What fred left behind
Chapter 9
"One of them just went into the house next to ours. What do we do?" Fred asked. He was the kind of guy whose character you could question at a glance — face covered in tattoos, hair dyed blue, the look of someone who caused trouble wherever he went.
They were stuck on a dead-end street. The only way out was through the same entrance they'd come in by — no avoiding the threat.
They searched the place hoping to find anything useful — a gun, fireworks, something — and came up with nothing, which nearly turned them on each other, everyone blaming everyone else for not thinking ahead.
"Let's all calm down," Chase barked, defusing the argument before it got them caught — which probably saved their lives. Right then, two zombies outside started messing with a downed power line, flickering the neon sign of the house across the street on and off. Wherever those lights led, that room might be worth the risk.
They planned it fast: Chase and Troy would slip into the house next door and make enough noise to pull the horde inside, while Tyler and Fred kept watch. Once the horde was drawn in, Tyler and Fred would start the car, and Chase and Troy would slip out through a window.
Risky. But it was the only plan they had.
Just as planned, Chase and Troy slipped inside. Minutes later, a loud noise blared out, and before they could even find cover, the horde came rushing straight for the house — stomping loud enough to hear from nearly a hundred feet away.
Those few seconds were terrifying.
Once enough time had passed, Tyler and Fred bolted for the car while Chase and Troy scrambled for the window. There was no time to waste — every second mattered.
Just as they were about to start the car, one of the undead lunged at Fred. Thinking fast, he bashed its skull in, but it wouldn't let go, still clawing for his throat, nearly getting him.
Tyler saw him struggling and rushed to pull the zombie off — only for it to turn on him instead, biting off his fingers. He screamed, and the thing kept ripping into him as Fred scrambled to his feet.
For one second, Fred looked at him. Really looked. Tyler's hand was already out, reaching.
Then Fred left him there.
"Help— aaargh— please, save me—" Tyler screamed, blood streaming from his mouth. Fred didn't look back again. He bolted for the car and drove the second the other two were inside, Tyler's voice still cutting through the night behind them until it wasn't.
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