Nick let out a frustrated breath as he tried typing another search. This one-armed crap was for the birds—except they wouldn't be able to fly any better than he could type. And they'd probably crash into a wall and get a concussion ... which would probably hurt a lot.

Growling at his shifting ADD thoughts, he tried to focus on what he was doing.

Finding info on zombie attacks.

Cherise scowled at her son's childish way. How could he believe that junk? Hadn't she made her feelings for it clear? It was obviously everyone else in his life putting these thoughts in his head. Bubba was a grown man and look at him! He paraded around the bayou with another grown man looking for impossible things. And Ash! She finds him insane, but he makes her son happy..

I am insane. Since there were no adults around anywhere, he should be searching hot babe sites, not this.

"HA!" Caleb barked out.

Nick blushed at that horrible thought.

"Tsk, tsk," Ash smiled, stroking his thumb on Nick's hand softly.

He hissed as he spelled out "chemacil zmobies."

"I'm not even sure how to pronounce that," Mark said after making random noises in attempt to pronounce it.

Gah, how did people manage with one hand? He kept making typos all over the place and reaching across the keyboard was really starting to tick him off.

"Everything seems to tick you off," Caleb said observantly.

"You tick me off," Nick stuck his tongue out at Caleb.

Worse, his pain meds had vaporized in his system and since his school had a strict no-drug policy, including Tylenol or Advil, he hadn't brought more for fear of being strip-searched in Peters's office for it. And if the pain wasn't bad enough, he couldn't find anything online about diseases that would make someone crave human flesh. Well, not unless they were werewolves. Flesh-eating demons. Demonic parasites ...

Yeah, right. As if such a thing were possible off a movie screen...

Nick and Ambrose flinched at those words. Times were so much more simple back then. They didn't have all this crap to worry about. The world wasn't going to end and Nick wouldn't be so awkward.

He was dying to ask Bubba some questions about his theories, but the man had been explicit: "Wake me up, boy, and I will shoot you dead where you stand."

Cherise gave Bubba a look that he caught and, if he was being honest, it reminded him of his own mother. That thought scared him.

Now with most folks, that might be considered an idle threat. But when the person making the threat slept on more weapons than a terrorist training camp and had the temperament of a psycho killer, it was wise to believe he would actually do it and laugh while he gutted you.

"I am thoroughly enjoying this description," Bubba said, rubbing his hands together and laughing.

As Bubba so often said: "I got a shotgun and a backhoe and no one looks under a septic tank for a dead body." Which made Nick wonder how many of Bubba's enemies had faces on milk cartons.

But that was another story...

"Can we hear these stories?" Kody asked quietly. The subject peaked her interest enough for her to speak.

"My lawyers say I shouldn't," Bubba said, examining his nails.

Again, Cherise gave him a strange look and this time Mennie joined her.

The bell over the door sounded. Sighing in aggravation, Nick left the computer to wander back to the counter to wait on whoever was there.

He stopped dead in his tracks, bug-eyed.

Holy...

"Demon!" Caleb shouted.

Nick gave Caleb a hard glare. "Why that's ridiculous, Caleb."

Caleb unclenched and gave everyone a sheepish smile. "I don't know. I think I dosed off for a little and was dreaming."

Kyrian shook his head. It was no use for Nick to lie, the truth would come out later.

Every male hormone in his body fired as he saw what had to be the sexiest chick in New Orleans. A couple of years older than him, she was amazing. The good news was she totally distracted him from his pain.

"I do not approve of this," Ash said, shaking his head at Nick.

Nick gave him a shy smile and laid his head on Ash's shoulder.

Decked out in tight black leather pants and a red halter top, she wore a studded black leather collar and bracelets. And a long, studded black leather belt that was wrapped around her narrow waist four times. A huge rhinestone-covered silver cross fell from the belt, banging against her thigh as she walked with a seductive gait he was sure had given a few old men heart attacks from hormonal overload. Her hair was cut short into a black bob. By the opaque color of it, he figured she'd dyed it that way. Her eyes were ringed by thick black eyeliner, giving them a decidedly catlike appearance. Like her eyes, her lips were also jet-black.

Normally Goth women didn't do it for him, but this one ...

"Wait... Hot goth.. Oh god!" Caleb laughed.

"Shut up! Before she opens her mouth, you have no idea!" Nick defended himself.

"You liked the crazy girl!" Kody said in amazement.

"If you're referring to yourself, then yes I used to," Nick said, emphasizing "used".

Ash bit back a laugh. That was one of the best things Nick had ever said. Nick was born to say that.

Caleb let out a chuckle, "That was fucking savage."

Nick only shrugged. He didn't care enough to look at Kody's forlorn expression.

Yeah. She was h-o-t. Best of all, if he made out with her and got that lipstick on his collar his mom would think it was grease.

Cherise raised her eyebrows at Nick and smiled. "Oh really? Ash, I'm sure you aren't a mechanic so, Nicholas, I will not fall for that."

Ash had never laughed harder. Not only was it funny to hear Cherise say that, but Nick was the brightest shade of red. "No, Ms. Gautier, I am not. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him." Ash then turned to Nick and winked at him.

Nick pouted at his mom and his... Acheron. "This was like 4 years ago!"

Something that would definitely keep him from being grounded.

Shame on you, Nick. You're cheating on Kody.

Caleb choked on the water he was drinking. "You are a sap, Gauiter."

"There's nothing wrong with that, cher," Mennie defended.

"At least some of us aren't heartless," Nick said, squeezing Ash's hand. This book was definitely going to bug him more than he thought. He was so in love with Kody in all of them and now his heart had been broken. He also had Acheron to worry about. Nick didn't want him to think he still had feeling for Kody. She was nothing to him anymore.

Kody had blushed a deep red and turned to look away. She caught Adarian's gaze and immediately looked away. She didn't want anything to do with him. He had fooled her once and she would not be fooled again.

Well, not really, since they weren't an item. It couldn't be cheating. Technically. Yet it did kind of feel that way.

How flipping weird. I'm whipped and I'm not even claimed yet. Dang, that sucked.

"I hate this book," Nick grumbled and Ash gently patted Nick's head.

She sauntered up to the counter, leaned over it almost spilling her breasts onto the glass top, and looked toward the back room where he'd been. "Where's Bubba?"

"That sounds so poetic. 'Spilling her breasts onto the glass top.' It's like you're talking about a waterfall," Mark rambled.

"You're weird," Bubba stated.

"Sleeping. Can I help you?" He tried his best to keep his eyes on her face and not on what he really, really wanted to look at.

"Oh Nicholas," Cherise sighed.

"Oh Ma," Nick said, mimicking her.

"Don't sass me boy," Cherise warned, pointing a finger at Nick.

Nick gave her a cheeky face and blew her a kiss.

That might get him seriously bitch-slapped and since she was wearing spiked rings ...

It could really hurt.

"Oh, it would hurt," Kyrian said, rubbing him jaw thoughtfully.

"We'll take your word for it, General," Ash laughed, obviously knowing what had happened for Kyrian to know this information.

She popped the gum she was chewing as she gave him an amused once-over. "What about Mark?"

"Also asleep."

She straightened up. "You new help?"

"Just filling in for the morning. They had a late night."

"That sounds.. wrong," Mark said, scrunching up his nose.

"Why would you say that?! Now, everyone is going to think we did something!" Bubba said, throwing a punch at Mark. Mark squealed and dropped the book when Bubba's fist came in contact with his arm.

Nick raised his eyebrows at the pair, "Did you do something?"

"Boy, if you don't shut your mouth I will clean your clock," Bubba stated, staring Nick down.

"Why is everyone threatening me?" Nick pouted, looking up at Ash.

"You're being weird. Just hush," Ash said, this caused Nick's pout to grow.

"I'll bet." She shrugged her backpack off, set it on the floor by her feet, and opened it.

Nick stood up on his tiptoes-

"That's manly," Caleb rolled his eyes.

"We'll throw down again," Nick said, letting go of Acheron's hand to crack his knuckles.

Caleb rolled his eyes again, but didn't say a word. He felt a little too full to fight at the moment.

-so that he could get a better view of her shapely butt as she rooted through her pack. Dang, she was fine...

Ash let out a whooping laugh at that. "You were a perverted kid, man."

Nick blushed and smack Acheron on the arm.

I could so go for an older woman. ... Think of Kody. Think of Kody...

Nick growled. He hated any mention of her.

Think of your mom.. Death's voice rang in Nick's voice. It caused Nick to simmer down and wonder where the spirit was.

After a few seconds, she stood up with what appeared to be steel stakes in her hand. "I need Bubba to sharpen these, and tell him that I need a new batch of shurikens. ASAP. Or sooner."

Nick's eyes widened as he realized there was blood on one of the stakes. "Should I ask?"

"You have.. interesting friends," Cherise said, with wide eyes.

Nick let out a nervous laugh.

"Not if you want to live to eat lunch. Name's Tabitha Devereaux, and you are?" Cool, another great Cajun like him.

"Nick Gautier."

"Nice meeting you, Nick. Tell Bubba I'll be back at dusk to get those and they better be sharp. I don't want no vampire surviving my attacks to come at me again. Understand?"

Man ... Why were all the sexy women absolutely insane?

"That is the story of my life," Mark sighed sadly.

"Well, at least Tabitha didn't burn all my things," Nick laughed at Mark.

"Yes, ma'am."

She picked up the backpack and slung it over one shoulder before cocking her hip in a deadly pose that drained all the blood from his brain. "Where do you go to school?"

"St. Richard's."

"The school where the coach ate the principal? That's so cool. Wish we'd have something like that at St. Mary's. Unfortunately, I'm the scariest thing there." She winked at him. "Have a good day, kid."

"She most definitely is. I'm not sure how Madaug's brother can stand her," Caleb said, shaking his head.

"Don't say that. She could hear you," Nick whispered.

Hoping there wasn't drool coming out of his mouth, he watched as she went outside to where a black Nighthawk motorcycle waited. Slinging one long leg over it, she started the engine, then put her helmet on.

Ah man ...

"That reminds me of Johnny Bravo!" Nick exclaimed, failing at his impression of Johnny Bravo.

"Johnny Who-vo?" Caleb asked, human cartoons weren't his favorite.

"Johnny Bravo! Super buff. White. Giant blonde quiff. Always failed at picking up girls.." Nick trailed off as he saw Caleb's confused expression. Nick turned to Ash, "You know what I'm talking about, right?"

Acheron nodded. "Of course. It's a pretty great show. They only show it late at night or early in the morning."

"Sounds stupid," Caleb said.

"You're stupid," Nick pouted. "That's quality TV."

Nick didn't breathe again until she was gone. Whew... that had been the most awesome experience of his life.

You know Bubba, I need to pay you to work here.

"I'll consider it. You're there half the time anyway! Might as well make some money off of your annoying presence," Bubba said.

Nick pouted at Bubba's words. "I'm a delight."

'Cause if women like that came by often, even if they were total head cases, he definitely wanted a job. Forget Liza and her store that was usually frequented by little girls and their moms. He wanted to work in Hot Woman Val-halla until he died of testosterone poisoning.

Ash barked out a laugh, which made him cover his mouth quickly.

That left Nick blushing, but laughing at Acheron's actions.

"Naughty," Cherise tsked at her son.

Letting out a low whistle of appreciation, he pulled the stakes off the counter and wondered who or what had bled on them. With Bubba's friends, there was no telling.

He put them in one of the plastic bins Bubba used for intake items and left a note with her name and the instructions she'd given him.

As he started back to the computer, the door jingled again. Reversing course to return to the counter, he tried not to be frustrated with the interruption.

It was Madaug from school.

"Mad dog!" Caleb whooped out.

"Stop being weird," Nick rolled his eyes.

"You're one to talk."

"Wanna fight, Malphas?"

"Bring it, Gauiter," Caleb said, standing up and stretching his arms.

While Caleb was busy stretching, like a pansy, Nick tackled him to the ground and attempted to put Caleb in an arm bar. Caleb linked his hands on top of Nick's knee and pushed on his knee. Then he bridged his body up to mount Nick, trying to get him into a rear naked choke. The two boys continued like that for minutes until Ash became bored and grabbed them both by their collars, officially ending the grappling match.

"I'll get you later," Nick said, grabbing Ash's hand and sat back down with him.

Caleb scoffed, turning to Kyrian. "This guy."

Kyrian chuckled at the two boys actions. They were so young and carefree.

"Hey, bud, what's up?"

Madaug also leaned over the counter to look into the back room—it just wasn't as cool as when Tabitha had done it.

"'Cool,'" Caleb said, putting it in quotes.

Which was probably a good thing from Nick's way of thinking.

"Oh god, this is gold," Caleb said, laughing loudly.

"Caleb, I'll have to fight you soon," Ash said, Nick knew Ash was only kidding, but Caleb didn't know.

"Is Bubba around?"

"Nah, he's sleeping upstairs. Can I help you with something?"

"No, I guess not."

Nick noticed the fact that Madaug was really distracted and fidgeting. Like something heavy was on his mind. "You wigged out about what happened at school?"

"He should be," Kody mumbled under her breath.

"Oh, he was," Nick commented, smiling a bit. Kody pretended that smile was for her.

"Wha—no ... not exactly. Well, maybe. Kind of. Look, I really need to get a hold of Bubba when he gets up. It's really important."

Nick gently scratched at his injured arm. "Yeah, okay. Want to leave your number and I'll have him call you?"

Madaug reached for the pad and pen by the register. He quickly scribbled his number on it, then handed it to Nick. "Please don't forget. It's really important."

"That boy," Mark said, shaking his head.

"Kids these days. They think they can control other teens and act like there isn't going to be trouble," Bubba added.

Cherise gave the pair an odd look, hoping Mennie would share that look with her, however Mennie only shrugged.

"You got it."

Madaug hesitated before he let go of the paper and stepped back. He cast one last wistful stare to the back room, then left.

Okay, the boy was even more insane than Tabitha had been.

"If only," Caleb sighed.

"She needs help. Any kind of help," Nick agreed.

Too many sniffs of the form-aldehyde jar in their biology class. His brain must be pickled. Either that or Stone and crew had bashed him against the lockers one time too many and given him a massive head injury.

Whatever...

"Never say whatever. That's how people die. Don't you watch movies?" Mark stated.

"How was I suppose to know it was a horror scene?" Nick said, waving his free arm around.

Nick tucked the note into his pocket and started back for the computer.

He'd barely reached it when the door chime rang again. "Son of a ..."

"God-fearing woman, who he loves so dearly," Nick said, smiling sweetly at his mother.

"What else would it be?" Cherise said, smiling back just as sweetly.

Cherise's sweet smile made Adarian sick, a good kind of sick that he shouldn't feel.

What now? He growled low in his throat before he headed back to the counter to see who needed Bubba this time. No wonder Bubba was so cranky. If this was a taste of Bubba's typical day, it explained much about the surly redneck.

"Cranky?" Bubba scoffed while Mark nodded his head in agreement.

"Yes, preach it, brother," Mark said, holding his hand up to the sky.

Nick paused as he saw three members from his football team walking around the store like they were looking for something. He didn't know their names, but he recognized their faces. Second-stringers like Stone, they were even more aggressive against "nerdy" kids. The kind of pricks Nick spent all of his time avoiding and the kind who slammed poor Madaug into lockers, then laughed about it.

"I swear, second stringers piss me off. One day I'm really going to let Caleb teach them a lesson," Nick said, shaking his head.

"As if," Caleb crossed his arms, even though he wouldn't mind taking out those pricks. For Madaug, and of course, Nick.

But the weird thing was they were sniffing the air like dogs chasing prey. It was especially creepy.

"That parvo theme is really making its way around," Mark said.

"I wish it was parvo," Nick frowned.

"Can I help you guys?" Nick asked.

The tallest, a guy with brown hair and a smile that ought to be used to sell toothpaste, stepped forward. His jacket had the name Biff on it.

"Hey, McFly!" Nick shouted, imitating Biff from Back to the Future.

"That's a classic," Ambrose smiled a bit.

"Oh, I forgot you were here," Nick shrugged, giving his older self a lopsided grin.

Nick bit his tongue to keep from baiting him over that name. His parents must have really hated him. I'm here to serve Bubba, not get my butt kicked by oafs.

Biff stepped closer. "Nerd boy? Where he?"

"Mark, are you reading it wrong or does the boy really talk like that?" Cherise said with furrowed eyebrows.

"That's how it's printed, Ms. Gautier," Mark shrugged.

Okay... sad that they couldn't even form a complete sentence. See what happens when you abuse steroids?

"Nicholas! What if the boy was mentally ill?" Cherise scowled.

"Oh, he was definitely sick in the head," Nick mumbled under his breath.

Dudes should have read the warning label. First the penis shrinks, then the sentence structure deteriorates. Next thing you know, you're climbing to the top of the Empire State Building, swatting at planes with your over-sized fists.

Granted you'd be there with a seriously attractive blonde, so even being a monster freak had some perks...

"Is that how you convinced yourself being unattractive was okay?" Caleb said with the straightest face.

Nick had to admit that that was a good one, so he decided he'd give Caleb props for that and merely flipped off the older boy.

But that was neither here nor there.

"It's about time you address your weird after thoughts," Kyrian said.

"My weird after thoughts are hilarious!" Nick defended.

"No one is laughing," Bubba gave him a blank stare.

"You looking for Bubba or Mark?" Nick asked. Nerd definitely applied to either-or since they were the kings of computers, B-movies, video games, and science.

"Well, excuse you! Some of us are hip, fun people," Mark said, pretending to flip his hair at Nick.

"I don't see them around," Nick stated, looking around the room.

"Nerd boy!" He grabbed Nick by the shirt and hauled him over the counter to stand in front of him.

Cursing as pain shot through his injured arm, Nick slugged him hard across the face, but he didn't seem to even feel it.

"Or you're weak," Caleb shrugged.

"I only had one arm!" Nick screeched.

"Let me down, you animal. So help me ..."

"Put that thing back where it came from or so help me," Ash mumbled under his breath.

"Did you just make a Monsters Inc. reference?" Nick whispered to Ash, grinning.

"Shut up, it's a great movie," Ash said scowling.

The jock buried his nose against Nick's neck and inhaled.

Nick screwed his face up in distaste. "What are you? A pervert? Get your sick hands off me." He kicked him hard in the groin.

"Oh, but if Ash does it it's okay?" Caleb asked.

"Okay, Malphas, we're fighting," Ash said standing. He was obviously much taller than Caleb. Ash was only trying to scare the boy and his plan worked much better than he thought because Caleb began babbling excuses as to why he couldn't fight Ash. Nick wasn't trying to hide his laugh and that's what Acheron wanted, a happy Nick. "I'm only kidding."

Caleb gave a visible sigh of relief. "Dick move, man."

"Just don't mess with my boyfriend," Ash said, sitting down next to Nick, who was in shock. Boyfriend? He said boyfriend. We're boyfriends!

Biff doubled over. "He smells like nerd boy. Get him!" They moved forward, licking their lips. Oh crap! They were zombies, too.

"That's it? Just an 'Oh crap.' That's your reaction to zombies?" Mark said, frowning at the book in his hands.

"What was I suppose to do? Scream bloody murder?" Nick asked.

"I just thought you would have a better reaction. Something worth reading," Mark said, dramatically flapping the book in his hands.

Nick jumped the counter and ran for the back room where Bubba kept an ax... just in case.

"Nick, these are young boys!" Cherise protested.

"Mom, you have to be open-minded," Nick mumbled, clutching Acheron's hand almost desperately.

"I am being open-minded, Nicholas! I'm letting you hold that young man's hand, who is much older than you are," Cherise snapped at Nick. The flash of hurt that crossed Nick's face almost made Cherise want to take back her words.

"Ms. Guatier!" Ash started, feeling that rising anger in his chest.

"Don't," Ambrose interrupted. Something about his tone made Ash think Ambrose knew more about Cherise than he did, which was probably true. It was almost as if Ambrose had lived this before.

Nick had his head on Ash's shoulder with his eyes closed. He wasn't sure how to explain this to his mom because she was a firm believer that none of what Nick's life was was real. Nick thought the book could change her mind, but it didn't seem like it would happen.

Bubba had never said what that case was, but this seemed like a really good time to grab it. Not to mention it was the only weapon in the store that Nick could use with one hand.

He angled it at the first jock to reach him—this one named Jimmy according to his jacket. "Dude ... back off 'cause I will chop you. Hard."

Caleb felt a smile slip onto his face as his mind wandered to a dirty place, which turned into a giggle.

Nick's head snapped up, a wicked smile plastered his face. "Dude, you just giggled."

"Shut your mouth!" Caleb said, his cheeks barely turning a faint pink.

Nick laughed at Caleb, actually slapping his knee. "That was manly."

Jimmy hesitated.

Feeling cocky about holding him off so easily, Nick strutted. "Yeah. That's right. You don't want no piece of me. I'm bad ah—"

His bravado ended when they attacked en masse. Crappola...

"Oh, that's manly," Caleb said in a mocking tone.

"Hey, I was fighting. You're sitting there like a little princess," Nick said, nodding toward Caleb's crossed legs.

"Hey, I'm crossing my legs too," Kyrain added, pointing at Nick.

Hefting the ax, he swung at the first jock to reach him. The ax landed in a case, shattering it. Glass fragments flew all over them as Nick pulled it free for another strike, but before he could angle it at them, Biff bit him in his good arm.

He cried out in agony, then head-butted the jock.

"Where did you learn to fight?" Cherise asked, narrowing her eyes at Nick.

Nick gave out a nervous chuckle, "Um, school."

Cherise let a small growl leave her lips, a small growl that caught Adarian's attention. Something he wished didn't happen.

He used the top of the ax to shove Biff back into his friends. Then he turned in one graceful arc and cocked his arm for another ax swing.

"What in tarnation is going on here?" Bubba snatched the ax from Nick's hand.

"Nobody says tarnation, ever," Caleb mumbled, never in his thousands of years of life had he ever heard someone say tarnation in real life.

He angled it at Nick like he was about to use it on him. "Boy, have you lost your ever-loving mind? Tearing up my store. Smashing my things ... You're lucky I'm not beating you with the ax handle."

"He's lucky I'm not doing that either," Cherise said, crossing her arms across her chest and leaning back against the couch cushions.

Nick gestured to the jocks. "Bubba, they're zombies!" He held his arm up for Bubba to see the blood. "And they're trying to eat me!"

"Still not a good enough reaction," Mark said, shaking his head.

"Shut your pie hole, Fingerman," Bubba said suddenly.

Bubba cursed. "Well, why didn't you say so?" Biff sank his teeth into Bubba's hand—something that was the equivalent of stepping into a den of rattlesnakes. Bubba punched the jock so hard, Nick swore he could feel it.

Biff stumbled back as the other two opened their mouths to hiss at them.

"Nick, this novel is ridiculous! It's fake! It has to be!" Cherise stood up suddenly.

"It's not fake, Cherise," Adarian grumbled.

"Just like you didn't kill those men," Cherise snapped, putting a hand on her hip. Adarian would be lying if he said he didn't like it.

"They weren't men, Ma," Nick stated in a strong voice.

Adarian and Cherise both snapped their head at Nick. How could Nick possibly defend his father? Even Caleb was surprised.

"Listen, we need to move on from this. Ms. Gautier if you could just listen to the rest of the book," Ambrose stepped in once again. Ambrose knew there was going to be a lot of conflict in reading this. He thought it would be his job to settle everything.

Cherise shot Ambrose an all too familiar glare and returned to her seat next to Mennie, who comforted Cherise as soon as she sat down.

"Do you think it will get better?" Nick whispered to Ash.

"I can't see into the future, something won't let me, but I'm hoping it will," Acheron whispered back, giving Nick's hand a little squeeze.

"Freakin' zombies!" Bubba returned the ax to Nick's hand, then grabbed a shotgun off the wall. He pumped a bullet into the chamber and took aim for the head of the jock closest to him.

"Oh my goodness! I missed this because I was sleeping! Damn!" Mark said, frustrated.

"Sleep is for the weak," Caleb said seriously.

The jock's eyes widened as he realized Bubba was about to blow him into his next lifetime. Shrieking, all of them turned and ran out of the store with an inhuman speed and a freaked-out gait.

It was like something out of Resident Evil mixed with zombie chimpanzees.

Bubba ran toward the door to get a better shot at them.

"Would your lawyers like that?" Kody asked, her eyes wide.

Bubba stared at her. "They don't need to know everything I do."

Before he could think better of it, Nick grabbed the shotgun right as Bubba fired.

Cherise gasped. Nick should not be messing around with someone who has a gun. He had just been shot for Christ's sake.

The barrel swung wide and instead of hitting the jocks, the shot blasted a huge hole right through the eyes of the picture of Bubba's mama that hung on the wall near the register.

Nick stared at the hole in absolute terror. Ah God. I'm so dead. Bubba really loved his mama.

"Mama's boy," Mark coughed, chuckling to himself before yelping when Bubba had knocked the book out of his hands.

"Next time, I whack you in the face," Bubba pointed at Mark.

And he'd shot her right between the eyes...

The look of Satan's wrath on Bubba's face nauseated him. "Bubba ... I'm so sorry."

"Oh, I like that description a lot," Kyrian mumbled.

Acheron rolled his eyes. "We're aware of your love for literature, general."

"You do want me to order a lot of books," Nick said.

He stalked Nick like a hunting lion out for dinner. "Not half as sorry as you're gonna be. Make me shoot my mama. Boy, what are you thinking? What the hell's wrong with you?"

Nick had to stop retreating as he backed into the wall and had nowhere else to go. He held his hand up to stop Bubba from slaughtering him. "I couldn't let you kill them."

"Why ever not?"

Caleb laughed at that.

"Is that even a question?" Cherise said, her voice rising a few octaves.

Bubba shrugged. "Double tap first. Then ask questions."

Adarian found himself liking that man's philosophy.

"For one thing it's illegal... hello? You think the police are going to buy it was a zombie attack? I don't think so. And for another they're my classmates. Crappy classmates, but still. I have enough trouble coping at school. I'm pretty sure killing three members of the football team when we're coming up for a championship would ruin my rep forever."

"Those are your arguments," Caleb gave Nick a drool stare.

"Hey, 14 year old mind set," Nick said, raising his free hand in surrender.

Bubba snorted. "So what? In case you didn't notice, boy, your classmates are zombified. Had I not come down here when I did, they'd be ripping out your entrails and chowing down. So you ought to be thanking me, not shooting my mama in the head."

"He didn't actually shoot her in the head," Cherise said slowly, as if trying to convince herself Nick didn't kill anyone.

"Nah, just my favorite picture of her," Bubba said, throwing a dirty look at Nick.

Nick swallowed his panic as he realized Bubba wasn't choking him. Yet... "I know. But... they weren't dead. How can they be zombies if they're not dead first? Ain't that the first step?"

"Oh, logic," Kyrian said.

Bubba hesitated. "Well, that does pose a dilemma to us technically... But only in the traditional sense of the word."

"How do you mean?"

Bubba scratched the whiskers on his cheek. "We're assuming their bokor raised—"

"You know a lot about zombies for a human," Ash said, turning his curious eyes on Bubba.

"You need to know things to survive," Bubba shrugged off the fact that Ash called him human even though Ash was human as well.

"Their what?" Nick hated whenever Bubba used one of his freaked-out words.

"Damn, boy, don't that school of yours teach you anything useful? Bokor. The person who creates and controls a zombie. What rock you been living under not to know that?"

Cherise couldn't believe Bubba was questioning Nick on what they taught him in school. He was taught essential things that would help him have a better future. Not running a gun shop and parading around the bayou like a mad man.

Some people would probably call that rock "reality," but Nick valued his life enough to keep that sarcasm inside.

"Woah! Nick has restraint!" Caleb gasped, causing Kyrian to chuckle.

"You've already been warned by my boyfriend," Nick said, glaring at Caleb.

The word 'boyfriend' caused Acheron's heart to flutter. Of course he had been the one to say it first, but hearing Nick say it felt real. It made it seem like it was actually happening. They said they would try and take their relationship slow, but honestly who gave a crap.

It was hard ... but after shooting Bubba's mama, he needed every advantage.

Bubba rolled his eyes before he continued his explanation. "Most times bokors use corpses, but they don't have to. There's been lots of studies of chemical-induced zombies who weren't dead first."

Although Cherise thought Bubba belonged in an insane asylum, what he was saying was actually interesting or maybe it was the way he explained it to Nick that caught her attention. He talked to Nick in a normal way, as if they were discussing the weather. It seemed almost.. normal.

Maybe that was true. But Nick wasn't buying it. "Yeah, but what if this is like Resident Evil and it's the Mother Virus coming to take all of us out? What then? Huh?"

"Kids today and their movies and games," Kyrian shook his head. "Back when I was a kid we use to go outside and explore."

"And that was a very, very, very long time ago," Nick snickered.

"Hey, don't make fun of old people," Acheron said, shoving Nick.

"Yes, dear," Nick laughed, patting at Ash's hand.

Nick stared at his bite mark as reality sank in and his panic overtook him. The virus always started with a bite ... Zombie Zero. The first mark who started the apocalypse. And he was the one.

"Aw, boo. Typical chosen one story," Caleb rolled his eyes.

"Shut it, Malphas. You're just jealous because I am the chosen one," Nick stated, puffing out his chest. "And you're my sidekick."

"I work alone," Caleb glared at Nick.

"Shit, you sound like Mr. Incredible," Nick laughed.

"Man, first I'm shot, now I'm going to be a friggin' zombie. At this rate, I'll never live to have my first date or a driver's license. Ah, gah! I've come too far to die a pedestrian virgin."

Caleb burst out laughing, while Cherise and Mennie had scowls on their faces. "You think you're dying and that's what's on your mind!"

Nick gave off a nervous laughter and felt Ash tense next to him. Maybe he thought Nick was just a horn dog because it came to his attention that he did mention a lot of sexual things. However, Acheron surprised Nick when he leaned close to Nick and whispered, "We wouldn't want that now would we?"

"Bubba, you can't let me die ... I only have seventeen more months and three days to my sixteenth birthday!"

Bubba cuffed him on the back of his head. "Man up, boy, and stop with that Hollywood crap. Zombie ain't contagious."

"I have been lied to for so long," Kody said, touching her heart.

The action caused Nick to let out a small chuckle, it made Kody feel good that he still found her funny.

"You live in N'awlins, Nick, and I've been fighting them for decades. The only way to become a zombie is to be made one by your bokor." Bubba paused as if another idea occurred to him. "Now demon bites ... that's a different story. But them weren't demons in here. They were zombies. Plain and simple. So stop freaking out before I shoot you."

"Very interesting. Remind me to go to one of your self-defense classes," Kyrian said, pointing at Bubba.

"Just so you know it's a $20 admission fee," Bubba stated.

"No it's-" Nick started.

"Shut your damn mouth, boy," Bubba said through his teeth.

Nick took deep breaths to calm his racing heart. "Are you sure I can't catch it?" He couldn't even believe he was asking that. This had to be the most bizarre conversation of his entire life, which, given the usual weirdness of Menyara, was saying a lot.

"Aw, Nicholas, you are too kind," Mennie laughed.

"I know. I'm like the perfect package," Nick beamed, causing Acheron to let out a fond chuckle, Caleb to gag, and Kody to feel a small ache in her heart.

"I'm positive. Believe me, I know my zombies."

Nick scoffed. Is it just me or is that like saying I know my elves and fairies? If it wasn't for the fact Bubba might kill him, he'd say that out loud.

"Your attitude is unbelievable," Mark laughed.

"I still think we ought to disinfect the bites. Just in case it's some military-designed bioweapon."

"No more TV for you," Cherise scolded lightly.

"Disinfect what? What did I miss?"

Nick turned to see Mark entering the store. Yawning and scratching, he joined them from the door that led to Bubba's upstairs apartment where he'd been asleep on Bubba's couch.

Nick sighed in agitation. "See what you miss by sleeping late? Me and Bubba got bitten by zombies."

"I'd still rather sleep," Caleb admitted.

Mark pointed at Caleb. "See my man gets me."

"That's my man," Nick scowled. "Wait, shit. That's not what I meant."

Ash cracked a smile at Nick's awkwardness and Caleb pulled a disgusted face.

"Ew, Nick, you have cooties," Caleb gagged.

"I say they're contagious. This morning only one of the kids in my school had it. Now, I just got attacked by three more. It's spreading and it's going to infect us all. We need to do something before it takes out all the good-looking women and leaves us with only each other."

"Man, Nick, you use to be so straight," Caleb laughed.

"I don't even like boys, just Ash," Nick admitted.

"Ash-sexual," Caleb added.

"Call out the National Guard or the CBC or something."

Bubba scowled at him. "The CBC? Is that one of those new anime people?"

"Such a nerd," Ash said, fondly patting Nick's hand.

Nick scoffed and rolled his eyes, but never denied it.

Nick rolled his eyes. "No. It's that place where they talk about diseases and quarantine people when they're contagious."

"Bubba, Nick means the CDC in Atlanta."

Bubba made a sound of disgust that originated in the back of his throat.

Mark, who was barely a head taller than Nick, was still dressed in his zombie-hunting gillie suit. Fluffs of Spanish moss jutted out from all the places where he'd tucked it in his clothes so that he'd blend in with the bayou. His face was streaked with camouflage paint and he wore yellow-colored contact lenses that had a rim of red around them. Zombie eyes. Also for camouflage.

Cherise narrowed her eyes. Nick didn't seem fazed by Mark's odd choices of fashion. She didn't control as much of Nick's life as she thought. She couldn't save him from the superstitious world of New Orleans.

But that wasn't the worst of it. As he stopped next to Nick, there was an odor so foul it took his breath.

Nick covered his nose to keep from being sick over it. "What is that smell?" It was like three-day-old cat vomit mixed with rotten asparagus.

Mark scowled at him as if he was crazy for even asking. "Duck urine. It keeps the zombies from thinking I'm human."

Nick snorted. "Yeah, well it keeps me from thinking you're sane."

Caleb clapped his hands together, then pointed at Nick. "Nice one. Excellent timing."

"I have my moments," Nick nodded.

"Give it up, Mark. The boy don't know nothing about surviving. He actually kept me from shooting zombies who were in the store trying to eat him."

Mark cuffed Nick on the back of his head. "Are you out of your mind, kid?"

Cherise couldn't believe Mark and Bubba. They were so backwards and so unorthodox. They saw the world so much more different than her. Come to think of it, everyone in Nick's life saw things weird and different. It actually made Nick a better person to see the world through so many people's point of view.

Adarian hated to admit it, but he liked how those two guys lived their lives. It was simple and effective.

"Ow!" Nick rubbed the back of his head where they kept slapping him. If they didn't stop, he was going to get brain damage.

"I mean.." Caleb started.

"Suck it, Malphas," Nick stuck his tongue out.

Caleb had a wicked smile on his face from all the dirty thoughts running through his mind, but he didn't feel like fighting Nick or Acheron at the moment.

"And no. I was keeping Bubba from committing a felony. No offense, but 'he's a zombie, Your Honor, don't electrocute me' isn't a viable excuse. Believe me, I know. My dad's doing three life sentences 'cause he killed, and I quote, 'a crap load of demons who were trying to kill me and if I hadn't killed them, Your Honor, they'd have taken over the city and enslaved all you petty, pathetic humans.' The court's not real understanding of that excuse. They wouldn't even let my dad plead insanity because of it. So trust me, 'zombies needed killing' isn't a legit defense."

Kyrian sat in silence letting Nick's rant soak in. That was a huge burden for a kid to carry on his shoulders. Knowing you're destined to be evil. Knowing it's already affected your father. It was something he probably couldn't live with.

Mark shook his head in supreme annoyance. "Well, it ought to be."

Adarian snorted in agreement.

Mark was just happy Adarian wasn't trying to kill him.

"Hey, Bubba? You in here or are you dead?"

Nick cringed as he heard the newcomers.

Bubba handed the gun to Mark and whispered to the two of them. "It's Officer Davis. Don't say anything."

Clearing his throat, he ambled toward the counter up front as if nothing had happened.

Cherise gasped and crossed her arms over her chest, giving Bubba and Mark a disapproving glance.

Nick hid the gun behind a curtain, amazed by how well Bubba could act. He slid his gaze to Mark, who was finally peeling off his camo suit. Seven years older than Nick, he had shaggy, light brown hair and bright green eyes. His features leaned toward pretty, except for his squared jawline.

Mark sputtered. "Pretty?! How about rugged, handsome, strong?"

"More pretty," Cherise and Mennie agreed.

Mark turned his wide eyes to Bubba. "Don't look at me. You're plain ugly."

Nick laughed at that.

He also had three days' growth of beard on his face, which made him look a lot older. But it was his build that Nick envied. No matter how much he worked out, he just couldn't get the kind of muscle definition that Mark had without even trying. It was so unfair.

"Well that's better than pretty," Mark grumbled and Nick rolled his eyes.

"Can I see your bite wound?" Mark asked.

"Could you bathe first?" Mark glared at him. Sighing, Nick held his arm out so that Mark could inspect it.

Caleb gave a small smile. "That was also a good one. Quick and to the point."

He let out a low whistle as he touched the vicious bite, which was still throbbing. "Yeah, we might want to disinfect this."

Nick cringed. "It's going to turn me into a zombie, isn't it?"

"I don't know about that, but the human mouth is the germiest part of the body. You might get parvo or rabies or something."

Nick scowled at that unexpected response. "Isn't parvo a dog disease?"

"Too much parvo," Caleb groaned.

"You seem to be obsessed with it," Kyrian observed.

"It's because he is a dog," Nick heard Death say in his head. He had started to wonder where that spirit had gone, more than likely collecting souls.

"Yeah, but who knows what's happening in your school, kid. Could be loup-garous on the loose and that, my friend, is definitely contagious."

Nick jerked his arm back. "I'm not going to turn into a werewolf, Mark."

"Go ahead and mock, but I'm telling you, I've seen them down in the bayou. Many a night. A whole pack of them that shifted into humans. Walking in daylight, they could be right next to you and you wouldn't know it."

Nick bit back a laugh. If only Mark knew that Nick was very close with that pack. He actually considered them family. Mark would have a heart attack.

It took all of Nick's self-control not to belittle him for that load of horse manure. He wasn't sure what was more pathetic, the fact that Mark was comfortable enough with him to talk about it or that his friend actually believed it. Deciding on the latter, he let Mark lead him to the bathroom, where Bubba kept alcohol and peroxide.

"Well your pretty friend is fucking offended," Mark said, glaring at Nick.

As Mark cleaned and wrapped the bite, Nick ground his teeth against the pain of the stinging alcohol. "Man, I look like a total goob with both arms wrapped."

"Nah, man, they're war wounds. Chicks dig scars. Means you're a manly man able to protect them."

"See! Man!" Nick said, patting his chest.

"Of course," Ash said mockingly.

Nick lifted one disbelieving eyebrow. "Then why don't you and Bubba have girlfriends?"

"I don't want the drama of it. After the last one burnt up all my clothes with my Jack Daniel's Black Label collection and tried to decapitate me with my CDs, I decided I'd take a hiatus for a bit. As for Bubba ... I better not talk about that. Let's just say I don't think he wants to go through that again."

Nick wanted more clarification. "Go through what?"

That peaked Kody's interest. Besides Cherise, Nick, and Caleb Kody didn't know much about the people in Nick's life. It was like a soap opera from her.

"That ain't none of your business," Bubba said as he joined them. He narrowed his gaze on Mark. "You should learn to be quiet sometimes."

"Yeah, well, I always say that marriage is fine for others, but remember that it only leads to one thing."

Nick grinned. "Lots of naked party time?"

"Nah, kid. Alimony." Mark stepped back to put away the alcohol.

"Nick the horn dog," Acheron laughed, squeezing Nick's cheek.

Wow. They were both rays of sunshine that broke through the darkest cloud ... In hell.

"I like that," Kyrian mumbled, sinking into his seat a little.

Nick turned to Bubba. "So what did the police say?"

"That if any more of my neighbors report a gunshot over here, they'd yank my business license and throw me under the jail for it. Nosy biddy bodies."

Nick scowled. "Isn't that busybodies?"

Bubba gave him a droll stare. "Have you seen Ms. Thomas next door? That's the ugliest witch on the planet. I swear she's a Gorgon."

"Aren't those the aliens from Zathura?" Caleb asked.

"What the fuck man. Those are Zorgons. Get your life together," Nick sighed.

"Excuse me for actually having a life and not just watching TV," Caleb said, holding his hands up in defense.

"I am your life," Nick mumbled, loud enough for Caleb to hear and agree silently.

"A what?" Nick asked with a frown.

Bubba snorted at him. "Get your head out of comic books and read some Greek mythology. Gorgons ... women who were so ugly just looking at one could turn a man into stone."

Ash already knew that. They were women that the children would see in the streets and run scared to their parents. Acheron had always found them fascinating and when one walked by all he would do is bow his head in respect and slight fear that he would turn to stone. In return they would sometimes leave treats at Acheron's feet.

"Ahh ... in my high school that'd be my English teacher, Ms. Richard. She's such a snotty jerk, I swear she thinks the school's named after her."

Caleb and Kody hummed in agreement. Hopefully she retired soon.

Bubba didn't say anything as he started picking up glass from the shattered counter. "So why were the zombies here, anyway?"

"They said they were after..." Nick's voice faded off as he put everything together. Madaug freaking out. Nerd boy...

Holy dog snot.

"Now that is a good curse word," Cherise laughed.

He looked up at Bubba. "Madaug St. James. You know him?"

"Geeky little kid who reminds me a lot of Mark?"

"Hey!" Mark said indignantly.

"A less muscular Mark," Caleb said absent mindlessly.

"Well thank you," Mark said, flexing his arms.

Bubba ignored him. "What about it?"

"He said it was imperative that he talk to you. He'd just left when the jocks came in, looking for him."

Mark shot a glance to Bubba. "You think he has something to do with this?"

Nick dug the number out of his pocket. "I don't know. But I'm beginning to think that's a real good start." And the more he thought about it, the more sure he was.

"Ah nerds," Caleb sighed.

Madaug had to be behind this. Nothing else made sense. And if he was and Nick turned into a zombie because of him, brains were going to be spilled.

"Good one, Nick. Ha Ha," Caleb said sarcastically.

Nick turned to Ash and pointed at Caleb. "Fight him now please."

Ash just chuckled at Nick.

Lots of them and Madaug was the first person on his list. (Not that he had a list because that would get him thrown out of school and probably jailed—but should said hypothetical list exist, not saying that it did currently, or would in the future, Madaug was definitely target number one.)

"Nick's ADD is very enjoyable," Kyrian stated, chuckling a bit.

"It's more of a ramble," Caleb added.

"I find it endearing," Ash smiled, causing Nick to slightly blush.

"He has done it ever since he was a little boy and spoke about everything he passed by," Cherise smiled.

"Oh, remember when he-" Nick cut off Mennie. "Please don't. No. No stories of little Nick," Nick groaned.

"Well it's only about 8. Think we can squeeze in one last chapter," Ambrose asked.

"Why the hell not?" Nick grinned and Adarian groaned.

"I can read," Bubba volunteered.

"Chapter 6..."