The Zombie Chronicles - Book 2 (Apocalypse Infection Unleashed Series) Read Online Free

tears that were welling up in his eyes. When he’d regained his composure, he turned to face Lucas. “Check for gas, and then you and Val get this truck hotwired.”
    Val smiled. “Guess we’re a team, Lucas.”
    “ Right. We’re gonna need—”
    “ A screwdriver?” She held one up.
    “ You’re not like any girl I’ve ever met,” he said. “You’re cool, tough, and funny—and brave!”
    “ Well, I’m not your typical gal. And don’t let the smile fool you. I never give up—not ever.”
    Claire pulled out her gun. “I have to kill that thing, put it out of its misery.”
    “ And I hope you all know she’s not talking about me!” Val called back as Lucas pulled her along to the front of the truck.
    Claire met my gaze. “This poor soul wouldn’t want to be left this way. I need to do this if I’m ever gonna make it out here in this crazy world we now live in. I’ve gotta know that I still have some kind of compassion left in me and that I’m brave enough to face one of those things—and kill it.”
    “ We’re gonna need you,” Nick said, “and yes, you have to be ready.”
    Claire slowly pulled out her gun and aimed. “I’m so, so sorry,” she said to the zombie, sniffling and wiping a tear from her cheek.
    “ Aim straight for the center of the head,” I coached. “It’s the only thing that’ll kill them.”
    She nodded.
    The thing let out a loud howl , and Claire pulled the trigger. It dropped, crashing down with a loud thud , like a lifeless, filthy sack of potatoes.
    It was difficult watching her kill a human being that someone had once cared for. It coulda been somebody’s son, father, or brother. It could have been…Nick, I reasoned, and I felt like I was going to be sick all over again.
    Nick cut the rope , and I hopped into the bed of the truck. Jackie helped me heave the body over the edge and onto the ground, and I wiped my hands on a nearby rag.
    The engine clicked and finally started, so we could all breathe a little easier, knowing we had better transportation than our aching feet. I didn’t know where we were going to go, but the truck would help us get there faster.
    Lucas opened the divider window in the cab of the truck. “ I’m driving, and Val’s riding up here.”
    “ Sure, leave us exposed to the elements…and zombies,” I joked. But really, I didn’t mind riding in the back. There was only room for two or three in the front anyway, and there was no sense cramming ourselves in there like sardines.
    “ Hey, how much gas is there?” Jackie asked.
    “ Not much,” he said. “We’ll have to find some, but we have enough for now.”
    I bit my lip. “It’ll have to do.”
    “ L et’s get on the road,” Val called over. “I mean, it’s only my fat butt on the line.”
    “ For the record, I don’t agree,” Lucas said.
    Val shot him a look like she was shocked that he didn’t want to hurry up and save her life.
    “ I mean…your butt’s not fat,” Lucas explained. “If you ask me, I think it’s perfection, and—”
    She playfully slugged him. “C’mon, Mr. Sweet Talker. Let’s get a move-on before all that perfection rots off before your very eyes.”
    In the distance, zombies stumbled toward us. I pounded on the glass window and motioned for Lucas to hit the gas, and fast.
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Val and Lucas chatted up front while the rest of us sang songs and told jokes in the back of the pick-up truck. The cool wind whipped through my hair as I watched the blur of scenery pass around me. I hardly saw any zombies on the plains, and it was somewhat comforting to know there were some zombie-less places in the world. Not every single patch of land was flooded with them like the horror movies suggested. We drove through a seemingly endless stretch of gravel roads and farmland. I tried to distract myself and not dwell on our circumstances. I had faith that we’d find Tahoe and the vials; I had to have faith and hope because that was really