Resurrect

by Amy Miles

  Cable smiles without concern for the laser targeting his head. “She already is. She just hasn’t accepted that yet.”

  Flynn grunts as he pushes up into a seated position behind. When I glance over my shoulder to look at him, I’m reminded of how fragile he is and how easily Cable broke him. I’m struck with a fresh wave of fear when I shift my gaze onto Nox, but I see only fierce determination in his eyes. He will fight no matter what.

  “Do we have a deal?” I ask, stepping closer to expand the distance between myself and Nox.

  Cable releases a long breath then turns his head away and barks out a growl. The Flesh Bags instantly cease fighting. Several who were locked in hand-to-hand combat release the soldiers and drop them awkwardly to the ground. Those who were eating their victims stop chewing and lift their head. All turn toward Cable.

  Another growl sends them racing for the exits, though not the ones I would have expected. The Withered flee through the darkened hallways instead of heading for the exterior doors. The sun must already be up.

  “Where will they go?” I ask.

  “There are ways into the building that even your leaders were not away of,” Cable says and then takes my hand. “I will show you.”

  As he pulls me away, I look back over my shoulder at Nox. Anger and resentment run parallel in his body language as Flynn reaches out to hold him back with his one good arm.

  “You have to let me go,” I say as Cable leads me past my friends. “If you don’t, everyone will die.”

  “I won’t let you be a martyr,” Nox calls back.

  “I’m not. I’m just a girl trying to do the right thing.”

  Cable tugs tightly on my arm to hurry along and I follow his lead past countless bodies, both mutilated and smoking from the fire that has raged out of control. Much of the carpet has caught on fire and I fear that the flames will spread.

  I may never know many people will be saved by my actions tonight but I have to believe that I have made a difference. Nox will live and Flynn will not watch another friend mowed down. That has to count for something.

  A profound sadness wells up within me as I think about what my life will be like now, surrounded by the dead. Cable is nothing like the man I once knew and yet I have to hold onto the hope that there is still some goodness buried inside of me. Not for my own sake, but because it is what he would have done.

  Now watching where I’m going, I snag my foot on a bit of fabric and fall to the ground. My hands slip on blood and when I crash to the floor I come face to face with a glassy-eyed Iris. Half of her face has been chewed away. Her right shoulder and on down to her hip is shredded. Her left thigh has been exposed down to the bone.

  I feel no remorse when I look back at her body. Instead, I feel terrified. If what she said is true, tomorrow the Safe Zones will go into full lock down and more innocents will die. I can’t let that happen.

  “Nox?” I yank back on Cable’s hand and this time, he stops short. “Iris warned me about testing being done at the Safe Zones. She was the failsafe to ensure that things ran smoothly. Do what you can for them.”

  He swallows hard and then slowly nods. “I will.”

  “And make sure you take special care of Flynn. He doesn’t seem to know how to stay out of trouble.”

  “That hurts, but she’s not wrong.” He offers a sheepish shrug then winces as he reaches to cradle his dislocated shoulder. “Give ‘em hell, Avery.”

  My vision of them grows watery as tears slip from my eyes. Cable tugs on my hand and I turn away to allow him to lead me around the funeral pyre. Countless bodies lie around me, each one lost for the sake of Cable’s twisted love for me. Each of their deaths are on me.

  “Where will we go?” I ask.

  “Home.”

  Glancing over at Cable, I see him smile, but I feel none of his happiness. What will happen to me once I am away from humans and surrounded by constant feelings of hunger and anger? Will I lose myself as quickly as Cable did? Will I become nothing more than a thing with teeth?

  Anxiety rises up within me at the thought and I go rigid in his hand. I can’t allow that to happen. I can’t become something that people will fear or try to kill.

  “Do you love me?” I ask.

  Cable’s step falters when I refuse to take another step and he turns to face me. “Of course, I do.”

  “Then you need to let me go.”

  “No.” He pulls on my arm. “You said you would come willingly.”

  “And I meant it, but I can’t be like you, Cable. I can’t be who you have become. You are not the man I loved before, the one who was a heart first and a soldier last. You used to be a man who believed in me and saw the good in everything. That man who would have paid any sacrifice just to see me smile.”

  “That man was weak but now...I am better.”

  “No.” New tears slide down the curve of my cheeks as I pull my hand away from his. “You’re something far worse.”

  Cable blinks and stares down at his empty hand. I know that I only have a split second before his anger kicks in and I am struck by the force of it. Lifting my hand, I aim the flare gun at his chest.

  “I am sorry, but the man that I loved is truly dead,” I whisper.

  When the flare strikes his chest, it explodes in brilliant light. Nox and Flynn race to my side as Cable flails and beats at his burning shirt. The rest of his clothes quickly catch fire and soon he is consumed with the flames. I close my eyes at the scent of his burning flesh and know that his screams will be added to my waking nightmares.

  “I’m so sorry, Cable.”

  Rage and pain darken his eyes as he mouths my name and then turns and runs. His burning chest illuminates the corridor as he races past the survivors and disappears into the darkness.

  “I failed him again,” I whisper as my knees buckle and I collapse into Nox’s arms.

  “You didn’t fail anyone,” he whispers and gently eases me to the floor. My body tingles as I try to push aside the wave of agony that Cable thrusts at me. I have no way of knowing if he intentionally wanted me to feel it, but I would guess that it was an involuntary sharing. He is hurting because of me, and no matter how far he may have fallen, I still care for him.

  I just can’t be with him.

  Sinking into Nox’s embrace, I feel a part of my soul wither and die. The love that I once felt for Cable is tarnished and the memories have become too painful to think about.

  As Nox wraps me in his arms, resting his chin on my head, I cling to him. I was wrong in thinking that I could get close to him without needing him. That is the natural order of things. That is what caring about someone is all about. Letting down the walls means that they can see you for all of the good, the bad and the wicked and you are lucky that person will still accept you in the end.

  I want to be a good person and someone that is worthy of love but I know that I am no longer bound solely by my own desires, but that of the pack. Though the Withered have fled I know that they will be back. Cable will not let this diversion last for long, and when he returns, it will be with far greater numbers.

  I can’t remain here just as I can’t risk the safety of these people. The only thing I can do now is to run as far and a fast as I can and hope that it will be enough.

  Just before I close my eyes and allow exhaustion to steal me away to a place where there is no pain, fear or regret, I hear Nox give the command to follow Cable but they will never track him down in time. He knows his escape route too well and is too smart to allow himself to be penned in.

  Cable will escape and he will live to get his revenge. Of that, I have no doubt. The connection between us is strong and I fear that will be my undoing.

  So, I will run and pray that it is far enough to sever that connection.

  I may have betrayed him today but the love bond between us is strong. In me, Cable sees
an equal. With the memories of our past fresh in his mind, he will not give up until I am his and my greatest fear is that the next time he comes looking for me, I will be ready to join him.

  “Hey,” Nox whispers in my ear as he gently scoops me up and places me in his lap, “I think that nickname I gave you should remain on the table.”

  “What nickname?”

  “Dumbass,” he smiles and presses his lips to my forehead. “Seems kinda fitting now, don’t you think?”

  “Only if you let me call you Lennox from now on.”

  Nox grimaces. “It’s a terrible name.”

  “I think it’s actually really sexy.”

  “Do you?” He arches an eyebrow and easily settles into his familiar cocky grin. “Well, maybe I’ll have to reconsider using it then.”

  “You should.” I wrap his arm around my waist and snuggle into his chest. “But don’t go getting any wild ideas about talking me into a one night stand. I’ve still my got standards to uphold.”

  Nox laughs and the gentle rumble in his chest soothes me. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  A hive of activity bustles around us as new soldiers flood into the area to make sure the hotel is back on lockdown. Medics move from body to body checking for survivors. Those who have been bitten are removed to be dealt with out of sight. The fires are soon put out and some semblance of normal returns as Nox and I lean against the wall.

  None of it matters as I close my eyes and let Nox hold me. For the first time in ages, I feel safe. I don’t know when I will have to go on the run, or if it will even make any difference but I know that I will miss this. I will miss him.

  Nox is not Cable and he never will be, but I have decided that is exactly what I love most about him.

  THE END