She nodded and waved to Mateo. “Okay, if you want to follow me, I’ll get you set up,” she said, and then pointed to Zion and Calvin. “You two stay safe.”
“Always,” Zion replied as she left with Mateo in tow.
He and Calvin went back to the stairs in silence, walking with purpose towards their daunting task. When they reached the garage, the students were furiously at work on the loppers. They welded large metal poles together, sticking out like a multi-pronged helicopter blade.
As Zion and Calvin headed to their truck, the former noticed Tori approaching, and he elbowed his companion. “I think your girl wants some sugar,” he whispered, and then hopped into the driver’s seat.
Calvin shoved his hands in his pockets, nervous as she reached him.
“Time to go to the mall?” she asked, pushing her glasses up her nose.
He tried to act casual and suave, but came up short with his country boy twang. “Yeah, Zion and I are gonna go get what you need.”
“Just remember, the bigger the better,” she replied.
“I’ll get you a big one, don’t you worry,” he said, and then they both paused before he blushed as she laughed at the double entendre. “The mower will be big… but I mean that’s not to say I’m small… I- um…”
She laughed harder, and then Calvin joined in, unable to stop himself. He took her hand, pulling it up to his chest and stroking her knuckles gently. The laughter died away, and they stared at each other warmly. Tori licked her lips.
The horn blared, startling them both.
“Jesus christ man, will you kiss her already?” Zion bellowed from the driver’s side window. “We got shit to do!”
The two blushed and smiled shyly, and then Calvin leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. It was short and sweet, but spoke more than either could put into words. He pulled away and darted into the truck, and Tori gave a little wave before rushing back off to work.
Calvin fumbled with his seat belt and then noticed Zion grinning widely at him. “What?” he demanded.
“Proud of my playa!” Zion exclaimed. “Yeah!”
His friend chuckled and shook his head. “Let’s get moving,” he mumbled.
“Yes sir, Mister Playa!” Zion declared, and fired up the truck. He shot Calvin one more wink before peeling out of the garage.
CHAPTER TWO
Zion and Calvin stopped about a block away from the moving place, the only light coming from a solar-powered street light above the parking lot. There were a few zombies milling about in the lot, only faint shadows of movement in the distance.
“Got a couple of ‘em hanging out on the corner, but can’t see much past that,” he said.
Calvin looked around the side of the truck, making sure it was safe to step out. He popped out and raised his rifle, looking through the scope. As he peered into the darkness, he could make out several moving figures about fifty yards from the moving business.
“Can’t tell exactly how many there are,” he replied, “but it looks like it’s more than we want to deal with.”
Zion nodded. “We’re gonna have to act quick, then,” he said, and got out of the truck. He motioned for his companion to switch sides. “Come on, you drive.”
Calvin closed the passenger door and jogged around to the driver’s seat, and Zion hopped up into the truck bed. He opened the little back window.
“What do you want me to do?” Calvin asked.
Zion raised his trusty wooden weapon. “Drive up alongside them and I’ll handle the rest,” he said with a grin. “Then find the first trailer you can and back it up.”
The sniper nodded. “I’ll cover you while you get it hitched up,” he said.
Zion smacked the hood and Calvin hit the gas, speeding off towards the moving truck depot. As he reached the lot, he quickly turned in, moving just to the left of the two ghouls. Zion leaned over and swung from the bed, catching one zombie on the side of the head before stabbing down into the top of the other one.
Calvin scanned the lot, finally seeing a ten-foot trailer beside the building. “Got one, hang on!” he called, and flipped the truck into reverse, flooring it.
Zion widened his stance to keep his balance, and then moved to the back of the bed, motioning left and right to help Calvin line up the hitch properly.
“We’re good!” he finally called. “Cover me!” He hopped out of the truck and grabbed the heavy metal trailer. He lifted it and dragged it towards the hitch, straining under the weight. Come on, come on, he urged himself, and gave a great heave, lifting it up.
Calvin stood on the edge of the door, scanning the lot. One creature emerged from the darkness, rotted face illuminated by the spotlight. The sniper quickly aimed and put it down with a clean headshot.
Zion startled, arms still straining as he tried to line up the trailer. “We got incoming?”
“Just a straggler,” Calvin replied. He glanced to the left and noticed several creatures staggering into the lot. “Okay, more than just a straggler,” he amended. “How much time you need?”
“Just another minute,” he grunted, and finally managed to line up the trailer over the hitch and drop it. He fiddled with it a bit as Calvin dropped a few of the closest zombies and then shook his head. “Fuck it, going to have to do,” he muttered, and then clambered back up into the truck bed. “We’re good, let’s roll!” he yelled.
Calvin ducked back into the cab and floored it, moving away from the zombies and back down the way they’d come. When they made it a few blocks away to relative safety, he stopped so Zion could get back inside.
“How’s it looking?” Calvin asked.
His companion shrugged as he jumped into the passenger seat. “Well, it’s still behind the truck,” he replied, “so I guess it’s good.”
“Good enough for me,” the sniper agreed.
Zion jerked his
