Chapter 27

Evey got out of bed before Ford woke. Now that she could see because of the daylight, she searched through the blood-splattered cupboards in the kitchen for food. The family did not have many canned goods, so all Evey could find was a can of soup. It wasn’t a typical breakfast, but it would keep them full.

She spotted a firepit in the backyard. She grabbed the can, a pot, a stack of bowls and spoons, and a lighter before going outside. She stepped outside and listened to the sound of birds. Why were animals not getting sick? Would this Virus wipe out the entire human race?

Evey set the items down on the patio table. Ford had hidden the family’s bodies in the backyard, but where? She walked across the grass, past the garden, and over to the pool. It all seemed like an average upper-class family’s yard. She squinted because of the blinding sun and looked around.

Feet were sticking out from behind the shed. Ford had hidden the bodies in a spot that the twins could not see if they looked out the bedroom window. Evey walked toward the shed. The stench grew worse as she got closer. She gagged and covered her mouth when she saw the discoloured bodies with flies circling above. It was parents and two children. They all had a bullet in their skull.

What did her family’s bodies look like?

Evey shuddered at the thought.

She held her breath as she walked over to the bodies. Only the father’s feet were sticking out, so she reached down and grabbed his arms. She yanked him forward so that he was fully hidden. She ran out from behind the shed and panted for breath when she got next to the pool.

Evey started a fire in the pit. She opened the can, poured the contents into the pot, and then held the pot over the flames. Sitting in a lawn chair, she listened to the birds flying in the sky. Her mind kept wandering back to last night. Her kiss with Ford was one of the best kisses she has ever had. A feeling of betrayal sat heavy in her chest as she thought about her parents. Ford murdered them. Evey knew that it was because they were Infected, but it still hurt. She was at least thankful that Ford gave them a quick death and prevented them from turning into those mindless cannibalistic monsters.

The back door opened and Evey looked over her shoulder. Ford stepped out and did not say a word as he sat in the chair next to Evey. They sat in silence as Evey warmed the soup.

Was he also thinking about last night? Evey’s heart fluttered every time she remembered the way his lips felt against hers. Did he have the same feeling? Did he hope that it would happen again, just like Evey did?

“So last night,” Evey said.

“We’re not talking about it,” Ford said.

She bit down on her lip. Was he regretting it? Should she be embarrassed that she let it happen? Was it ever going to happen again?

The patio door opened and Josie and Joey ran out giggling. They all ate the lukewarm soup around the fire pit. Ford refused to look in Evey’s direction. She lost her appetite as she snuck glances at him to see his usual scowl was more stern.

What had she done wrong?

—

Gomez was not complaining any more as they walked down the street and between the undrivable cars. Instead, he was snickering. He tried to drift while he was walking to get closer to Evey. Ford stepped in between them each time.

“What’s the matter, bud?” Gomez asked.

Sarcasm was in his voice in an attempt to enrage Ford. It was working as Ford balled up his fists and was ready to swing. Evey noticed and grabbed his arm. Ford looked down at her. A cold and murderous look was in his eyes.

“Back the fuck up,” Ford said.

Gomez laughed before he winked.

“You have to learn to share,” he said.

Evey raised a brow. Half of the group turned to look at the fight. She was thankful that the twins were at the front of the pack with Fiona and Roger. They did not need to witness fighting.

Connar opened his mouth to make a comment, but there was the sound of screeching. Evey’s heart pounded and her hand went down to the gun strapped to her thigh. A chorus of screeching and shrieking filled the air. They all froze. The smirk disappeared from Gomez’s face as he grabbed his gun.

“Where is it coming from?” Harrington asked.

Evey surveyed her surroundings. Each side of the road they were standing on was covered in a thick brush of trees. The leaves blew in the wind, masking any movement Evey might see. She held her breath as she listened to the screeching again.

“The left,” Evey said. “It’s coming from the left.”

“Civilians, get back,” Johnson said. “Get behind the cars and duck.”

Fiona took a tight hold of the twins’ hands and rushed to hide. Roger was close behind. Anjo ducked behind a flipped-over pickup truck. Connar grabbed his knife and pulled it out of the sheath. Johnson shook his head.

“You too,” he said.

“No way,” Connar said. “I want to kill a couple.”

Johnson sighed. There was another shriek. This one was much louder as they were approaching the road.

“Keep those little kids safe,” Johnson said. “We can’t keep an eye on them. Make sure nothing happens to them. I want them to one day get out of this fucked up world.”

Connar nodded before hurrying behind the car. He peered through the windows so that he could see the soldiers. His grip was so tight on the handle that his knuckles ached.

Evey pulled her gun out of the holster and aimed it at the trees. Ford put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back.

“Behind a car,” he said.

“You taught me how to keep the group safe,” Evey said. “Let me help.”

“No.”

Evey rolled her eyes and stepped past Ford. He grabbed her arm and pulled her against his chest. Evey’s heart fluttered. The last time they were this close was when they kissed on the porch. Last night, he had a soft and caring look on his face. Today, his eyes were narrowed and his jaw was hard.

“I will not tell you again,” he said.

“Here they come!” Johnson shouted.

All of the soldiers, except Ford, had their guns in their hands and were firing at the Infected that were coming out from behind the trees. Bullets pierced their skulls and they fell to the ground. Other Infected were tripping over the bodies. Evey threw her elbow into Ford’s stomach and ran so that she was next to the soldiers.

She did what Ford had taught her, stood solid, closed one eye, and fired. Ford said nothing as he came up beside her and joined in the defense. Evey missed her first few shots and cursed herself out. She focused on her breathing before squeezing the trigger again. An Infected Woman was shot through the eye before falling. Evey was tempted to start celebrating, but she knew she had to keep shooting.

“How many of these fuckers are there?!” Gomez shouted, barely being heard over the bullets.

A wall of Infected was coming out from behind the trees. They were all foaming at the mouth and bleeding from the eyes. Evey’s heart was pounding and her mouth went dry as she was hit with a wave of nausea. Would they have enough bullets to kill them all?

The Infected were closing in. One Infected, a fit young man, ran straight through the group and headed straight for Evey. Ford lowered his gun and pulled out his knife. The Infected reached for Evey, and Ford swung his knife down to slice off three of the Infected’s fingers. The man screamed and blood spurted, but he reached for Evey again. Ford thrusted the blade forward and forced it through the man’s skull. The man slumped forward. Ford put his foot on the Infected’s stomach and ripped his knife free.

Evey wanted to look over her shoulder to make sure that the twins were safe, but she knew that she could not take her eyes off the Infected. One by one, they fell and the crowd thinned. Evey shot again, but there were no bullets. She had no bullets on her to reload, so she shoved the gun back into the holster.

“Go back,” Ford shouted.

Evey knew he was talking to her. Only a few of the Infected were left. Evey wanted to run out and start shoving her knife into their brains, but she knew she would get shot if she got in front of the soldiers.

Harrington swore as he ran out of bullets. He patted his pockets for more ammunition. Evey was the only one watching him as the Infected woman rushed toward him. Evey grabbed her knife and sprinted toward Harrington, but she was too late.

The woman lunged forward, and Harrington reached out to push her away. She grabbed his arm and brought her mouth down. Her teeth dug into his flesh as Harrington screamed. He fell to his knees as his other hand was searching for his knife. His cries caught the attention of the other soldiers. Johnson’s eyes went wide as he fired at the woman. He killed her and she fell off Harrington.

Harrington cradled his arm to his chest. Blood was soaking through his shirt. Evey ran toward him, knowing she had to help. She kneeled down next to Harrington and pulled his arm gently toward her. His flesh was ripped open and she could see the glistening muscle and tendons. There were shattered pieces of bone. Blood was spewing out of the wound. Harrington’s face was growing pale.

Evey unzipped her sweater and wrapped it around Harrington’s arm. She pressed down on the wound to try and stop the bleeding. Harrington screamed out in pain.

Connar and Anjo walked up to them. Evey looked up at Anjo.

“What should we do?” she asked.

“Excuse me?” Anjo asked.

“You’re the doctor.”

Anjo swallowed hard. Evey’s fingers were coated with blood as she pressed the cloth into the wound. Harrington cried out. Connar let out a whistle.

“A zombie bite,” Connar said. “This is never good.”

“What are you talking about?” Johnson asked.

“When zombies bite you, you turn into one,” Connar said. “Duh.”

“Does Thyestean work like that?” Gomez asked.

Connar raised a brow and a smile grew on his lips. Johnson swung his hand to hit Gomez in the back of the head.

“Do you ever shut up?” Johnson asked.

“Thyestean?” Connar asked. “What’s that?”

“Nevermind,” Johnson said. “We just have to figure out what to do with Harrington.”

Gomez cleared his throat and they all looked in his direction.

“I say we kill him,” Gomez said.

“What?” Evey said in disbelief. “You cannot be serious.”

“We can not risk him turning and killing the group,” Gomez said. “We killed everyone Infected.”

“The virus is not bloodborne,” Johnson said. “We’re not killing him.”

Gomez threw his hands up in frustration.

“Fine,” he said. “Let’s all be killed.”

Evey shook her head. She pulled back the blood-soaked sweater to take another look at the wound. Her hands were crimson and sticky.

“Someone get my bag,” Evey said. “It has all the medical supplies.”

“What are we going to do?” Anjo asked.

Connar ran and grabbed Evey’s backpack. Evey instructed Connar to pull out the supplies. She looked at what she had and she chewed on her bottom lip. The wound was not going to heal. It would soon be infected. He would already have an infection from the mouth of the woman. The bone was crushed and was impossible to set. She did not want to do it, but Harrington was going to die if it didn’t happen.

“We’re going to have to amputate it,” Evey said.