Page 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

ADRIAN

HAVE A LOOK-SEE

Day 499

“Absolutely not. No,” Farron snaps, her voice sharp as she storms off toward the barn, her hair in a flurry behind her. I sigh and follow, picking up my pace to catch her.

“Sunshine, it’ll be quick, I promise,” I plead, reaching for her hand, but she’s quicker—dodging me without missing a step and striding into the barn.

Little minx.

I only suggested a tiny, harmless supply run—just a day up north and back. We’re set for winter, sure, but I have big plans for New Year’s Eve, and I need the fixings to go with it. And Farron? She doesn’t want any of us leaving, mainly because there’s still a part of her that’s worried about outsiders watching us, waiting for us. There’s been nothing for weeks now, and I know we can’t keep ourselves cooped up here from fear. Especially not when I’m still not convinced there were ever any outsiders at all. So, while her worry is understandable, I’ve got plans. Big ones.

When I round the corner, she’s already in EJ’s stall, running a brush over his coat with long strokes. Her brows are furrowed, her green eyes focused, the tension radiating off her in waves. It’s not like I want to leave, not really. But I’ve torn this place apart looking for what I need, from the barns to every room and house in the community—at some very inconvenient hours, apparently. Not my fault people are early sleepers. I’m on a deadline here.

With a shake of my head, I step forward and gently place my hand over hers, stilling the brush. She exhales deeply, her shoulders dropping just a fraction, but the moment doesn’t last.

“I don’t want you to leave,” she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I take the brush from her hand, set it aside, and cup her face, tilting it up so she has to look at me. “Sunshine, it’ll be in and out. Quick. I swear.”

She pulls back, folding her arms tight across her chest—a clear line drawn between us. “Let me get this straight. We don’t need anything because we prepared for winter, but you want to go on a ‘look-see’?” She even throws air quotes at me, mocking my choice of words from earlier. Okay, that sounded better in my head.

Grinning, I grab her hands—the same ones she just used to mock me—and kiss her fingertips one by one. She glares harder if that’s even possible.

“It’s a surprise,” I say, keeping my voice light, “but that’s all you’re getting out of me.”

Her lips part like she’s about to argue, but she snaps them shut, shaking her head before leveling me with a look that could burn. “You want to risk your life—and theirs—for a surprise ?”

Damn. When she puts it like that… But Kenji and Theo know exactly what it is I’m planning and the reason I want to go. I’m not putting their lives at risk if they’re volunteering themselves for this, right?

Before I can explain, footsteps echo behind me. I told them to give me fifteen minutes. Theo and Kenji appear in the doorway, and Farron’s wide-eyed glare darts between us. “You’re all going?” Her voice rises with disbelief.

Kenji frowns, lounging against the stall door. “Princess, would it be better if only two of us went?”

“No, Kenji, it wouldn’t. None of you should be going!”

“This is going well,” Theo says dryly, crossing his arms.

“I told you to give me time,” I snap, glaring at Kenji.

“We did,” he says, smirking. “It’s been thirty minutes. Clearly, that didn’t help.”

Before I can retaliate, Kenji strides into the stall, grabs Farron, and hoists her over his shoulder like she weighs nothing.

“Kenji!” she shrieks, pounding at his back. “Put me down!”

He swats her ass with a grin. “Outside,” he declares, carrying her out of the stall. We all step forward, standing as a wall in front of her. She glares at us like she’s plotting our murders.

“This’ll be quick, okay? In and out,” Kenji says, mocking my words with a high-pitched tone and air quotes.

“I don’t sound like that,” I mutter.

Kenji wraps Farron in a hug and kisses her—hard and deliberate. Theo and I exchange glances, equally surprised. It’s a new look for Kenji, this open affection, but I can’t deny it suits him. He’s happier and less on edge these days.

When he pulls back, Farron’s cheeks are bright red, and Theo steps in. His back is to me, so I can’t see what he says, but she nods before kissing him goodbye. The two of them leave together, leaving me alone with her. I hate the hurt in her eyes, but this’ll be worth it. She just needs to trust me.

“No goodbye kiss for me?” I ask, stepping closer. She looks up through those dark lashes, chewing on her bottom lip. I slide my arms around her, pulling her against me, though she keeps hers firmly crossed between us.

“You guys can’t just pull me into kisses to scramble my mind and act like it’s all fine,” she mutters. “You shouldn’t be leaving. Not in the middle of a harsh winter, not when we don’t know what’s out there. It doesn’t matter if it’s been quiet, Riri. S omeone still broke into our shed; someone’s been messing with us. I’m fucking terrified. And all three of you?”

I press my nose to her neck, breathing her in, my voice low. “Come on, Sunshine. I’ll be safe. I’ll come back to you.” I kiss the soft skin just below her ear, and she shivers. Finally, she relaxes, her arms looping around my neck, fingers tangling in my hair. She pulls me into a kiss that starts soft and sweet but quickly deepens. Her tongue traces my lips, and I let her in, losing myself in her completely.

I would give her the sun and the moon if I could capture them. I feel the soft brush of her tongue against mine and feel a trail of fire burn through me, incinerating me from the inside out. I pull her close into me so our bodies line up perfectly, leaving no space between us. She moans into my mouth, and it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.

By the time we pull apart, we’re both breathing hard, foreheads pressed together. Her eyes still hold that hesitation, that worry. I brush a final kiss against her lips. “I’ll be back soon,” I promise.

“You better.”

The biting wind stings my cheeks, forcing me to pull my bandana tighter around my face. We’ve been riding for an hour now, the town just within reach, but neither the cold nor the steady rhythm of the journey can distract me from that kiss. My lips still tingle with the memory, and I can’t stop thinking about picking up where we left off when we get back. Hopefully, Farron won’t be mad at me for too long. I get why she’s upset—this run isn’t necessary—but I’m betting it’ll be worth it in the end.

The ride passes in silence, tension settling over us as we near the town. Last time, it was mostly clear, but that doesn’t mean things haven’t changed. Towns like this, even if barely a blip on the map, are magnets for trouble. As the low rooftops come into view, I scan the area, my grip tightening on the reins. A grocery store, a few shops, and scattered houses. Theo raises a hand, pulling his horse to a stop. “Kenji and I will check for supplies. Thirty minutes. Don’t be late.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” I say, throwing in a half-hearted salute. Theo’s expression doesn’t shift, but Kenji rolls his eyes before the two of them turn their horses and head off. That leaves me on my own. I always feel a little jumpy without them nearby, but I shake off the nerves. High alert is the default setting out here—anything less can get you killed. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I dismount, tying my horse to a rusted parking sign outside the grocery store.

The place looks as dead as I remember, but I bang the flat of my knife against the metal doorframe just to be sure. The sharp clang echoes down the empty street, but nothing stirs. Still, I wait a few seconds longer before slipping inside.

The air is stale, and the shelves are picked clean in most places, but I grab some of the snacks left, making sure to get some chips for Daisy, who’s been moaning about her cravings for them. Then my gaze lands on what I came here for, and a grin spreads across my face. I feel giddy like a kid on Christmas. Silver and gold packets line the shelf in front of me, and I don’t hesitate, stuffing every last one into my bag .

I turn to leave, but something catches my eye. A few Polaroid cameras sit on a lower shelf, their packaging dusty but intact. It’s impractical—wasting batteries on pictures when we could use them for flashlights or radios—but I can’t shake the feeling that we need this. That I need it. For all of us to take a picture together, for something to be left. Proof that this was all real. Because sometimes, I think Farron is still a dream I’ve conjured and one day she won’t be there anymore. I shove the camera and film into my bag and step back outside.

The street’s too quiet. Heavy. Kenji and Theo aren’t back yet, and unease curls in my stomach. I glance in the direction they went, debating. Thirty minutes, Theo said, but waiting doesn’t feel right. I take off down a side street, keeping my knife ready. As I round a corner into one of the narrower side streets lined with crumbling houses, the sound of metal scraping against metal stops me cold. My chest tightens, and I scan the area, spotting the source near a crumbling fence. A zombie, its skeletal fingers clawing at the chain links. It’s stuck, the tattered remains of its pants snagged on the rusted wire.

I inch forward, scanning the area for any other threats. The world feels still, save for the low, guttural moans of the creature ahead. As I close the distance, my gaze drifts upward to its face. One empty socket stares blankly at me, its remaining eye clouded and lifeless. Its mouth, filled with rotting decay, hangs partially open, revealing broken teeth barely clinging to discolored gums.

The stink hits me before I’m even within reach—sickly sweet, the kind of rot that clings to the back of your throat. The zombie’s head jerks at the sound of my boots, its single cloudy eye rolling toward me. “Jesus,” I mutter, tightening my grip on the knife.

This one had to have been outside for a long time. Its skin is mottled and weather-beaten, clinging tightly to bone in some places while peeling away in others. Its clothes are shredded and stained, the fabric barely recognizable under layers of grime and dried blood. I force myself to take another step closer, the knife feeling heavier in my hand. It’s a small mercy that it’s stuck on the fence, an easy target, no immediate danger. But something about the stillness around me keeps my muscles tense.

“Where the hell are you, Kenji and Theo?” I whisper, my eyes darting to the corners of the yard, the shadows under the porch, the broken windows of the nearby house.

The zombie moans low and deep, a sound that seems to reverberate in my chest. My grip tightens on the knife as I raise it, preparing to end this thing.

But before I have a chance to react, I hear a guttural sound behind me, momentarily freezing me in my tracks. I shake off the fear and ready myself for more. Turning to face the noise, I see two more zombies less than fifteen feet away. I move quickly, making sure my back isn’t against the one stuck in the fence.

Fuck, where are they?

No, you’ve got this, Adrian.

I jog a few feet to separate the pair, hoping to create some distance. Spotting an opening, I tighten my grip around the handle of my knife, pull my arm back, and aim straight for the forehead of the nearest one. My blade connects, and the first zombie crumples to the ground.

I turn to face the second one, readjusting my grip, but before I can strike, cold hands grab the back of my jacket. My breath catches as I twist around, the movement forcing my knife to slip from my hand. It clatters uselessly to the ground, and like an idiot, my other knives are still in the saddle bag on my horse.

The goddamn fence zombie.

Shit.

I shift my stance, planting my feet firmly to create some space. But as I assess the situation, dread sets in. There’s no clear path, only a brick wall behind me and the two remaining zombies closing in.

Well, looks like I’m running for it.

Or at least I would if there were anywhere to run.

The closer zombie lunges, and I kick it hard in the stomach, sending it stumbling to the ground. I pivot, shoving the other one to keep it from grabbing me. My boots scrape the ground as I try to maneuver around the downed one, but the alley is too narrow.

This can’t be how I go out. Not like this.

I have plans, plans that include Farron. I refuse to die here.

The zombie on the ground starts to rise. I kick it again, moving to shove its companion as it claws at me. My boot slams into the fence zombie’s torso, but to my horror, it goes straight through rotting flesh. A sickening squelch fills the air as I yank my leg free, desperately trying to keep my balance.

My nerves are shot. My confidence falters as I face the grim reality of the situation.

I’m out of ideas, out of options.

If I have to, I’ll crush this thing into the ground. But before I can act, the zombie in front of me freezes. A sharp, slicing sound fills the air, and it collapses. I lift my gaze from the chaos, locking eyes with the most beautiful bastard I’ve ever seen.

“You okay there, A?” Theo asks, his eyes wide with concern.

“Oh fuck, I love you. I’m alright,” I reply, my hands shaky. He nods in confirmation.

Kenji steps forward, pressing his boot against the back of the fence zombie. With practiced ease, he plunges his knife into its skull, silencing it for good. He wipes the blade clean on his pant leg before sheathing it.

Turning to me, his eyes narrow. “Were you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Thank you guys for showing up when you did,” I say, exhaling heavily as the reality of how close that was hits me.

Theo steps forward, handing me my knife. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” I reply, nodding as I grip the handle tightly, the familiar weight helping me relax. Without another word, Theo pulls me into a firm hug. I let myself sink into it, grateful beyond words that my brothers always have my back.

Kenji watches us momentarily, his usual stern expression softening just enough to let me know he’s relieved. “Let’s get moving,” he says gruffly, glancing over his shoulder. “We don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to.”

I step back from Theo, my breathing finally steadying. “Agreed. Let’s finish this and get home.” With that, we fall into step, the three of us moving as a unit. The near miss lingers in the back of my mind, but for now, I focus on the task ahead.

I’ll process the rest later; right now, survival comes first.