23. Taryn
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
TARYN
Adrian scooped me up and threw me into the opening Colson had made, even as he followed right behind me.
I saw Beck give him a grateful nod, then continue running with Harper in his arms.
A rotter broke through the fence behind us.
Then another.
Adrian turned and pulled a pistol from his waistband and fired twice. Both dropped, but more crowded into the opening Colson had made.
The gunshots rolled through the woods, and answering moans rose deeper among the trees.
“We’re drawing more with all the noise,” Lucas growled. “We’re going to have to kill them the hard way.”
“No more shooting unless it’s a last resort,” Adrian agreed.
A rotter lunged from behind a pine, and Lucas caught it with the handle of his hatchet, driving it backward. Max launched at its leg, dragging it off balance.
We had discovered long ago that animals didn’t experience the effects the way humans did. Thank God, because Max would’ve changed at the beginning of this shit show.
Wren pulled Rory away while Colson stepped in and caught another rotter by the throat. Its teeth snapped inches from his face. He slammed it into a tree hard enough to shake dead needles from the branches.
On the first impact, the back of its skull collapsed. He released it and kept walking, wiping the gore on his pants.
Just another Tuesday.
Wren glanced at him. “You’re very efficient. I like that in a man.”
I could swear he was blushing under all that hair. “Thank you.”
“Were you following us after we left the store?” Wren asked Colson, eyes never leaving Rory.
Colson looked down at her. “Yes.”
“All of us… or just me?” Wren glanced up.
“You.”
Wren stumbled over a root, and Colson caught her arm before she fell, set her upright, and released her.
She stared at him for half a second, then smiled. “I think I’m going to keep you.”
“Yes, you are.” I heard him mumble under his breath.
We paused to get our bearings, and I took a moment to appreciate the joy on Wren’s face.
Even with rotters on our heels, Harper unconscious in Beck’s arms, and our future uncertain, Wren looked pleased. I didn’t blame her. In this world, you had to grab joy by the balls because tomorrow wasn't guaranteed.
A branch cracked behind us.
“Save the courtship for later,” I teased her. “We need to gain more distance before you can swap spit with the giant.”
“It’s not a courtship.” Wren snapped back. “He hasn’t even invited me to dinner yet.”
Colson reached over his shoulder and dropped two rabbits at her feet. The same rabbits Beck must have abandoned when he ran toward us.
Where the hell had the big bastard been keeping those?
Wren’s mouth fell open.
“Now it’s a courtship,” Colson stated.
Wren finally recovered from her surprise and scooped them up. “Hell yes, it is.” She tied the rabbits to her belt.
We pushed deeper into the trees.
The ground sloped sharply downward, thick with wet leaves and exposed roots. Beck slowed, protecting Harper from every jarring step.
Finley stayed beside him, holding the fluid bag above his head. “Her breathing changed.” He gave her his full attention.
Beck stopped.
“No,” Adrian snapped. “We have to keep moving.” You could hear the frustration in his voice over our slow progress.
Finley protested. “I need to check her.”
“You can check her while walking.” Adrian put his arm around me, knowing I was growing weaker with every step. “We’re still being followed by the infected, and Taryn needs to get somewhere safe to rest.”
I turned my head and kissed his shoulder. “I’m good.”
He narrowed his eyes. “When you feel better, I’m going to spank your ass for lying.”
My jaw dropped open.
“Now who’s flirting?” Wren winked slyly.
“I need to listen to her lungs.” Finley insisted, turning pleading eyes to Beck.
A moan drifted through the trees behind us. Then another answered from our left. They were spreading throughout the woods, drawn by our footsteps.
“No,” Beck wasn’t swayed. “We can’t take the chance.”
Finley looked at me. “If fluid is building in her lungs and I don’t catch it—”
Adrian narrowed his eyes. “You’ll check her when we find cover.”
“Less arguing and more walking,” Lucas demanded, turning to glare at Finley.
Rory looked at Harper. “Is she going to be okay?”
Wren slipped her hand into Rory’s. “She’s strong, and Robin and I have potent blood. It runs in our family.”
I pushed a branch out of my way. “She’s right. Our blood is superior.”
Wren stopped walking altogether until Colson nudged her.
I smiled. The shock of my agreement was almost too much for her to handle.
We kept moving.
The farther we walked, the more the sounds from the town faded. Now it was just the occasional keening from the surrounding woods.
Unfortunately for anyone who stumbled that way, they’d find a town that had awakened… and was hungry.
My breathing grew labored and sweat dampened the back of my neck despite the cool shade. Each step made my pulse pound behind my eyes. The blood draw took more out of me than I’d expected.
Adrian stayed close beside me, his arm taking most of my weight.
Ahead of us, Lucas stopped suddenly.
Beck shifted Harper carefully against his chest, and Finley used the opportunity to listen to her breathing.
“What is it?” Adrian pulled even with him, me in tow.
Lucas tilted his head. “Do you hear that?”
At first, I heard nothing except distant moans and the ragged sound of our breathing — mostly mine — everyone else was fine.
Then came a faint metallic squeak.
Rhythmic.
Colson left Wren’s side and stepped past Lucas. He crouched beside a narrow path, almost hidden beneath the undergrowth, and touched the ground. “Tire tracks.”
“Recent?” Adrian squeezed me tighter into his side.
Colson studied them more closely. “No.” He rose and motioned for Wren and Rory to follow.
I looked at Lucas, and he shrugged.
We didn’t have any better options.
The woods thinned gradually, revealing tall grass silvered by the fading light.
Beyond it stood a barn.
The structure leaned slightly to one side. Its red paint had faded almost entirely to gray. Half the roof had been patched with rusted tin, and one wide door hung ajar, swaying slightly in the breeze.
The squeak we’d heard came from an old weathervane turning above the roof. A farmhouse must’ve stood nearby once, but all that remained was a blackened foundation buried beneath weeds.
“I don’t see any vehicles.” Lucas had his head on a swivel.
Max growled, and we all looked at him. His gaze remained fixed on the barn.
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.
Beck adjusted Harper. If he hadn’t been enhanced, there was absolutely no way he’d have been able to carry her this far. “We'll clear it.”
“I’m not leaving Harper.” Finley glanced around at the shadows surrounding us.
“Lucas and I’ll go,” Adrian said without hesitation.
“I’ll help.” I knew it was stupid, given how weak I felt, but I didn’t want them to go without me.
Three heads turned in my direction.
“I’m still capable of swinging a bat.”
They continued to stare at me like I was an idiot.
Honestly, I knew I was being ridiculous.
“You couldn’t have walked that last mile without Adrian’s help.” Lucas narrowed his eyes. “No fucking way you’re going to help clear out that barn.”
“I—”
“He’s right.” Adrian kissed the top of my head. “I won’t risk you.”
Lucas winked as I scowled at him.
That motherfucker had no right.
Colson intervened just as I was about to blast his ass. “I’ll go with them.”
Wren began to protest but stopped when he shot her a look.
Damn, I needed to learn how to do that. At this point, I thought nothing could stop Wren once she got started.
“Take GG with you.” I offered him my precious bat.
Wren gave me a grateful look. “Thank you, little sister. I’d send Mojo with him for protection, but he’s tired after the long walk.”
Colson accepted it without hesitation, tested its weight once, then started toward the barn.
Wren followed.
Colson stopped and looked back at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Stay.”
Her eyebrows rose. “I’m not a dog.”
He pointed toward Rory, and Wren looked at the girl standing beside Max.
Her expression softened. “Fine. But if you die, I’m not going to feel the slightest bit of guilt about eating the rabbits without you.”
Colson nodded briefly and moved toward the barn. Adrian and Lucas followed, and all three stopped at the slightly open door.
Colson leaned on it with one hand and glanced at Adrian.
Adrian raised three fingers, dropping them one at a time.
Three.
Two.
One.
Colson ripped the door open.
Something shrieked inside, and Rory buried her face against Wren.
Lucas and Adrian disappeared through the opening, and a crash followed.
Then a heavy thud.
Silence.
“Can you lay Harper down?” Finley dropped his pack and began rummaging through it.
Beck lowered Harper carefully into the grass while Finley knelt beside her.
“Hold this.” Finley handed me the fluid bag.
I raised it above Harper’s body. My arm immediately began to tremble. I really needed rest and something to eat before I collapsed.
Beck took it from me without comment. Placing a quick, hard kiss on my lips.
Finley pressed his stethoscope against Harper’s chest, and Rory moved closer. “Can she hear us?”
“Maybe,” Finley said, distracted by what he was doing.
Rory dropped to her knees beside her mother. “Mom, we found a barn.” Her voice cracked. “It’s ugly, but Wren says ugly things are more interesting.”
“They are.” Wren glanced around at us as if we were about to argue the point.
Rory touched Harper’s hand. “And Max is okay.” She glanced at Wren. “Mojo is okay, too.”
Harper’s fingers moved slightly.
Rory gasped. “Momma heard me!”
Finley leaned closer. “Harper?”
Her eyelids fluttered. She didn’t wake, but a faint sound escaped her throat.
Relief eased the tightness in my chest. I hadn’t known her long, but I didn’t want to see another mother and child torn apart by death.
“My Harper’s a fighter,” Finley whispered, raising his hand to brush her hair back.
Their love for each other was unmistakable. He’d be devastated if this didn’t work.
The barn door opened, and Lucas stepped into the fading light, his shirt streaked with black blood.
I hated to admit it, but even drenched in nastiness, he was still pretty… the bastard.
“One infected—”
“Rotter… we’re calling them rotters now.” I interrupted.
He eyed me for a minute like I’d lost my mind. “One rotter.” He raised an eyebrow.
I nodded in approval.
“Most likely the farmer that owned this property.” He continued.
Adrian appeared behind him. “The loft is clear too, and the big doors can be locked from inside.”
“Are we staying?” Beck stretched, moving his head side to side and cracking his neck.
“I think we should.” Lucas looked toward the woods behind us. “It’s as safe as we’re going to get for now.”
Colson emerged last, carrying my bat and holding it out. The end was bloodstained and there looked to be a piece of intestine hanging between the nails.
“I see she tore up some rotter ass.” I grabbed GG and wiped her off on the grass.
He didn’t comment and turned to Wren, holding out his hand. “Inside.”
Wren grinned and took the huge appendage. “I’m not sure I like bossy men.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, maybe just a little.” She skipped at his side as if they were going to a county fair.
Beck lifted Harper again, and Finley gathered the IV line.
Rory stayed at her mother’s side, one hand twisted in Max’s collar.
We crossed the field as darkness settled over the barn. Behind us, I could see shapes moving between the trees. If we were lucky, they’d move on before we needed to travel in the morning.
Lucas and Adrian pulled the heavy doors shut after everyone was inside. Colson dropped the thick wooden bar into place, plunging the barn into darkness.
For several seconds, no one moved. Then something struck the door.
Once.
The sturdy wood held.
Then another body joined it.
Then another.
Rory’s breathing quickened, and Wren wrapped both arms around her. Beck lowered Harper onto a mound of old hay while Finley immediately knelt beside her.
Adrian pulled a flashlight out of his pack and flipped it on. Its narrow beam swept across dusty stalls, rusted tools, and the dead farmer Colson had dragged into the corner.
The barn was filthy and cold, but for now the doors held.
I sighed in relief as I dropped onto a hay bale. For the moment, Harper was alive. And for the moment, we were all together.
In this world, that was as close to safe as anyone got.