The Zombie Chronicles - Book 3 - Deadly City: The Zombie Chronicles, #3

By Chrissy Peebles

Warning: Some violence. Some gore. For mature audiences only.

This is a novella. (The next two books in the series are full length books) 

When Nick and Dean chase Tahoe into a city where he's taken refuge, they learn that this city is more bizarre and mysterious than they ever thought before. Ignoring their instinct to leave, they put on a brave front and continue their search for Val who has turned into a zombie...and is out on the loose. Dean feels they're closer than ever to getting the vials back, but when he learns about a deadly secret the city hides, his mission turns into a life and death struggle...literally.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Shadows Publishing
• Release date: Feb 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497783607

Book preview

banner chrissy's new zobmies with city in background2

Chapter 1

I GLANCED AROUND THE hotel room, then stared at the strewn covers and broken ropes on the bed. Val was nowhere to be seen. My heart lurched. Where is she? My sister was my responsibility. She was a zombie now and had no idea what she was doing. I was supposed to protect her and keep her safe. If she’s out there somewhere, killing people... I couldn’t dare finish the thought.

Claire examined the ropes. They weren’t cut. They’re frayed. Looks like she gnawed her way through.

But the door was locked when we left, said Jackie. Who would’ve opened it?

Dean! my brother called from the other side of the room.

What? I asked.

We got a big problem, Lucas’s voice echoed from inside the bathroom. We know who let Val out.

Who?

The housekeeper, Nick said.

Racing to the bathroom, I held my breath. I didn’t even want to look. The thought of Val tearing through the poor housekeeper’s flesh was enough to make me gag. I stepped through the doorway and let out a sigh of relief when I saw that the girl was alive, huddled up in the corner, still clutching her feather duster for dear life. She was dressed in a typical maid’s outfit, a long-sleeved blue dress with a white apron, and I guessed her to be about nineteen.

Are you okay? Jackie said, rushing over to the frightened young woman.

Is it...gone? she asked, her lips trembling.

You’re safe now, Lucas said.

The housekeeper’s eyes widened and her face remained white as a ghost. That thing came at me from nowhere, so I ran in the bathroom and shut the door. It didn’t seem to know how to open the door, thank God, so I just waited it out. I hoped it would leave if I stayed quiet, and I guess it did.

But we left a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door, Claire said. Isn’t it hotel policy to respect our wishes?

The girl nodded. Yes, but I heard growling and thought you had a dog. It’s against the rules to have animals here, so I knocked on the door to let you know, but no one answered. I could lose my job if I didn’t say something to you about it, so I figured I’d try the door to see if there really was a dog in here, and when I did... Her eyes glared. I’m so going to report you for this! Not only am I gonna tell the hotel manager, but the mayor too! You almost got me killed. When they’re done with you, you’ll regret you ever stepped foot in Kingsville.

Lucas held out a hand and helped the girl up. I’m so sorry. When did this happen?

About five minutes ago. Her gaze narrowed. You keep a pet zombie as a watchdog? You guys are just...sick.

I shook my head in disbelief, unable to believe what was happening. 

We need to catch Val while her trail is still hot, Lucas said.

Knowing that Val was out there made me shudder. For one thing, they’d kill her on sight. For another thing, she’d do the same if she caught up to anyone. Let’s split into teams. I’ll take Jackie and Claire, and you go with Nick, I said. We’ll cover more ground that way.

What about the housekeeper? Claire asked. "She’s gonna spill everything to the authorities the second we let her go, and then they’ll be hot on our trail."

Nick grabbed the ropes we’d used to bind Val. I’m sure she’s worn out from all the hard work she does. I think a nap would do her wonders, right?

You mean...chloroform? Jackie said.

Nick pulled out the brown bottle. It’s no biggie. It’ll just put her out for just a few hours. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.

The housekeeper tried to wriggle herself free from Nick’s grasp.

But we can’t...we’re not kidnappers, Claire replied.

Wait! I won’t say anything. I promise, the girl begged, a tear running down her face.

I swallowed hard. Now we’re tying people up and drugging them? When did I become this horrible villain? I tried to calm the girl down some. Look, lady, we’re really not monsters.

So you say, but you’re willing to knock me out and tie me up to protect one! She spat in my face and shoved me hard.

Wiping my face with my sleeve, I bit my lip hard. We’re not gonna hurt you. I swear. We just need you to keep quiet until we get out of town.

My brother shot me a look as he held on to the girl who was flailing violently in his arms. Dean, we got this. Go on and get outta here. Go find our sister before they do.

I can’t, Nick. This...it just doesn’t feel right, I said. We do this, and we’re no better than that scoundrel Tahoe.

The girl’s an unexpected complication, an incidental, he said, but we won’t let anything happen to her. I promise you that.

We’ll let her leave unharmed as soon as we can, Lucas added. I don’t like it one bit either, but what other choice do we have? We can’t let her report that she saw a zombie in here, at least not till we’re long gone—all six of us.

Why not? I said. We don’t need drugs and ropes. All we’ve gotta do is pretend like the housekeeper is crazy and we have no idea what she’s talking about. Crazy seems to be the in thing around here, so I’m sure somebody will believe it.

Nick met my gaze head on. That story won’t work for one second if Val’s out there killing people. They’ll throw our butts straight in jail—or worse.

Okay, I said. You make a good point. We’ll go on foot. You guys take the truck.

Nick nodded. Good thinking, little brother. Now hurry!

Chapter 2

CLAIRE, JACKIE, AND I raced outside and began scouring the streets, frantically looking for Val. Sweat ran down my face as my steps quickened, my speed increasing at every turn down a tangle of narrow streets. I have to find her. I just have to! I thought, cursing myself for having to lean over and rest my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

Jackie put a hand on my back. C’mon. We have to keep going.

We’ll find her, Claire reassured me.

It wasn’t like finding a lost child roaming the city. Val had a bull’s-eye on her back. If we didn’t find her quick, she’d be dead—and we’d be punished severely for having brought her there. For the next hour, we searched every nook and cranny of that town, and I couldn’t imagine where she could have possibly gone.

Hey, did you guys notice the pedestrians? Jackie asked.

What about them? I queried.

Well, not one we ran into seemed the least bit alarmed. Maybe that’s good news. If they’d seen a zombie running loose, I don’t think they’d be so calm.

I nodded. You’re right.

We ended up by the front gate, where we’d first arrived in Crazyville. A military truck grinded to a halt as the driver stopped by a brown building to talk to another soldier.

Moaning echoed from inside the truck, piquing my attention. Straining my eyes, I couldn’t see anything inside the vehicle. Quick! Hide. I grabbed Jackie’s arm and pulled her into the overgrown vegetation, and she, in turn, grabbed Claire. I had no idea what would happen if those soldiers caught us there, spying, and I didn’t want to find out. They hadn’t exactly been the kindest welcoming committee in the first place.

What the heck? whispered Claire, staring ahead. What’s going on?

I dunno, I said, peering through the branches from a safe distance.

Suddenly, sharp, yellowed nails sliced through the thin curtain covering the back opening, and then a head popped out—an unforgettable skeletal face with green, putrid skin and haunting white eyes.

They’ve got zombies! No flippin’ way! I said, squeezing Jackie’s hand, my heart pounding.

Jackie let out a gasp. I-I don’t believe it.

One got loose! yelled a soldier from the back of the truck. I sure as heck ain’t goin’ back in to secure it.

Then shoot it! another soldier barked back. We can’t have it escaping into the city.

Just like that, he fired three bullets into the zombie’s head, and it fell backward. I stared at the jagged hole in the material, but it was dark and I couldn’t see a thing. Zombie moans echoed through the air, and I shot Claire