I saw Jegguthiz’s hand reach out and yank her back into the house. Without a word I took off toward my target with the Grim Reaper, the Keeper of Fate and the Enforcer on my heels. I could run faster than the speed of light. The first time I did it, I was freaked out. Today, I was thankful.
He was already dead, I reminded myself. His soul might have gone into the Light or the Darkness. I would never know. Now, his body was a weapon. A killing machine created by someone who was worse than the abominations It created. My incredible speed rendered me invisible, so the zombie leader didn’t see me coming. Too bad for him, I saw him clear as day.
I didn’t need a sword. I didn’t need a grenade. All I needed were my hands. Picturing my daughter's beautiful face, I did what needed to be done. No one was going to harm Alana Catherine while I was alive to stop it. No one. Not a zombie and certainly not Fake Tom Hanks. I would happily die for my child, but not today. Today, it was only the zombies who would die, again, for challenging me and those I loved.
This close, the odor hit me. The smell was foul—like dead, decaying flesh. It made sense since that’s what they were. With the sparest of movement, I viciously snapped his neck, rippedthe head off the body, then dove into a roll away from the zombies in case they retaliated.
The leader didn’t move or make a sound as he turned to ash. Then, as a whole unit, the rest of them disintegrated and blew away on the breeze.
“Welp,” Candy Vargo said with a chuckle, admiring my handiwork. “That’s one way to get it done.”
“Well done, Daisy,” Charlie said, extending his hand to help me up from the ground. “You’d make a damn good Enforcer.”
“Hah,” I countered. “I’ve got too many jobs as it is.” Death Counselor, Angel of Mercy, wife, and mother. Those were enough to keep me busy for an eternity.
Heather, Zander, Tim, Catriona and the Demons jogged over and looked around in surprise. The applause from the Demons was bizarre.
“Jennifer identified the leader,” I explained. “I completed the mission.”
“Badass,” Candy Vargo said, pointing at me. “The Angel of Mercy ain’t showin’ no damn mercy today!”
“Nope,” I said as the last of the zombie ash cleared off. “There was no Angel of Mercy in that one. That was for my daughter.”
Gideon took me in his arms and held me close. “My hero,” he whispered.
“Just being a mom,” I told him.
“And doing a damned fine job of it,” he replied.
I scanned the field along with everyone else. We were waiting for the last act of the piss poor movie that we were starring in to unfold. Last time, Tom Hanks rose from the ashes and almost killed Jennifer.
This time, there was no sign of the bastard.
“Is It fuckin’ with us?” Candy asked.
“Isn’t it always fucking with us?” I shot back.
“Fine point, well made,” she said, handing me a toothpick.
I put it between my teeth and bit down. Today wasn’t the day for the finale. We would have to wait for the next shitshow. Waiting sucked, but we didn’t have much of a choice. The Higher Power would show up when It wanted to and not a moment earlier. The positive amidst all the negative was that the zombies would no longer work against us. Jennifer was our secret weapon. Win-win.
“We need to deal with Dip Doody,” Gideon said with a sigh.
“You going to wipe his mind?” I asked, taking his hand in mine and heading back up to the house.
“I am,” he told me.
“How much of it?”
He stopped walking and looked at me. “That’s going to be up to Jennifer. Her call.”
My heart squeezed tight in my chest. What had started out as such a wonderful day had gone to Hell. I didn’t envy the decision Jennifer would have to make, but I knew what I would choose to do.
For all our sakes, I hoped she would do the same.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The perimeter Demons,along with Zander and Catriona, quickly dispersed and went back on duty. It was doubtful that another round of zombies would show up any time soon, but assuming anything at this point could result in making a deceased ass out of both you and me. Plus, we were on the lookout for Fake Tom Hanks and whatever new and horrifying tactic It would use to try and destroy the Trinity.
