Page 76 of Night of the Living Manny
“Did he?” Oh, that cheered him up as much as the emails had done with the kids.
“Yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t have told you, but I think you like him a lot.”
“I do.” He laughed, feeling lighter. Younger.
“Cool. I hope the antidote works so he can come home.” Susanna washed up, no sign of tears in her eyes.
“Me too.” He wanted to go back to normal so badly, but Brenden knew it might take months. Years. He’d readThe Stand, after all. Regardless, he had the kids’ back, and more than that, he had Liam’s back too.
“We may never get to go back to the house, huh?”
“Maybe not.” She was reading his mind. “I guess we’ll have to see how it plays out.”
“Yeah, well, hopefully moreShaun of the Deadthan, say,28 Days Later.” She sounded as ironic as only a late teen could.
“Yes. I hope so.” He was afraid they were going to have to find another new normal, but there was always hope.
“You’re a crap liar.” She winked, then frowned. “Peter?”
“He went to play his game.” He looked toward the main room. “What’s wrong?”
“Where’s Britt? She was right here.”
“She’s not with me,” Peter called.
“What?” Susanna dropped the dishrag in the sink.
Panic hit him, and Brenden stared at Susanna in dismay. “She wanted to play ball with Moose outside.”
As one person, they ran for the patio door.
Susanna was that much younger and that much faster. “Britt! Britt! Moose! Where are you?”
He looked around, frantic. It wasn’t a big yard, not right here near the house.
“Help! Moosey!” Britt cried out, her voice high and scared.
“Susanna, get the shotgun.” Brenden sprinted toward where he heard Britt yelling, and now Moose was audible, not barking, but doing some heavy growling.
“There’s no time! Brittany! Stay away! Stay away from it!” Susanna paced him, then passed him.
“No! Susanna!”
They rounded the corner of the cabin to see Britt and Moose maybe three feet from the fence, Brittany dug in to hold Moose back, the leash taut and held short. One of the… things was trying to crawl over the fence, its deep hungry noises raising the hair on the back of his neck.
Why the fuck didn’t the alarm sound?
“Help me! Please, sister!”
“I’m coming!”
The leash was vibrating with tension, and Britt’s feet were leaving divots in the dirt.
Brenden grabbed for Susanna and missed, but he reached Britt before the leash snapped or the brake on it broke. “Moose! Down!”
Moose’s growl was infuriated, deep, and dangerous. The creature started over the top of the fence, and Susanna screamed.
“You get out of here!”
