Zombified (Episode 1): Wooneyville Read Free Page A

jeans.  "One of 'em ain't no big deal."  He kept his flashlight on the basement, but his eyes scanned the rifle displays.  "I told ya this was the first place we should go--look at those AR15's!  Yeah, baby!"  He put the light down on the counter and reached over to grab the gun.
    Damn!  I gotta get to Dana .  Joey peered over the counter.  I can't wait on these assholes .  He moved into a crouch and got ready to stand.
    John screamed; a zombie came around the doorway from the sidewalk and tackled him to the ground.  John's head smacked the stair with a sickening crunch.  The guy near him yelled, "Oh shit!" and hopped backwards into the store.  The big guy spun around with the unloaded rifle raised.
    Dust and dirt filtered down the edges of the basement door as it thumped again.
    The big guy rushed forward and brought the rifle butt down on the zombie's head.  When it didn't stop, he smashed it again and kicked the beast away.  John didn't move.
    Another zombie, this one running pell-mell across the street, was attracted by the commotion.  It made straight for the front entrance of Bullseye.
    "Get outta the way!"  Joey stood up and took aim.  The other guys dove to the sides as Joey pulled the trigger.
    BA-BOOM!
    All he heard was ringing; the smoke rose up to the ceiling.  KA-CHIK --Joey ejected the shell and locked another into place.  The dashing zombie lay in the street with its torso split open.  It gurgled and hissed, thrashing around and clawing its way towards the store.
    "I'll deal with it," Joey said.  He walked around the counter and stepped over John's lifeless body.  The zombie that attacked John sprawled on the bottom stair, its brains oozing out.  Joey approached the zombie in the street; he unsheathed the machete and hewed its skull open. 
    "Ah man, John's been bit!  Fran, he's bit!"  The lanky guy said, looking back to the fat guy still inside the store.  Fran stepped to the doorway, squinting at Joey.
    "What the hell is in the basement?"  Fran said.
    "I didn't check, big guy."  Joey cleaned the machete on the zombie's pant leg.  "Your buddy there," Joey nodded towards John, "is going to be one of them."
    "John!  Damn, man!"  The other guy sat near John's body, letting out bursts of whimpers and sputterings.  "This is friggin' nuts!"
    That's an understatement, kid .  Joey loaded another shell, topping off the Mossberg.  "I'm outta here, fellas.  Take whatever guns you need."
    "I planned on it."  Fran hauled the sobbing guy inside. 
    Joey saw a few more zombies ambling drunkenly towards Bullseye. 
    "You guys are gonna have company."  Joey gestured with the shotgun.  "Good luck."
    He took off north, back to the park gates--this time with ample firepower.
     
     

CHAPTER 4
     
     
    After the incident at the main gate, Joey opted to avoid entrances altogether.  He stayed to the western edge of the park and found a section of fence in disrepair.  Slinging the shotgun over a shoulder, Joey gripped the busted fence and yanked: a section came free from the post and he squeezed through.  As he let go, the edge of a link scraped his hand: blood ran freely over his palm and wrist.
    Well isn't that dandy!   He tore the sleeve from his tee shirt and wrapped the wound.  Figures I forgot a fuckin' first aid kit!   Idiot .
    He had no idea if the zombies were attracted to blood--they definitely cued in on noise and lights.  Mossberg in hand, Joey crept through the shadows, keeping near tree cover and stopping periodically.  Several shapes moved among the playground, milling about in aimless circles.
    The grass was moist, and Joey stayed clear of the cobbled paths to avoid footfalls.  Skirting the edge of the park, he came to the brink of a small pond.  Bugs hovered over the water, and small ripples broke the surface. 
    Then he heard a loud ka-plunk , followed by thrashing and splashing.
    On the opposite shore, a pair of zombies--teenagers by the look of them--dove through the