I yanked on the door handle and cursed when it didn't budge.
Locked.
Why do people even bother locking their cars when the world's ending? Like that's going to save it.
I sighed and stepped back. No point forcing it. The last thing we needed was a busted hand and an alarm bell on top of everything else.
Which meant-great-we needed to find another one.
You're probably wondering why we're out here again. And no, we didn't go back to the marketplace. Kade flat-out refused. Said the people shooting at zombies-and us-might still be around.
Fair enough.
Didn't change the fact that there was nothing left out here.
I'd scavenged this area more times than I could count. And judging by the empty shells of cars around us, so had everyone else. We were standing in what used to be a gas station, surrounded by vehicles that had been stripped clean years ago.
Useless.
I kicked at a rock and glanced toward the city skyline poking up through the trees. We weren't close-but close enough that Kade had already given me the stay sharp lecture.
Even though that's where we'd first run into each other, because there is nothing out here.
"Kade," I grunted, wiping my blade on my thigh after dropping a slow walker with a clean slice. "There's nothing here. I've searched this place a dozen times. We need to move closer to the outskirts."
I pointed toward the city.
He didn't respond. Didn't even look at me.
Typical.
If I said something he didn't want to hear, it was like talking to a brick wall.
Fine. I could do things myself.
"Have fun searching the useless building," I muttered. "I'll go be productive."
I turned and started walking, sword already in my hand.
"Bad idea," he said behind me.
I paused.
Oh. He actually followed.
"No," I shot back, not slowing. "Good idea. We go in smart, get what we need, and get out."
"This is stupid," he grunted.
"Maybe," I laughed. "But stupid works sometimes."
I had a thing for danger. Always had.
Being badass came with being a little wild.
"Wait," I said, stopping suddenly.
He glanced at me, one eyebrow raised.
"You're not going to argue? Try to stop me?"
"Yeah and?" he said flatly.
I blinked. "You usually do the whole-" I dropped my voice into a rough imitation. "No. Definitely not. Too dangerous. I risk my life saving your sexy ass, blah, blah."
He shook his head as I burst out laughing and walked past me.
"That was a terrible impression of me," he muttered.
"Oh please," I scoffed. "I bet you can't do better."
He stopped.
Turned.
Then-unbelievably-popped his hip out, stared at his fingers, lifting his biker cloth down and pouted.
"Oh my god," he said in a high, mocking tone, swaying his hips. "I need cute clothes and makeup even though the dead are trying to eat my caked face. I must look like a tart."
My jaw dropped.
"Close your mouth," he said over his shoulder, already walking again, pulling his mask back up. "You'll catch flies. Now hurry up-we're losing daylight."
It took a second for it to register.
"Did you just call me a tart?" I snapped. "I wear eyeliner!"
He didn't respond.
"You're an ass," I muttered, following him-fighting the smile that's luckily hidden behind my mask.
We stayed low as we moved along the edge of the road, boots crunching softly through gravel and weeds that had swallowed the shoulder years ago. From here, the city loomed just beyond the trees, concrete shapes rising like broken teeth against the sky.
Too close.
Anything near the city was bad. It was just a matter of how bad.
This used to be my thing. Moving alone. Quiet. Invisible. Reading the world like it was breathing with me.
But Kade was good at it too.
Maybe better.
He shifted without sound, already adjusting his position before I fully noticed the problem-a flicker of movement, a shadow that didn't belong.
It was irritating. Impressive. Irritating again.
He glanced back once and gave a short nod.
Clear.
I nodded back, unable to stop the small smile tugging at my mouth as we moved forward.
The truck stop emerged slowly through the trees, a wide, open lot cracked and overgrown, scattered with long-haul trucks parked at odd angles. Some trailers were jack-knifed, others half-sunk into the ground like they'd given up trying to escape.
And cars.
Actual cars.
My pulse picked up.
There was a main building at the center-a rest stop with darkened windows-and beyond it, a low row of motel rooms stretched out behind, doors facing the lot.
Hope and danger.
Kade leaned in, voice low, "I'll check the vehicles. You clear the building."
I stared at him. "Wow. You're letting me go by myself?"
He gave me the flattest look imaginable.
I winked, because he couldn't see my smirk under the mask. "Don't miss me."
"Just hurry," he muttered, already moving, dropping a walker with efficient brutality as he went.
I jogged for the building, fingers curling around the hilt of my sword as I pushed the door open.
The smell hit first.
Rot. Old food. Mold. That sickly-sweet stench of bodies left too long in still air.
Good sign.
The door creaked shut behind me.
Five zombies lingered inside, slumped near tables, one half-stuck behind the counter, another dragging itself along the tiled floor.
They moaned when they saw me.
Finally.
I drew my second blade and moved.
Steel flashed. I ducked beneath grasping hands, twisted, sliced. One fell. Then another. A body thudded against a chair, knocking it over with a crash that echoed too loudly for my liking.
I stilled, listening.
Nothing answered.
The last zombie lunged. I stepped aside and took its head clean off, letting the body collapse at my feet.
I exhaled slowly, surveying the mess.
Disgusting.
Satisfying.
I wiped my blades on a tablecloth and kept one in hand as I moved behind the reception desk. Drawers were jammed shut, but a sharp kick popped one open.
Keys.
Jackpot.
I pocketed them and slipped through the door behind the desk into a small convenience shop. Shelves were half-empty, but not stripped clean.
Water. Energy drinks. Canned food. Protein bars.
I grabbed what I could, stuffing my bag until it tugged uncomfortably at my shoulder.
Kade would complain.
Yes, the bag is impractical.
Yes, it's cute.
No, I will not abandon Hello Kitty in the apocalypse.
Then I saw it.
Snickers.
I giggled quietly and slid it into my bag.
A peace offering.
Or leverage.
I headed toward the motel wing next, moving slower now. A small cluster of zombies loitered in the open courtyard between rooms, bodies swaying lazily.
Too many to take quietly.
I skirted the edges instead, unlocking the first room with the keys.
Inside was untouched.
I almost laughed.
Shampoo. Conditioner. Soap. Towels still folded in plastic.
Luxury.
I shoved as much as I could into my bag, turning toward the door- it burst open.
I gasped as a zombie slammed into me, rotten mouth snapping inches from my face.
Absolutely not.
I staggered back, took it down with me, rolled, and drove my knife through its eye socket. The body went limp instantly.
I lay there for a second, staring at the ceiling, heart racing.
That was close.
Still alive.
Still pretty.
I got up, wiped my blade, and slipped back outside.
Time to regroup.
I moved carefully between trucks, scanning the lot.
Where is he?
I was about to call out when voices drifted across the asphalt.
Not moaning.
Not growling.
People.
I ducked behind a delivery truck, crouching low as my eyes locked onto the scene unfolding just meters away.
Kade.
Surrounded.
His arms were raised slowly, deliberately. His crossbow lay on the ground in front of him, already kicked out of reach. Four people circled him-two with guns, one with a blade, another yanking his bag off his shoulder.
Too calm.
Too practiced.
Gear spilled onto the pavement with soft metallic clinks.
My fingers tightened around my sword.
One of them shoved him forward.
My chest tightened hard.
"No," I whispered.
Not like this.
Not after everything.
I pressed my back into the cold metal of the truck, breathing shallow as I counted them. Counted exits. Counted how fast I could move without being seen.
Too many to rush.
Too close to fail.
They started dragging him toward the main building.
My jaw clenched.
I wasn't leaving.