Chapter 54
Jordan
The college isn’t far from Kate’s former safe zone, so we hide in the old science building while we wait. Few infected roam the halls, which are no match for the three of us.
Kate is a great shot, but her skills pale in comparison to Michelle’s. By the time I’d taken down one infected, she had downed four.
We all try getting sleep, but nerves fill the room we clustered into, making it impossible to get any rest. Kate is still reeling from the past twenty-four hours, still clutching the notebook and the walkie.
The beast whines at seeing her like this.
I stay close by, some part of me always touching her.
I know all too well what it’s like to lose hope.
We keep our eye on the horizon, our ears open for the sound of a helicopter approaching. “Did Parker say why they were airlifting him out now?” I ask.
Kate shakes her head. “He didn’t, but he has a note in here,” she holds up the notebook, “that they were ready to remove him. Said he’d had enough time to work on the project and they’d send someone else in to continue.”
My brows furrow. “Sounds like they were probably just going to kill him.”
“Yeah, well he’s probably dead now, anyway,” Michelle adds, tone sour.
Kate shrugs. “We’ll need to take out everyone except O’Brien.”
“Why?” I ask. “He doesn’t need to live.”
“He doesn’t,” she agrees smoothly. “But I want answers first.” She turns to Michelle. “Will you be able to take out the pilot and anyone else on board?”
Michelle huffs, affronted. “I can’t believe you’d even ask me that.”
“Hold on,” I interrupt. “Do any of us know how to operate a helicopter? Cause I sure as hell don’t.”
“My uncle had one,” Michelle answers. “I used to go up in it all the time. I’m sure I could figure it out.”
My stomach drops. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Well, I’m the best chance you got,” she retorts.
I’m about to put up a fight when buzzing reaches my ears. I stand and rush to the dirty window, seeing a speck in the distance.
“They really showed up.” Kate’s voice sounds stunned.
My eyes stay glued to the chopper as it gets closer. “Let’s be ready for anything.”