My Zombie Girlfriend

Chapter 18

Zane lashed out and found himself falling... onto the wooden gymnasium floor. His legs were all tangled up in a scratchy blue blanket.

"Wake up, Z! Wake up! You're just having a nightmare!"

Eerily, the gymnasium seemed dimmer, just like in his dream. He blinked. The generators must be running out of juice. Or maybe whoever was running this show had decided that running the lights all night while half the people were sleeping was a big waste of electricity.

"Z? You okay, man?"

Zane sat up and looked at Wilson, who looked like he hadn't been sleeping at all. His friend had dark circles under his eyes and a twitchy look about him.

"I'm fine," Zane said. "Just a dream, like you said."

"Shit. You were freaking me out. It sounded like you were possessed by a velociraptor. I was about to start the whole, 'The power of Christ compels you' bit."

"Sorry." Zane crawled back up to his cot.

"You like that new nickname? Z? It just popped out, but it's got a ring to it. Kind of like World War Z. Although in the book they actually called the zombies 'Zacks.' Eh. I like it."

"Yeah," Zane said, because Wilson seemed to be waiting for some kind of response. He rubbed his eyes, then flopped onto his back.

"So, uh..." Wilson leaned over the empty space between their cots. "Ricky hasn't shown up yet."

Zane yawned.

"Wanna take a walk around? Have a look-see?"

"Why are you talking like a used car salesman? Aren't you tired?"

"On the contrary, my friend. I am wired. I sucked down two of those five-hour energy things just before we went to the hospital. I keep waiting for the crash, but obviously there was no false advertising there. None. Nada. Zip."

Zane closed his eyes. "I get it."

"Seriously, I gotta do something. I've already gone to the bathroom five times and cataloged everyone here in the gym." Wilson pulled out a small notepad and flipped it open.

Every single page was full.

"Not counting the soldiers or anyone who has arrived in the last half hour, there are four hundred and twenty-seven people here. That's crazy. Isn't that crazy?"

"I'm tired."

"No adrenaline rush? No? Zombie apocalypse, and you're tired?"

"Wils, it's like three in the morning. We've watched a bunch of friends die and we've killed two zombies. We're finally in a safe place. So yes, I'm tired, and I want to go to sleep."

Wilson snapped his notebook shut and stuck it into one of the pockets in his pants. "I see." He stood up and adjusted his hat. "I guess that means I'll go look for our friend alone."

As he walked away, Zane flopped over onto his side. "Wait."

"What was that? Did I hear you say something?" Wilson asked, still walking away.

"I'm coming," Zane said. He put his feet on the floor.

"Oh, did you say you'd catch up? What?"