Ground Zero by Rain Stickland Read Free Book Online

taken in more than he could handle, and it sounded as though part of what he’d taken in was human flesh. She understood survival, but he seemed to prefer eating humans to regular food sources now.
    “You’re not going to eat me, or anyone else. I can give you real food, but I’m not letting you gnaw on me no matter how hungry you are. If you try, I’m going to have to hurt you. You don’t want that, do you?”
    Her hand was on the grip of her gun when he lunged jerkily toward her, his halting steps slowing to a stop when he saw her brandishing the weapon. He was apparently sane enough not to directly challenge a bullet. At least not by himself. It wasn’t until she began sidling toward the passenger door of the truck that she saw the others.
    “Neil,” she said softly.
    “I see them,” he responded just as quietly. “We need to go. Now.” So saying, he pulled open his door. Mackenzie continued to brandish the Glock 22, giving Neil time to get the truck started and in gear.
    “Mac! Get in the fucking truck!”
    She wasn’t arguing. Her pulse racing, she leapt in. He was pulling away from the warehouse-like store before she’d even closed her door. When the door-latch clunked into place, she yanked at her seatbelt, causing it to jam on her first attempt.
    “For fuck’s sake,” she snarled, forcing herself to pull the belt slowly the second time. Patience wasn’t one of her virtues at the best of times, and with panic added to the mix she wanted to scream at the belt mechanism.
    “Okay. So that just happened,” Mac said breathlessly, as she settled back against her seat with her heart still fluttering. Neil let out a chuckle at her choice of words.
    “Yup. It sure did. You still want to head to the electronics store in the mall?” Neil glanced at her as he waited for her response. Mackenzie took a moment to consider the issue.
    “Cameron’s right. We need those cameras. Our security has gaps. And, after seeing those freaks, I like being vulnerable to outsiders even less than I did before,” Mackenzie replied. She shuddered and wondered how long it would be before she felt like eating again. She considered herself a pragmatic sort, and knew she was just as likely to resort to cannibalism as anyone, if her survival were at stake. But she was pretty sure she’d never start preferring that to other food sources.
    “Well, at least they weren’t moaning about brains,” Neil quipped. Mackenzie snorted. It probably wasn’t the least bit funny, but she’d always been the sort to think of strange things as an adventure rather than a frustration.
    “Probably the closest thing humanity will ever come to actual zombies, I suppose. I’ve never been a big believer in zombie apocalypses. Then again, there were those bath salt drugs that had people trying to eat other people while they were high on them. We’ve done some pretty nasty stuff to ourselves as a species.”
    “Well, zombies aside, how do you want to do the mall thing? I’d prefer to go in together, and stay in visual contact, rather than one of us outside waiting with the truck. Especially after seeing that bunch. I’m not too keen on either of us running into a group like that while we’re alone. What do you think?”
    “I think you’re right,” Mac said. “It’s a different set-up from the library, with outside doors everywhere, despite most being the employees-only kind. Just too many ways in and out for a person outside to know what’s going on. So, we go in together. I think with the library we can both go in to make sure it’s empty, and then you can stay with the truck since I know what I’m looking for. Good thing we brought the headlamps, though. Both those places are going to be pitch black inside. What do you want to bet the glass doors at the mall will already be broken?”
    “Nothin’ doin’. I’m keeping my money. There’s no way that place wasn’t raided for food, what with the grocery store being attached. It has