Chapter 52
Kate
Everything I have worked for, gone in a flash.
I run through the halls, shouting and warning everyone that there’s an infected within the walls. Some gear up and head toward Parker’s room while others run to their own rooms, barricading themselves in with hopes that the heavy doors will be enough protection.
I do neither.
With both the walkie and the notebook clutched against my chest, I race for the exit.
Parker was working for a vaccine company. The outbreak was planned all along.
We were never getting out of here. There was never going to be a cure. Harry was never going to be saved and everything I strived to achieve was for nothing.
I beeline it for the door, nearly barreling into Michelle on the way. She grips my arms, effectively stopping me. “Where are you going? There’s an infected loose!”“I know!” I shriek, fighting to break free. “I need to get out, please, let me go—”
Gunshots go off, mingling with the sound of inhuman snarls.
People start yelling and running to the exit, pulling it open and darting into the night.
“Michelle, listen,” I urge. “We need to get out of here. There’s a helicopter coming to take us away from here, but we need to leave now.
” She drops my arms and stares at me like I’ve grown an extra head.
My gaze swings to the open door and back to her. “Now,” I repeat.
She nods as if in a daze and I grip her hand before pulling us into the night.
I lead us down the steps, pushing past frantic survivors as we make our way onto the grass, my feet carrying me whichever way I need to go. The fence gets closer, infected congregating on the other side, hearing the siren call of survivors screaming.
“Are you armed?” I ask Michelle through heavy breaths.
“Always,” she pants back. She releases my hand and pulls her gun free, ready to take out as many infected as possible—
The sound of something being ripped apart reaches my ears and I pause. Scanning the other side of the fence, I see nothing but infected staring back at me—
Something explodes from one of their chests, a vibrant red against the darkness before it disappears and the infected falls in a heap. Jordan stands there, the infected’s heart gripped between her fingers.
Our eyes lock and a sob wracks my chest.
She makes quick work of the other infected, snapping necks and ripping heads from bodies. As we reach the fence, she grips it from the ground and heaves, giving us space to crawl underneath.
I don’t hesitate, throwing my body into the dirt, dragging myself to Jordan. Worn, strong hands grip my shoulders and I’m hauled against Jordan’s chest. My tears wet her shirt as I wrap my arms around her, feeling safer than I have since leaving her.
“Never again,” she promises, her voice husky.
I nod against her, unable to speak.
“Kate.” Michelle’s voice reaches me and I pull myself out of Jordan’s embrace to find her on the other side of the fence, eyes wide. “This—she’s infected, what are you—”
“We don’t have time,” I tell her. “Get your ass through the fence now.”
She hesitates, her eyes ping-ponging between Jordan and me, when gunshots and yells rise up again behind her. Throwing herself on the ground, she army-crawls to us. Once she’s cleared the fence, she jumps up, pointing her gun at Jordan. “What the fuck is going on?”
Jordan raises her hands in surrender, and I step in between them. “Michelle, listen—”
“Kate, move! She’s infected!”
“I know!” I yell back. “But now is really not the fucking time. We need to get out of here.”
“We can head up to the building over there.” Jordan must point to it, but I can’t let my gaze stray from Michelle’s outstretched gun.
“Put the gun down,” I order. The weapon in Michelle’s grasp shakes, indecision coloring her face. “I promise I will explain everything when we’re safe.”
She swallows, seeming to have an internal battle before she drops her hands. I don’t have time to feel relieved—Jordan wraps her fingers around mine and is dragging me to another building.
The three of us race inside, Jordan leading us up a few flights before pushing us through one of the apartments and shutting the door behind us.
Revealing another infected.
“Wait!” Jordan shouts, but Michelle has already fired her gun.