Page 57 of Faith Among Monsters

I glance at Trip, whatever’s up there has Faith looking horrified. And Zachs’ tone feels more like a warning.

“Up, son,” Trip says, giving me the kind of no-bullshit look a man gives when he knows he’s about to do something reckless.

I grab the railing. Start to climb.

That’s when the metal wails, echoing through the yard loud enough to call every dead thing on this fucking island.

Shit.

Zachs and Wilkes lunge forward, grabbing the stairs.

I move, fast, hard, climbing like a beast.

Trip turns, eyes locked on the building behind us. The doors. The open fucking doors.

We’re at an unrestricted building. Nothing keeping them out. Them or us.

He glances at me, casual as hell. “Meet you up there?”

I’m half up, half down. “Fuck this.” I’m not falling to my death and leaving Faith alone with these… I snarl, and jump down.

Chapter Nineteen

Faith

“Dax!” I scream, but he’s gone from sight so fast it’s like he was never there.

“Stand up,” the guard behind us says, gun still aimed at my head.

“Easy, Sampson,” Zachs says, too damn relaxed. “She’s a shit shot and gives a hell of a blowjob.”

Sampson swings his gun toward him, finger tightening on the trigger.

There’s a loud crack.

A bullet whizzes past my ear. Not from Sampson. From below.

Another guard levels his weapon at Wilkes. “Dax was shoot-on-sight. You not get the memo?”

Wilkes shakes his head. “You miss the memo that we need every damn hand we can get?”

Another shot rings out. Closer this time.

Zachs yanks me against him like I belong there. “That why it’s just you two up here?”

Sampson sneers. “There’s more inside. We’re clearing the…”

A loud moan drags all our heads toward the open stairwell door.

A half-destroyed zombie stumbles through. Its body is shredded, blackened like it walked through hell itself. A grenade? A fire? It drags a melted arm, exposed ribs gleaming slick in the sun.

The guard aiming at Wilkes pivots.

Wilkes doesn’t give him the chance. He fires.

Blood splatters across the gravel. The man drops before he can react.

Sampson jerks toward him, but Zachs is already moving.