Neeta & Ted: Shambling in a Winter Wonderland

Valentine's Day has come and gone, but romance is still in the air. I've got a serial story running in Liberty Island Magazine, "Shambling in a Winter Wonderland." Zombie exterminators, Neeta Lyffe & Ted Hacker, are on vacation - or are they? It was supposed to be a fun week of learning to ski and planning their wedding, but the undead have other plans. You can follow the story on Liberty Island. The reading is free, but if you like it, please tip the author. That's the only way I get paid. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd share this excerpt with you. It shows a little of how Neeta's and Ted's different personalities complement each other. Neeta sometimes wonders how she fell for such a clown, but as her best friend has noted, she needs laughter in her life. Do you have a soulmate? How does he or she complement your personality?

"Zombies? On skis?" Ted's squeal came loud and clear over her helmet as they followed the sheriff on snowmobiles up to the accident scene. "If it weren't so dangerous, it'd be core awesome!"

"Apparently, there was some kind of shrine set up with skis and snowboards. This won't be easy. They were already fearless and skilled. Now they're mindless, fearless and skilled - and the only thing they have connection to the area is that ski contest.” Neeta spoke through chattering teeth. “Are you sure you want to marry me? I'm cursed."

Even with all the layers she could pile on under her HazMat suit and her ski mask making her helmet uncomfortably tight, the cold air cut through her. Ahead, Sheriff Buttuns swerved to avoid a root that arched out of the snow, and she followed. She heard a thump, and guessed that Ted chose to jump the branch instead.

"Nah. You're interesting. I love that. Come on. If it weren't for your so-called curse, we wouldn't be snowmobiling in restricted territory right now. How fuze is that? Just go with it. 'Embrace the suck,' as Gordon used to say."

Gordon had been a Marine. He’d been discharged for too much enthusiasm. "I'm not a Marine."

"Your mom was. Doesn't any of that rub off?"

"Shrapnel shredded her arm. She was medically discharged before I was born."

"You need to get into the spirit of this. Sing with me: Oh, the zombies outside are frightful/but the napalm's so delightful…"

"You're insane! I'm marrying a crazy man." But she couldn't keep the smile out of her voice. He did make the job fun.

"As long as you love me so…"