13. Chapter 13 #2
Glancing at Nate sideways, I find him, once again oblivious and I hiss, “Fuck you. We wouldn’t be doing this if you hadn’t gone up those stairs.”
“Right,” Nate sneers. “It’s my fault that there were two of those fuckers waiting for an opportunity to eat us.”
Rolling my eyes, I spin and poke his chest, oblivious to anything but his smug expression as I say, “You little—”
That’s as far as I get before Cason steps between us, bumping Nate’s chest, as he says, “I don’t like you and I don’t trust you. You pull that shit like you did up there again and you’re out.”
Cason doesn’t wait for an answer beyond waving me forward and I hasten past, hiding my smile which fades when he says, “You too. We can’t afford to fight over stupid shit.”
He did not just . . .
It takes everything in me not to spew the shit roiling in my head because he doesn’t know what went on back there. I was protecting those girls. Fuck him.
Instead, I mutter, “Yes, sir.”
It’s not a compliment because Ben used to make me call him that when he was up to his bullshit and I’m sure the tone of my voice conveys that because Cason stiffens up once more beside me while I stew.
I’m not a child. He’s not my damn keeper and fuck him for comparing me to Nate. Asshole.
The already thick air swirls with tension as we meet up with our group and when Nora meets my gaze with a raised brow, I look away, my eyes burning. I’m blind to anything but the emotions pressing at my chest until we reach the end of the block and face another fucking horde.
Our only option is to retreat and after that, we traverse a series of yards with more damn fences. At each one, I refuse Cason’s help, and it may be a struggle that leaves my arms trembling and my ribs aching, but I prove to myself that I can do it.
I don’t need him. It’s a hollow victory but whatever.
Cason
Okay, I regretted the words as soon as they tumbled from my mouth. I’ve clearly offended Shelby but they had to be said. I guess I could have found another way to express my thoughts though.
This is life or death shit, and I need to know the people I’m with can be trusted. Nate’s already lost that fucking position. I don’t know exactly what happened but it’s not a coincidence that Shelby and the girls avoid him.
I’m pretty sure if looks could kill, Nate would be a goner based on Amanda’s expression alone. This is all shit I don’t have time to analyze because of them.
I’m hoping it will sort itself out, but I can’t deny the burning feeling in the back of my throat every time Shelby avoids my gaze and struggles over a fence herself.
This is good, I remind myself because we all need to be able to do this stuff in a pinch, but I don’t much like the reason why she’s doing it.
I was an ass, and I can’t take it back.
After crossing three more yards, we emerge at an intersection. The horde remains where we left them, stumbling about but seemingly uninterested in moving.
Are they waiting for us? What makes them tick beyond the ravenous need to eat our fucking flesh? Who knows? The government couldn’t even answer that question before they went dark and presumably into a bunker somewhere.
Either way, we’re fighting something we don’t understand, not to mention none of us knew each other before yesterday. We’re complete fucking strangers and that makes this trek that much harder.
Dammit.
When Larry slows at the head of the group, I stop beside him. Sweat drips from his brow and he runs his hand through his hair, spraying droplets in my face as I ask, “You, okay?”
“I miss my lazy boy,” he says with a grimace. “Right about now, I’d be kicked back drinking a cold one.”
I grunt my agreement and concede that I’m pushing too hard. For what? The next fucking horde?
It doesn’t matter how far we go, it’s obvious that we won’t be outrunning these things. They’re everywhere.
The problem is, the longer we’re out in the open while this situation plays out the more dangerous it becomes. However, it’s too dark to wander around and everyone needs to recuperate before we start making bad decisions.
So, after surveying the area, I point to a house at the end of the block and say, “There.”
Larry’s brows furrow but he nods and says, “Okay.”
“What?”
“Nothing, man. It’s just the creepiest fucking house I’ve ever seen,” he says.
I survey the facade once more. The two-story home is dark, but I can see the stained-glass windows by the light of the moon and turrets that lead me to believe this might be a Victorian era home.
It’s clearly historic and whoever owns it hasn’t bothered to keep it up, which is a shame really because once upon a time, it was probably majestic. It’s also surrounded by a wrought iron fence that provides an extra layer of defense we desperately need right now.
“You don’t really believe in ghosts, do you?” I ask.
Larry stifles his chuckle behind his hand and nods behind us. “Did you ever think the undead would be walking around pretty as you please?”
“Fair point,” I mutter before shaking my head. “Still, the universe can’t be that fucking cruel.”
When our small group gathers around, I say, “We rest for a while. We need a solid plan before we hit the streets again.”
“Good,” Nora says while the girls crowd together.
I don’t fucking care what Nate thinks and looking at Shelby, who’s staring over my shoulder, I say, “Shelby?”
“What?” she says, her head whipping around.
When her eyes narrow on my face, I ask, “You, okay?”
I know she’s pissed but she’s also way too fucking pale, clutching her abdomen and practically swaying on her feet.
My mind travels back to the bruising on her stomach, and I clench my jaw because the fucker who did that should be shot. With any luck he was fucking eaten. Shelby hasn’t exactly mentioned it though.
“Peachy,” she mutters, brushing past me and leading the charge. With a silent sigh, I follow, eyeing her rigid shoulders the entire way. I definitely stepped in it this time.