bossy,” she said.
“Obviously she needs guidance,” said Bryce. “And the fact that she took off like that just proves it.”
“Listen,” interrupted Kristie. “Pointing fingers isn’t going to solve anything. We’ve all done some crazy shit in the last few weeks and it was done out of desperation and the will to survive. Now, we have to work together and find these kids before they end up dead or, God forbid, undead. So quit with the dramatics and let’s get rolling before you find out how frightening a woman out of cigarettes and on the verge of menopause can get. You all feelin’ me?”
“Yes , mother, I feel you,” said Paige.
“Me too,” smirked Bryce.
“Good ,” said Kristie. “Now, let’s see if we can turn our luck around and find everyone before it gets dark.”
“We have about two hours,” said Tiny.
She rubbed the sweat from her forehead. “Well then in two hours I want a drink in one hand, a smoke in the other, and everyone that’s missing, accounted for.”
“ Right, I think that’s asking for nothing short than a miracle,” said Paige.
“Don’t discount anything,” said Kristie. “You ever hear about the power of attraction? Positive energy attracts positive things?”
“I’ve heard of it,” said Paige. “Sounds like a crock of crap to me.”
“Well, they say it really works,” said Kristie.
Paige snorted. “Well, if it really works, why didn’t ‘they’ practice i t a little better before all of these zombies made an appearance?”
“Maybe nobody was practicing anything positive when the zombie virus spread,” said Tiny, softly. “In fact, maybe everything that’s happened is the cause of something much more intense than just a bad batch of flu vaccine.”
“What are you trying to say?” asked Paige. “That this zombie apocalypse happened because of negative energy?”
Billie sighed. “I see where you’re going - the world had already started going to pot before any of this and maybe this is some kind of retribution we brought upon ourselves?”
“Maybe.”
“Well then who’s punishing us?” asked Paige. “Aliens?”
“ You ever heard of ‘The End of Days’?” asked Billie.
Kristie sighed. “Yes, of course. B ut come one, zombies aren’t a sign of the end of the world. I highly doubt they were mentioned in the Bible.”
“What are you people talking about?” asked Paige.
“Nothing,” said Kristie. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Just like I saw this special about it on the history channel -we will be struck by deadly plagues,” said Billie, his tone grave, “and famines and earthquakes. The sky will turn dark and oceans will turn to blood. And finally, the Antichrist will emerge to fight the final battle between good and evil.”
“That Antichrist?”cried Paige, her voice shrill. “You mean, like, Satan?”
“Paige,” said Kristie. “Just settle down. It’s not the end of the world and nobody knows for sure that Satan is even real.”
“Well, if he is, right now would be the perfect time for him to show up,” said Billie.
“Oh my God,” moaned Paige. “The deadly plagues could be the flu that infected everyone, the famine could be happening now because food is so scarce. And what about the tremors we felt earlier- what in the hell was that about?”
“Just chill out you guys,” said Kristie. “You’re all making mountains out of molehills.”
“And… the skies are definitely gray,” said Paige, staring up into the gray clouds.
“It’s summer in Minnesota,” said Kristie. “Now everyone stop it! Unless the sky starts raining down scorpions, locusts, or frogs, I don’t want to hear anymore crap about the end of the world!”
Just then a loud clap of thunder made them all jump and they watched in silence as the rain began to pour.
Chapter Four
Cassie
“Wow,” said Nora , staring around in amazement.
The nuns had taken us to their church, an old cathedral