As if reading Dale’s thoughts, Tom spoke up. “We need to act fast. I think that while their attention is down the street, I should jump in the car and run over to Darren’s. Maybe I can lead some of them away from here at the same time.”
Dale didn’t bother arguing. As a matter of fact, he was suddenly worried about his brother too.
Dale’s mom had her concerns, though. “Why don’t we all go?” She said with a frown.
“No honey, it’s too risky.” Tom said with a pained look on his face. “I need you to be safe! I think that maybe I can lead some of them away...”
They stood with their eyes locked for a moment. Dale had no idea what unspoken things were being communicated between his parents. Tom finally broke the contact and turned away.
“As soon as I collect Darren and Sheila, we will make our way back here. You guys lay low while I’m gone.”
He thought for a second. “Dale, can I take your phone.”
Dale handed over his cellphone without hesitation. He knew that his parents did not have cellphones of their own. “The code to unlock it is 6996.”
“Thanks. This way I can keep in touch with you.” He made his way to the kitchen wall. Or more specifically, the hook that held his car keys.
Tom Moore had few pleasures in life. One of these was his vehicle. Inside the garage stood his pride and joy, his Range Rover. Tom picked his keys off the hook and started to head to the mud room. He had only made it a couple of steps before Tex started whining and making a commotion, which stopped him in his tracks.
“I should take the dog. He gets too excited and will start barking once I’m gone.” He reached for the dog’s leash, which drove the dog into a frenzy.
Moments later, the dog was on the leash and he was ready to go.
Dale’s parents hugged and held each other tight. They exchanged hurried I love you’s. Then Dale’s mom took a step back, so Dale could hug his dad.
“I love you, son.” He said. Dale hadn’t heard those words since he was a kid. Tears started to flow for him as he told his dad that he loved him too and asked him to be careful.
Tom’s usual steel gaze broke slightly as he saw his son struggling with his emotions. He blinked once and with a nod and a smile turned towards the mud room.
Dale and his mom quickly made their way back to the living room. They wedged themselves on the far side of the front window, so they could see across the house to the driveway. Dale heard the mudroom door shut and lock. Several seconds later he heard the garage door start to open, and the Range Rover start up. The zombies out in the street were instantly attracted. Their heads snapped up to face the house, and a second later they started moving. Dale felt utter terror as the undead came in their direction with a single-minded intent.
Suddenly a brown shape ran into their view.
“Tex!” Dale exclaimed.
The dog had somehow gotten away from Tom and was going nuts. The garage door was still rising, and Dale could see the edge of it slowly creeping past hip height. Tex was running around the zombies, barking. He was smart enough to lunge away whenever a zombie reached for him. He was clearly afraid though.
The first zombie had reached the garage. The door was not quite up yet. The zombie took a step into the garage when Dale heard the rev of a vehicle’s engine. The zombie was sent flying backwards several feet as the Range Rover jumped forward out of the garage. Tom continued down the driveway and ran over the zombie. Dale was sickened to see the head of the zombie still moving, tracking the vehicle down the driveway, even as its torso had been crushed.
Tex ran through the crowd of zombies, barking and growling at them. Luckily, he was faster than the zombies. His movements through the crowd caused several zombies to lash out and hit each other instead of the dog. The thing that concerned Dale, was that Tex’s leash was still attached and dragging behind him. Dale hoped that no zombie accidentally grabbed or stepped on it.
Tom rammed into several zombies as he maneuvered his vehicle out of the driveway and on to the street. He was doing terrible damage. Dale saw a zombie with its chest almost completely collapsed. Another zombie repeatedly tried to get to its feet, seemingly oblivious to a broken leg.
Tom turned his vehicle and started heading down the street, away from the house. He started slowly, allowing the zombies to gather around his vehicle. The zombies were enraged. They repeatedly pounded the vehicle with their fists, paying no mind to the damage they were doing to themselves. They were obsessed with the living person inside the vehicle. Suddenly, the rear window of the Range Rover got smashed in. Tom hit the gas after that and sped off.
THERE WERE STILL SEVERAL zombies around the garage and house, so Dale backed away from the window, pulling his mom with him. She grabbed his wrist and held tight. Her eyes were large.
Fear, concern, and a hint of panic were etched in those brown eyes.
“The dog! Did you see where Tex went?” Mom asked.
“I saw him running after dad’s car. Hopefully, dad can stop and pick him up down the road.” He guided his mom to the couch and sat her down. “Dad made it out. He’s fine. He’ll run over to Darren and be back here before you know it.” Dale’s mom returned his small smile. Although Dale did not know if she believed him or not. He wasn’t sure if he believed himself...
Dale left his mom and walked into the kitchen. He placed himself
