Read Online MZS: Philadelphia (Metropolitan Zombie Survivors Book 3) by K. D. McAdams - Free Book Online Page B

book or a movie. When a character says it, I get the impression that it’s a plan, and easy. Now I feel like it’s a guess and could be hard.
    “Shoot Tucker a text and tell him where we’re headed. Tell him to keep hanging on; we’ll think of something,” Patrick says to Cupcake, before speaking to the whole group. “Me and new guy go first. Laney, you got Todd, and Cupcake, you bring up the rear.”
    “My name’s Parker,” I inject feebly.
    “I know.”
    He adjusts his grip on the hockey stick and bounds up the first few steps. Something tells me he can’t run for long, but his first step is quick. I’m glad they didn’t ask me to go first as some type of initiation.
    Going first would require swift and thorough action upon encountering a zombie. Can I quickly identify an undead person from a living person? Once identified, am I resolute enough to kill them? Is killing them the same with a gun as it is with a hockey stick?
    The last thought is foolish. With a gun I have the luxury of aiming for any spot on their skull. My bullet will do all the hard work if my aim is true.
    Having never held or shot any type of gun in my life, I have to wonder how good my aim will be. I’m also concerned with the sound of the gun going off in the enclosed space of the stairwell. The bodies hitting the railing reverberated loudly; I have to imagine a gunshot would be deafening.
    After two flights of stairs, I see a sign telling us that the rooftop lounge is on the eleventh floor. We have four more flights to go.
    Patrick’s pace is slowing. I suspected it would, but this is even sooner than I thought. Sweat drips off the back of his long stringy hair and his breathing is labored.
    When he makes the turn onto the next landing, I hear some scuffling. There is a moan and some faint buzzing, but I can’t tell what direction it comes from.
    “Fuck,” Patrick says before grunting a few times.
    I should race up and see what is happening and try to help. Instead I slow my pace and pray that whatever is happening is over when I get there.
    Finally, I reach the landing and see the body off in a corner and Patrick turning to head up the next flight of stairs. The struggle is over. I’m relieved.
    I pause briefly in front of the body and notice that there is very little blood. The boy’s body, in contrast, has been dripping blood for a while now. Even when I think it must be dry, more seems to come. Do the zombies bleed out before they turn or is there another explanation?
    The remaining flights are covered without incident, at least for me. I’m in my own world, thinking about the difference between killing from a distance, like with a rifle, and killing up close with your hands. I decide that the strain from having to do either will have an adverse effect on my psyche.
    On the eleventh floor, Patrick waits outside the door to the lounge. He breathes heavily and watches the stairs anxiously. As each of his friends appears, his expression lightens a little.
    “Made it,” Cupcake reports as he arrives.
    “Let’s catch our breath for a minute. We may have some cleaning to do once we go inside,” Patrick explains. I am glad that he can think ahead like that.
    “Who do you work for?” I blurt out, without even realizing I was thinking it.
    “I’m currently unemployed. Does it matter?”
    “Sorry. I mean where did you get your training? Army, marines, police?”
    “Training? We’re all using the ‘just roll with it’ school of thought,” he says and shrugs, destroying the little confidence I had building.
     

McLean
Chapter 10
    Why does the new guy get the gun? Patrick has been taking the lead and I feel like he’s the one who should have the best weapon. I suppose if he wanted it he could have taken it, though.
    We know the new guy’s name, but I can’t bring myself to use it. It’s weird, because until yesterday I barely knew Patrick and didn’t know the other guys at all. Yet Cupcake, Todd and especially Tucker