Page 56 of Dating After the End of the World
“I’ll go first.” Blake steps forward and selects a straw, grabbing it by the tip and slowly pulling it out of the bunch. It’s nearly as big as my uncle’s fist, and it has to be the biggest straw he could hold and still conceal.
One by one everyone else goes. As the straws get smaller and smaller, it becomes harder to tell who is staying back. My uncle pullsthe final one, and the three shortest hold theirs out side by side, with the smallest two belonging to my dad and my uncle.
“No, I’m not staying,” Dad says, whipping his straw to the ground.
“Yes, you are. Those were the rules. Plus ...” I wait for him to look at me so I can make sure my point sinks in. “You’re the best person to stay back. You know the layout of the property better than anyone. You know where all the weapons are and how to use every single one of them. And if it wasn’t for your little Rambo moment the other day, we’d all be dead.”
I can see his chest swell as he begins to nod, psyching himself up for a fate he didn’t want. “Fine. I’ll hold down the fort.”
JJ, noticing Uncle Jimmy isn’t happy about this arrangement either, steps to his father, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll be good, Dad, and I can make sure Greg comes back in one piece too, if you’d like.”
They both laugh. “Dealer’s choice,” my uncle teases.
“What the hell?” Greg chides, interrupting their brief moment of humor.
“I’m just kidding, son. Besides, zombies like brains, so I don’t need to worry about you out there at all.” Uncle Jimmy splats a hand on his shoulder.
“Aww, thanks, Dad.” Greg smiles, the joke going right over his head.
JJ and I exchange a grin.
Blake steps to my dad like a junior soldier in front of a superior, hands behind his back, at ease, while his shoulders are pinned, and his chin is angled slightly up. “I won’t let anything happen to Casey. You have my word, Dale.”
The display of machismo when I was the only one who was willing to go in the first place forces my eyes to roll in the back of my head.
“I won’t let anything happen to myself, Blake,” I sneer, ending his moment of gallantry.
Chapter 24
“How many do you see?” Greg asks.
Blake looks through a pair of binoculars, scanning the back entrance of the Meadow Crest hospital. The three of us wait, our backs pressed up against the side of the truck.
“I count six. Two near the dumpsters, two at the doors, and two by the med bay,” Blake says, continuing to observe their movements through the lenses.
On our drive in, we noticed a large number of biters near the hospital’s front entrance and decided to enter from the back, parking the truck far enough away to not make too much noise, but also not so far that we couldn’t make a quick getaway if needed.
“I don’t love four versus six,” JJ says, looking around the area for possible approach paths.
“Me neither,” Blake adds. “But they seem to be pretty docile right now, and if we sneak up on them, I can take out two by myself. If you can do the same, JJ, then that leaves the last two for Casey and Greg.”
“Yeah, I can get two of them quick enough with my knife.” JJ nods.
“Casey, Greg, does that work for you?” Blake looks to us.
I shake my head. “Let me take a pair. I can get them from a distance with my throwing stars. Less risk on that front. Greg and JJ can tag-team the last two.”
“You sure?” Blake puts down the binoculars, gauging my sureness. “If you miss and they make a bunch of noise, we could be overrun in seconds.”
I stare right back at him, not flinching in my response. “I won’t miss.”
He nods, turning to the group. In a low whisper, he says, “All right, I’ve got the two by the med bay. Greg and JJ, go for the ones by the dumpsters. Casey, the back entrance is yours. Follow my lead until we split, and then look for my signal. We’ll strike at the same time, understood?”
Everyone bobs their heads in agreement. Unsheathing our weapons, we ready ourselves for the attack. Blake moves first, walking around the truck in a low crouch. His arms are out in front of him as if he were holding a gun, but instead it’s a sword, pointed at the ready. We follow behind in a single-file line, trying to make as little noise as possible as we travel across the concrete parking lot. On his signal, we split off in three separate paths, closing in on our respective targets. Once in position, we wait, all eyes on Blake for the go-ahead.
From where I’m crouched, I could hit my two biters right now with my throwing stars, even if it is a bit far. I ready one in my throwing hand and one in my other palm so I can grab the second star and fling it less than a second later. I hold my breath, watching Blake as I try not to blink for fear of missing his mark. He flicks his hand forward, signaling us to move.
I wait a couple of seconds, knowing that if I throw too quickly, my biters will collapse and make noise before the other three have time to reach their targets. Blake reaches the first biter, and he shoves his sword up under its chin, piercing its skull. My head’s on a swivel as I rotate it to watch JJ and Greg both lunging forward, weapons ready to plunge down into the skulls of the two unknowing monsters. I turn my focus back on the biters in front of me and begin running, letting loose the first star when I’m confident I’m in range to not miss. It rips through the throat of the first biter, the creature dropping to its knees before crumpling over. I switch the other star into my throwing hand and send it flying at the second biter. I follow the shining piece of steel as it glides through the air, but the biter drops down at the last second and starts toeat the other biter I just put out of its misery. The star crashes through the glass panel on the door, shattering it.Shit.
