He
stared
at
the
undead.
“It’s
not
the
first
time
it’s
happened.
We’ll
be
fine.
They
can’t
get
in
, but we
’
ve
got
to
clear
you
a
path
to
your
truck.”
My
eyes
widened.
“What?
Why
can
’t
we
wait
it
out?”
The
man
turned
to
me,
his
eyes
narrowed
to
slits.
“And
how
long
do
you
plan
on
waiting
it
out?
And
what
about
your
friends
in
the
truck?”
He
pointed
at
the
parking
lot.
“Do
you
expect
them
to
wait
it
out?”
I
rolled
my
eyes
and
released
the
magazine.
“I
have
nine
bullets.”
Quinn
checked
his
gun.
“Seven.”
The
man
shook
his
head
and
glanced
over
his
shoulder.
The
two
men
who’d
escorted
Quinn
and
me to
the
door
hefted
a
mini-gun
onto
the
roof.
“I
suggest
you
get
downstairs.
We’ll
hold
them
off
for as
long
as
we
can.”
Quinn
and
I
glanced
at
one
another
for a
moment,
then
headed
down
the
ladder.
The
hum of
the
gun
was
deafening,
even
with
my
hands
over
my
ears.
After a
few
minutes, it
stopped.
Quinn
threw
open
the
doors,
and
we
ran
over
a
path
of
blood
and
body
parts
to
the
truck. Moans
filled
the
air,
and
more
creatures
continued
to
limp
and
lurch
to
the
mall.
The
asphalt
was
pocked
with
holes
where
the
bullets
had
hit.
The
zombies
that
weren
’t
completely
obliterated
by
the
spray
of
ammunition
reached
for us,
desperately
clawing
for
our
legs. At
one
point,
Quinn
glanced
over
his
shoulder,
probably
to
make
sure I
was
still
behind
him,
and
tripped
over
an
arm.
He
went
down
to his
hands
and
knees
and
came
face
-
to
-
face
with
an
undead.
The
thing
was
a
chest,
neck,
and
head,
its
bottom
jaw was
missing,
but it
still
tried
to
wiggle
its
way
to Quinn.
It looked
like a
grotesque
slug,
sliding
over
its
own
ooze.
I
grabbed
Quinn
’s
arm
and
pulled
him
up.
We
climbed
into
the
cab.
He
slammed
the
truck
into gear
and
headed
down
the
road.
I
stared
out
the
window
and
thought
about
how
I
hated
malls.
I
always
loathed
shopping,
trying
clothes
on,
the
hours
and
hours
it
took
to
find
the
right
fit.
After
that,
I
pretty
much
vowed
I
’d
never
go
to
another
mall.
We
were
a
way
down
the
road
before
I
spoke.
“Do
you
encounter
that
often?
Groups
of
survivors,
I
mean.”
Quinn
shook
his
head.
“Not
really.
We
try
to stick
to
ourselves,
just like
they
do.”
“Why
haven
’t
you
all
banded
together?
Formed
one
super
group
of
survivors
and
taken
out
the
zombie
threat?”
Quinn
smiled.
“Oh,
that’d
be
nice.
All
of
us
working
together
to
defeat
one
common
enemy. Unfortunately,
it
doesn
’
t
work
that
way.
First
of
all,
there
really
aren’t
that
many
of
us.
Secondly,
no
one
knows
who
they
can
trust.
Why
don
’t
Liet
and
the
families in
Florida
send
out
soldiers
to
take
care
of
the
zombie
threat?
They
have
the
numbers
and
weapons.”
I
shrugged.
“I
don’t
know.
Most
of the
people
in
Florida
are
so
far
removed
from
any
of
the
action
they
don’t
really
know
wha
t’s
going
on
out
here.
They
live
in their
own
bubble.”
“Liet
knows.
Why
doesn
’t
he
do
anything
about
it?”
I
chuckled.
“Why?
He
’s
happy
where
he’s
at. He’s
got
everything
he
needs.”
“What
about
you?
What
makes
you
happy?”
I
shrugged.
“I
used
to
think it
’d
be
living
in
North
Platte.
Now,
it’s
being
out
here.
In
the
West.
There
may
be
zombies,
but
at
least
I’m
free.”
Quinn’s
smile
widened.
“That’s
why
I’m
here.
If
you
don’t
mind
me
asking,
do
you
have
a
boyfriend
or
anything
in North
Platte?”
I
chuckled.
My
cheeks
felt
hot.
“No.
I
t’s
not
exactly
a
hot
bed
of
boys
my
age.
Besides,
most
of
them
are
afraid
of
Liet.
I’m
sure
if
they
came
to
the
apartment,
Liet
would
twitch
and
they
’d
pee
their
pants
and
run.
What
about
you?
Do
you
have
a
girlfriend?”
Quinn
shook
his
head.
“Really?
There’s
nobody
special
in
your
life?”