This is probably thestupidest thing I’ve ever done.
Then again, this entire journey has been pretty stupid. Although this plan takes the cake. I’m talkingtoo stupid to livelevels of idiocy right now. But I can’t dwell on that right now. I need to stay calm and focused. Freaking out will only get me killed.
I slink away from Alex, using the bushes for cover until I’m only about twenty metres away from the front gate. Glancing at where I came from, I can see the zombies are only about a hundred metres away now and closing in fast. I’m pretty sure the only reason they haven’t smelled us is because Bean is between us and them and she’s obscuring our scent.
Not wanting to waste any more time, I move closer until I can hear the guards murmuring to one another. They seem on edge, their eyes darting all over the place, confirming that Ethan told them we’d be attacking them. I watch them for a few seconds, waiting until only one of them is looking toward the front before darting out from my hiding spot.
I run hard and fast in front of the gate. All the while chantingfuck, fuck, fuckin my mind.
The guard facing the front shouts a second before a shotgun blast explodes in the quiet of the night. Dirt and pebbles batter against my body as the shot goes wide, but I don’t dare stop running even after passing the gate. I keep fucking going as another shot rings out, this one clipping the tree next to me and causing bark to fly at me. Splinters bite into the side of my face and pain bursts across my cheek, but I just keep running.
I don’t stop until the shouts and the gunshots turn into bloodcurdling screams and yells of fear and pain. Inhuman snarls and growls soon follow as the zombies converge on them. The sounds are enough to havemy stomach roiling with nausea, but I tramp down on that shit. I will not feel bad for men who not only tried to kill me, but kidnap people.
I slow to a stop next to a tree, panting hard, and turn to see the horrific battle play out. The zombies are clawing and grabbing at the guards, while the guards are desperately trying to shoot or stab at them. Two guards are already dead, lying in pools of blood, but judging from the savage bites on their bodies, they won’t be dead for long. A few zombies also lie on the ground, missing parts of their skulls, but they still outnumber the guards.
Unfortunately, the screams and gunshots seem to have alerted the entire camp because more shouts echo further down the road. Fuck, I didn’t expect the rest of the camp to come to their aid over zombies.
Even though my legs feel like jelly, I hurry back to where Alex, Harlow and Bean are still hiding. Thankfully, the zombies ignored them, but now we have bigger issues.
“Did you alert theentire bloody camp?” Alex demands as he yanks me toward him and examines me. “And are you shot?”
“Uh, I might have and no, I’m fine. Just some splinters.” I try to push him off, but the overbearing oaf refuses to let me go, so I just sigh and let him look his fill.
He frowns at the side of my face where the bark of the tree hit. “Theo will need to look at that after all of this over,” he says almost reluctantly, like he can’t bear the thought of waiting that long.
“No problem,” I say, agreeing easily to make him feel better.
He presses his lips together and stares hard at me. Finally, he releases me and turns his attention to the rapidly expanding fight happening at the gate. More guards have joined, shooting and stabbing any zombie within reach, but due to how fast and strong the infected are, they’refighting a losing battle. It’s only made worse when some of the dead guards change sides.
“That is going to be a problem.”
I wince. “Yeah, but maybe it’ll be enough of a distraction to help Theo and Rhys reach the captives.” Besides, it’s a future Ollie problem.
Alex grunts, probably still not pleased about my plan, but hey, it worked. Kind of.
“So, I guess we go to Plan B?” I say as I head over to where Bean is still grazing despite the horrific slaughter going on in the background. Her dedication to food is almost inspiring.
“No! No more plans, not from you,” Alex snaps as he stalks after me. “Your plans always lead you directly into more danger and destruction.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I scoff as I climb up into the saddle. “Besides, this plan is much safer than the last one.”Thank fuck.
He doesn’t look convinced and, to be fair, I don’t blame him. Ididalmost get shot... twice. But hey, at least neither of us ended up as zombie chow, unlike those guards who are dwindling at an alarming rate. Shit, okay, maybe our zombie problem is getting worse.
Definitely time for Plan B.
I unclip my bow from the saddle just as Alex puts a hand on my thigh. I stop and gaze down at him.
“While I understand you can look after yourself,pleasebe careful. There’s only so much I can take of you being in danger for one night,” he says, giving me a quick squeeze before stepping out of the way. “I’ll be right behind you. Make sure you don’t get cornered.”
“I promise I’ll be careful,” I say with a small smile before turning my attention to my dog. “Harlow, come.” She follows as I urge Bean into a canter and head straight for the fight.
Death Wish
Rhys
More shouts and gunshotsfill the air as Theo and I rush out of the door and around the corner of the warehouse.
The place has erupted into utter chaos. Guards rush out from all across the camp and race toward the front gate. In the forest, several pairs of eyes glow eerily in the darkness, the noise from the camp drawing in the infected. Some have already broken free from the trees and are diving toward the nearest guards, causing them to cry out and shoot back.
