Running Wild by Kristen Middleton

a dress, he was much stronger than he looked.
    “Don’t forget to grab a couple of chairs to hold it in place,” said Henry as he sat down on a leather sofa in the showroom and took out his tin of chew. “I’d help you, but I’m almost a century old and can’t handle much more of this excitement.”
    The keys were located in a locked drawer in the back of the showroom. I blasted a hole into it and yelled out to the guys to choose a couple of the vehicles from the showroom floor.
    “Oh yeah, and I will need the model number to locate the correct keys,” I yelled.
    “There’s an LX on the floor that’s mighty pretty Wild,” called Henry.
    We ended up choosing two SUV’s on the showroom floor, one of them built for luxury, the other on was some kind of Hybrid with better gas mileage.
    “Shit, some of the zombies will be getting through soon,” said Billie. They were kicking and pushing at the wall he’d built. “Let’s hurry.”
    Henry got up from the couch. “Get in the car Billie. Wild and I’ll take care of the zombies. You just get ready to drive like a bat out of hell when it’s time to go.”
    When the zombies finally made it through our temporary blockade, Henry and I took them out. Then we signaled for the others to leave the bus.
    “Hurry, but be careful where you step,” I said as Mary and the others stepped cautiously off the bus and around the beheaded zombies. When they stepped into the dealership, Henry and I blocked the entrance again with more of the cubicle pieces.
    “Here,” I said, handing Dale the other keys. He jumped in and started the engine while Shane loaded food and water into the back of the SUV.
    “Come on Mary,” I said. She was staring towards the opening in the glass at the zombies peaking over the cubicle wall.
    “Ben?” gasped Mary. She pointed towards a young man, now a zombie. “Oh my God! It’s my son!”
     

Chapter Seventeen
     
    “Jesus Christ, woman! Your son wouldn’t be at this festival! He’s hustling whores in Amsterdam!” yelled Henry who was now waiting in Billie’s vehicle. “Get your butt into the SUV!”
    But Mary was transfixed and started moving towards the zombie, who stared at her with more than just love, his was an insatiable hunger.
    “Ben? What have they done to you?” she sobbed raising her hands out to meet his outstretched ones.
    “No Mary…Stop!” I hollered, grabbing for her arm. I tried pulling her back towards the SUV, but she broke away from me.
    “It’s okay Cassie,” she said with a reassuring smile. “Ben would never hurt his momma.”
    Then everything seemed to happen at once. The glass plated wall surrounding the dealership shattered as the crowd of zombies pushed forward. Within seconds they were all finding a way in.
    “Ben” stumbled towards us with a victorious grin etched across his chewed up face. 
    “Stay back Mary!” I yelled, pushing her safely behind me. I then raised the sword and started slashing at the grotesque zombies quickly approaching us, while trying to push her closer to the SUV. Blood and body parts began flying everywhere and I had to force back down some stomach acid mixed with dill chips from earlier.
    “Ben!” yelled Mary. “Come with us son!”
    He wanted to come with her, but for different reasons. Before I knew it, he stood in front of us with his hands trying to grab a hold of me. When I raised my sword to remove his head, Mary screamed and pushed me over to protect the zombie she was so sure was her son. My ankle twisted again, and I cried out in pain.
    “I’m sorry, but it’s my boy!” sobbed Mary, now facing me, her back to the zombie.
    “He’s behind you!” I yelled at her. “Protect yourself.”
    Instead, she offered me her hand as I tried to get back up, my ankle on fire. “Here dear,” she said smiling.”
    I watched in horror as Ben bared his teeth and pitched forward.
    “Mary!” I screamed in anguish.
    I knew it was the end for her and there was nothing I