“Come on, we should keep moving.” Thankfully his growling demand interrupted me before I could spiral, and I nodded, following him as he led me out of the room. I hadn’t had to use my gun yet—I had ammo, but I didn’t know when I’d find any more. It had been easier to get when I was in the Order.
But now…
Well, now I needed to be careful.
The sound of somethingroaringand a sharp shout that sent Phoenix running told me that maybe careful was over, though. I pulled my pistol and checked that there was ammo in the clip before I chased after him.
By the time we got into the square, I realized what the issue was. I realized where the roaring had come from.
The raiders who’d been here before us had obviously been here for a while, because they’d had time to set up a trap.
And this one…
Well, this one was one of the rabid animals. Infected. Dangerous.
Crazed.
And it had one of Phoenix’s raider buddies cornered. Judging by the wide-eyed expression on her face, she knew she was no match for the beast.
And I knew she was right.
It had no fur, and its skin was mottled and almost grayish. The teeth in its mouth were so elongated that it couldn’t close its jaw. There was a madness in its gaze that told me it had been infected its entire existence.
How many generations had the creatures been breeding while carrying the virus?
I think once upon a time it had been abear.
“Cora,move.” Phoenix’s voice should have distracted the beast, but it stared at the woman in front of it with a singular purpose, and her scream cut off in a groan as the bear swipedat her chest, throwing her across the plaza we were in like she was nothing but a rag doll.
If I’d wondered how much he cared about his group, I was about to see. The near roar that tore from his throat as he ran forward and buried his axe in the back of the thing’s skull told me it was more than I’d anticipated.
I didn’t know raiders could care—I’d never seen it from them before.
Then again, when had I ever taken the time to get to know one?
The thought made something in my stomach twist, some emotion I didn’t want to feel start to bubble to the surface, so I did the only thing I could do.
I pulled my pistol up and started unloading the clip of my gun into the beast as Phoenix jerked his axe out and brought it forward, slipping the handle around the thing’s throat so he could force it back.
“Behind!” I shouted, my body tensing at the demand. I’d functioned like this before, but that had been eight years ago.
“Go for its eyes,” he said, like he knew what I’d wanted. I had a second to see the muscles flex in his arms as he jerked back and dragged the bear until it was forced to rear up on its hind legs.
It roared, breaking free of Phoenix’s hold easily and shaking him loose.
In that moment, I could have stopped. I could have turned and run. The rabid would have killed him—there was no doubt in my mind, because he moved like half a unit—like he already knew where I’d be.
His axe swung up, and even though the claws rakedforward, grazing across his chest, the sharp metal took it in the throat and forced its head back.
The eyes.
I raised my gun and shot.
Once. Twice.
Three times.
And then a fourth as it opened its mouth, straight into that delicate skin.
