But before I can respond to that, there’s a beep-beep. She’s hung up on me.
Chapter 26: PREPARATIONS
“Dude,” Jonathan says. “That was hilarious. Meredith’s got you under her cute little thumb.”
“Shut up,” I say.
“What did she want, anyway?” Enrique asks.
“She’s at Carolina’s house. Past the cemetery.”
“Past the cemetery?” Jonathan asks.
“Yeah, on the way to the mall. She wants me—actually, us—to go by and see them. Tonight.”
Enrique shakes his head. “I have a bad feeling about those Whelans. Carolina may be nice, but her dad would probably eat me for breakfast.”
I just stare at him. “You don’t think they eat people, do you?”
“What do you think they eat? Broccoli?” Enrique asks.
I look over at Jonathan. “But people? You all think they eat real live people?”
Jonathan shrugs. “According to the books, some do, some don’t. Ghouls are the worst. That’s all they eat. People, I mean. But you’ll only find those—”
He stops, and looks at me.
“Where did you say Carolina’s house was again?”
“Past the cemetery, near the new mall.”
“Am I the only one hearing things I don’t want to hear?” Jonathan says.
I shake my head. “So we’ll try to avoid the cemetery. What about the zombies?”
“They aren’t as bad as ghouls,” Jonathan says. “They don’t eat much. Sometimes they get the munchies and they eat up everything in a convenience store, or somebody’s cat.”
“Somebody’s cat?” I gulp.
“Yeah, or a squirrel, or whatever they can catch. They’re not very particular. Just kind of stupid and mean. Usually they’re too slow to get a person unless there are a lot of them
.”
Enrique risks a peek through the window. “Wow, they got some big guys out there. And does twelve count as a lot?”
“Twelve zombies?” Jonathan says. “How are we going to get past twelve?”
“Don’t they have any weaknesses?” I ask. “Anything at all?”
“They can’t stand bright light,” Jonathan says. “They’re almost as photosensitive as vampires.”
“That must be why they’re always wearing those hoodies,” I say.
Jonathan nods.
“I guess we need to find out what’s going on at that mall,” I say. “And Carolina’s house is wicked close to the construction site. And the cemetery. Kind of weird, isn’t it?”
“Definitely, dude,” Jonathan says. “And remember, they’re going to have their new store there, too.”