Free Books of the Dead (Book 3): Dead Man's Land by R.J. Spears Page B

just as dead as the guy in the parking lot was about to be.  It was time to beat feet and get the hell out of there, but her indecision was his gain.
    He opened the small plastic box, took out what he needed, and loaded it into the gun.  He knew he’d only have one shot at this, but he was confident he could make it.  He also comforted himself that if he didn’t get her with this weapon, he could shoot the bitch with his other gun and make a run for it.  With all the undead in the street, they’d have their hands full.
    At least, that’s what he told himself.
     
    Russell watched in horror as the zombies enveloped Wayne.  The sound of two more shots came from the crowd, and that was it.  He put his head down for a moment, overwhelmed by a sense of loss, but then he jerked his head up to check on Paige.
    She stood in the street, frozen in place.  Three zombies were closing in on her, but she didn’t move.  She was transfixed on the mass of zombies now feasting on Wayne.  Maybe she felt she couldn’t leave him, despite the fact that he was already gone.  Maybe she felt she deserved to die because it was at her insistence that they come into town in the first place. 
    Whatever it was, it was going to get her killed, and he couldn’t let that happen.
    There was no getting to her on foot in time, and the truck was too far away to retrieve her.  Russell dropped to one knee and sighted the closest one of the zombies closing on Paige.  He got the thing’s head in his sights and pulled the trigger.
    A millisecond later, the zombie’s head exploded, sending gore and black ooze onto Paige’s legs, snapping her out of her trance.  She stumbled back and nearly fell over but caught herself.
    “Paige!” Russell shouted, “run this way.”
    She took a moment to break completely from the compulsive bond that held her in place, but then took a halting step in Russell’s direction.
     
    She was on the move.  The two-minute warning was long passed, and there were only three ticks on the clock and no timeouts left.  If Rex wanted this ball in the end zone, he’d have to do it now. 
    He steadied himself against the side of the wall, took in a breath, and then let it out.  Taking into account the gentle wind hitting him in the back, he corrected his aim a millimeter and pulled the trigger.  
     
    Paige made the next step and was poised to start an all-out sprint to Russell when she felt a sharp pain in the back of her left calf.  It was as if she had been stung by a giant-sized wasp.  She nearly fell; while stumbling up the road a couple steps, a zombie clutched at her arm, snagging her sleeve.  She still had her rifle in her hands and swung it up savagely, striking the zombie’s arm, snapping it in two at the elbow.  The zombie’s grasp broke free as its arm fell uselessly at its side.  Undeterred, it brought up its other arm and reached for her,
    She swatted this arm away easily, dodged around another zombie’s outstretched arms, and started running toward Russell.  Her steps were unsteady at first, but she gained a certainty of purpose as she focused completely on Russell.  He became the only thing in the world, and she would get to him even if it were the last thing she ever did.
     
    Rex quickly pulled back the gun.  As much as he would like to stay and watch the reunion, he knew an open victory party was a bad idea.  He slowly backtracked behind the bar and then edged along the woods and out of sight, wondering if the intruders had any idea what was in store for them.

Chapter 12
    Repercussions
     
                 
     
    “What the hell were you thinking?” Brandon shouted. 
    All Paige could do was sob.  She was crammed in the backseat of the truck between Russell and Devin as Brandon floored it in their return trip to the Manor. Russell did what he could to comfort her, but she was near hysterics. It was like losing her family and friends all over again. 
    “Do you know three men