what you've seen and what I've said. Some will attempt to kill me but they will not succeed. Others will kneel before me and I will vanquish the enemies, even now, heading towards us."
Chapter Four
The last two zombies did a sweep of the two vehicles to make sure no one was missed. Reluctantly they began walking down A1A at a leisurely pace and heading north.
When Tosha was sure they were both out of sight and not going to double back and none of their undead buddies were hiding in wait, she scampered down from her perch in the dunes and made a beeline to the van, which was still entangled in the chain and two cars.
She quietly opened the side door and saw the dying woman first, her throat gushing blood and her eyes wide with fear as she tried to stop the flow. "Help me," she whispered to Tosha with her ruined vocal chords.
Without a thought, Tosha slammed the butt of her rifle into the woman's head, making sure she not only died but she wouldn't be coming back to undead life. She figured it was the only real way to help the woman. Tosha pulled her body out of the van and slipped inside, smiling at her find.
The rear of the van was filled with metal cans of all shapes and sizes, the labels peeled off of most of them. There was a cardboard box full of plastic bottles filled with water, and a collection of knives duct-taped to the inside wall of the van.
Tosha popped her head back outside to make sure she was alone and sighed. The black SUV was back, driving slowly down the road, toward her spot. She'd been seen. She lifted the carbine and aimed at the SUV, which stopped fifty feet from her.
She knew she couldn't run. If she did, they'd follow her in the SUV. She had no idea how many people were actually in the vehicle because the sun was glaring off their windshield. She decided to take her chances and stand her ground. "Driver, exit the SUV slowly, with your hands up, or I will shoot. Now."
The driver's door opened slowly and Tosha saw a pair of cowboy boots hit the pavement first. The man walked around the open door, hands in the air and smiling. He was wearing faded blue jeans, a gaudy Hawaiian shirt, cowboy hat and mirrored sunglasses. His face was covered in a graying beard. "Gosh, ain't you a pretty one? I bet under all that dirt and shit you got a rockin' body. Am I right?"
"Say another word and I'll put a hole through your stupid grin, cowboy."
He kept smiling and nodded.
"How many more people are in the SUV?"
Cowboy held up one finger.
"Is it your girlfriend?"
Cowboy smiled. "Not at all, sugar. I'm speculatin' you'll be my girlfriend before this is all over with."
"It's going to be all over with if you keep talking shit and don’t just answer the fucking questions I'm asking," Tosha said. She was beginning to think this was a mistake. This guy was too cocky. She looked around suddenly, making sure no one was sneaking up on her.
"Little paranoid, darlin'? It's just me and my boss. We got ambushed not too long ago by a bunch of smart zombies, and we managed to high-tail it to safety. Now, we're coming back to collect the food and weapons, which are ours." He dropped his smile. "Do you have a problem with anything I'm sayin'?"
"Nope, Cowboy. Only the part where you think you're still entitled to this shit in the van. The way I see it, you walked away and left it for me to find. I found it. Now it's time for you and your boss to drive away and leave me and my new shit alone." Tosha raised the rifle and smiled. "Unless you want me to go through the SUV as well. I have no problem shooting you in your pretty face."
Cowboy was smiling again and slowly reached up and tipped his hat in Tosha's direction. "I appreciate you noticing my physical charms."
"I didn't…"
"You said I had a pretty face."
"I was being sarcastic. Tell your boss to get out of the car slowly," Tosha said, wanting to kick herself in the ass for letting him sit inside this