Love & the Zombie Apocalypse (Book 1, Zombie Apocalypse Trilogy) by Chelsea Bellingeri Page A

sprinted before.  He climbed the stairs two at a time and tore down the empty hallway.
    Rachel screamed again.
    His heart squeezed.  Jolts of pain shot through his chest.  The sounds of her screams were agonizing.  What was happening?  She didn’t make a peep when the pit bull mauled her.  What could possibly make her scream like that?  He couldn’t – he wouldn’t - imagine what was happening to her. 
    He couldn’t breathe.  He couldn’t think.  Rachel.  Rachel.  Please be okay.   Cage ran into the men’s locker room and dashed past the urinals to the back of the room.  He skidded to a halt.
    An enormous three hundred pound zombie, with half of his clothes torn off, had Rachel pinned to the floor.  His mouth snapped dangerously close to her face.  She had her injured forearm wedged under his chin and the other hand pushing the zombie’s hand back.  The only reason she was still alive was because the zombie was missing its right arm.  The zombie reached with its bloody stump as if the arm was still attached. 
    Rachel was struggling and lo sing.  She screamed again as his teeth inched closer to her face.  Cage didn’t have a weapon.  He rushed forward and slipped his arm carefully around the zombie’s neck and yanked with all of his strength.  The zombie’s lone hand reached back to scrape Cage’s face, but Rachel tackled his arm.  
    Cage heaved backward and the zombie’s neck snapped under his bicep. Rachel pulled the zombie’s arm in the opposite direction until the limb split from his torso.  Flesh and muscle tore apart until the arm fell in Rachel’s lap.  She frantically shoved the limb away. 
    Footsteps pounded on the tile.  “Holy -!”  Nicky screamed.  “That is one big-”
    “Grab his legs!” Adam yelled.
    Nicky grabbed the zombie’s legs .  Cage didn’t release the headlock.  The armless zombie snarled at Rachel, its stumps moving as if it were reaching for her.  Adam helped Cage roll the zombie onto its back. 
    “Push it back a little further,” Adam said.
    Cage groaned and dragged the zombie across the bathroom floor.  All of the dead weight was off Rachel and onto his legs. It was a miracle that the gigantic zombie hadn’t crushed her.  Cage pressed the zombie’s head down to the tile floor; its jaws incessantly snapping.  Adam lifted his pipe and crushed its head.
    Rachel slid away from the zombie’s body. Her chest rose and fell as she sucked in gulps of air.  Cage crawled to her.  She stared past him at the zombie’s body.  Her arms were protectively wrapped around her stomach. He tugged them free.  “Did he bite you or scratch you?” 
    Rachel’s breathing was uneven. 
    He inspected her arms and legs for marks.  Silent tears spilled down her cheeks.  She shook her head back and forth. 
    Cage was breathing heavy , too.  “No bites,” he said softly.  “No bites.  No scratches.”  He pulled her onto his lap and pressed her against his chest.  “You’re okay.  Just breathe.”
    “That was too close,” Nicky said from behind. 
    “I didn’t hear him,” Rachel said into Cage’s ear.  “I opened the shower curtain and he was standing there.”  Her breathing was ragged. “I didn’t have a weapon.  I froze and he lunged at me.”
    “Shh. ” Cage smoothed her hair.  “It’s all over.  You’re okay.”  He pressed his forehead against hers.  He wasn’t sure if he was saying the words to reassure her or himself.  His heart raced in his chest. 
    “From now on, n o one goes anywhere alone.” Adam tore down a plastic shower curtain and covered the zombie’s body. 
    “What if I have to take a dump?”  Nicky said.
    “Take a buddy,” Adam said.
    Nicky wiggled his eyebrows at Cage.  “Even if it’s a particularly smelly one?”
    “It’s my fault,” Adam said.  “I should’ ve done a better check of the building.  That was Charlie.”  He pointed at the enormous bloated zombie. 
    “Was he a f