They dragged him out into the open.
I stayed where I was, pressed into shadow between two trucks, watching through a gap in the metal. My pulse stayed steady. My breathing didn't change.
Kade's jaw tightened as one of them reached up and yanked his biker mask down. He didn't fight it. Didn't react, just stared.
The guy with spiked blond hair stepped closer, studying his face. He was shorter than Kade, stockier, eyes sharp with recognition.
"You look familiar," he said slowly.
Kade said nothing.
Didn't even blink.
The man circled him, smirking. "You're not alone. We saw you at the marketplace. You and your little partner."
So, it was them.
My grip tightened on my sword.
"Where is she?" the man asked, leaning in close. "either way we'll find her."
Kade's expression didn't change.
That was my cue.
I moved.
Quiet. Low. Truck to truck. I timed my steps with the wind, with the distant moans drifting closer from the trees. My focus narrowed to distance and cover.
Glass crunched under my boot.
Shit.
One of them turned-
Before he could look closer, Kade slammed forward, ramming his shoulder into the blond guy's chest. They went down hard, rolling across the asphalt.
The others piled on him immediately.
Boots. Fists. Rage.
Four on one.
That was enough.
I burst from cover.
Steel flashed.
One went down with a choke of pain as I slammed him aside. I sliced another across the arm, forcing him back screaming. The third lunged for me-I ducked and cut his leg out from under him.
I stepped over Kade, blades raised.
The last one fumbled for his gun.
I cut his hand.
The weapon clattered to the ground.
I kicked it up and caught it, aiming straight at the blond man as he staggered back.
"Oi-hey," he said quickly, hands lifting. "Easy, little lady."
I didn't blink.
"Leave," I said flatly through my mask.
"We're not the only ones," he warned. "There are more of us. You come with us, I can make sure you don't get hurt."
Yet my partner is injured on the ground, dumbass.
I fired past his head.
The shot cracked loud, sparks jumping off metal behind him.
"Zombies are coming," I said calmly. "If you run now, you might make it."
I adjusted the aim. "Or you can stay and see how many bullets I have."
His mouth twitched into a grin. "Only because you're hot," he said. "We'll catch you next time."
He blew me a kiss.
I nearly killed him for that alone.
Instead, I watched as they hauled their wounded up and bolted, disappearing between the trucks just as the first moans grew louder.
I waited.
Counted.
Listened.
Then I dropped my aim and turned.
Kade was barely breathing.
"Fuck," I muttered, dropping beside him. "Kade-hey. Wake up. We need to move."
No chance I could carry everything and him.
I made a decision fast.
I dragged our packs and weapons to a broken wall nearby, shoving them into a gap and covering it with loose stone.
"I'll be back," I whispered to my bag.
Then I hauled Kade up, hooking his arm over my shoulder. He groaned, half-conscious, trying to help as his weight sagged against me. He was heavy.
Really heavy.
My lungs burned. My legs screamed. Zombies spilled out from the tree line, drawn by noise and blood.
"Come on," I hissed, forcing myself forward. "You're not dying on me."
Step by step, I dragged us into the trees.
-
My lungs burned.
My throat felt dry and raw, like I'd swallowed sand. Sweat ran down my back as I realized how far we'd gone, how far I'd dragged him.
Too far.
My legs finally buckled and I stumbled, barely catching myself as I grunted and hauled us to a stop. Kade sagged against me, dead weight pulling at my shoulder.
Fuck.
I forced myself upright and raised my sword again, cutting down the zombies that had noticed us. One came from the side. Another staggered out from the trees-the ones that had followed all the way from the truck stop.
Steel flashed. Bodies dropped.
When the last one hit the ground, I shoved my blade back into its sheath and bent forward, hands on my knees, gasping for air.
I turned to Kade, he was slumped against a tree, skin flushed, breath shallow.
I pressed my hand to his forehead.
Hot.
Too hot.
"Shit," I muttered.
Fever.
We couldn't stay here.
"Come on, buddy," I grunted, tugging him upright again. "You weigh a fucking ton dude."
I tapped his chest harder than necessary. "Hey. Wake up. Help me out here."
His eyes flickered open-just barely.
He moved, not much, but enough.
Every few steps he sagged, and every time I forced him back up. Step by step. Breath by breath.
It felt like torture.
Somehow, we made it back before dark, I don't know how.
But I won't complain.
I unlocked the basement door with shaking hands and dragged him inside, muscles screaming. Halfway down the stairs my foot slipped, and I went down with him, landing awkwardly on top of his chest.
"Fuck-sorry," I breathed, scrambling off him.
I locked the door behind us, slid the bar into place, and just stood there for a second with my forehead pressed against the cold metal.
Safe.
At least for now.
When I turned back, Kade was barely conscious, slumped against the floor where I'd dropped him.
"Alright," I muttered. "You're not dying on my watch. That would be annoying."
I dragged him across the floor inch by inch, teeth clenched. My arms shook. My legs felt like jelly. Every part of me hurt.
When I finally managed to get him onto the couch, my grip slipped and I nearly collapsed with him.
"Shit-sorry, sorry," I said again, breathless.
I crouched beside him, watching his chest rise and fall too fast. His skin was damp with sweat, flushed an unhealthy red. I pressed the back of my fingers to his cheek.
Way too hot.
"Of course you'd get a fever," I muttered. "Dramatic."
I hesitated before lifting his shirt.
Not because I was shy.
Because it made this real.
Dark bruises bloomed across his ribs-angry, deep, spreading like spilled ink. My stomach tightened. I traced the edge of one carefully, gentle despite myself.
"Idiot," I whispered. "You should've stayed on your feet."
I pulled his shirt back down quickly and grabbed the first aid kit, along with the vodka he'd hoarded like it was liquid gold. I soaked a cloth and dabbed at the blood on his nose and lip.
He flinched, groaning softly.
"Hey," I said before I could stop myself. "Easy."
The word surprised me.
I cleaned him slowly, methodically. Every movement careful. Every wince noted. When I reached for bandages, my eyes landed on the box.
Princess band aids, I snorted quietly.
"Don't complain," I muttered, sticking one on his cheek. "suits you,"
I wiped the sweat from his forehead, replaced the cloth when it grew warm in my hand. He shifted restlessly, breath hitching, fingers twitching like he was fighting something in his sleep.
Nightmares, maybe.
I knew those.
I pulled a blanket over him, tucking it in tighter than necessary. My hands lingered for half a second on his shoulder.
Don't get stupid, Nyx.
I stood abruptly and paced once, twice. Then stopped, grabbed a bottle of water, and pressed it to his lips when he stirred.
"Drink," I ordered. "Don't make me shove it down your throat."
He swallowed weakly.
Good.
I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, watching him like I was on guard duty.
Because I was, this wasn't softness.
This was survival.
Still… I stayed longer than I needed to. Listening to his breathing even out just a little. Watching the tension ease from his face.
When I finally stepped away, my chest felt tight.
Annoying.
I adjusted the blanket properly this time and turned toward my bedroom door- then I remembered.
My bag.
His gear.
Still back at the truck stop.
I closed my eyes.
"Shit."
Night was coming. Going back out was stupid. Dangerous. Everything I'd spent years learning not to do.
But…
I thought of the Snickers.
Of my bag.
Of the crossbow.
I checked the gun. Full ammo. Knife in place on my hip and placed my swords on my back.
I glanced back at him one last time.
"I won't be long," I whispered. "Don't you dare die."
I locked the door behind me and slipped back into the dark.
This is probably a stupid idea.
But I don't leave what's mine behind.