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CHAPTER 5

Noah

S omething must be wrong with me if I think Reed is hot with blood and brain matter all over him. I know it’s been a month since the last man I’ve messed with, but something about him killing those zombies and stopping them from killing me does something to me.

The muzzle also doesn’t help my cock from rising either. I’m just hoping he doesn’t notice. The chances of him being gay or even bisexual are as close as it is to the CDC finding a damn cure for these stupid lurkers.

Reed stays in front of me, leading the way around the building and keeping an eye out for any other lurkers— I really hate that name. My heart grows heavy as I think of Jamie. I might not have liked the guy much, but he was still a part of the group that I had found myself in. Even if I didn’t like them much, it was better than being alone. And now with Jamie being dead, how was I supposed to explain this to them? They know I’m not a fighter; I carry rocks around for fuck’s sake.

“So where are you headed?” I ask as we step outside of the abandoned building.

I didn’t expect him to answer, but to admit it still hurt my feelings. Though I’m not too sure why it hurts.

“Are you going to ignore me the entire time?”

I swear I hear him grunt, but I could just be hearing things. Not that I would be surprised if he did ignore me; most people do. When you talk too much, people tend to think that you’re crazy.

“Did you know octopuses have three hearts?” I blurt out. I smile when Reed's steps falter for a moment. He might not want to talk to me, but at least I know he’s listening. “Two of the hearts pump blood to their gills while the third one pumps to the rest of their body.”

“Do you plan to talk the entire time?” He finally asks.

“I talk when I’m nervous.”

Reed peers over at me from the corner of his eye. I smile, knowing that I’m annoying him. Not that I get pleasure from bothering people when I talk too much, but something about irritating him makes me a little too happy.

“Well, try not to be nervous.”

“You do realize my friend just died back there, right?” I use the word friend loosely. Jamie and I didn’t know each other well, or long for that matter. He was already at the camp when I arrived, and for some reason he decided to talk to me. From there he was a friend, even if he annoyed me.

“Uh huh,” his monotone voice hits me; he couldn’t give two rat's asses about Jamie dying.

“You’re an asshole.”

He stops in his tracks. Slowly turning his head, he watches me over his shoulder. He’s staring straight into my soul, and I’m not sure if I like his attention now. I wanted him to listen to me, but he’s either going to beat me with his fist or with his bat.

“I… I didn’t mean you’re an asshole. I don’t even know you; I mean, who am I to judge you? But my friend—I'm not sure I could even really call him that. Well, he died, and now I have to go back to the camp and tell them. They’re all going to think it’s my fault…” The realization that the camp is going to blame me sits heavy on my chest. I was the one who mentioned we were running low on some canned goods. Sure, Jamie didn’t have to come with me, but they don’t like only one person leaving the camp. Something about being stronger in numbers.

“Are you done?” He interrupts my thoughts.

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, I'd rather you not talk,” he mutters before turning back around and continuing on walking.

Blowing out a breath, I glance around. I don’t have many options; I’m the weak link, and trying to find my way back to the camp is impossible. It’s either try my chance being stuck out here or follow Reed like a lost puppy.

Before I second-guess myself, I tuck my tail and follow behind him. Not that I have much of a choice. I’d die within the first half hour. Even having Jamie’s mallet, I’d surely fuck up how to hit someone.

Following behind Reed, I keep my head down, feeling shame wash over me as I think back to Jamie. I did nothing to help him. I just let the dead guy tear him apart. How can I call him my friend if I didn’t attempt to save him? And to go out lik?—

I slam into something hard. Taking a step back, I blink up to see what wall I ran into when all I see is Reed’s black jacket and bat against his back. Peering around his arm, it takes two seconds before four zombies appear. It takes everything in me not to scream and scramble backwards. I somehow managed to stop myself—or it was Reed stopping me. I’m not so sure. My breathing comes in ragged, my chest heaving with panic.

Reed doesn’t say anything, which doesn’t help the panic that's ripping me apart. The last time I had a panic attack like this, Rue was there to calm me down. I rack my brain trying to remember, but nothing comes to mind.

Fear sinks down my throat to my stomach, my eyes searching for any way to run, but I don’t see one. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until my lungs scream in protest. I try to exhale slowly and quietly, but it comes out loud and unsteady. Reed glances over his shoulder at me, his eyes boring into mine. My eyes twitch, my vision blurring right before I’m plunged into darkness.

* * *

I suck in a breath as muffled shouts and someone grunts beside me. My eyes feel too heavy to open even as I attempt. Even just having met Reed, I hear him beside me cursing.

I blow out a breath and pinch my leg. I vaguely remember Rue telling me to distract myself, whether that’s pinching myself or pouring water over my face. Unfortunately, I don’t have water, so pinching myself would have to do. Slowly my eyes blink open, adjusting to the dark. As soon as I do, I almost wish I was still passed out. Reed slams a zombie head into the ground; brain matter flies everywhere. I flinch as a piece flies towards me, landing on my cheek. I gag, bile rising in my throat. I barely have time to roll over before vomit spews from my mouth. Chunks of food spill all over the concrete floor. I feel something grab my ankle; the poor effort to kick whoever it is off lies flat as I retch again. Tears stream down my face, snot puddling at the base of my nose.

The moment I stop throwing up, I roll over and find another zombie clawing at my ankle. His milky eyes focus on my leg; half his ear is missing, and his face looks beaten in. I blink rapidly, kicking my foot out. I hit him in the forehead. My brain is barely able to comprehend everything going on. I might have a high IQ, but that doesn’t mean I understand the lengths of what’s happening. I part my lips to say something when Reed snatches the zombie off me like it weighed nothing. I suck in a lungful of oxygen, my breath coming in ragged again. Reed holds his bat above his shoulder, swinging it down into the zombie's head.

“I—” my voice cracks. I’m not even sure what to say; thank you, maybe, but nothing comes to mind. “Re–”

My brain fries, my body becomes numb, and for a second I feel the bile rise in my throat again. Reed swings his gaze to mine before he looks above me. Dropping my head, I see three more zombies upside down. My eyelids drop, my body feeling sluggish as everything fades to dark again.