Page 9

CHAPTER 8

Noah

I ’ve always understood things about death. Sometimes you grow old and simply die from it. Sometimes you get sick, and while it’s unfortunate, it happens. Death is just unavoidable. It sucks, but it’s something that happens to everyone. They all die. But this is different. No one should die from being attacked and eaten.

Bile rises in my throat as my eyes seem unable to look away. I know I should; I don’t need to be staring at the dead bodies. But that doesn’t stop me. Even when I’m supposed to be keeping watch while Reed checks the cars around the parking lot. I guess—I can’t stop staring . The fear that this is what I’m bound to end up like. What we’re all bound to.

Flashes of Mallory, one of my best friends from college, hit me. She was always the effortlessly bubbly type. The one that had this radiance beaming off her. She wore her confidence on her sleeve like nothing and no one could bother her. She was the life of the party, but with that came being a people pleaser. It took her a while to warm up to me and Rue, and when she finally did, you could see through the cracks she holds in high places. I pray she made it out, that somehow she stopped pleasing people and she found a place for herself in this world.

I feel Reed step up beside me, his head down as he stares at the dead bodies with me. He slams his boot into their head; I jump at the sudden movement. Horrified at the crunch of their skull, the deafening sound is going to haunt my dreams.

“Wh–why would you do that?” my voice squeaks.

His head turns towards me, his jaw tense. “Making sure.”

My mouth drops open. “Making sure what?”

Reed tilts his head to the side, his eyes—those impossible to ignore blue eyes—stare down at me. His gaze is intense, the pure depth he holds. They shift between golden brown and green, full of secrets that I nearly open my mouth to ask him questions. His presence alone screams at me. His height makes me want to climb him like a tree.

What would he look like if I sank to my knees and took his cock out?

“Noah,” Reed growls.

“What?”

“You zoned out.”

I shake my head, ridding the thoughts of Reed doing dirty things to me. I need to get laid, and I doubt he would be willing to stick his cock inside me. Most straight men wouldn’t.

“I found a car; let’s go.”

Reed turns on his heel, leading me towards an older Camry. As we near the car, I feel this stab of anger towards Reed. I’m not even sure why, but the weight in my chest, the tightening and uncomfortable feeling building deep inside. He has no care for others. I’m not even sure why I’m tagging along.

My fist tightens at my side as Reed rounds the car and climbs inside on the driver's side. He’s nonchalant and annoying. He doesn’t speak more than two words, and it’s frustrating.

“Noah!” Reed snaps.

Meeting his gaze over the car, it doesn’t surprise me when I take in his narrowed eyes. He’s probably wondering why he’s sticking with me as well.

I don’t say anything; swinging the passenger door open, I climb inside. Leaning against the door, I keep looking outside the window, refusing to acknowledge Reed. I’m left stuck in this swirling mess of emotions, wanting to lash out at him when I don’t have a clear reason to. So instead of yelling at him for crushing a dead man's skull, I let the storm of emotion work chaotically in my head.

* * *

He drives for hours, and it takes even longer to get rid of the sight of Reed’s foot crushing into those skulls. I was never made for this life; my parents kept me sheltered until I left for college. At some point I needed to get out of their hands and live life for myself. I heard all the stories about how college is wild; you get to be a different version of yourself. I was excited. That is until everything happened. When the dead were no longer dead and started eating people.

Now I feel like I have no idea who I am or what I’m supposed to be doing. Why do I continue to fight to stay alive?

I peer over at Reed, who's been just as silent. At first I didn’t mind it; I was angry at him for being disrespectful towards the dead. But now, I'm bored and growing restless just sitting here.

“So, why are we going to Georgia?” I ask. This is the second time I’ve asked, and the feeling that he’s not going to tell me doesn’t sit well with me.

“You know I can just keep asking questions. It’s no sweat off my back.”

Reed doesn’t bother looking at me, not even a single glance. Well, that just won’t do.

“Fine, we’ll move on to another question. Have you always been this moody?” Leaning against the passenger door, I turn my attention towards Reed. If I’m going to be stuck with a stranger, I think I would rather know them. Just a little bit, anyways.

“Okay, so the moody thing is another no-go question. Fine, alright, let me think,” tapping along my chin as if I’m deep in thought. “What’s your favorite color?”

When he doesn’t say anything, a pang of gnawing frustration nearly grabs me by the balls. Or it’s the fact I have some type of blue balls. I’m craving attention, and for some reason I want it from him. I just want to be seen, so if that means annoying him, then I guess that's what I will do.

“Come on, it’s an easy one. Simple really, like here, my favorite color is pink.” Pink like the tip of a cock that I want down my throat. But I don’t bother saying that. It would probably have him freaking out and running for the hills. Or I could just say it and make the man squirm in the seat.

“How do you feel about gay people?” I blurt out.

A small smile spreads across my lips when Reed's hand tightens around the steering wheel. A-ha, something that does get under his skin.

“Are you homophobic?”

“No.” He grunts out.

Well, that seemed to get through to him, somewhat anyway.

“This is going to be a long drive if you don’t talk.”

“Says who?”

“Me. I do. I mean, we’ve already established I like conversations; I like talking. So it’s going to be a long and very tiresome ride if we can’t talk.”

I shouldn’t be surprised when he goes back to ignoring me. His hand loosens on the wheel as if he’s just at ease. I’m not sure if I’m getting under his skin or he’s getting under mine. But the silence is getting to me.

“Stop the car.”

Reed glances at me, his brow furrowed. But he does nothing to stop the car.

“Stop the car,” I tell him again. “Reed, stop the car!” I yell.

It takes him two seconds to finally slow down before he pulls over. The moment he stops, I swing the door open and rush out. Fresh air wraps around my nose, calming my racing mind.

“Get back in the car.” Reed orders indifferently. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

“God, I’ve known you for less than twenty-four hours, and you’re so—so, ugh, you’re infuriating. You bark orders, and you don’t answer questions.” I stomp my foot like a toddler.

His jaw works back and forth, his focus not entirely on me, and that makes me enraged.

“Jesus fuck! Just pay attention to me!” I scream out. My eyes widen at the sudden outburst. I can’t name a time I’ve ever acted like this. Definitely not before everything went to shit. I could get any dick I wanted before, but now it’s a different story. And for some reason, my cock wants Reed. I want his attention on me. I want him to answer my questions.

“Noah,” he warns.

I shake my head, needing to get this aggression out. Only I have no outlet. Not unless…. Nope, don’t even think about it. Even if all I can think about is Reed bending me over and using me how he wants.

“Don’t Noah me.”

“Get back in the car.”

I shake my head, refusing to do anything he wants.

“Strike one,” his eyes narrow.

“No.”

“Two.”

“What is this? You’re just going to leave me out here? You might not have a heart, but you wouldn’t do that.” I gamble. I’m not entirely sure if that’s true. I’m guessing and praying that he doesn’t. I have no idea where we’re at, and from the looks of it, there’s nothing around here for miles. I would die.

I’m so caught up in my head that I didn’t notice Reed moving around the car, not until he’s suddenly standing in front of me. So close that I have to physically tilt my head back to look up at him.

“Get inside the car, now, Noah.”

“No.” My voice comes out weaker, and all hopes that he didn’t catch on die when he raises one of his brows.

“Now or?—”

“Or what? What are you going to do out here? Kill me?”

Reed bends down, making us at eye level. “No, I won’t kill you.” His voice is so low, I barely hear him. But the moment he opens his mouth again, I hear everything perfectly.

“Get inside the fucking car, or I will bend you over my fucking knee and spank your bare ass until it’s so red you can’t sit down for a goddamn week.”

My mouth drops open. All the oxygen that was once inside my body evaporated, sucked out. I’m lost on what to do, but my feet apparently do. Moving on their own, I move around Reed, sinking back into the passenger seat.

“Good boy.” In a mist of my brain fog, I vaguely hear him. But it’s enough that my cock strains against the zipper of my pants. Begging for relief. But I refuse to let him have this over me.

Even if him calling me a good boy is a weakness.