The Undead Adventures of Chas (Book 4): Next Gen Read online

  Baileigh Higgins

  Next Gen

  The Undead Adventures of Chas

  Copyright © 2019 by Baileigh Higgins

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Baileigh Higgins asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  Baileigh Higgins has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

  First edition

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  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2 - Julia

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6 - Julia

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12 - Julia

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16 - Julia

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19 - Julia

  Epilogue

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  Author Bio

  Acknowledgments

  Many thanks to my family and friends for their tireless support and dedication to me during good times and bad. Also, a shout-out to Skye of Peryton Press for the lovely book cover she designed for this story, and Graham Rintoul for his valuable input. I love and appreciate you all!

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to a very special girl, one that is close to my heart. Chasity Martin. Not only is this book dedicated to her, but it’s also written especially for her.

  This is for you Chas, my favorite fan! I hope you love the story as much as I loved writing it. Never forget that you’re special and can achieve anything you want in life, no matter how hard it seems.

  Love,

  Baileigh Higgins

  (Please note, this is a work of fiction, though, and all similarities to real-life people are accidental, not intended.)

  Chapter 1

  Her feet pounded a harsh beat on the pavement, and sweat poured down her face, soaking her hair and t-shirt. Her lungs burned like they’d been dipped in a vat of acid, each breath more agonizing than the last.

  Chas glanced over her shoulder.

  The zombies were gaining on her.

  Faster, go faster!

  She pumped her arms and legs, ignoring the fatigue that threatened to sap the last of her strength. Her backpack, filled with guns and ammo, dug deep trenches into her shoulder muscles. It slowed her down, but she couldn’t give up. She refused to surrender her precious cargo. Through tight lips, she wheezed the mantra Alvarez had taught her during their training weeks before. “Pain is your friend. It means you’re still alive. Pain is your friend.”

  Chas rounded the corner of a building, and her boots skidded on a loose patch of gravel. She almost fell, cutting her palms on the rough brick exterior of the wall next to her. Regaining her balance, she plunged ahead, aware that she’d lost even more ground.

  Not far ahead, waited her group, gathered in the center of an open parking lot. They were loitering around the supply trucks, loading their finds for the day. Their demeanor was casual, and she spotted them talking and laughing, tossing around jokes and banter like nothing was wrong.

  Oblivious to the danger heading their way.

  Unaware of the horde of zombies on Chas’ heels.

  Zombies she’d led straight to them.

  Chas sucked in a deep breath and shouted as loudly as she could. “Get in the truck! Get in!”

  A few heads turned her way.

  Inquiring.

  Quizzical.

  Chas waved her arms above her head. “Zombies! Get in the truck.”

  Behind her, the first of the infected sprinted around the corner of the building. Its snarls were loud in the quiet afternoon air and echoed all around her. More followed the first, adding their growls to the melody until it formed a symphony of terror. They spilled into the street like maggots, running after her with every ounce of single-minded determination they possessed.

  Alarm rippled through the group waiting for Chas, and they milled about like ants, loading the last supplies. They finished long before she reached them and scrambled for safety inside the cabs.

  Vanessa and Dean jumped onto the back of the nearest truck. Its sides had been reinforced with a steel frame to keep the occupants safe, and they both knelt down with their hands outstretched to Chas.

  “Come on, Chas. Run!” Vanessa shouted.

  “What do you think I’m doing?” Chas huffed but decided to save her breath when a look over her shoulder showed her how close to death she really was. The zombies were mere feet away, so close she could smell their rotten stench. “Oh, man.”

  The truck with her friends in it started its engine, and the exhaust puffed out a cloud of white smoke. Horror filled Chas at the thought of being left behind, and she poured the last of her energy into closing the gap. Just before she reached them, the truck began moving. “Wait for me!”

  Chas pushed her body to the limits and reached out both hands to the waiting Dean and Vanessa. Their fingertips touched, but the vehicle was speeding up, and she was sure she’d never make it.

  At the last second, Dean held onto the steel frame, leaned forward, and grabbed her hand. “Jump!”

  Chas pushed off, and Dean hauled her to safety with moments to spare. He slammed shut the back gate and locked it in place before turning to her with his signature goofy grin. “That was close.”

  Chas shot him a look between tendrils of sweaty hair, gasping for breath. “You’re telling me.”

  Vanessa punched her on the shoulder. “Where were you? We’ve been waiting for you for over an hour, and then you show up with a horde of zombies on your heels. What were you thinking?”

  Chas sucked in a few lungfuls of oxygen, splayed out on her back like a starfish. She shifted upright and shrugged off her bulky backpack. “I know, and I’m sorry, but look what I found.”

  She showed them her bounty of guns and ammo, earning admiring looks from Dean. Vanessa was not so easily mollified. “That still doesn’t excuse you going off on your own. You know the rules. When Grumps hears of this, you’ll be in for a world of trouble.”

  Chas sobered at the words, her grin falling away. “Grumps doesn’t need to know, does he?”

  Vanessa folded her arms across her chest. “Yes, he does.” r />
  “Are you going to tell him?” Chas asked, faking a wounded expression.

  Vanessa shook her head. “No, but I don’t have to. Who do you think is driving this truck?”

  Chas craned her head to look through the back window into the cab and blanched. “Lieutenant Stokes.”

  “Did you really think he wouldn’t notice you were gone? That man has got the eyes of a hawk,” Vanessa said.

  Chas groaned and slumped against the side of the truck. “I was hoping he’d be too busy with other stuff to care.”

  “Yeah, right. He’s a stickler for the rules. You know that. And he’ll make sure Grumps finds out about it too.”

  “Ugh, kill me now,” Chas mumbled. Lieutenant Stokes wasn’t a bad guy, and she respected him for his knowledge and skill, but he was too strict for her tastes. A real drill sergeant, at times. Plus, he had no trouble dealing out punishment for misbehavior either. “No supper for me tonight.”

  Dean laughed. “I think you just like getting into trouble.”

  She scoffed. “I do not.”

  Vanessa regarded her with a frown. “Just keep one thing in mind, Chas. If you keep flouting his authority, he’ll ban you from these runs altogether. He might even stop you from taking part in the coming battle.”

  Chas paled at the thought. Vanessa was referring to the rescue of the safe zone and its survivors. Her mom, Lala, everyone. It was set to happen as soon as they heard back from Alvarez and Julia. Hopefully, soon. In the meantime, Grumps was sending out groups to look for supplies. Food, medicine, guns, and ammo. “He wouldn’t dare.”

  “He would. Besides, you’re still injured, Chas. Shouldn’t you be taking it easy? It’s only been a week,” Vanessa said. “You were in a car crash, for goodness sake.”

  Chas shrugged. “It wasn’t that bad. A few cuts and bruises. My leg feels fine too. The coyote bite healed nicely.”

  It was a lie, of course. Her leg still ached at times, and Chas knew she was pushing her body to the limits. She just couldn’t stand the thought of sitting around doing nothing all day. Not when everyone else was out saving the world.

  “Chas, please,” Vanessa said with a sigh.

  “Fine, fine. I’ll do what Lieutenant Stokes says and play nice from now on. Happy?” Chas said.

  “That depends on whether you stick to it,” Vanessa said.

  “How come you’re lecturing me when you’re the queen of rebelliousness?” Chas asked.

  “That was then, Chas. This is now. Our families depend on us. Humanity depends on us. It’s not just about you or me anymore,” Vanessa answered with a sharp note in her voice.

  Chas didn’t answer straight away, but she knew her friend was right. She was being selfish by looking for adventure when more pressing matters were at hand. “I’m sorry, okay? I promise I’ll behave. You know I want to save the camp as much as you do.”

  “I know, I just think your thirst for action is getting the best of you,” Vanessa said.

  Chas didn’t reply, leaning back with her eyes closed instead. It was true. She loved the rush of adrenalin through her veins. The highs, and even the lows. It made her feel alive. Different from the innocent little kid she used to be. The one who got excited by Ferris wheels and cotton candy. She’d come a long way since then, and she was no longer the same person.

  Her thoughts flew to Julia, Sanchez, and Alvarez. She wondered where they were and what they were doing. Had they found Major Brown and his nephew? Had they reached Washington and secured help for the camp? So much depended on them, but even more, they were her friends, and she was worried about them.

  “I wonder how Alvarez and the others are doing?” Dean asked, echoing Chas’ thoughts.

  “Yeah, me too,” Vanessa said.

  “I just hope they’re safe,” Chas added.

  “We’re all worried. We need them,” Vanessa said with a grim expression. “If they can’t find help, we don’t stand a chance.”

  Chapter 2 - Julia

  “Where did they all come from?” Julia cried over the constant fire from Sanchez’ rifle. She added her own shots to the fray, concentrating on saving her ammunition and getting only headshots. It was a lot harder than it looked. The infected were running toward them at full speed, and their heads were the size of grapefruit bobbing on stormy waters at this distance.

  “I don’t know, but we’d better get moving fast, or we’re all zombie chow,” Sanchez replied, dropping three more infected with swift precision. They’d taken up their positions at the back of their vehicle facing in the direction they’d come. From down the road, a massive crowd of zombies was sprinting their way, desperate for food.

  Julia marveled at Sanchez’ marksmanship before looking over her shoulder. “How’s that wheel coming along, Alvarez?”

  Their tire had popped when they hit a shard of metal, leaving them stranded in the middle of the road. It wouldn’t have been an issue if they weren’t being chased by a horde of infected.

  Alvarez’ grunt was followed by a muffled reply, lost beneath the barrage of noise.

  “What?” Julia shouted.

  His disgruntled face popped into view for a brief second, smeared with oil. “Two minutes, that’s all I need. Two minutes.”

  Julia aimed at a runner, squeezed the trigger and swore when she missed. “We don’t have two more minutes.”

  “Make it happen, okay?” he shouted back. “Just make it happen.”

  Julia closed her eyes for a brief second as she tried to think of a plan. Two minutes. That was all Alvarez needed. An idea jumped to mind, and she slung her rifle across her back and reached into the back of the cab for a canvas bag. “Hold them off, Sanchez.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain,” Sanchez said with a lopsided grin, as cool as a cucumber even under extreme duress.

  Julia shook her head as she ran straight toward the oncoming horde. Nothing ever seemed to bother Sanchez. Nothing. “If I get out of this alive, I swear, I’ll find out what that woman is scared of. We all have fears, even if it’s just one, and she’s no exception.”

  With that vow made, Julia reached the back of an abandoned school bus and clambered onto the roof. She reached into her bag and pulled out a flare. Moving fast, she removed the end and ignited the flare by striking it against the rough part of the cap.

  It burst to life, shooting molten bits of material into the wind. One smoldering piece landed on her exposed forearm. She yelped as it burned into her skin and dropped the flare. It rolled toward the edge of the roof, and she scrambled after it in a mad dash before it got lost. Her fingers closed around it just as it tumbled off into the air. “Gotcha!”

  Julia lifted the flare high into the air and screamed at the oncoming horde. “Over here, you rotters. Come and get me!”

  Drawn by the light and her screams, their attention shifted to the bus. They flowed around it like water breaking around a rock. The roof she stood on shook beneath her feet as they clamored for her flesh, their gaping mouths eager to dig in.

  Julia cursed as she tried to steady herself on the rocking surface, hoping she hadn’t made the worst mistake of her life. She tossed the flare into their midst and lit another. “Stay with me. Stay.”

  The zombies obeyed, focusing on her with single-minded intensity. This granted Alvarez and Sanchez a brief reprieve, but Julia’s position was worsening fast. Two of the undead had clambered onto the nose of the bus and were crawling towards her onto the roof. She threw the second flare at them, and the front zombie’s hair caught alight. It went up in a ball of flame that burned brightly against the sky.

  Grabbing the rifle from her back, Julia took aim and shot the first zombie between the eyes. The second followed soon after, dropping to the ground to disappear into the throng. More were climbing up, however, following in their brethren’s footsteps. “A little help over here, please!”

  Sanchez responded by taking out two more infected, and seconds later, Alvarez was racing toward the back carrying the jack and tire iron
he’d used to change the burst wheel. He tossed the stuff into the back and slammed the door shut. “Get in, Sanchez. Hurry!”

  Sanchez ran toward the passenger side while Alvarez took the driver seat. He paused and shouted a quick command. “Get ready, Julia. You’ll have to jump.”

  “Got it,” Julia replied, getting ready to make her escape.

  A few of the zombies that surrounded her had noticed Alvarez and Sanchez. In a steady trickle, they began moving toward them. Julia wasn’t too worried, however. Their double-cab truck was more than capable of handling a few zombies with its fat tires, reinforced grill, and high clearance.

  Alvarez ignited the engine with a roar and slammed it into reverse. The truck bounced toward her across the uneven ground, smashing into several zombies along the way. They crunched beneath its wheels in a nauseating display of gore, and blood spattered the tar. It stopped several feet away from the bus, unable to get any closer due to a car wreck wedged between it and the bus.

  Julia eyed the gap with trepidation, her heart banging in her throat. Beneath her feet, the undead rasped their hunger through decaying throats. Behind her, more were crawling onto the hood of the bus, drawing closer by the second.

  I’d better not fall. If I do… Julia couldn’t finish the thought.

  “Come on! You can make it,” Sanchez screamed with half her body hanging out of her open window. She quickly ducked back inside when several infected lunged for her, but it was enough to get Julia moving.

  She took a few steps back, ran forward, and launched herself across the gap. For a breathless second, she thought she wouldn’t make it, dangling in the air like a delicious titbit for the undead horde to feast on. She landed on the edge of the truck’s roof, her left leg dangling below.

  Julia screamed when a zombie grabbed her foot and pulled. She scrabbled at the smooth metal looking for something to hold on to while her other foot kicked out into thin air. Panic set in as she slid lower…and lower.