Zombie Town Read Online Free

squealed. A fountain of water splashed from the gutter as the bus shot past us in a blur.
    We were drenched. I wiped my eyes and stared after the bus as it squealed around a corner. “What’s the matter with that guy?” I sputtered. “He’s nuts!”
    “Maybe the gas pedal got stuck or something.” Karen shook her head, spattering me with water. “I guess we’ll have to walk home instead.”
    “Forget it,” I told her. “I’m wet and cold. Let’s call my mom for a ride.”
    “You’re still worried about the zombies, aren’t you?” Karen teased. “Check out the lobby, Mike. Nobody’s there.”
    “Okay, okay.” She was right, but I didn’t care. “I still don’t want to walk. Come on, let’s find a pay phone.”
    Our sneakers squished as we walked toward a Kwikee-Mart in the middle of the next block. The rain had stopped, but it didn’t matter—both of us were soaked.
    I kept glancing over my shoulder, checking for zombies. Karen laughed every time I did. But I couldn’t help it. The whole stunt had really frightened me.
    If it was a stunt.
    We squished into the Kwikee-Mart and found the pay phone near the front counter. While Karen checked out the magazine rack, I dropped a quarterin and punched my phone number. Then I glanced around the store.
    The place was empty. I craned my neck and stared at the front counter. No one there. Where was the owner?
    I let the phone ring ten times…twenty. I hung up and checked the clock over the counter. Five-thirty. Mom and Dad should both be home. I got my quarter back and tried again.
    Still no answer.
    I tried Karen’s house next. While I listened to the phone ring, I noticed something.
    The cash register drawer stood open. A couple of the little compartments were empty. But a few tens and even some twenties were left.
    I frowned. Why would the owner leave the drawer open? Maybe the place had been robbed, and he ran to the police. But wait a second. Why didn’t the robber take all the money?
    The phone kept ringing. No answer at Karen’s house, either.
    When I hung up, I heard a whirring sound.
    “Hey, Mike, come here,” Karen called. “Check this out.”
    I crossed to the other side of the store. The whirring grew louder.
    Karen stood in front of the Slushy Machine. Its motor was running, churning out cherry slush. The slush had overflowed the cup underneath. Now it spread across the counter and plopped onto the floor in big red globs.
    I glanced around the empty store again and frowned.
    What was going on?
    Where was everyone? What was happening here? Where had they all gone?

“Weird, huh?” Karen whispered, watching the cherry slush plop onto the floor.
    “Yeah. That’s not the only thing that’s weird,” I told her. “Check out the cash register. It’s wide open.”
    “Whoa. I don’t believe it!” she said. “This is very creepy.”
    “No kidding. Let’s go,” I told her. “Nobody’s home at my place. Or yours, either. We’ll have to walk.”
    When we left the Kwikee-Mart, I checked up and down the street.
    “Stop looking for zombies. You’re making me nervous,” Karen said. “It had to be a stunt, Mike. Zombies don’t exist—not in real life.”
    “Maybe. Maybe not,” I said. “But I have this prickly feeling on the back of my neck, like something’s crawling on it.”
    Karen shivered. “Are you sure no one answered the phone at my house?” she asked. “Dad’s supposed to be watching a football game. And Mom told me she was going to grade papers all afternoon.”
    “My parents are supposed to be home, too,” I said. I took another quick look behind me. Nothing. “All I know is, I let both phones ring about a hundred times.”
    “Maybe they all changed their minds and decided to go out,” Karen suggested. “It is Saturday.”
    “So how come the sidewalks are empty?” I asked. “Where are all the people?”
    “ There’s someone!” Karen pointed behind us. I turned to look.
    A car sped up the street. As it