The Living Dead Boy by Rhiannon Frater

under her wounded arm.  The wound was still seeping and the smell was foul.
    “I got to his school and-”
    “The monsters were there,” Drake cut in.  “They were bad.  Like zombies.”  He went back to playing with the cowboy, pretending to fire the rifle the iron cast figure held.
    “They had gotten into the building.  Drake’s teacher had the students barricaded in the room.  When I got there, I saw her waving from the window.  I could see from the tracks in the mud that other parents had driven up to the window, so I drove right up.  There were only a few kids left and she begged me to get them all out.  I guess the other parents had grabbed their kids and bailed.  She told me she had been begging those other parents to get help so she could escape with the kids. There were zombies everywhere.  Just then the door...”
    “The bad monsters got in.”
    Lynette sighed, looking at her youngest with a sad expression.  “They got in.  Mrs. Hendricks grabbed Drake and pushed him through the window.  I got him into the car and Mrs. Hendricks was trying to hand me another kid when...when...when...”
    Tears streamed down Lynette’s cheeks as the horror of the moment overwhelmed her.  She wiped her tears away, smearing her makeup around her eyes. The blue wasn’t as bright as before, as if a cloud was slowly moving over her irises.
    “I got in the car and pulled out, but we got swarmed. They were everywhere.  We barely got out of the parking lot.  I sped home, but there was an accident. We got hit by a truck. Another car hit him, then another hit that one.  It was so bad.  I managed to get out and was reaching for Drake when one of those...things...grabbed him.  I threw my arms around it and in the struggle...”  She motioned her arm.  “I managed to get my gun out and shot it.  Then we ran home.  I called you because I knew you could...”  She faltered, her eyes straying to Drake.  “And now you’re here...”  His mother burst into sobs, her body shaking. “Josh, oh, Josh, I’m so glad you’re okay.”
    Resisting the urge to throw his arms around her, Josh reached out and gently touched her hand.  She clutched it tightly.  Her hand was hot and moist.
    “Mom, we need to get you to the community center and a doctor.”
    “Josh,” Lynette started, then hesitated.  Her mouth twitched as she struggled to speak through her tears, fear and emotions.  “Josh,” she continued, her voice cracking.  “I need you to take your brother and get him to a safe place.  That is why I called you.”
    “Mom!”
    “I know you can do it, Josh.  If anyone on this earth can deal with this, it’s you.  All those movies, books, comics...everything, Josh.  You know more about this than any of us.”  She held up her arm.  “We both know what this means.  I can feel what it is doing to me inside.”
    Josh felt tears pouring down his face and an ugly lump filled his throat making it hard to swallow, breathe, or talk. He swallowed hard, then said, “Those were just movies!”
    “I can feel it, Josh,” his mother whispered.  She pressed her hand to her chest.  “I feel it here.  What it’s doing.” Her dimming blue eyes flicked to Drake.  “Save your brother, Josh.”
    Rubbing his eyes, Josh sobbed, “What will you do?”
    Her fingers lightly touched the gun at her waist. “What I have to.”
    “Mom, no, Mom,” Josh exclaimed, falling to his knees before her.
    Drake turned around, distracted from his playing, and began to watch them.
    “Take care of your brother until your dad gets back. You can do this for me.  Tell your dad I love him and I will see him again someday.  Please.”
    “Mom, I can’t. I’m just a kid!”
    “You’re the best kid I’ve ever known, Josh.  Do this for me.  Promise me!”  Lynette grabbed his hand again. This time her fingers felt cooler.
    Josh looked at the pale hand clutching him. Her fingers were tinged with blue and purple.  The veins