Dead Endz by Kristen Middleton Read Free Book Online

blinked her eyes several times, willing it to be a dream. Unfortunately, it wasn’t even a nightmare. It was all real and she was confused as all hell.
    “You’re up,” mumbled a disheveled woman sitting on the ground nearby. “If I were you, I’d go back to sleep. You don’t want to be awake in this nightmare.”
    Paige cleared her throat. “What’s happening?”
    Footsteps echoed behind her and she turned to stare at a man dressed in gray slacks and a dark blue silk shirt. He knelt down next to her and the smell of spicy cologne engulfed her.
    “Well I see that Bright Eyes is finally awake,” he said, rubbing a finger along his goatee. “Nice of you to finally join us, beautiful.”
    Paige stood up and backed away from him. “Where am I? Where’s my mom?”
    He stood back up and took a step towards her. “Don’t worry about that right now. In fact, you’re safe with me.”
    Although he was a couple inches shorter than her, he looked dangerous, especially with the holstered gun on his side.
    “I’m not supposed to be here,” she snapped, getting angry. Who were these people?
    He ignored her comment and stared at her mouth. “So, are you thirsty? Would you like something to drink? You’re lips look dry and cracked.”
    Paige licked them and nodded. She was parched. “Um, sure, I guess.”
    He smiled. “Stay here, I’ll be right back,” he said, walking away. Her eyes followed him as he stopped next to a bar in the back of the room where another guy was sitting, watching them.
    “Don’t trust that asshole,” mumbled the woman near her. “He’ll try and put his hands on you after he gets you liquored up. He did that to Celia; practically raped her.”
    Paige’s felt nauseated. “Who are these men and why are we here?”
    “Oh…we’re here to play a game,” said the woman with a bitter smile.
    She frowned. “I don’t get it. They kidnapped us to play a game?”
    She nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
    “Serious?”
    “Dead serious.”
    “Well what kind of game? Monopoly, Yahtzee? Don’t Spill The Beans?”
    “Nice try but it’s a game I guarantee you’ve never heard of.”
    This woman was beginning to irritate her too. “Well, will they let us go if we win?”
    “Kid, I don’t know exactly how the game is played but I can tell you this…you lose, you’ll die, and that’s for real. You win,” she shrugged. “Well… you’ll still lose.”
    Paige looked confusion. “I’m sorry…what do you mean?”
    She sighed. “We’re the pawns in a really fucked up game, honey. A game that has no winners ‘cept the men who’ve created it. The fact is that no matter what happens, you’ll never come out ahead.”
    Paige’s eyes hardened. She wasn’t about to give up. If she was forced to play a game, she’d do whatever she had to survive. “A game, huh? I guess I’ll just have to figure out a way to win.”
    The woman lowered her voice. “Even if you could possibly win this game of theirs, honey, you’re better off dead.”
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    The sun was going down and the zombies appeared to be waking up all over town. A feeling of dread gnawed in Kris’s stomach as she watched their shadows creep by.
    “Wow, look at them all. I doubt we would have made it without this rig,” stated Carly, gripping the steering wheel. They’d had to slow down and it was nerve-wracking to see such horror up close.
    Fortunately, the ambulance appeared to be an ideal vehicle for driving right through the many zombies who stood in their way. Most of them stared stupidly at their headlights before they were pummeled while others were just plain lucky and stepped out of the path at the very last minute.
    “There it is,” said Kris, pointing to the CDC building.
    Carly nodded. “I’ve seen pictures in the past of this place. Doesn’t quite look so impressive now,” she said, pulling into the parking lot.
    “I’m going to check on Allie,” said Kris, moving towards the back of the