Z: In The Heart of the Queen City

Chapter 19

No one said anything for the first thirty minutes on the road, we were blankly staring outside with Karen and Martin in the front and Jaycee and me in the back. We were formed this way because of Jaycee's injured leg and Karen being great with directions and all so she taught Martin the easier routes.

“We're still heavily unarmed.” I blurted out. “I like the way you state the obvious.” Martin said sarcastically.

I was in no mood for an argument, so I slumped back to my seat. Then someone's stomach growled and then everyone clutched their bellies feeling the gastronomic pain begin to shoot up. No wonder we were all so quiet, the sleep and hunger deprivation was beginning to make us dizzy. “Look, I don't know about you guys...” Jaycee began. Martin slammed on the breaks, “No! I know what your thinking and we're not doing it! We have six freaking hours to get to the fucking bridge and I'm not stopping for anything!” Then he began to drive at an insane speed. “Quit being an asshole! We'll never make it if your going to drive like a freaking maniac!” I yelled feeling the pain on my stomach again. This was hyper acidity at its finest ladies and gentlemen. That and the combination of queasiness from lack of sleep made a girl want to throw up.

So I did and it felt like the beginning of a hangover after Tequila nights.

Martin didn't stop driving despite Karen and Jaycee protesting aloud and me still saying goodbye to whatever was left of my insides. Then I was thrown forward crashing into the passenger's seat with my feet still filled with puke. “Emma?” It was Karen, she looked at me with the most worried eyes I have ever seen in my life. “Are you okay?” came Jaycee's voice his ginormous hand was rubbing my back. No ,no,no I'm not okay, why do people keep asking that? There are zombies outside waiting to rip my brains apart and here I am puking like it's the New Year. What the hell could be worse?

“We ran out of gas.” Martin said quietly.

I heard Jaycee pound his first to the car seat and curse out something. I stared outside, adjusting my eyes to see where we were. It was no use, vomiting made me lose my vision so everything was blurred. “Couldn't you check on the gas before stealing a car?” I asked rubbing my eyes. Martin stared at me looking so pissed, “Oh I'm sorry remind me to do that when you start playing hero again.” “You know, we're all just hungry maybe we can just...” Karen began but Martin interrupted her, “Grab a bite to eat? Oh look there's a Mcdonalds! Let's go get some zombie Mcnuggets while we wait for someone to blow this shit hole up! Besides, it's going to take us another freaking hour to even make it to the entrance considering...” I tried to stop him from continuing but Jaycee was already sitting up straight.

“Considering WHAT?” He asked in a cold tone. “My fucking leg? If you guys think it's such a nuisance then you could have just left me to die!” Then he looked at me, “Wouldn't be the first time we did that right Em?” My head was throbbing so I couldn't bring myself to look at him any longer but his words stung. Chris, Sam, Claire and even that psycho bitch Kat all appeared in my head when he spoke. “You know what, why don't we do just that?” I said before I could stop myself. “Seeing as I've been so good at getting us all into trouble with my feeling hero antics why don't we all just split up!” Before anyone could say anything anymore Jaycee stepped out. “JAYCE!” Karen yelled but it was me who followed him, feeling guilty for suggesting something stupid.

“Jayce!” I called him feeling weak all over, “Please! I'm sorry! Let's go back ok? I promise nobody meant what they just said, we're just shit ass hungry!” I pleaded.

Jaycee didn't turn around instead he stopped and was facing up towards the wrecked entrance of a building in front of him. “Emma..Where did you say your sister was last?” He asked. I gasped when I saw the sign, J Center then my eyes went over to a military truck that was crashed in the steps leading to the inside of the mall. There was still smoke coming out from the engine meaning the wreck was just new. I jogged over to it and saw one dead zombie who was shot in the forehead and its victim; a young soldier who's last bullet when to his own head. His body was hanging from the window and slouched, below him was the handgun he used to shoot himself after probably getting bitten.

Then screams from the inside. It was the sounds that I was beginning to be accustomed to, and I knew it was always no good.

I stepped back then felt my heart thump violently. “Elise?” I whispered to myself, how many times have I been wrong through this long treacherous journey? But this time I felt something really bad was going on. “Emma, don't! I think we need to get going!” Jaycee warned as if he knew what I was thinking. But I was already bending down to get the gun and before I knew it I was on my feet and entering the mall.