It's not unusual to get snow in Seabrook during the winter months. But to get this amount of snow was a little strange.
The Holiday Zombie Mash went off without a hitch. Everyone had a great time and already headed home. Eliza, Bonzo, Bucky and Bree left a little bit ago after helping clean up so it was just Zed and Addison left shutting off the lights.
"Geez! It's freezing!" Addison shivered.
Zed chuckled and threw his jacket over her shoulders. "Here, maybe this will help."
"Zed! You'll freeze! I can't take your coat!" Addison protested, trying to shrug it off to give back. Zed kept his arm firmly planted around her shoulder though as he laughed.
"It's really fine Addy! Zombies have a higher tolerance for the cold since our core temperature is supposed to be lower! Don't sweat it!" He assured. Addison stopped struggling and instead pulled the extra fabric around herself.
"Ok. Thanks." She replied quietly, leaning into his side as they walked.
When they finally reached her house, she peeled his jacket off to return it to its owner. "Be Safe going home." She said as he slid his arms back into the sleeves.
"You know it!" He joked, causing Addison to giggle before stretching up onto her tip toes to give him a light kiss.
"I love you." She whispered.
He smirked. "I love you more." Addison jokingly scowled.
"I love you most." Zed chuckled and snaked an arm around her waist to pull her close and gently brushed their noses, a breath catching in Addison's throat at the sensualness.
"You don't know what it means to love as much as I love you." He whispered playfully, kissing her before she can protest. And she melts in his arms.
The sudden flicker of the porch light alerts them to her parents presence behind the door. Addison reluctantly pulls away. "Call me when you get there ok?" She requests.
Zed is already skipping down the steps and turns to give her one last wave. "Sure thing babe!" Addison sighs as she turns to go inside, out of the brittle cold.
XxX
Addison paced her bedroom floor. It's been over an hour and Zed still hadn't called. His walk shouldn't have taken more than 30 minutes if he was taking his sweet damn time. Should she just call him? Or did he stop by Eliza or Bonzo's on the way? He's probably fine! Right? Her internal conflict was interrupted by a light knock on her door.
"Addison? You ok sweetie?" Missy asked as she cracked the door and peeked inside before opening it fully when she saw how distressed her daughter was.
"I-I don't know. Zed still hasn't called and he should be home by now." She said, continuing to pace as her thoughts ran wild.
"I'm sure he just forgot honey. Do you want some hot chocolate while you wait?" She offered. Addison sighed and nodded as they headed down stairs.
XxX
Addison spun her phone on the granite bar countertop nervously. It's been another hour. It's after midnight and no word from Zed. Dale had suggested she call him about half an hour ago but got his voicemail.
"I'm sure he fell asleep dear. You did just come from a big party after all." Missy tried to reason. But it wasn't like Zed to just brush her off like that. Something didn't feel right. "Maybe you should get some rest too?"
Addison was about to agree when her phone buzzed, making her jump. She grabbed the phone and quickly answered.
"What the hell Zed! You had me worried sick!" She spat.
"Great Z, Zed's not with you either?" The voice wasn't Zed's. Her eye widen.
"Mr. Necrodopolous?" Both Addison's parents stepped closer to listen when they heard the concerning question. He sighed on the phone line.
"Addison, did Zed walk you home from the Zombie Mash?" Zevon asked.
"Y-yeah! But it's been like 2 hours. I've been waiting up for him to call." Addison responded her brows furrowed.
"Put it on speaker Addy." Dale spoke up as Missy made her way around the island to comfortingly embrace their daughter. She shakily did as she was told and sat the phone on the counter.
"He's really not home yet?" Dale asked.
"No, I've tried calling but he isn't answering his Z-band at all." Zevon's voice was stressed and worried.
"Nobody panic. I'll send a few patrol cars around the routes he could have taken to see if there's any sign of him. Addison, you call his friends to see if he stopped on the way." Dale instructed in his Chief of Patrol tone.
"Thank you Sir." Addison saw her dad's face soften slightly.
"No need to thank me. You, Zed, and Zoey are our family. And we take care of our family." He assured and, before he could respond, he went on. "Now, just stay calm and keep your phone line open in case he calls. Let us know if you hear anything."
"Of course." And with that, both parents hung up.
XxX
Neither Eliza or Bonzo had heard from Zed since the Mash. Addison tried calling him again with no answer. Missy wrapped a blanket around the teen's shoulders as she stayed planted on the couch. The ring of Dale's cell phone makes Addy jump and strain to listen to the one sided conversation as her father answers.
"Yeah." "You checked every street?" "Nothing?" "Keep looking." And he hung up.
"They still haven't found him." Addison muttered to herself. Thoughts of the worst flying through her mind. The light touch of her mother's hand on her forearm pulled her back into the present.
"I'm sure he's ok honey." Missy tried to comfort.
"But what if he's not?!" Addison suddenly exclaimed, pushing the blanket off her shoulders and leapt to her feet. "I'm done sitting her and waiting!" She rushed up to her room and changed out of her pajamas and dialed Eliza's number while she did so.
"Addison! Have you heard from Zed?" Eliza answered frantically.
"No. There's no sign of him on the way to his house. I'm gonna get some people together to start a search party. You in?"
"Absolutely! I'll get some zombies together and meet you at the school."
"Great. See you there." Addison hung up and ran back downstairs to throw on her coat. Calling Bree on her way.
"Hey Addy! Did Zed end up calling?" Bree answered, unaware of the updated situation.
"Bree, Zed's missing. I'm trying to get some some cheerleaders together to start a search party. Can you help me call around?"
"Oh my gosh! Of course! I hope Zed's ok. But! Don't you worry about making any calls! I'll call everyone!" Bree's usual up and down tones cheer Addison up the slightest bit but she's still too worried to show it.
"Cool. We're meeting at the school. Thanks for the help Bree." Addison thanked in a defeated tone.
"Everything will be fine Addy." The sincerity in her voice almost made Addison burst into tears. She wanted nothing more than to believe her. But the pit in her stomach said otherwise.
XxX
Addison was met by Jessica and Teddy and, to her surprise, three of Zed's teammates before she was even close to the school. They told her Bree had messaged them off social media and they immediately came to help.
Then Eliza caught up as they were close too, a whole group of zombies in tow. Eliza hugged her as soon as she was within reach. Tears filled her eyes. Addison felt so grateful to have so many friends that were willing to drop everything to help find Zed.
"I just hung up with Bree. She's still calling around so more people will show up in a bit." Eliza said.
"Thank you. Thank all of you for your help. Especially on such short notice." Addison gestures to the group surrounding her, tears starting to spill over her lids. One of the zombie twins, Rizzo, came up and wrapped Addison in a motherly hug.
"Don't cry sweetie!" She cooed. But Addison quickly wiped her eyes and nodded that she was ok.
"There's no time for this. We need to get to the school and set a game plan." Addison said with determination, continuing to lead the group towards the front of the school. As soon as they rounded the corner they all froze in their tracks.
There he hung, beaten and battered, tied up to the flag pole with lit Christmas lights for the entire student body to see. The only sign to prove he was still alive was his intense shivering. A messy handwritten sign pinned to his chest. 'Merry Christmas, Zombie Lovers!'
Everyone stood in shock of the gruesome sight for a moment. "Zed!" Addison finally screamed and ran to him. Her sudden exclaim seemed to snap everyone out of their trances as they sprung into action as well. The dozen or so humans and zombies worked together to get him down. Rizzo, who was there with her brother Zephyr and his boyfriend Alonzo, took charge after seeing how Addison was too upset to lead the group anymore.
"Wait! We could hurt him further if we aren't careful!" Rizzo exclaimed. Everyone except Addison turned to look at her. "Hazen! Run and tell Principle Lee to call an ambulance!" She shouted for the timid zombie, who quickly nodded and took off into the school.
"Zed! Zed! Can you hear me?! Please! Open your eyes!" Addison screamed with tears streaming down her cheeks. Rizzo wrapped her arm around the frantic girl's shoulders from behind and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"Calm down baby, we're gonna get him down. You stay right here and keep talking to him to try and keep him conscious ok?" She instructed softly, a job that didn't really need to be done but would keep her mind occupied. "Diaz! Fritz! Do you think one of you could get on the other's shoulders to untie him?"
"Of course!" Fritz nodded.
"Easy!" Diaz agreed.
"Good. Zeke! You put Iza on your shoulder to steady him. And, um, you two! Cheerleaders! You can do that too, right?" Teddy and Jessica both nod their agreement. All of them getting into their positions. Then Rizzo turned to Zephyr, Alonzo, and Zed's football friends, Eric, Bryce, and Gavin. "You five, catch him and carefully carry him inside!" She then came beside Addison again and began untying the knots around Zed's ankles. "Eliza! Bonzo! Help me with these?" Without hesitation, they eagerly pulled at the strands.
"Dear Z! He's soaked to the bone!" Izabelle exclaimed.
"Whoever did this must have dumped ice water on him before tying him up!" Jessica added as the two girls held onto his shoulders to keep him from tipping.
"Please hurry! He'll die of hypothermia if we don't get him out of the cold soon!" Addison pleaded.
"I'm working on it." Diaz doesn't really snap, but was starting to get frustrated from the knotted strings of lights.
"I know, I'm sorry. Please just help him." Addison cried quietly. Rizzo paused in her de-knotting to grab Addison's shoulders and rubbed her upper arms comfortingly.
"He's gonna be alright sweetie. Just let us get him down ok?" Addison nodded as Rizzo returned to her section of lights.
Addison couldn't do anything. She felt so helpless. How could someone do this to Zed? Sweet Zed who wouldn't hurt a fly!
Suddenly, Diaz exclaimed, "I got it!" Izabelle and Jessica held onto Zed's shoulders and slowly lowered him down to the group of guys to catch him.
"Just a few more... Ok! Got ours too!" Eliza exclaimed. The Christmas lights all fell forgotten to the ground as everyone held onto their fallen friend.
"Hurry! Let's get him inside!" Rizzo ordered. Addison ran to open the door and as soon as everyone was inside, she slid to the floor beside him.
"His clothes really are soaked." Rizzo mutters. "Zeph! You and Al go to the closest Safe Room and grab as many blankets as you can!" The boys nod and run as fast as they can to their destination.
"We need to get him out of these wet clothes." She said to Addison more specifically.
"Y-yeah." She agreed, her shaky hands tugging off his coverall jacket and then while a few people helped lift him up, she pulled the long sleeved shirt over his head. She was eager to hold him against her as he shivered and shook, cradling his head against her chest. The sight breaking all of the bystander's hearts further.
"I swear to Z when I find out who did this-" Izabelle's threat was cut off when Zeke pulled her to his chest, comforting the hurt he knew she was feeling on the inside that she'd never let show.
"Zed!" Addison gasped, drawing everyone's attention back. Zed had shakily shifted his weight into her. It sounded like his teeth chattering was worse as his consciousness returned. "Can you hear me baby? I'm right here! You're safe now!" Addison assured him, trying her best to hug the widest space she could to warm him up.
"A-A-Addy-y?" His voice was quiet and rough.
"Yeah! I'm here Zed!" She assured him eagerly.
"Who did this to you Zed?!" Izabelle pressed, warning glares from some of the other zombies around her.
"L-L-Loft-t R-R-Ridg-ge-" He finally managed through his shaking, he nudged closer to Addison for warmth.
"Loft Ridge? The football team we just beat in State Championships?" Eliza questioned. Then it hit them.
"They nearly killed Zed for revenge?! For a football game?!" Addison screamed.
"I'll rip their throats out!" Izabelle yelled in fury. Zeke tightened his hold around her waist as she tried to squirm free.
"N-n-NO!" Zed exclaimed as best as he could. Addison rubbed his back comfortingly as everyone else quieted down to hear him. "T-they d-don't-t des-serv-ve r-retal-liation-n." He said brokenly. Addison hugged him tighter as fresh tears filled her eyes.
"Zed's right! Killing them would let 'em off too easy. They should rot in prison for what they did." Eliza agreed, her voice coated with malice and hatred for the humans that nearly murdered and stole her best friend from her.
"S-s-stop El-liza." Zed protested but Addison just brushed his bangs from sticking to his forehead to kiss him there.
"Shhh. No one's going anywhere. It's ok." She soothed. Zed seemed to relax ever-so-slightly in her arms just as Principal Lee, along with Hazen, came rushing around the corner.
"Oh my!" She exclaimed, hurrying to Zed and Addison's side. Zephyr and Alonzo came barreling from the opposite direction with their arms full of blankets.
"Good! Layer them over him!" Principal Lee instructed. All of the human and zombie students helped unfold and cover their friend. Addison never letting go of him.
In no time, the ambulance arrived to take Zed to the hospital for further treatment. The EMT making it clear that all the kids that helped were heroes. "Even by zombie standards, his core temperature is extremely low." Addison got a chill as he said, "He might not have been so lucky if he were exposed to those temperatures much longer."
It's not unusual to get snow in Seabrook during the winter months. But this year she wished they hadn't had a white Christmas.