Free The Living Dead Boy by Rhiannon Frater Page B

toward Sam.
    “He’s coming,” was all Sam managed to call out as he tried to pick up his pace, breathing even harder.
    “Who’s coming?”  Troy asked, running with his hand firmly on his brother’s shoulder, guiding him forward.
    Josh’s eyes widened as he caught sight of the figure not too far behind them.  “Your dad,” he answered.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 11
     
    Josh felt his heart skip a beat and his legs felt like rubber.  Fear rose up, choking him and making it hard to speak.
    The zombie that was once Roger and Troys’ father was covered in blood and moving rapidly toward them. His body jerked as his feet skittered across the asphalt. It was if he had forgotten how to move like a human. The zombie continued his soundless rush toward them.  Since his throat was ripped out, zombie Mr. Inmon’s mouth was open in a silent scream, blood drizzling down his front.
    “Josh!”  Sam exclaimed.  “What are we going to do?”
    Finally, Josh answered in a low voice, “Keep running!”
    “Dad! Dad!” Roger wailed as Troy shoved him down the road.  “My dad is hurt!”
    “He’s not hurt, Rog!”  Troy yanked on his arm, trying to get him to run.
    The boys struggled with each other, sweat pouring down their faces despite the chill in the air.
    Overhead, the sky rumbled, briefly distracting Josh. Drawing a deep breath, he tried to focus the flurry of thoughts whirling around in his mind.  Arturo barreled past Josh and Yessica, pumping his arms and legs as hard as he could.  Fear painted his features into a dull color, his eyes stark in his terrified expression.  Josh tried to reach out to him, but Arturo kept running, his breath ragged.
    Lumbering toward them, sweat making his red face slick and shiny, Sam grunted and groaned with determination. His huge stomach swayed back and forth as he pushed himself harder than Josh had ever seen before.  Not even in gym class. Sam had always resisted doing any physical activity until now.  Of course, he had never had zombies running after him before.
    “Take Yessica with you,” Josh ordered Sam, holding out her hand out to him.  “I’m going to get the zombie.”
    Sam nodded, hardly able to breathe, and grabbed the little girl’s hand, yanking her after his lumbering body. Yessica let out a small yelp, startled, clearly not really comprehending what was going on.  Her tiny body looked fragile next to Sam’s as they ran.
    “What are you gonna do, Josh?” Troy called out, still trying to get his brother under control.  The tiny droplets of sweat in his hair made his afro sparkle.
    Josh watched the bloody man rushing toward him while he pulled his backpack off his shoulders.  “I’m gonna be a Zombie Hunter and stop him.”  His heart was pounding so hard against his ribs that it hurt.
    “No!” Roger whirled around, knocking Troy aside. “Josh, leave my dad alone!”
    Arturo doubled back and slammed into Roger, tackling him to the ground before the distraught boy could run toward his zombiefied father.  The three boys wrestled on the ground, Arturo and Troy trying to get Roger under control.  With grim determination, Sam ran past the ruckus, pulling the little girl along with him.
    Swinging his heavy pack down to his side, Josh narrowed his eyes on the creature running toward him. Mr. Inmon’s face was unrecognizable.  Bloody teeth gnashing, hands slashing out in front of him, Roger and Troy’s father was more terrifying than Josh could have ever imagined. Josh coughed; his breath still caught in his throat, and tried to keep his balance as the world seemed to sway around him.  This was it. He was going to kill a zombie.  He was going to kill the father of his friends. The coppery smell of blood filled his nostrils and he felt faint, like he was going to throw up.
    “You have to do this,” he grimly told himself.
    “Don’t hurt my dad!”
    Troy and Arturo fought with Roger, trying to get him to his feet and away.  Roger, who was not