The Living Dead Boy (The Living Dead Boy #1)(2)

In the seat across from Troy were Sam and Yessica. Sam had been the bane of Josh’s Zombie Hunter Club at school. Fat, pushy, and awkward with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a very red face, Sam had been both bullied and a bully, yet Josh had seen Sam step up and be a hero. Yessica, a little girl Josh had rescued when their school bus had crashed, had tried to run to her zombified father, but Sam had stopped her. Her pink outfit was slathered in dry blood and her very curly dark hair was tangled around her heart-shaped face.

Josh felt a little guilty for not giving Sam a chance before the world ended. Arturo, Josh’s best friend, had hated the pudgy boy, and Josh had felt obligated to side with his friend. Now Arturo was gone, and Sam wheezed in his sleep, one meaty arm slung around the little girl who trusted him with her life.

Toward the front of the bus Derrick, the driver, was standing near his chair, and staring out at the valley. Sleeping on the bench behind him were the blind young woman and her guide dog, Bonnie. Again, Josh experienced the heat of raw anger at the things the two men had said earlier.

The young black man spotted Josh and nodded to him. “Your dad’s just outside.”

“Can you let me out? I want to be with him.”

Rubbing the stubble on his chin, Derrick scrutinized the activity around the vehicles. “Well, it looks okay, but if they tell you to get back in here–”

“I’ll hurry my butt up,” Josh assured him.

Derrick gave him an amused smile. “You’re a tough kid. I don’t know if I’d be doing as well as you at your age.”

“I’m a Zombie Hunter,” Josh replied proudly. The name of his club had come to have real meaning in the last two days. Josh had killed zombies, and saved people.

“That you are.” Derrick opened the door. “Be careful, Zombie Hunter.”





Chapter 2


Josh hopped out, landed, and looked for his dad. He spotted his father near the guardrail talking with a police officer and several Army soldiers. They were speaking in very serious, lowered voices. Josh wondered if maybe he should head back inside, but then his father spotted him and waved him over.

The small group split apart, and Jamie enveloped Josh in a tight hug. Wrapping his arms around his dad’s waist, Josh didn’t care who saw him. It was hard, but he managed to keep his tears from falling.

“You okay?” His father ruffled his hair and stepped back to peer down at him.

“Couldn’t sleep, Dad,” Josh admitted.

“Yeah, me neither. It’s been tough. All of this. Especially your mom...” Jamie cleared his throat and brushed a hand over his reddened eyes. “She was so brave, and she saved my boys. I’m going to miss her so much.”

Lowering his gaze, Josh tried not to remember how his mom had looked after she’d turned. He wanted to remember her as pretty, funny, and happy, but the zombie version of her kept wiping out his good memory.

Resting his hand on Josh’s shoulder, his dad gave him a kind, but serious look. “Your friends told me some of what you did, and they all know – and I know – you did your best. I don’t think many adults could have dealt with things as well as you did. I’m proud of everything you’ve done.”

“I had to save people,” Josh replied, his voice hoarse. It felt like he had a permanent lump in his throat. No matter how many times he swallowed, it was like all his pain and tears were choking him. “You taught me to be responsible.”

“And you did your job. But now it’s time for the adults to step in. You won’t have to deal with this alone again. It’s my turn to take care of you.”

Though Josh knew his dad meant to make him feel better, his words only made him feel more helpless. He stared down at the toes of his sneakers and sighed.

“What is it, Josh?”

“I’m not just a little kid, Dad. I know stuff. I can fight the zombies, you know. I can kill them.”

“But you don’t have to.”

“But I did, Dad.” The pain in his chest was so bad Josh wondered if he was having a heart attack. “Dad, I killed zombies.”

Jamie’s face became very serious. It was what his mother had called “military mode.” It was when the soldier in his father’s soul took control of a situation. Yet, the compassion in his father’s eyes let Josh know he wasn’t angry. “I’m very sorry to hear that. Your friends didn’t tell me that.”

“I had to kill Mr. Inmon and Arturo.”

“Arturo...” Jamie sighed, and wiped at his eyes. “Josh, I’m so sorry.”

“He got bit by a zombie kid. He lied. He said he wasn’t, but Corina saw the bite. I...” Josh again tried to swallow the hard lump in his throat. It hurt to think about Arturo turning into a zombie while crying for his mother. The pain was even deeper when he remembered how he and Corina had killed the monster Arturo had become. “I hit him with the big flashlight you gave me after he turned. I broke it. I’m sorry.”

“Josh, I’m not upset with you.” Jamie rubbed Josh’s shoulder gently.

“Mr. Inmon was chasing us. I tripped him with my backpack and his skull cracked open on the street. I got lucky, because I’m not sure I could have stopped him with the stick I had.” The confession flew out of his mouth like buzzing flies. “I was so scared.”