Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons

Author:Ash Parsons [Parsons, Ash]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780525515326
Google: oVLXDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B07VLW6KKQ
Publisher: Philomel Books
Published: 2020-04-13T23:00:00+00:00

18

We all cluster behind the door in the white hallway. We can’t see into the second-floor lobby area. At the opposite end from us, in the stairwell door, the woman zombie is attacking the window again, banging and thundering at us.

“Remember, to our left is the ballroom.” Imani holds up her left hand and gestures a flat circle area. Then she makes her other hand a blade, like a wall, and holds it perpendicular and solid. “To our right is a wall that is part of the banquet rooms. We’re running along that wall all the way to the end where we’ll reach the escalators.”

Sometimes I wish I could just download Imani’s directional awareness straight into my head, like an upgrade.

But right now I’m just glad she’s right here with me, keeping us all on the right track.

“Got it.” Linus nods at Imani, a crisp motion that conveys both appreciation for the reminder and assurance that we have got this, as a group, we have got this, by Jove.

Somehow the nod conveys all that.

Linus volunteered to lead the way with Janet; and Simon and Mia (now armed with a drawer front piece of her own) agreed to bring up the rear.

I stand with Imani and Annie and Rosa, in the middle. Ready to run. Or to fight.

But mostly to run.

Discretion is the better part of valor and all that.

Now that we’re standing here, at the doorway, getting ready to leave the temporary safety of the backstage hall, my heart is thundering in my chest and my palms are slippery and I’m more than a little bit terrified.

What’s on the other side of the door?

Simon has a vanity stool he’ll swing at any zombies behind us, and Linus has his fire extinguisher. Rosa traded her antenna for a metal table lamp. Imani and I have our microphone stand pieces, and Janet and Mia have drawer planks.

Annie has her defibrillator case.

Oh Lord, what are we doing?

Linus looks over his shoulder back at us.

“Are we ready?” he whispers, but doesn’t wait for an answer.

He pushes the door open, as quietly as possible, while still trying to go fast.

He rushes out, followed by Simon.

Simon takes the door, holding it open for us.

We run out in a clump, following Linus and Janet into the lobby.

So far, so good.

Behind me, I hear Simon let the door fall closed with a bang.

Which means . . .

“Run!” Simon yells, like we’re not already running.

But we kick it up, because now we know that we don’t have to be quiet.

Because we’re being chased.

We get to the escalators. They’ve been turned off.

At the top of the escalators is a makeshift barricade. A heavy potted tree, several upholstered chairs, and a sofa, as well as a janitor’s rolling trash-can cart have all been wedged into the openings at the top of the up and down escalators.

“Dammit!” Linus glances between the barricade and the approaching, shuffling zombies.

I really, really, really want to get up there with whoever had the presence of mind to do that already.

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