“You almost killed us. What the fuck were you --”

Allison closed the window.

“Not very appreciative,” I said.

“But alive,” she said.

We rounded the corner. Mt. Read Boulevard was the next intersection. Cars were backed up. Lights on. If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn people were inside them just waiting for the light to turn green.

The flashing red made it clear. No one was waiting. And people were not going to be inside those abandoned vehicles. I was not about to give up the truck. It was one of the best things to come from attempting to raid the mall. I drove up over the curb. Our passengers bounced around in the back of the cab. Even with the window between us closed, I heard cussing. I went onto grass and straddled the sidewalk.

There was no stopping us now. Seemed like only a few more blocks and we’d be at my ex’s house. It was more like a couple of miles. They lived in Charlotte. Big house by the lake. Once we got there, though, I’d have my kids. Safe, and sound and with me. Then we would be able to plot our plan out of the country.

Part of me allowed a sense of goodness, and hopefulness, and a bit excitement to sink in. Until a loud bang shattered the euphoric feeling.

I gripped the wheel, but because of how fast I was driving, lost control of the truck right as we reached Mt. Read.

The crash sent my head forward. It slammed against the steering wheel. And darkness swallowed me whole.

Chapter Eighteen

“We’re not mall security, or cops.”

It was Allison talking. My eyelids fluttered open. Closed. Then parted slightly.

A dark face outlined in a halo of streetlight loomed in front of me. Over me, I realized. I was lying down. The grass felt wet. The ground hard, and cold. I smelled smoke. Gasoline.

“Chase?”

“Everyone okay?” I said.

“You drive like an asshole,” a man said.

“Everyone, but you.” Allison held my hand.

“I need to sit up.” I pushed up onto an elbow, shook my head slowly. My vision blurred. I closed my eyes.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I will be.”

“You still drive like an asshole,” the man said.

“This is Josh,” Allison said, “and his brother Dave.”

“Thanks for stopping for us.” It was Dave. He held out his hand. I didn’t reach to shake it. Feared if I tried, I’d lose balance, my elbow would wobble, and I’d wind up flat on my back again.

“You’re welcome,” I said.

“We’re going to need to keep moving. The fast ones weren’t all that far behind us. Not far behind at all.” Josh made sense. Dave, I wasn’t a fan.

“Help me up,” I said.

Dave and Josh grabbed an arm and hoisted me onto my feet. Allison had an arm around my waist. “I’m good,” I said.

They let go. I didn’t fall. Wanted to lie down. It would have to wait. That old saying, there’d be plenty of time to sleep when I’m dead, came to mind. I didn’t speak it out loud. No sense stating the obvious.

“So what’s our plan?” Dave said.

“We’re going to get my kids.”

“We are?”

I shook my head. “No. She and I are. I gave you guys a ride. The truck’s totaled. You’re on your own.”

“On our own to do what? To go where?”

“Chase, we’d like to come with you. There’s safety in numbers,” Josh said. “Right now, I don’t see any benefit to splitting up. I mean, we could, you know. But there’s no point.”

I took a moment and I closed my eyes again. Just felt better that way. Eyes closed. World lost on the opposite side of the eyelids. I saw nothing but darkness, but that darkness was more than comforting. It felt tranquil.

“He sleeping?” Dave said.

And the tranquility shattered. If Dave was going to journey with them, he needed to learn to keep his mouth shut. I couldn’t handle someone without a filter for their words.

“There something seriously wrong with you?” I said.

Dave came at me. Fist raised. Josh stepped between us. I wanted to deck the guy. The way my head spun, and his size--at least a hundred pounds more than I was--part of me was silently thankful for the interjection.

Josh pushed Dave back. He turned and looked at me.

“This isn’t going to work,” I said and waved my hands flaunting discouragement. I was not interested in them tagging along. This was about my kids. And, the more I thought about it, Allison. These guys would slow me down. I didn’t need to explain my every move to them. I wasn’t going to be looking for permission or a general consensus on what to do next. The shots were mine. I was calling them.

Josh put an arm around my shoulder. He whispered, “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Are you kidding me?” I shrugged his arm off my body and took a step back. “We’re being chased, hunted, by . . . by fucking zombies, dude. Zombies. I don’t have the time, the patience or even the fucking desire to give you a second. My kids are home with their zombie-fuck of a mother and her husband. They are in danger. They are holed up somewhere inside that house waiting for me to come and rescue them. Me. Their daddy. A second? Give you a second? Buddy, you and your friend there--”

“He’s my brother.”

I rolled my eyes. “Go fuck yourselves.”

I walked away. Away from Josh. Away from Dave. Away from Allison. I started in the direction I needed to be headed. Talking time was over.

I thought.

Josh fell in step beside me. “My brother, Dave. He is special. Fell when he was young. Our father dropped him in the driveway when he was a baby. His brain swelled. Had part of his skull cut away. It all healed, but he’s never been the same. He’s not like retarded, but he is special. His mind works a little different. He has trouble figuring out things, or behaving properly. It isn’t his fault. So I just wanted to apologize for the things he’s said so far. He was out of line, but he doesn’t know it. And I don’t hold it against you for not wanting us to join the two of you. I respect that. But before we parted, go our separate ways, I just wanted to apologize.”

I stood there. Chewed on my lips. Contemplated everything this stranger just said to me. Maybe because I didn’t move, Josh felt encouraged to continue. I let him, half listening while I let stuff just sink in. Not just what was being said, but everything. Was like when I closed my eyes and Dave insulted me, only my eyes were open, and I couldn’t hear Dave talking.

“Anyway, thanks for picking us up back there. Good luck finding your kids.” Josh held his hand out.

“I know where they are.”

“Okay.” Josh pulled his hand away. “Take care.”

Josh walked toward his brother. “We ready?”

Dave showed his palms, raised his shoulders. “What? We ain’t going with them?”

“Not this time, Dave.”

“So where we going? I mean, what are we supposed to do now? I dropped my bat somewhere. I think when we crashed. I don’t even have my bat.” Dave walked around in circles, head down, perhaps searching for his lost baseball bat.

I pressed my thumbs against my temples.

“You’re sending them away?” Allison stood beside me.

“Sending them away? They’re free to do whatever they want. This is ridiculous.” I huffed, actually huffed, and through my hands up in surrender. “Alley.”

“Chase.”

My shoulders deflated. “Josh, wait. Wait up.”

The brothers stopped walking. They didn’t turn. They didn’t start back.

I looked at Allison. “I’m not begging them.”

Allison crossed her arms over her chest.

“Really? This falls on me?”

She arched an eyebrow.

“Josh,” I said, wasn’t yelling. If he didn’t hear me, then at least I tried. Alley couldn’t be upset with me for trying. “Why don’t you guys hang out with us for a while?”

Chapter Nineteen

Didn’t take long for the four of us to become thieves.