Page 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

AVA

Gyrik was covered in snow from his time outside, and it wasn’t melting off.

With Zach’s stories running through my head about how Gyrik and his brothers had been mistreated by the people in their survivor colonies, I reached up and gently brushed the snow off Gyrik’s shoulders. Then I motioned for him to lean down.

He did so with startling speed, proving he hadn’t exaggerated that talent. I flashed a half-smile at him, hoping he couldn’t hear how it’d made my heart race, and brushed the snow from the top of his head.

“You looked like you were part snowman,” I said. “I’m actually surprised it’s snowing like this so late in the season.”

Will entered with a tote and said, “We weren’t expecting this much snow on the ground either. Back in Missouri, it’s starting to feel like spring.”

“It was like that here a few weeks ago. The lake likes to throw some unexpected snow, though.”

He nodded, and while he set the tote on the table, I glanced at Gyrik. “Ready to see if we can turn on the heat?”

He led the way to the basement and explained the rules for entering unknown spaces. Move quietly and listen. Stay close to him at all times. Say if I see anything suspicious—like if things were moved that might seem out of place. Trust him to keep me safe.

Basements had never bothered me before, but his warnings put me on edge despite not having seen anyone infected with any sickness. When we found the furnace, the pilot light was out, and the valve on the gas line was closed. A long lighter waited on top of the furnace.

“I think we’re in business,” I said.

A few minutes later, the pilot was lit, and I heard the furnace kick in.

“No way!” Zach shouted from above.

The water heater was the same as the furnace.

“I think whoever lived here planned on coming back,” I said.

Gyrik grunted.

“You don’t think they will?”

“I hope they do, but I do not think they will,” he said.

He sounded sad about it, which made me sad even though I still had a hard time believing that many people had died. I would have been in complete denial if I hadn’t seen Silver Bay for myself.

Bram was already heating something for lunch on the stove when we returned to the kitchen. Zach sat at the table with a board game.

“Are you ready to waste some time?” he asked.

It’d been ages since I had played any board game, and I quickly agreed.

We ate lunch and played games as the snow fell heavily outside. Gyrik left occasionally. The others explained he was checking the area to ensure the lights and noise weren’t attracting any infected. However, based on the amount of snow covering Gyrik every time he returned, I doubted the light and sound from the house carried beyond the immediate area.

Before dinner, Bram pulled out the map to plan their route for the next day. He pointed to where he thought we were, a section of Highway 23 south of Duluth, then brought out a spiral-bound book with all the states in it to show me where we were going.

“Is there any chance we could check Shakopee?” I asked. “It’s a little out of the way, but not more than a few hours.”

Will and Bram shared a look.

“I already know my family won’t be there,” I said. “I’m just hoping they might have left a message for me.”

They exchanged another glance.

“I need subtitles for these looks you’re giving each other,” I said.

“They’re worried about what will happen if your family is still there,” Zach said. “Right now, ignorance can give you hope. That might be taken away from you if we go there.”

I understood what he wasn’t saying. They were worried I’d lose my grip on my sanity if I saw my family sick. And that added another notch of fear. Zach had tried to prepare me for what I might see.

Zombies, just like in the movies.

I’d heard him, but my doubt lingered. I was just like that, though, having a hard time believing what I couldn’t see.

“For some people, ignorance would be bliss. For me, the unknowns are hell. I closed myself off from the world, and it fell apart without me even knowing it. Now I need to know what that ignorance actually cost me.”

Zach reached out and patted my shoulder. “I hope they aren’t there.”

I looked from him to the other two. “Does that mean we can check?”

“We will check,” Gyrik said.

Bram flipped back to the Minnesota map so I could point to Shakopee. I watched him plot the route, noting all the back roads he was choosing. And the planning didn’t stop there. They made backup route plans in case roads were impassible.

“The infected don’t make roadblocks anymore, but some of the old ones might still be there. And humans like to make them too to ambush for supplies.”

“Great,” I said faintly.

The weather let up a few hours after dark. Unfortunately, the heat quit just as we settled in for the night.

“It happens,” Bram said. “I think the lines run out of pressure or something. If we shut off the gas, sometimes the pressure can build again, but I think it’d be better to leave it off while we sleep. We’ll be gone at first light, anyway.”

I shut off the gas first while everyone used the bathroom one last time, then shut off the water and drained the lines so the pipes wouldn’t freeze.

When I came back upstairs, Zach explained their routine. They split up in the bedrooms, sleeping in pairs with the door closed and locked.

“Never leave a closed room until Gyrik gives the all clear in case an infected breaks in while we sleep. And keep the lights off at night so the infected aren’t drawn in.

“If it’s all right with you, the three of us will take the master, and you and Gyrik can take this room. Gyrik will be able to hear through the walls. Oh, and he doesn’t need much sleep, so he’s fine sitting against the door while you take the bed.”

I glanced from Zach to Gyrik and nodded.

After spending the day with them, I felt comfortable enough to sleep in a room with any of them, especially with all the informational tidbits they’d dropped throughout the day. The infected were often silent, and while not as smart as a human, some knew how to work a doorknob…if they still had hands.

Being closed in a room with any of them was better than sleeping alone.

Gyrik followed me into the second room where a cold-weather sleeping bag and Pete and Repeat already waited on the bed. Someone had also moved their litter box and food and water bowls into the room.

“Did I do it right?” Gyrik asked when he caught me looking at their setup.

“You did this?”

His gaze shifted to the food and water bowls as he hesitantly nodded.

“You did great, Gyrik. Thank you.”

I sat on the bed and toed off the boots I’d loosened a while ago. That was another nifty little tidbit Will had dropped. Don’t take your boots off unless you have to or unless you’re somewhere you know you’re one hundred percent safe.

Pausing, I looked at Gyrik. “Does this count as a time I can take my boots off?”

He quickly nodded. “You are safe. I promise.”

I stripped off my sweater, too, but hesitated when I would have removed my jeans.

“What’s wrong?” Gyrik asked, watching me.

“I usually sleep in shorts. Sleeping in jeans probably won’t be fun.”

“You don’t have to sleep in anything.”

Zach’s entertaining stories about miscommunications ran through my head, and I grinned at Gyrik.

“Sleeping naked might be a little too cold for me.”

I watched the tips of Gyrik’s ears darken as he stared at me.

“I’m just teasing you, Gyrik. I know you weren’t suggesting I sleep naked. But if you promise to make sure nothing will send me running out of this room in my underwear, I don’t mind removing my jeans.”

He gave me one of the blinks Zach warned me about and a jerky nod, so I figured it was okay. I didn’t hate jeans, and I understood why Will had suggested I wear them—to better protect against bites—but I really didn’t want to have to sleep in them if I didn’t have to.

Once I settled into the sleeping bag with Pete and Repeat snuggled around me, I told Gyrik he could turn down the small lantern he’d brought in with him. In the dark, I listened to him settle in front of the door.

“Zach told me a little about what life’s been like for you and your brothers. Do you ever get time to relax? Even while playing games, I saw how you kept glancing at the windows.”

“Yes, I relax.” His voice was slow and deep in the darkness. Soothing.

“How?”

He started talking about how he walked around and watched the kids play in his community or talked with his brothers or went to the other community to see if he could help with anything. While I wouldn’t have found any of that relaxing, that he did spoke of the kind of person he was. Craving connection and involvement. A man not afraid of pitching in wherever, however.

Lonely.

“You’ve mentioned a few women today. Are you dating any of them?” I asked.

“No, I am single.”

I smiled into the darkness at the way he said it—like he was worried I’d misunderstand. Only someone with zero social awareness would have missed how he’d been watching me throughout the day. It hadn’t bothered me, though. After listening to Zach’s stories, I’d understood Gyrik’s attention, laced with a hint of fascination. I'd be fascinated, too, if I’d never seen a man before. Gyrik’s attention was flattering, honestly. But only because he wasn’t creepy about it. More like shy and apologetic. It was cute.

“Can I ask you some personal questions?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“You don’t have to answer anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. I’m just curious how far you’ve gone with a woman.”

I could imagine his blink in the silence that followed.

“How far?” he said finally.

“Yeah.”

“Several have gone on supplies runs with us. We never stay out longer than a single day, though. So, I think maybe twenty miles.”

I ducked my face into Pete’s back to smother my humor. When I knew I wouldn’t laugh, I lifted my head and clarified.

“Have you ever held a woman’s hand?”

“No.”

“Hugged one?”

“I hugged you.”

“Anyone before me?”

“I’ve carried one. Does that count?”

“Not really.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Don’t be. Those are great answers. Good night, Gyrik.”

“Good night, Ava. Sleep well. You are safe. I promise.”

I closed my eyes and listened to Pete and Repeat's low purrs, grateful they weren’t my only companions tonight.

At some point during the night, the meager heat the house had accumulated from the few hours the furnace had run slowly bled away. The sleeping bag, which had started out uncomfortably warm, wasn’t enough to keep me warm, thanks to how I’d unzipped it to sprawl out.

I reached back to pull my underwear out of my crack then tugged the sleeping bag out from under Pete and Repeat.

“Are you cold?” Gyrik asked from the darkness.

I jumped, having forgotten for a moment where I was and that I wasn’t alone. Thankfully, it was dark, and he hadn’t witnessed me de-thonging my underwear.

“Yeah,” I said. “Sorry for waking you up.”

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

I heard him move, and I was plucked off the bed a second later. Startled, I grabbed onto Gyrik’s shoulders as he supported all my weight with one arm and used the other to straighten out the sleeping bag on the bed.

Gyrik radiated heat as he set me down again. His hands skimmed over my legs, tucking them into the sleeping bag before zipping me up. It happened so fast that I didn’t even register his touch until it was gone.

Shivering, I huddled in the sleeping bag, rubbing my legs together to warm them.

“Better?” he asked.

“Not really. I should probably put my pants on again.”