Maddie's lazy side was disappointed that Nick's method wasn't having much effect. Her angry side, however, was glad. She wanted someone to be angry at. She wanted an outlet for all the feelings that were pent up and wanting to get out.
Kids really shouldn't have been the target for that, but, well, it was what it was. And she really didn't intend to hurt them. Something more forceful than words was obviously needed, though. It made her angrier and angrier the more the boys laughed. They weren't taking this seriously at all. They didn't know what it was like to watch a brother succumb to the infection... and to see that brother years later... and to lose that brother all over again.
The more she thought about it, the more she began to fume. Blinking, she flicked her eyes to Nick when the girl addressed her. “Oh, I'll scare them all right,” Maddie seethed, scowling at the one who was obviously the leader of the pack. “They'll wish they'd listened to you when you warned them.”
She took a step forward – she was so angry that the quiet, sensible voice that hid out in the dark corner of her mind hoped that Nick would intercede before things got too out of hand. The leader had his back to them, laughing and mocking the little kids' frightened yelps. Maddie shoved him in the shoulder so that he spun around to face her.
“You think it's funny, do you? Is your mom a zombie? What about your dad? Or your little sister? Are they zombies? Did you have to hear the news about any of them getting attacked by a zombie? Did you have to watch them while they were in Quarantine, slowly dying from some infection that you knew there was no cure for?” Each question was emphasized by a shove. “Were you heartbroken when they turned into one of those fucking monsters out there? I've lost three - three! - members of my family to this damn infection, and you little assholes are out here making fun of it!”
Perhaps Maddie wasn't the best candidate to teach a lesson to some bratty kids.