Zombie Rage (Walking Plague Trilogy #2) Read Online Free Page A

in a chair and waited until Anna ate her sandwich, and Jared ate the two that she’d made for him—growing boy and all that.
    Carla considered. Anna deserved the truth, but her life had also been turned upside down. The girl was barely containing herself. Did she need to know that Mike would have to face two of these monsters? That he might very well die trying to save her uncle? No, she decided. Anna didn’t need to know everything, but Anna was smart, and she would want an answer.
    “Mike’s going to the base for your Uncle Joe. He’s walking into a dangerous situation,” she explained to the fourteen year old. “We decided that it would be best if you weren’t there. And besides, how could we leave your dad all alone?”
    “ Good point,” Anna said. “I don’t want to leave my dad for a second.”
    “ I could have gone with Mike,” Carla continued, “I could have but you have to realize that you haven’t been...well, you haven’t done exactly as your father wanted you to in the last few days. And, as much as you might not like it, I’m in charge for the moment.”
    “ Fine.”
    Typical teenager.
    Carla regarded Anna with a tenderness she’d never felt before. “Honey, I care about your father. You know that, right?”
    “ I know.” She rolled her eyes. Anna wanted to hear about her father’s romantic life about as much as she wanted to hear about zombies.
    Carla dismissed the eye roll. “So if I care about your father you know I care about you. And Jared, of course.”
    Jared was getting used to staying out of this family’s domestic and dramatic affairs. He’d been listening, watching Anna, but he’d held his tongue so far.
    “ Thank you,” was all he said. It seemed to him that nobody understood he was under pressure as well. It was all about Anna, Anna’s dad, Anna’s uncle, Carla and even Mike. He understood only one thing: he loved Anna with all his heart and he wasn’t going to leave her. No matter what.
    Carla continued, “Mike and I discussed this at length.” She held a hand up when Anna started to protest. “I know, I know. You love your dad. You love your uncle. This is a lot, hon, I understand. But if we’re going to help your dad, Mike has to cure your uncle.”
    “How is he going to do it? Will Uncle Joe suffer? Will it work?”
    Jared automatically handed her another tissue as the tears welled up again.
    “Mike’s one of the good guys now,” Carla replied. “He’s on your uncle’s side, and more importantly, he’s on your dad’s side. After all, your dad saved his life.”
    Anna sobbed quietly and nodded.
    “Anna, if we can get your uncle and your dad better, then maybe we can help others, too.”
    “ But if you think that...that drowning is the cure, then why didn’t you just do it to...” She couldn’t finish but Carla knew Anna was referring to her father.
    “ Listen to me, Anna, listen to reason.” It was the closest Carla had come to an order with the teen. “Joe has been infected longer than your dad. We have no idea how this condition will play out. But we’re sure, pretty sure, that this is what helped Mike. Joe may not have much time. And if it helps him, it’s better to help him first because your father is only in the first...stage.” Stage of what, Carla still wasn’t sure. But she knew her logic was sound.
    “ So, it’s not time to...do it yet?”
    It being, of course, drowning her father. Carla shook her head and Anna’s face creased in understanding.
    It was then that Jared finally took Anna’s hand. Anna held on tight. Carla’s reaction was a mixture of joy and concern. Yes, they were both so young, but Carla could tell by their connection that this was no puppy love.
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    Mike had time to think during the drive down to Sunset Beach. He knew it would be smarter to take on Joe alone, and recalled again about how powerful he himself had been in that blood-thirsty state.
    “A man’s got to know his