Girls Save the World in This One - Ash Parsons Page 0,59
Zombies or infected. It doesn’t change what’s happening now.
“Well, at least we have familiarity on our side.” Mia cocks an eyebrow under her pinup bangs, looking impossibly cool. “I mean, we’re all zombie aficionados, right? We know what to do if anyone does.”
“Right,” Rosa agrees. “I’m sure there are lots of little groups like us all over the center. Fans who know what to do now.”
Imani grabs my hand and squeezes, and I know she’s thinking the same thing I am.
Siggy. Blair.
“All right, squad, let’s get going,” Linus says, his voice warm. “I for one want to get out of this scene and into my luxury trailer. You’re all invited.”
“Right, we’re definitely putting that in your next contract,” Mia agrees.
I glance up and down the white hall. There’s nothing back here, not even a potted plant or a trash can. I wish there was something, anything I could push up to the door to help hold it closed.
We have to rely on whatever mechanism the hex key disabled.
I reposition the backpacks, feeling both reassured at their weight and also completely ridiculous, wearing the Mickey one on the front like it’s a baby.
Imani steps close to me, her face drawn in concern.
“Do you think they’re okay?” she asks me. “Siggy? And Blair?”
“Absolutely,” I say, my voice firm. “They know as much about zombies as we do. And you saw Blair. She knew to get on the stage. I’m sure they’re just right up ahead.”
Imani nods. Her eyes take on that determined light, the same one from when she was hurdling over rows to come back for me.
“We’re going to find them,” she says.
I pick the set of doors farthest from the front of the convention center and lead the way down the white-tiled corridor.
16
Moving swiftly down the hall, I realize my first impression was correct; there are no windows set into the walls. No windows looking outside, none looking into other rooms. The only window in sight is a narrow one set into the door at the bottom of the hall.
At the top of the hall on the opposite end is a solid door that probably opens into the lobby.
We pass a few other windowless doors with various names or description plates beside them. I don’t read any; too busy formulating a plan on the go.
“Okay, that way,” I tell the others while pointing to the door with the window at the bottom of the hall. “It’s the far, um, left side or Park Street side—whatever direction it is—of the convention center.”
“Southeast,” Imani says. “That’s the southeast side of the building.”
Standing next to her, Linus does a subtle double-take, clearly surprised and impressed at the technical precision.
Trust Imani to know it like she has a compass grafted to her hand. I feel myself stand a little taller, proud just to be her friend.
“Right,” I agree. “That’s the door to the stairwell. On the ground floor that side of the building has the loading docks.”
We rush to the door at the end, and it has a narrow window, crosshatched with wire inside for added security.
It looks out onto the top landing of a wide industrial metal staircase, painted gray.
“Wait,” Imani says as I put out my hand to the lever door handle.
“What if they’re in there?” she asks, ebony-dark eyes widening.
My hand freezes, hovering in place.
“We don’t know where they could be,” Annie agrees. “Maybe we should just stay here.”
“What?” I whip around. “We can’t stay here, we have to find the others—”
Annie interrupts me.
“Why? Who says? We can just stay here. You got us out, you locked them in, there’s no windows, this area is safe.”
Linus rounds on her with incredulous eyes.
“You can’t be serious. Have you even watched the show you’re on?”
“What?” Annie says defensively. “What’s wrong with my idea?”
“Well, for one thing nowhere is safe,” Linus explains.