Zombie Games Book Five (End Zone) by Kristen Middleton Page A

girls remained frozen.
    “Come on,” said Father Brambati. “It’s magnificent, don’t you think?”
    “This is not right,” whispered Allie. “How in the world did that hole get inside of the mall? And who in the heck made it?”
    Kylie’s heart w as beating frantically an in the back of her mind, she began to wonder if Billie was actually, an alien. “I don’t know. I… I’m really scared.”
    Allie stepped closer to her friend. “ Ky,” she whispered. “I think we should try and make a run for it.”
    “ Me too. Uh, do you feel that?” asked Kylie, noticing the vibrations under her feet.
    “ Yes,” squeaked Allie. “What’s happening?”
    “ Hey girls! Come on,” said Billie, smiling broadly. “You really have to check this thing out. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it!”
    The couple shoved them forward.
    “ Stop, don’t touch me!” snapped Kylie, glaring back at the man. “Don’t you know how dangerous a hole like that is? Especially for someone holding a baby.”
    “Oh, you’ll be fine,” said Billie, walking towards them. “ Here, I’ll even escort you over.”
    “Uh, no,” replied Allie , shaking her head vehemently. “I think we’ll pass on this, if you don’t mind. Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be taking us back to my sister?”
    Billie looked down at his watch. “Actually, her ride should be dropping her off fairly soon. Father, why don’t you watch for them?”
    “It would be my pleasure, General,” he replied, turning away.
    “General?” asked Kylie, turning to Billie.
    He smiled but didn’t answer.
    “Wait, we should go with him,” said Allie as the priest walked away.
    “ No, that won’t be necessary,” he replied.
    “But, we just want to get out of this place,” said Allie, her eyes moving back to the ominous hole.
    He smiled darkly. “ Don’t worry- you’ll all be leaving soon.”
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Cassie
     
    “Ah… there you are…the girls have been waiting for you,” said Billie, his arms around Allie and Kylie’s shoulders as they stood at the entrance of the Mall Of America.
    I ran towards them. “Thank God, I was so worried about you guys!”
    “I knew you’d come,” said Allie, smiling as I pulled her into my arms and hugged her.
    “Is everyone okay?” I asked, glancing towards Billie, who was watching us.
    “Of course,” he replied.
    “He’s lying,” she whispered into my ear.
    I looked down into her face. “What?”
    “ Cassie, it looks like you made it just in time,” said Billie.
    “ Good,” I said, my eyes still on Allie, who looked petrified. “Hey…what’s wrong?”
    “We need to go,” she said under her breath.
    “Nonsense,” said Billie. “You need to stay. You don’t want to miss the show!”
    Before I could ask him what he meant, the ground beg an to shake under our feet. “What’s happening?” I gasped, grabbing both Kylie’s and Allie’s hands.
    “ Ah… it’s time!” shouted Billie, a triumphant grin on his face.
    “ Time… time for what?” I asked, staring at the cement, which was beginning to crack.
    “ We need to go!” cried Allie, pulling me away from the building.
    “ Cassie!” screamed Kylie, as the ground opened up, in the parking lot we were heading, with a deafening roar.
    We watched, frozen in terror as the granite, soil, and bedrock crumbled, forming a massive sinkhole. It widened, growing until it created a perfect circle. When it stopped, there was an eerie silence.
    “What’s happening?” I whispered in horror, looking down into the sheer blackness. “What in the hell is that?”
    “Shh … listen,” said Billie, stepping next to me. He leaned over the edge. “Can you hear it?”
    Adria!
    I could hear her crying from somewhere deep inside of the hole.
    “Adria!” I yelled , getting down to my knees.
    Her sobs grew, tearing at my heart.
    “Adria!”
    I had to try and save her!
    Determined to find a way, I stood up and turned to Billie.