Undead Ultra (A Zombie Novel) by Camille Picott Read Free Book Online Page A

bastard,” he replies. “Don’t worry about me. Carter okay?”
    I study my friend, giving him a head-to-toe once-over.
    “I’m fine, really,” Frederico says. Other than a scrape on his elbow and dirt smudges on his face and legs, he appears unscathed. “I felt worse when I fell off that ledge in the Santa Barbara hundred.”
    I snort. Frederico had forgotten to change the batteries on his headlamp on that race. Instead of trying to tag along with another runner, he tried to forge ahead alone—and ended up plowing right off a ledge and twisting his ankle. The stunt had forced him into a DNF—a Did Not Finish.
    The phone in my hand pings with another incoming text. Assured my friend is okay, I turn my attention back to the phone. I tilt the screen so Frederico can read it, too.
    Zombies r attracted 2 noise , Carter writes. That’s why I can’t talk. Think they’re blind too. Hunt by sound. Cars aren’t safe. They swarm cars.
    “That explains the white eyes,” Frederico murmurs.
    Are you safe? I text.
    No response.
    “He isn’t answering my question,” I say tersely.
    “Let me talk to him.” Frederico takes the phone from me.
    Carter , he texts. Uncle Rico here. R u safe?
    There’s a long pause. I can just imagine Carter trying to figure out if Frederico is really the one sending the text, or if it’s me pretending to be Frederico. Carter might try to protect me, but there’s a good chance he’ll be straight with Frederico. The two have always been close, even more so since Kyle died.
    At last, his answer comes.
    Safe for now. Can’t leave my dorm room. Zombies in hallway. On campus 2. I can see them from the window.
    A tremble goes through my chest, tears again springing to my eyes. Frederico rubs my back in wordless comfort.
    Pull your shit together , I scold myself. Carter needs a strong mom, not an emotional basket case. He’s already had to deal with that scenario one too many times in his life.
    My phone pings with another text.
    There are soldiers and CDC workers. Arrived this morning. Ordered everyone to stay inside. They arrest anyone they find outside. CDC people are in hazmat suits.
    If the military and CDC are involved, things are worse than I imagined. I snatch the phone from Frederico, pulling up the Internet browser. A quick search of the news networks brings up disturbing headlines.
     
    UNNAMED BIO THREAT DISCOVERED AT PORTLAND PORT
     
    CDC QUARANTINE 500-MILE RADIUS AROUND PORTLAND
     
    OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER CLOSED, CDC CHECKPOINTS AS FAR SOUTH AS EUREKA & REDDING
     
    ALL US PORTS CLOSED PENDING CDC INSPECTION
     
    ALL FLIGHTS GROUNDED IN PORTLAND AIRPORT
     
    PORTLAND BIOTERRORISM ATTACK CAUSING OUTBREAKS OF INSANITY AND CANNIBALISM
     
    The phone falls numbly from my fingers.
    Despite my inner attempt to rally, all hope crumples up inside me. I slump over, wrapping my arms around my stomach.
    This shit is real. CDC quarantines and checkpoints. Bio threats. Port closures.
    Zombies.
    My son is out there, trapped. And I have no way to get to him.
    Frederico picks up my phone, silently thumbing through the headlines. He lets me cry, administering more pats to my back. I sense him looking up and down the frontage road.
    “This isn’t over, Kate,” he says. “Not by a long shot.”
    “What are you talking about?” I raise bitter eyes. “In case you didn’t notice, my car is completely fucked. Even if I did have a car, there’s the CDC quarantine and the fact that zombies swarm cars. Carter is barricaded in his dorm room with no one to help him. We’re stuck here.”
    Frederico gives my back a final pat and pulls me upright. Looking me in the eye, he says, “Lace up, Kate. We’re hoofing it.”
    I blink stupidly at him. “What?”
    “Your car is totaled,” he says. “With all the shit that’s going down, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. You want to find your son? Then we run.”
    “You want to run ? All the way to Arcata?”
    He shrugs. “We scope out the