a young soldier’s shoulder. His face was pale and he was choking on some of his own blood.
    “Just breathe slowly,” murmured my mother.
    The soldier looked up at me and I recognized him, it was Austin. He tried to say something, but his face contorted in agony and he clamped his eyes shut.
    “What…what happened to him?” I whispered in horror.
    She shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. He was like this when we found him. Hand me the first-aid kit.”
    “Where is everyone?!” sobbed Sara, throwing her phone down. “Nobody is answering the damn phones, all of those soldiers from earlier… just disappeared? !”
    “Okay, calm down Sara. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll get through this, somehow,” said my mom as she opened a bottle of iodine. She poured some on her hands.
    “What’s that for?” I asked.
    “It kills bacteria,” she