Dead Endz by Kristen Middleton Page B

up.”
    Nora was still breathing heavily when she finally lifted herself off of Dewey’s still form. Just when I thought she was finished with him, she kicked him in the side of his stomach one last time. “Nobody calls me a Bimbo,” she growled.
    And I thought my temper was bad.
    Keeping my eye on Wandering Eye, who now looked like he may have passed out from his injuries, I studied the gun I’d taken and it appeared to be a S ig Sauer P226. It was also loaded. Things were definitely looking up.
    The sound of gunshots from somewhere outside startled us both and we rushed over to look out the glass entrance.
    “More zombies,” grimaced Nora. “And someone else is definitely packing.”
    Several zombies were shuffling around in the courtyard surrounding our building but no sign of the shooter.
    “Okay,” I whispered. “I’m going to try and make a run for it so I can get to the main building. I have to see if my parents or sister are there.”
    Nora shook her head. “Actually, they’ve pretty much evacuated the entire area after the zombies started busting through. You’ll be wasting your time.”
    “Well, then what am I supposed to do, now?” I said, my voice becoming shrill. “Where in the hell am I supposed to go to find them?”
    “Calm down, Wild,” she said evenly. “You’re not the only one looking for answers. In fact, that’s why I crossed several states to get here. My dad is also here in Atlanta, too. They flew him over from Europe a week ago.”
    “Why? Was he bitten?”
    She bit the side of her lip and nodded. “He was and Bernie, his manager, found a way to get him over here before all hell broke out in the U.S. I guess the remaining researchers left at the C.D.C. have been looking for this scientist who’d been experimenting with an antivirus. The last time I spoke to Bernie was four days ago and I’m just as lost as you are.”
    “We have to find out where they moved everyone. Let’s try and find someone still breathing around here who can answer questions.”
    She nodded and then lifted Dewey’s gun. “I’m ready when you are.”
     
     

Chapter Eighteen
     
     
    We left the building and stepped outside into the daylight, where we were now at the mercy of the zombies. Actually, the zombies were now at the mercy of Nora and her pent up aggressions from being an abandoned rock star’s daughter.
    “Save the bullets if you can, Wild,” she hollered at me. She’d also grabbed the hacksaw and looked more than ready to use it.
    “I’ll try,” I answered as two zombies headed my way immediately. I took a deep breath and kicked one in the head and then turned to bash the other one in the eye with the cane.
    I could really use my old hiking boots, right about now, they really kicked ass, I thought as I watchedthe first zombie get back to its feet. It came at me quickly with its mouth open and I rammed the cane through its skull.
    “Here comes a shitload more. Step it up, Wild!” yelled Nora, who’d just given a really close shave to a zombie who looked disappointed with the results.
    We moved towards the main building, which was an impressive sight. It was several stories high and made of mostly glass. I half expected it to be locked but the doors swung open the moment we approached them. Because there weren’t any guards watching over the entrance, we rushed inside.
    “Uh, oh,” said Nora, pointing towards the security booth next to the elevators.
    There was blood, and lots of it. Some on the security booth and more smeared across the floor.  Other than that, there was no sign of anyone in the entry area, dead or alive.
    “We’d better take the stairs,” said Nora. “I’m not getting trapped in an elevator. That shit really freaks me out. Seriously.”
    I definitely didn’t want to see Nora when she was seriously freaked out.
    She pointed. “This way, Wild.”
    I followed her to a stairwell near the elevators and we opened the door slowly, listening for any