Rise of the Undead Box Set | Books 1-3 | Apocalypse Z

and you’re going to join me. Your buddies there will allow me to drive through your town, unharmed, or I’ll shoot you. Got that?”
The stranger swallowed. “You’ll never make it.”
“Maybe not, but if I go, I’m taking you with me. We can be buddies on the bus ride to hell,” Dylan said. It was a crazy plan and doomed to failure, but she was out of options. She had to get through the town or risk not making it to Fort Knox at all.
Before she could put her plan into motion, however, a ripple of movement ran through the assembled people behind the barricade. The loudspeaker came on again, and Dylan frowned at the message, unsure what to do next.
“Hello, miss. It’s Dr. Hayes here. I’m the resident surgeon, and I’m coming out to talk to you. I’m unarmed. Please, don’t shoot me.”
Dylan hesitated as a tall, slender man walked out into the road with his hands raised. She glanced at her hostage. “Maybe this is your lucky day. Maybe not.”
She raised her voice and shouted back. “Alright, Dr. Hayes. I’ll bite, but keep your hands where I can see them. If anyone makes a move, I’ll pump this boy so full of holes there won’t be enough left of him to bury.”
The stranger glared at her. “Boy? Who’s your boy? My name is Ray.”
“Shut up, Ray,” Dylan said as Dr. Hayes acknowledged her challenge.
“Understood. I’m coming out,” the doctor said, slowly walking toward her.
Dylan looked at Ray. “Let’s hope Dr. Hayes has more sense than you do, you little shit. Accosting a defenseless woman like that. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Ray’s face reddened. “Whatever.”
“Remember. I’m holding the gun, so don’t try anything stupid,” Dylan said before turning back to the approaching doctor. Maybe, just maybe, she could talk her way out of the mess she found herself in even though the odds were stacked against her. Either way, she’d soon find out.

Chapter 17 - Dylan
Doctor Hayes paused a few feet away from Dylan and stared at her with keen blue eyes from underneath a mop of dark brown hair. She judged him to be in his early thirties, and he moved with the kind of casual ease that spoke of confidence. Not lowering his hands, he tipped his head forward. “Good morning, Miss…”
“You can call me Dylan,” she said, keeping the gun steady.
“Alright, Dylan. I’m here to negotiate for the release of young Ray over there. His father is very anxious to have him returned unharmed,” Doctor Hayes said, nodding at a distant figure over his shoulder.
“Well, you can tell his father that he should teach his children some manners,” Dylan said, shooting Ray a poisonous glare.
“I take it the boy said something he shouldn’t have?” Doctor Hayes asked.
“I’m not a boy!” Ray protested, his face flushing with angry blood. “What is it with you people?”
“What he did say to you?” Doctor Hayes asked, ignoring Ray completely.
“First, he refused me passage through your town. Then he suggested a trade. My body being part of the goods, of course,” Dylan answered.
Doctor Hayes shook his head. “I’m sorry, miss. That’s an awful thing to suggest to a lady and against our town policy.”
“Just Dylan, please. I’m nobody’s miss.”
“Fair enough. How about you call me Ethan? I prefer it to Doctor Hayes.”
“Fine, Ethan, but tell me something. If Ray’s actions are against town policy, how come they sent him out to talk to me and not somebody else?” Dylan asked.
“We’re shorthanded at the moment. Patrolling a town this size is quite a task,” Ethan answered, his voice mild. “When you arrived, Ray and his friends were the only ones manning the roadblock. They sent for Ray’s father and me, but we’ve just arrived.”
Dylan mulled this over, wondering if she could trust Ethan. Her instincts were telling her she could, but it was a tough call. “So, what happens now?”
“You and I negotiate your terms while Ray returns to his father unharmed,” Ethan said. “I can replace him as a hostage if need be.”
Dylan chewed on her bottom lip before nodding. “Deal. You’d make a better hostage anyway. I’m guessing with his attitude, not many people would miss him if he dies.”
A faint smile graced Ethan’s lips. “Probably not, whereas I’m the only town surgeon.”
Ray sputtered at their words, his face rapidly turning the shade of boiled beetroot. “You can’t be serious. Nobody would care? I’m right here, you know.”
Dylan raised an eyebrow. “You’re assuming I care what you think.”
Ray snarled, unable to contain himself. “Bitch.”
Before Dylan could reply, Ethan turned on Ray. “Go back to your father before you kill us both, and next time, leave the negotiations up to the grownups.”
Ray stomped back to the roadblock, muttering evil phrases every step of the way. Dylan watched him go with a worried frown. “He’ll do something stupid one of these days.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Ethan said, turning back to her. “You’re injured. Let me help you.”
“You want to help me?” Dylan asked with a disbelieving laugh. “That’d be a first.”
“I take it you’ve had a rough couple of days?” Ethan asked.
“A rough couple of years about sums it up,” Dylan said, rising slowly to her feet. Her calves cramped in protest, and she leaned on the doorframe to stay upright.
“That’s too bad, but if you let me, I’ll patch you up. It looks like you need it.”
Dylan shrugged. “I’m okay. What about passage through your town?”
“Granted.”
“That easily? What about him?” Dylan asked, pointing at Ray’s retreating figure.
“Forget about him. Ever since the outbreak, he and a few like him have taken to thinking they’re big chiefs around here, but they don’t run the show.”
“Who does?”
“The Mayor and his council of which I am a part of,” Ethan said.
“I see.” Dylan hesitated. “Do you know a woman called Maddie?”
Ethan shook his head. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“She was on her way here with her son, Kyle. Her mother lives in Vandalia. She’d have arrived sometime yesterday afternoon.”
“Could