Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

W e haul ass away from our little campsite, having drawn way too much attention to ourselves. As we leave Chase bends and tries to haul me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, but damn it I can walk! Which is exactly what I tell him. We have a small standoff until he eventually gestures for me to walk on ahead of him, which I count as a win until he stalks behind me so closely that he’s basically stepping on my heels. The other two aren’t much better, setting a blistering pace and tensing at every snapped twig or rustle of animals escaping our quiet stampede. Not that I can blame the guys for being jumpy, I am too. Heck, I nearly blow the head off an unsuspecting tree branch when it moves in the wind. I decide to keep my weapons holstered after that, even though it makes me more nervous.

Eventually, after what feels like (and probably is) hours of nearly jogging through the forest, my body just can’t take anymore. Not even the truck loads of adrenalin shooting into me can keep my legs moving. When I stop suddenly, a massive, hard chest rams straight into me with the force of a steam train. Thankfully, my steam train has excellent reflexes and prevents me from crashing head first into the dirt.

“You all right Angel?” Chase whispers against my ear. I shake my head as my legs finally give out completely and I end up dangling from Chase’s arms. This time when he scoops me up in a bridal hold I don’t even complain, just wrap my arm around his neck and close my eyes. Chase lets out a low whistle and I open my eye just enough to see the guys double back to our position.

They eye me as they approach, but I must look pretty bad because neither says a word just rearranges their positions so Hunter is in the lead again and Nate brings up the rear. Nate does run his hand over my cheek as he passes and I close my eyes to savour his touch, only when he’s gone, they refuse to open again.

I relax myself into Chase’s strong arms and rest, just for a little bit…

The sharp hiss of a sword being drawn startles me awake and I jerk in Chase’s arms. He doesn’t put me down, just holds me closer. I let out a breath of relief and look around to see what woke me. I freeze when I see the old lady wandering aimlessly between the trees in front of us. Her sunflower dress is torn and bloodied and her grey hair hangs in matted clumps around her shoulders. It is clear she hasn’t spotted us yet and my heart gives a little lurch for her, just like it always does when I see a corpse from afar. They just look so lost, so alone when they aren’t hunting. It makes me remember, just for a moment, that they used to be alive. This old lady probably had grandkids somewhere. Maybe they were still alive, hoping she was ok? Or, more likely, I think as she turns slightly towards us and I catch a glimpse of her hollowed out and bloodstained face, she ate them. Either way it’s sad.

Nate steps up beside us and accidentally crunches a twig under his boot. I watch in horror as the body’s sightless white eyes turn toward the sound and I realise the reason she hasn’t seen us yet is because she’s blind. She lurches toward us, a low keening noise starting in her throat. Oddly, I’m not terrified, snuggled close in Chase’s arms and I watch her with keen interest as she stumbles forward, whipping her sightless eyes back and forth.

Then I watch in horrified fascination as one of her ghastly, white-blue eyes sprouts a long thin blade.

Wait.

I turn my head in Chase’s arms as the corpse crumples to the ground and catch Hunter casually tossing a twin blade in the air before catching it and replacing it within his arsenal of weapons.

Throwing knives.

Where in the hell does one get throwing knives in an apocalypse? And who actually knows how to accurately use them?

Hunter shoots me a smug smile as he retrieves his other blade from the eyeball of the old lady and cleans it on her dress. Nate grumbles something suspiciously like: ”show off” and puts his katana away with a snappy and totally show-offy flourish.

He then holds his arms out to Chase and makes a ‘gimme’ motion with his hands. Chase does not give. Things get a bit awkward for me as Nate stares at us both expectantly. I have no idea what I am supposed to do in this situation. Do I go to Nate or stay with Chase? I’m saved from making any decision because Chase sighs and passes me off into Nate’s arms as a glowering Hunter stalks up to us. Nate all but preens, like he just won a game I wasn’t aware of. Hunter’s glower intensifies as he watches Nate settle me in his arms.

“Uh-oh, looks like someone wanted to carry the pretty lady.” Chase teases.

“I’m the one that killed the zombie granny.” Hunter mutters as he turns away. “I should get to carry her.”

“Tough shit, I got here first. Maybe if you hadn’t decided to wow us all with your mad knife theatrics you would have been here quicker.” Nate drawls, heavy on the sarcasm. I think he’s upset he didn’t get to use his sword.

Chase laughs and bends down to kiss me on the forehead and then we are moving again.

These guys have a strange relationship, and I have a feeling they are going to make it their mission to ensure I fit right in.