After the harried text conversation, during which she made countless typos with fumbling fingers, Maddie had retreated to the farthest corner of the room. Not that it would do any good. Once the Smasher broke through, all it would take was a few quick strides to cross the room and she’d be done for.
Of all the people she could’ve contacted, Maddie didn’t know why Udeday had been the first to come to mind. They barely tolerated one another, and she’d said he wasn’t her friend, so really, she wouldn’t have blamed him if he decided not to come to her rescue. Why save the life of someone who was so outwardly ungrateful?
A crash came from up above. Another Smasher? More zombies finding a way in, coming for her?
Massive fists ceased their pounding against the stockroom door. Retreating footsteps.
Maddie let out a breath, darting her eyes back and forth, expecting the sudden quietness to mean there would be a second attack against the door. But when nothing came at her, she allowed herself to hope. Maybe something had drawn the Smasher’s attention away from her. Maybe she was safe.
She sniffed and wiped at her wet eyes, wincing when her hand drew across a tender place on her face. Tears and blood colored the back of her hand. Right. The shelf. At least it had only given her a bloody nose. As far as she could tell, anyway.
A shotgun blast made her jump back to attention. Udeday?
Her guess was confirmed a minute later when she heard his voice out in the main area of the music shop.
Now that the danger was over, Maddie knew she was in for one hell of a lecture. Probably worse. Udeday would no doubt report this to O’B and then she’d be in even better trouble. Locked in solitary. Kicked out of Sing Sing. Any number of horrible punishments.
Well, if she was going to be punished, she wasn’t going to face it sniveling and crying like a little girl. She wiped her eyes again and went out to face her rescuer/punisher.
“Hey there, Udeday.” She tried to sound casual, but her voice was still colored with fear and tears. “’Bout time you crashed the party.”