The Living Dead Boy (The Living Dead Boy #1)(17)

“What the–” Ron exclaimed.

“Let her go!” Jamie ordered.

Scrambling to her feet, Zoey ran past the two people with Ron so fast she was almost a blur. Josh shot to his feet to watch Zoey sprint to the fence and slip between the barbed wire. Without pausing, she dashed into the mist. The last thing he saw of her was her bright red hair in the morning light before she vanished behind some trees.

“Aren’t you going to save her?” Troy shot a frantic look toward Jamie.

“We can’t save everyone, son. It’s clear she doesn’t want to be here. We’re not going to hold her against her will. She’s a risk to all of us. I’m sorry.” Jamie sighed, shaking his head. “Ron, get these people to the other bus, please.”

“You got it, sir.” Now that he had a position of some responsibility, Ron seemed more cooperative. He motioned to the people lined up to leave, and soon, the back of the bus was empty.

“Shut the back doors and open the front,” Jamie said to Derrick.

Out of the mist came a line of children, a few teenagers, an elderly couple, and a few adults. Jamie and Melissa stepped outside as the newcomers filed into the bus. Bonnie watched excitedly as the children climbed on board, a few stopping to pet her. Josh knew people weren’t supposed to touch service dogs, but it was hard to resist her doggy charm.

One of the teenage girls was lifted out of her wheelchair and carried onto the bus by Jamie. Her wheelchair was brought around to the back entrance, and Joe secured it to the floor, so Jamie set the girl back in the wheelchair.

The elderly couple sat behind Corina and Drake, holding hands tightly, and looking relieved. They were so old their white skin looked like parchment paper.

“We’re on the rejects bus,” Troy whispered to Josh.

Josh didn’t like that description, but knew it was true.

“Derrick, close the doors and pull out into the lane. We’re moving to the front of the line,” Jamie instructed.

“Really?” Derrick gave Jamie a startled look.

“Yeah. This bus is high priority. It goes to the front where we have more firepower to protect it.”

With a grin, Derrick palmed the doors shut and shifted gears. “Yes, sir! Should I salute?”

Jamie laughed. “Nah. Just take us to the front.”

The bus glided out of line and drove past the rest of the vehicles in the convoy. As they passed the bus where the complainers had settled, Josh felt smug when he saw their shocked faces.

Troy raised his hand and waved. “Bye, losers!”

“This is better, right, Josh?” Sam called out.

Looking over the new friendlier faces, Josh smiled. “Yeah, Sam. This is much better.”

The bus moved back into position behind several police cruisers, two highway patrol SUVs, and a big construction truck. Once the bus was back in line, Josh saw the Army vehicles coming out of the mist and heading in the opposite direction to return to San Antonio. As the trucks and jeeps passed, the soldiers waved to the kids.

“I hope they win,” Corina said.

“Me, too,” Savannah agreed. “Me, too.”

Troy leaned toward Josh. “Do you think they will win?”

Josh hated to lie to his friend, but he nodded. “Yeah. Totally.”

With a honk of a horn, the convoy rolled on.





Chapter 11


The mist was gradually being burned away by the rising sun. Though Josh’s head ached from lack of food and water, he didn’t feel quite as tired as before. Without the people in the back constantly complaining, the tension in the bus was gone. Instead there was the chatter of children, the gentle snores of the old man seated behind him, and Rachel’s voice explaining to the girl in the wheelchair that she was blind and Bonnie was her service dog.

Walking down the aisle to where Josh and the others were seated, Jamie appeared a little more relaxed than before. Maybe he felt better now that he was in charge.

“How safe is the truck stop?” Savannah asked when Jamie paused next to where Josh was seated.

“Safer than any place we’ve stopped at so far.”

The last break had been the side of the road near a construction zone and they’d used the Porta Potties. Josh had been wary of using them. He’d been afraid of zombies showing up while he was going, but it was better than going on the side of the road in the bushes.

“It’s just so scary to get off the bus, you know?” Savannah nervously fidgeted with the strap of her empty bag.

“I understand, but we’ll be fine. They cleared the area and two evacuation groups have passed through already. Ours is the biggest though, so we’ll need to stay orderly. Which brings me to this… can you do me a favor and make sure my kids and their friends get in and out as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Jamie!” Savannah replied. “I’ll watch over them.”

“I appreciate it.” Jamie pulled the pistol from his belt and stared down at it with a somber expression on his face. His gaze shifted from Josh to Savannah as if he was contemplating what to do with the weapon. Finally, he said, “Do you know how to use this, Sav?”

Savannah’s eyes grew a little rounder with surprise, but she said, “Yes. I do.”

With just the slightest hesitation, Jamie handed it to her. “Only use it if you absolutely have to.”