Free Surviving the Day by Matt Hart Page A

didn't see anything close by, but there was a creature coming out of a window at a house down the road.
     
    Actually, I realized that was Joe's house. So the horde might be finished going through the house, which meant they'd be coming this way soon. I looked back to check on Joe, and he was standing to the side of the door and tapping on it. He looked at me and raised his hand up high then down quickly.
     
    Another one of his freaking hand signals.
     
    Perhaps he should have taught me that one BEFORE going to the door.
     
    Maybe it meant get down? I looked around for something to get behind, because I sure wasn't going to lie down in the street. I ran toward the house, a little past it, and put a big tree between Joe and me. I peeked around the tree and Joe gave me a thumbs-up.
     
    I must have guessed right.
     
    I had a decent view of Joe's Zombie Crib, and I could see others piling out. They were shambling this way, so I guess they saw me run to the tree.
     
    Freakin' zombies! I've had enough of them for one day.
     
    I looked back at Joe. The door was open just a little bit and I could see him talking to someone. He looked at me and held up his hand in a “stop” sorta way, so I stayed put. I pointed at the approaching zombies. He looked back and saw them, said something to the person inside then ran off the porch to me.
     
    Well, ran would be a bit generous. He huffed over to me.
     
    Yeah, that's a good word, huffed.
     
    “What's the scoop, Huffy Joe?” I asked him.
     
    “Some lady,” he said. “I told her to stay out of sight of the zombies, but I don't know if she believed me or not. I told her about my house, and there was food and stuff.” He shrugged. “I don't know, maybe too early for folks. They'll realize they're up shi...” Joe paused and cleared his throat. “Up the creek without a paddle pretty soon.”
     
    “Well, let's get going. Your housewarming party is changing over to a block party.” Joe looked back.
     
    “Aww, damn,” he said, heading away from the tree toward the intersection, moving at a slow jog. He clanked and rattled as he moved. “I sound like a freight train,” he said. “We need to stop and fix our packs for noise discipline at some point.”
     
    “Yeah, and I need to take a powder break,” I said, “But it ain't gonna be anytime soon, so move it Clanky Joe!” He laughed and huffed as he jogged. We stayed near the middle of the street, and the intersection came up quickly. Joe turned right and I followed, glancing back at our zombie entourage. I figured there were at least a dozen of the creatures, with more on the way, all in a line that started at Joe's front window. Joe looked back as well before the house on the corner took away the vantage.
     
    “They're going to follow us all the way, aren't they?” he asked.
     
    “If they see us they will,” I said. “I don't plan on stopping and hiding in a garage, though.” Joe nodded in agreement. I looked at the houses coming up on the next street. “Take a right here,” I told him. Joe turned right at the intersection, and we headed parallel to the ocean yet again.
     
    Another delay, but maybe worth it.
     
    I studied the second house as we neared it. Wouldn't do. The third house might work. “Wait here,” I told Joe. I ran quickly to the third house and tapped the front door with my shotgun, then stood to the side the way I'd seen Joe do it. “Anybody home?” I called, then tapped again, harder. I listened at the door and looked back at Joe. He stood in the middle of the street, turning slow circles as he looked in every direction. I heard a thud in the house, nothing for a few seconds, then a pounding on the door.
     
    Zombie.
     
    “Joe,” I called, “let's go!” He gave me a thumbs up and trotted over to me.
     
    “What's the plan, Ninja Girl?”
     
    I smiled. “Lure the zombies into a net that'll hold 'em while we escape,” I said. “Go stand on the sidewalk and make like zombie