The Monster Apocalypse

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Oh God," Brin said.

"What's wrong?" Crispin asked.

Brin turned around, waved her arms real high, and shouted, "Get in the car! Everybody get in the car!"

Ash stepped toward Brin. "What?"

Brin sighed. Ash, Anaya, and Valerie were chatting nonsensically on the sidewalk, like there was no urgency to be anywhere but here.

"You numbskulls! There's zombies coming! Hurry!"

Ash heard that. His eyes opened wide, and he waved at Anaya and Valerie to run to the car.

"Mr. Barker!" Ash said. "Start the car, start the car!"

The teacher had just stepped out of the vehicle, but he was already back in again. He turned on the ignition and waited for Ash to push Brin into the middle, and Crispin up against the left window.

"What are they doing?" Mr. Barker asked, ready as ever to speed back onto the road. But Valerie looked out of breath and needed assistance from Anaya. They barely made it to the passenger door, when Brin turned her head around to see the zombies marching closer and closer, a mere football stadium's length away.

She almost turned back to the front, when she heard a strange noise coming from the back. Brin moved over the seat and peered down to see Dylan and Brent kissing hardcore.

Brin was right—the boys had been going at it. But she was still shocked. "Are you serious? You're going to do this now, Dylan? There are children present!"

"I'm sorry," Dylan said, as Brent immediately pulled away. "I can't help it. I'm so scared. I needed comfort. I needed—"

"We weren't kissing," Brent said, scooting against the back door. "It's not what you think."

"What?" Dylan stared at the sports editor in bewilderment. "Don't go there, Brent. Not for one second would I believe you didn't enjoy that—"

"I'm not gay."

"No? Let me guess. You're bi."

Dylan crossed his arms angrily and glanced out the back window. He stayed put only for a second or two, before he looked back at Brin.

"Uhh, Brin?"

"What?"

"Is it my imagination, or are those zombies headed for the car?"

Brin turned back toward the front, where Anaya was planting her butt on the passenger seat. Valerie was still outside.

"What are you imbeciles doing?" Brin shouted.

"Where should Valerie go?" Mr. Barker asked. "There's no room!"

"Your lap!" said Brin. "Anaya, put her on your lap!"

Anaya nodded, leaned down, and pulled the miniscule Valerie up onto the passenger side. Brin was thankful the girl was tiny; if she hadn't been, she would've had to sprawl out over her, Ash, and Crispin, and that would not have been fun.

Anaya closed the door, and before it had even shut all the way, Mr. Barker slammed his foot against the pedal.

"Everybody hang on!" the teacher shouted, just as the zombie at the front of the pack reached for the back window.

The car pulled out onto the road, swerved around a hole in the ground, and zoomed forward, just in time, leaving the hundreds of zombies behind to fend for themselves.

"That was close," Mr. Barker said.

"Too close," Ash added.

Brin planted her hands against her sides. "Do we really need to have all these close calls? Honestly, people!"

Mr. Barker nodded at the new passenger. "Nice to see you, Valerie."

"Nice to see you, Mr. Barker." Valerie glanced at Anaya, then turned around and looked at Ash and Brin, and Dylan, who had his head poked over the back seat. "Look at this. An Intro to Film reunion."

"It sure is," Ash said. "You want to get caught up with what's been going on?"

"That would be great," Valerie said.

As Ash started to tell the girl, or the troll—whatever she was—everything, Brin leaned against the back of the driver's seat and tapped Mr. Barker on the shoulder.

"What is it, Brin?"

"Are you getting on the freeway?"

"I was thinking about it," he said. "But I'm also wondering where we can get a larger vehicle. This car can't fit eight people. If we're going to be driving all the way to Bodie, we need something more sizeable—"

"My dad has a van," Crispin said, pushing against Brin's side, obviously wanting to be a part of the conversation. "Well, he did."

Brin looked at the boy, not knowing what to say. She just kissed his cheek and patted him on the back.

"How big of a van?" Mr. Barker asked.

"Well, we have a big family. I've got one younger brother and two younger sisters. An older half-sister in college. My mom. Colin—" He stopped again, looking like he might cry.

"That is a big family, Crispin," Mr. Barker said.

"Yeah," he said, staying strong. "The van has eight seats total, I'm almost positive."

"That's perfect," Mr. Barker said. He pulled up to the freeway on-ramp but didn't get on. "Do you know where we can get this van?"

"Yeah. It's parked on the curb in front of our driveway. We live in Diablo Shadows."

Brin grinned at the boy. "Really? You live there, too?"

"Yeah," he said. "Well, we just moved there last summer. We used to live in Doom Creek."

"Small world," Brin said.

"Small town," Ash specified.

"OK then," said Mr. Barker. "Diablo Shadows it is. Brin, can you tell me how to get there?"

"Yes. Just go left here, and take Sharp Knife Way for about two miles. The entrance to the neighborhood is on your left."

"Excellent," Mr. Barker said. "We'll get the van, and then we'll be on our way. Step one is to get out of Grisly—but step two? We're headed to Bodie."

"Thanks, Mr. Barker. This means so much to me. You know... you really are the best teacher I've ever had."

Mr. Barker chuckled, then stopped talking—and stayed focused on the road. Brin sat back in her seat and put her arm around Crispin. She was proud of the boy. And she was grateful he was still alive.

Brin looked at Anaya, who was making meaningless chit-chat with her new bestie, Valerie. Brin turned around and looked behind the back seat, to see Dylan and Brent having made up, right back to kissing again.

"Am I the only one without a lover?" Brin whispered.

Ash looked at her. "What'd you say?"

"Nothing." Brin looked out the window. Then she focused her gaze on Ash. She stared at him for a few seconds. She didn't take her eyes off him.