Free The Undead Situation by Eloise J. Knapp Page A

came closer.
    “I have someone with me. Pretty sure it’s your buddy Frank,” Gabe said. “I’m on my way. Start lowering. The sunroof is open.”
    I had the bag half way down the building when the black Hummer made its appearance. At first nothing followed it, but a handful of zombies made their dull, inevitable approach.
    My hands were busy lowering, so I couldn’t scold Gabe for being less than careful. As I worked, I started feeling overwhelmed Frank found us. I hadn’t given up, but I’d become so doubtful it was hard to believe it was him. But it couldn’t be anyone else. It had to be Frank.
    Tires screeching, the vehicle came to a stop. The same tactical-gear-clad girl I had met a few days ago poked up through the sunroof, looking back up at me. A second later, Francis popped up out of the sunroof, too.
    “Stop jerkin’ off, Cyrus! Get down here!”
    Excitement gripped me and the rope loosened in my hands, sending the bag speeding to the vehicle. Just in time, I squeezed, stopping it before it hit the roof. The severe jerk strained my arms, forcing me to brace myself. There went my back.
    Gabe and Francis grabbed the duffel, maneuvering it into the backseat. She got one of the rifles out and tried to pick off Zs that were getting too close. The noise would only draw more, but it was too risky to not take action.
    I rappelled down, noting that all undead in the immediate area caught wind of the action and were ready to give chase. Both ends of the alley were choked with dead bodies, happily trotting along.
    My boots touched the roof of the car. Francis was at the wheel, Gabe still shooting. She cleanly blew the head off a naked woman missing an arm.
    “What’s the plan, Cyrus? Reverse or forward?”
    “Forward!” I told Frank. “Get some momentum so you can run them over.”
    “You got it, boy!”
    I ducked into the vehicle, yanking Gabriella down with me.
    “They’re going to fly over the Hummer,” I said. Just to keep her guessing, I lied and added, “Don’t want you going with ‘em.”
    G-force knocked me back a little when Frank put the pedal to the metal. Bodies hit the front of the car, thumping and soaring over the roof. They were no match for the stolen Hummer.
    There were barricades set up back when the military was still trying, which left some roads wide open and others beyond the description of ‘traffic.’ Frank seemed to have a plan, so I didn’t bother questioning him, although I wasn’t sure why we didn’t get on the freeway.
    I glanced into the rearview mirror and noted the growing horde following us. A zombie wearing Mickey Mouse ears was in the lead.
    “So, Cyrus. I’m surprised to see you outsid’a that hole you call a home. Did this firecracker ball-n-chain you, or what?”
    If he were anyone else, I would’ve knocked him out for a comment like that. But he was Francis Bordeaux. He was the father I’d wished I had. The role model who came in too late. I remembered the regret from our last conversation, and decided I’d never end a conversation with him negatively again. So, instead of being snide, I laughed with him and clapped him on the shoulder.
    Gabe ejected her clip, checking to see how many rounds she had left. After slamming it back in, she looked at me skeptically, then up to Frank, who was still laughing at his ‘ball-n-chain’ remark.
    “So this is Frank? He was walking around with a knapsack and a shotgun like it was nobody’s business.”
    “Yeah, that’s Frank. Nothing he does is anybody’s business.” I grinned.
    Frank howled in the front seat as he hit a faceless teenager, who flew over the car and into a street light.
    “So, what’s the plan, ya’ll? We gonna bunker down in the mountains? Head to the cabin?”
    Gabe avoided eye contact. Frank’s presence seemed to have stunned her. She didn’t think we’d find him, and now that we had it probably felt like us against her. If she was thinking that, she was partially right. I had more