Page 89 of Stripping Bare
“Does that mean what I think it does?” Tessa’s voice held a tremor as she pulled out a cheap timer that had been obscured by the padding around thesensors.
Only two willplay.
If others join, all willpay.
“It sounds like if we let anyone else know what’s going on, all the places will burn.” He grabbed the timer from Tessa. Thirtyminutes.
The clock starts now.That motherfucker was watching them. Jonah jumped to his feet and turned in a circle, trying to get a bead on the person who obviously had eyeballs onthem.
Jonah reached down, yanked Tessa up by the elbow, and shoved the car keys into her hand. “We have to gonow.”
As they ran toward the car, Jonah was already plugging the sensor web into the goggles.God, please let this shit work.He yanked his T-shirt over his head, dropped it to the asphalt, and slid into the passenger seat. “We need to hit the closest locations first. Drive to Triple B,” heordered.
He’d start there and work his way through them all. His fingers itched to call his brothers, but now that he knew this SOB was aware of his moves, he couldn’t afford to. He wiggled and wrestled his way into the sensors, almost tearing the wiring as he forced his arms through the armholes. Once he’d patted down the sensors, making sure each touched his skin, he pulled on the goggles andgauntlets.
“Please tell me you won’t jump anyone else,” Tessa said, her voice full ofworry.
“I promise to use my words this time instead of assuming what I’m seeing is real.” The buildings on Main Street remained in real life order, although they took on the same abandoned quality as before. He pointed at Triple B, the bar and restaurant owned by Britt’s girlfriend, Randi. “Park by the frontdoor.”
The car hadn’t stopped rolling when he shoved open the door and jumpedout.
The sensors against his skin were vibrating and turning warmer as he strong-armed his way through Triple B’s door and found it full with the pre-happy hour crowd.Fuck.He didn’t have time to explain to Randi what was going on. Each second that ticked away could mean the difference between people living or becoming victims of this fucked-upgame.
Cupping his hands around his mouth, he hollered, “Get up and get the hell outta here. Now. This is not a warning. Not ajoke.”
“I just got my damned cheeseburger,” some zombie with a John Deere cap on groused. “I ain’t goin’nowhere.”
“I’ll pay for your fucking burger. I’ll pay for every burger you eat for the rest of your life. Just get your ass outtahere.”
People were rushing out the front door when a blond-haired zombie marched up to Jonah. Had to be Randi. “What are you doing? Why are you forcing all my customers out thedoor?”
“Randi,” he said, grabbing her hands and tossing the dishtowel she was holding to the ground. “I can’t explain. Just trust me. I need you to get yourself and all your employees out of the buildingimmediately.”
“Does Britt know aboutthis?”
He would soon enough. “How many others arehere?”
“Three. Kris, Grady, and a new waitress I justhired.”
He tugged Randi toward the door to the office and storage area. It opened and a petite zombie with black and purple hairemerged.
Randi told her, “Kris, get out of thebuilding.”
“Wha—”
“Just doit.”
Jonah and Randi made a sweep in the back and followed her two other employees into the parking lot behind thebuilding.
“Now, will you explain…” Randi started, but Jonah was already running around the building toward where Tessa waswaiting.
He didn’t bother to close the car door this time, and the cold air swept over his sweating torso. “U-turntoward…”
But she was already on it, tires squealing as she did a tight about-face and gunnedit.
At La Belle Style, it took slightly less time, since the boutique wasn’t packed. Only a salesgirl, Brynne, and two customers. Jonah would’ve been in and out if Brynne hadn’t insisted on grabbing the till and an armload ofmerchandise.
When he dived into the car this time, Tessa hit the gas and said, “Breathe. You’ll hyperventilate. Maybe we should go ahead and text your mom. Have her get out of thehouse.”
