“Billy, check out that girl. She’s bawling her eyes out. That Ivan must’ve sweet-talked her into his bed and now he’s giving her the boot. What a sleazeball.”
Michael Joke, the motor-mouth gossip, chimed in.
He was dead-set on smearing Ivan’s rep in front of Billy Jean.
Like she didn’t see right through him.
Billy Jean shot him a glance and said, cool as a cucumber,
“Ivan’s not that type. I trust him.”
That lit Michael Joke’s fuse.
He sneered,
“Ivan? Sounds like a player with a name like that.”
Billy Jean:...
She never knew Michael Joke could be such a smart aleck.
Michael Joke was fuming and had no outlet, so he redirected his rage at Ivan and started hollering, not about to let it drop.
“Hey, you a real man? You had your fun and now you’re gonna ghost her? Step up if you are. Don’t make me lose respect.”
Ivan’s face clouded over.
“Zip it if you wanna live.”
“Billy, look at him. I hit a nerve and he’s blowing his top. Beating me till I coughed up blood wasn’t enough. Now he wants me dead.”
Michael Joke was laying it on thick.
Billy Jean:...
Ivan:...
When guys play innocent, gals don’t stand a chance.
Finally, Billy Jean gave Michael Joke a look that said a lot and simply stated,
“You’ll rue this.”
Michael Joke:?
Watching Billy Jean mosey over to Ivan, Michael Joke’s eyes darkened like a storm.
He did regret it.
He wished he’d offed Ivan way back.
The woman with short hair recoiled in fright when she saw Billy Jean coming.
“What... what do you want?”
Billy Jean strolled up to Ivan.
Her icy gaze swept over the short-haired gal and the rest.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Don’t wanna scram? Fine by me. I’m still peckish. Who’s first on the menu?”
Immediately, the short-haired gal and the others bolted like scared rabbits.
In a blink, they were gone.
The corners of Billy Jean’s mouth twitched.
Being a zombie had its perks.
At least she was intimidating.
Looking at Billy Jean beside him, Ivan’s nose stung.
Before, when Jean walked down the street, heads would turn.
Now she was a zombie and folks were scared spitless.
She must’ve had a rough go.
How helpless she must’ve felt when the zombie chomped down!
Ivan hugged Billy Jean, his heart aching.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
The next second, he was yanked up and slugged to the ground.
“Asking for trouble.”
Michael Joke’s voice thundered.
Ivan pushed his tongue against his sore cheek and spat blood.
His temper flared.
He blipped behind Michael Joke in a flash, spun, and launched a kick.
“Boom...”
Michael Joke flew back a bit.
“Michael, you forget? You and Jean split ages ago. You playing her knight in shining armor now? Hilarious.”
As soon as Ivan said it, he was zapped by Michael Joke’s lightning.
“If it weren’t for you, you snake, would Billy Jean and I be history?”
“I’m the bad guy? You’re the dirt-bag.”
As Ivan spoke, he popped up on Michael Joke’s left and threw a haymaker.
Michael Joke’s head snapped sideways from the punch.
He blocked Ivan’s next swing and jabbed him in the gut.
“You’re the wedge between us, and you think you’re right?”
“Ridiculous! What relationship? It was all a sham from start to finish.”
The two of them traded blows and insults, going at it like cats and dogs.
Billy Jean was sprawled on the hotel lobby sofa, leaning back, watching the show.
She was like a spectator.
She was just there for the entertainment.
Finally, she said, cold as ice,
“Keep at it. If you croak, you’ll be a tasty treat for me.”
Michael Joke and Ivan froze and quickly backed off.
“Jean, he...”
Ivan was cut off by Michael Joke before he could finish.
“He started it.”
“You...”
Ivan was interrupted again.
“And you cursed me first.”
“I...” Ivan.
“I was just defending myself.” Michael Joke.
Ivan was so mad he thought his head would explode.
He’d met shameless folks before, but this one took the cake.
Billy Jean saw Michael Joke in a new light.
She was once again wowed by his quick tongue.
She made a mental note to watch her step when tangling with him in an argument.
On the deserted street.
“Damn it, what’s so special about him.”
Gaby punted a busted-up car.
“So he unlocked an ability. Big whoop. I don’t care.”
“Knock it off. You wanna draw the zombies?” Nobrow snapped.
Gaby was already in a foul mood, and this set him off even more.
“Nobrow, now you’ve got something to say? You were as quiet as a church mouse before.”
“I’m not looking for trouble. If the zombies show, you’re on your own.”
Gaby seemed bent on being contrary and hollered,
“Where are the zombies? Come out! Come out...”
Nobrow’s face went dark.
He muttered, Idiot.
He was about to split when he was swarmed by zombies out of nowhere.
“Ahhh... zombies! So many zombies...”
The two women scurried behind the men, shaking like leaves.
Gaby’s face drained of color.
He hadn’t expected to actually summon the zombies.
“How could this be? There weren’t any zombies for miles, were there?”
“Now you’re scared? Too late. Go feed the zombies.”
Nobrow suddenly shoved Gaby forward.
Caught off guard, Gaby stumbled right into the zombie horde.
“Ahhh...” Screams filled the air.
Nobrow took advantage of the chaos and made a run for it.
Covered in zombie bites, Gaby watched Nobrow flee and yelled,
“Nobrow, I’ll haunt you in the afterlife.”
The two women were trembling from head to toe.
They wanted to follow Nobrow, but the zombies blocked their way.
“Ah... Don’t come near me. Don’t come near me.”
The woman with short hair was waving a branch, trying to spook the zombies.
“Nobrow, don’t go. Save me. Save me.”
The woman with long black hair watched Nobrow disappear and wailed in despair.
But Nobrow didn’t stop.
He left them in the dust.
The next second, the zombies pounced on the two women, and two more screams ripped through the street.
The smell of blood hung in the wind.
