Hatcher pushed his ATV as hard as he dared. and when he was certain he was at the right spot, he cut the four-wheeler to the side and took it off the road and onto another game trail. He wasn’t positive he could catch Mitch and Candy before the winding road they were on would hit the Y, but he prayed that he could beat them there. He knew they had a long and winding journey ahead of them when they left from the tower. They definitely went the scenic route when they led the crazy cannibals off, but barring anything horrible happening, they should be coming in on this road any time.
He came out of the game trail a little faster than he’d hoped and slid across the gravel, the chopper passing overhead once more. At least, he wondered if it was the same chopper. It was impossible to tell for sure at night. Hatcher spun the rear end of the ATV around and accelerated hard up the road, determined to close the distance between himself and his friends.
“Wait up!” Candy yelled above the growl of the engine. “He keeps slipping.”
“What’s his major malfunction?” Mitch snapped as he slid his ATV to a halt next to hers. “I’m about ready to leave his ass.”
Candy shot him a dirty look. “Oh, I dunno. Maybe the fact I doped him up so we could set his arm?” she shot back in a snarky tone. “Ease up, will ya?”
“We ain’t got all night.” Mitch revved the engine to his ride. “These things be crawling all over the place,” he said as his eyes scanned the surrounding woods.
“Well, if they come, they come, but I need to make sure he’s secure.” She twisted open a water bottle and splashed water on Fisher’s face, snapping him back awake.
“Wazzat?” he started. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’m just so sleepy.”
“I know,” she soothed. “It’s that shot I gave you.” She slapped at his face gently to wake him. “But I need you to stay with me.”
Dwayne nodded. “I’m trying,” he said softly. “It’s just so hard…” His head nodded.
Mitch unstraddled his ATV and muttered, “This is for your own good.” He walked up beside Fisher and slapped him silly. Fisher’s eyes bolted open. “You awake now?”
“Yeah. I’m awake.”
“Good. Stay that way!” Mitch stepped back to the ATV and hopped on it, the springs groaning with his weight. “Don’t be babying him. He’s a grown-assed man.”
Candy’s eyes narrowed on him as she got back on the ATV. “Just hang on,” she called over her shoulder.
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” Fisher called back, the pain in his arm throbbing and keeping him more alert.
Mitch rolled out, and Candy fell in behind him. They continued on their path and their headlights soon fell on a Y in the road. Candy rolled up beside Mitch as he slowed down. “Which way do we go?”
Mitch sighed as he shook his head. “I’m not sure,” he said. “I’m thinking that, if we go right, it will take us up and over by the overflow where they sent all the cars to park for the concert. They had these shuttles bringing people back and forth from there.” He saw her giving him a confused look and he smiled. “These big-assed golf carts. Holds about ten people.” He pointed left. “But I think if we go that way, it will take us down through the campgrounds.”
“So, which do we take? Do we check out the campers and see if any of them need help, or do we go with the parked cars and hope that maybe the road is empty?”
Mitch shrugged. “I think the campground way is probably a bit shorter, but if anybody down there is hyped up crazy, we could be looking at a very short trip.”
“Well, we could…,” Candy trailed off. “Somebody’s coming,” she said, pointing up the road.
Mitch had his sidearm drawn and pointed up the road before she finished speaking. Candy rolled her ATV to the side to illuminate the road. “They’re waving their arms.”
“Could still be messed up.” Mitch took a bead with his front sight on the lead figure. They waited until the figures got closer and began slowing down. They were shuffling forward, feet dragging, still trying to wave their arms.
“Mitch, they look like kids,” Candy said as she started to get off her ATV.
“Don’t let them get close,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “If they’re infected, your goose is cooked.”
“Help us,” a weak voice called out, just before collapsing on the road in front of them.
“Show me your eyes!” Mitch yelled.
The girl on the ground could barely lift her head, but she raised her arm, her finger pointing up. “Did she just flip me off?” Mitch asked, disbelievingly.
“I think that was a ‘wait a minute’ sign,” Candy said, a caustic smirk crossing her face.
The second figure staggered up behind her and stepped into the light. “They’re not far behind us,” he croaked through dry lips. “Help, please,” he said as he staggered forward, his lanky limbs barely able to carry him any farther.
“Let me see your eyes!” Mitch reiterated.
The boy fell to the ground in front of them and stared into the light. “We’re not zombies,” he croaked, his throat dry. “But they’re right behind us.”
“Zombies?” Mitch said. “They be crazy sons of bitches, but I dunno if I be calling them zombies,” he whispered to Candy, who was already jogging to the two small kids.
“Come on.” She trotted over to lift the kids to their feet. “If they’re right behind you, we need to get you out of here.”
“Where the hell we going to put them?”
“You have a rack in the front and
