How long had we been stuck like this?
No idea.
Time stopped meaning anything when you were pressed into the dark, holding your breath while the dead shuffled past just meters away. The moaning, the dragging of feet, the wet sound of decay sliding over concrete, all of it crawled under my skin.
We stayed perfectly still, heavy breathing became shallow without effort. Survival did that to you.
Didn't make it any less terrifying, because no matter how good of a fighter you are, if you get trapped and surrounded and they find you - game over. Even armies had been taken down by herds.
I stayed focused. Didn't let my thoughts drift backward.
The past got people killed.
This wasn't even the first time I'd been stuck like this. Hell, earlier we'd practically been wrestling on the floor over a chocolate bar.
Strange world we live in now.
When the noise finally faded, felt like hours later, we still didn't move. Sometimes you can take them out, my swords cut through zombies like nothing. But you had to know when to get the fuck out, a herd didn't care how skilled you were.
We stayed frozen.
I turned my head slightly and immediately regretted it.
We were way too close.
I could see the sharp line of his jaw beneath the cloth covering his mouth. His lips. Loose strands of dirty-blond hair falling over his forehead. His hands looked lighter than the rest of him, scarred but steady. His ears were slightly pointed, lined with black piercings.
Hot.
I shut that thought down instantly.
Focus.
His sharp blue eyes met mine.
I looked away immediately, already irritated with myself.
Why did I look for that long?
I waited for it...
"A bit inappropriate to be checking me out right now," he whispered.
There it is.
I rolled my eyes and shifted carefully, easing myself away. The space outside looked clear now.
Time to leave.
I peeked out of the warehouse, scanning the surroundings. Empty. No herd in sight. Which meant they'd moved on, and if they'd moved, more would come from the city.
I needed to get back to my safe zone.
I stepped out quietly, already planning my route. A crawling zombie gargled nearby, reaching out uselessly. I pulled one sword free and dropped the tip straight into its skull, flicked the blood away, wiped the blade on its clothes, and slid it back into place.
Efficient. Quiet.
I glanced at the sky, clouds swallowing the sunset.
Great.
No time to scavenge for food today. What was one more day without eating? Water was the bigger problem, I might have to risk the shops near my route, crowded last time, dangerous, but I didn't have many options.
You die slowly not eating, but quicker without drinking.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going?"
I froze.
Right.Him.
I turned with a frown. "Getting the fuck out before the herd comes back?" Like that wasn't obvious.
"You owe me," he said, striding toward me with his fist clench.
I put a hand on my hip, unimpressed. "You're a big boy. You can take care of yourself. And it was your fault I crashed your bike."
"You stole it."
"You shot at me."
"Because you stole my shit."
I laughed, probably not the best survival tactic.
"You're going to attract your friends if you don't keep your voice down," I hissed.
He looked bored. "We're wasting time."
"You're wasting my time. I need to move before it gets dark. So, bye. Nice to not know you."
I turned and walked away.
Then I heard the crossbow load.
I sighed, tilted my head back, then slowly turned.
He was walking toward me slowly, weapon raised, aimed just beside my head.
"You're giving me my chocolate bar back."
Seriously?
Thenerve.
I wasn't some scared little girl, I wasn't his anything. If he wanted me dead, I'd already be dead. I have no idea if he had a group, but something tells me he's on his own, like me.
So, I played along.
I pulled the bar from my pack and handed it over. He ripped it from my hand like he was on his period.
Child.
The second he turned, I bolted.
No words. No hesitation.
I didn't need anyone hanging around because I "owed" them something. People dragged you down. People get you killed.
I worked better alone.
Humans were worse than zombies anyway, even if he didn't seem like a bad person, everything comes with a cost or a risk.
I moved fast, cut through the woods, slicing down any dead that wandered too close. Quiet steps, controlled movements. I blended into the world instead of fighting it.
By the time the sun dipped low, I reached the shop.
Bad timing.
I slipped inside silently, scanning the dusty aisles. Boarded windows let in barely any light. Big place. Too many blind spots. Zombies always hid in corners here.
I crouched, moved fast, grabbed water and shoved it into my bag.
Then I heard it.
Dragging boots. Moaning.
Fuck.
Zombies blocked my exit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I felt warmth on my shoulder and swore under my breath.
The wound. The clip from earlier.
That fucker.
I climbed, leaping onto shelves, avoiding grabbing hands. Metal slammed against my ankle and white-hot pain shot up my leg.
No. No. No.
I bit back a cry.
Bad angle. Bad choice coming here this late, but I wasn't dying here.
I distracted them, shoved a shelf down onto a cluster, jumped again, slipped, hit the floor hard.
Pain exploded through my ankle.
I limped toward another exit. Locked.
Fuck.
I pulled both swords free.
"Come at me, fuckers."
I swung. Cut. Pushed through pain. Another slash. Another. My ankle buckled and I almost went down.
Dark closed in. Sun gone. Vision blurring.
A zombie knocked me flat, rotting face inches from mine.
This is it.
Of course this is how it ends.
At least I'd be a hot zombie.
The door exploded inward.
Dust. Noise. Chaos.
The weight lifted off me. The zombie dropped.
Someone moved through the dead like they'd done this before - fast, brutal, efficient.
Then arms were around me, lifting me.
The sky outside burned orange and red.
"Hey. Fucking stay with me," he said, breathless. "Do you have a place we can go?"
My brain lagged. Words felt heavy.
Am I dead?
I tried to speak. Nothing came out.
"Fuck," he muttered. "Tell me where to go."
I forced the words out. "Down… a couple of blocks… brick house… boarded windows… basement… Latch-"
Darkness swallowed me whole.