by Kris Norris
She pushed free, stumbling to her feet, shaking her head as both men looked at her. “No. This isn’t happening. It can’t end like this.” She turned to Hunter. “Where the hell is Kace?”
Rhys reached for her, and she lunged for him, taking his hand and placing it against her chest. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and he frowned, lifting his other hand to brush them away.
“It’s okay, Em.” He traced her lip with his thumb. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“You’re damn straight it is because you’re not going to die.”
He sighed. “Emersyn—”
“The lady’s right.” Kace limped up the bank, his face creased with pain. “You’re not going to die. So stop playing the part of the damn martyr and give me some room.”
Rhys grabbed Kace’s shirt when he knelt beside him. “What the hell happened to your leg?”
“I’m not quite the swimmer you guys are. I hit my knee on a damn rock. Think I cracked something. But I’ll live, and so will you.”
He reached into his bag, removing a vial and needle. He looked at Emersyn then focused back on Rhys. “I have no idea what this will do. In theory, it should stop the parasites from infecting your brain, but with only limited testing…I can’t guarantee the outcome.”
“Well, we know what the fucking outcome will be if you don’t give it to him.” Emersyn pointed to the serum. “Do it.”
Rhys held her hand, refusing to let go. “I want you to leave. To keep watch.”
“Not a chance.” She put her finger to his lips. “I said no. Either way, I’m staying. Hunter can be the lookout.”
Hunter cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Whatever the outcome, I’m responsible for this one. Understand?”
She held her chin high. “That won’t be necessary. I have complete faith in Kace.”
“So do I.” Hunter nodded at Kace then stood, walking a short distance off, his attention focused on the surrounding landscape.
Kace measured out a dose, his hands shaking slightly as he held the needle against Rhys’ neck. Rhys gave him a smile, wincing as Kace pressed the tip below his skin, emptying the contents. He stiffened, grunting in obvious pain as he writhed on the ground. Emersyn held his hand, telling him how much she loved him, never taking her gaze off him until his head lulled to the side and his eyes drifted shut. Fear gripped her chest, and she shook him, looking over at Kace.
The man placed his fingers on his brother’s neck, a relieved sigh whispered free. “His pulse is strong. It’s just the effects of the serum. If all goes well, he’ll wake up in a few hours.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
Kace’s lips tightened as he bandaged the cut on Rhys’ head. “It will.”
Emersyn nodded, a familiar numbing haze settling over her. She stood up, motioning Hunter to join them.
He raced over, glancing down at Rhys. “Well?”
“Kace says we won’t know for a few hours. We need somewhere safe to stay.”
Hunter cursed. “We’ll never make it to that town. Not carrying him with the sunlight fading as fast as it is. Our best bet is to head south. This is farming country. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find a barn or homestead we can use.”
“South it is. I’ll take point. You two carry Rhys.”
Kace motioned Hunter off. “I can carry him. You just keep those things off our tails.”
Hunter looked as if he was going to argue then nodded, helping Kace position Rhys over his shoulders. Kace took a tentative step forward, shifting Rhys slightly before motioning to her. Emersyn stared at Rhys one last time then headed out, shutting down every emotion until they’d found a place to wait out the night so she could focus on Rhys.
She followed the river, staying just out of sight of the other side. Though they’d lost the group by crossing, she knew it was only a matter of time before they came across another horde. And they couldn’t afford another confrontation, not like this. Shades of purple filled the sky, the last vestiges of orange gathering at the distant horizon. She stopped as they came to a small hill. The river continued off to their right, the water still raging white. She looked to her left, inhaling when the dark outline of a building appeared against the setting sun.
She motioned to Hunter, pointing at the barn. “Doesn’t look like much but if it has four walls…”
He nodded. “It’ll be a far sight safer than out here. Just be careful. There could be infected inside.”
She darted off, arriving at the building ahead of the others. The doors looked intact, and after a quick trip around the perimeter, she decided it was worth the risk. She unlatched the bolt and pushed the door aside, gun at the ready, flashlight in hand. Nothing moved beyond the doors, and she took a careful step inside.
A grunt sounded beside her, and she dove forward, avoiding the creature as it stumbled toward her, one pale arm scratching at her. She gained her feet, dodging to the left, raising her gun when a flash of silver whizzed past her head, impacting the zombie between the eyes. The creature fell backward, landing in a billow of hay as its body impacted the barn floor, the hilt of a blade lodged in its head. Emersyn snapped her head around. Kace stood at the doorway, another knife poised in his hand.
Hunter filed in behind her, shaking his head as he stared at the corpse. “They teach you that in the ring, too?”
Kace shrugged one shoulder. “Nope. They taught me that at a top secret training facility in Nevada.”
Hunter merely nodded. “Good to know. Now let’s clear the rest of the building and bar the damn door shut.
Emersyn moved, systematically clearing each section of the barn as Hunter rigged the door. She’d just checked the loft when the other two men crested the ladder, their bodies looking as exhausted as hers felt. Kace eased Rhys onto some hay, again checking his vitals. Emersyn moved in beside Kace, wanting to ask but afraid to hear the answer.
Kace wrapped one arm around her, pulling her flush to his side. “He’s still okay, Em. Pulse is strong, and there’s no discoloration around the bite mark.”
She raised a brow. “That’s good, right?”
“At least as far as being infected, yeah. What I don’t know is whether he’ll have any side effects. Hell, the damn serum could kill him for all I know.” He bowed his head. “I should have just tested the vaccine on me.”
She grabbed Kace’s face, sandwiching it between her hands. “This isn’t your fault. And regardless of what happens, you’ve given him a chance. That’s more than anyone else has ever had.” She lowered her hands as she took a deep breath. “I want you to inject me, too.”
Hunter barged over, pushing Kace aside. “Are you fucking nuts? We don’t know what it’ll do to you anymore than we know what it’s going to do to Rhys. We can’t take that kind of chance.”
“It’s not a chance, Hunter. It’s a choice.” She held up her hand. “Look, either this vaccine is going to kill us, or it’s going to save our asses. You’ve seen how many of them there are wandering around out there. We’ve barely covered a third of the distance, and already we’re down one team member. What are the chances the rest of us won’t get bitten? And maybe next time, there won’t be a chance to inject us after the fact like Kace did for Rhys.” She kicked at the wooden floor. “If I’m going to die, I’d rather it be testing this damn serum than by one of them.”
Hunter moved closer, palming her shoulders. “I can’t lose you, too. I won’t.”
“Then we’ll all test it.”
He frowned. “Are you serious?”
“Completely.”
He ran his hand through his hair, looking at Kace. “What do you think?”
“I think I’d rather die here with you than survive with nothing worth living for. And Emersyn’s right. Even if this only protects against a single event, it could save our lives.”
“Or kill us before we can set foot outside this barn.” Hunter cursed, taking a few heavy steps away. “Fine. We’ll do it. Then either way, we’ll know.”
Emersyn walked over to Kace, watching him prepare three shots. She waited for fear to rear its ugly head, but even as he placed the needle at her neck, all she felt was peace. She held her breath, hissing it out as he pierced her skin, the warm rush of the liquid burning through her veins. She took a quick breath, but nothing happened.
She grabbed Kace’s arm. “What the hell? Rhys acted like someone was sticking a hot poker up his ass. I don’t feel anything.”
“That’s because you’re not infected. There’re bound to be differences in your body’s reaction depending on whether or not the parasite is alive and well and swimming through your bloodstream.”
She frowned, watching Hunter take his dose. She tugged on Kace’s sleeve, eyeing the needle meant for him. “Why don’t I do that?”
He nodded, fingering his neck once it was over. Then they sat down and waited.
Chapter Fifteen
“Emersyn?”
Em bolted awake, her rifle sliding into position against her chest as she searched the loft, trying to shake the fuzzy feeling out of her head. A hint of light beckoned at the windows, but the sun hadn’t yet crested the horizon.
She glanced around, certain she’d heard her name when her gaze clashed with a set of brown eyes. Her breath left her on a sob, and she rolled over, placing her head on Rhys’ chest. The steady beat of his heart sounded like music in her ear, and she wrapped her arms around him, silently vowing never to move.
Rhys hugged her back, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “Was it that close?”
She made her rise, ignoring the tears fading down her cheeks. “Never doubted Kace for a moment.”
“Liar.” He smiled then frowned, his gaze lowering slightly. “What’s that mark on your neck?”
She brushed her fingers over her skin. “What mark?”
“There’s a small, circular blemish just below your ear, the same place Kace…” He voice trailed off as anger creased his features. “Holy shit. Did you inject yourself with the serum?”
“Nope. I did.”
Em turned, starting at Kace as the man stood a few feet away, rifle clasped in his hands. He must have been standing watch.
Rhys frowned. “Why the hell did you inject her? She wasn’t bitten.”
“Same reason I injected Hunter and Em injected me…either this serum was going to save all of us…or kill us.”
Rhys’ jaw clenched.
Emersyn cupped his face, turning it back toward her. “It was my idea.” She covered his lips with her fingers when he growled. “There’re too many of them out there. We’re never going to make it back without at least another of us getting bitten. And then what? We had to know, Rhys. One way or another.”
“You could have waited to see if it killed me.”
She lifted half her mouth into a smile. “You’re missing the point.”
“No. Don’t think I am.”
He pulled her close, crushing his mouth to hers, kissing her like a man possessed. She gave him complete control, savoring every second of his mouth on hers, knowing she could have lost him forever.
His chest heaved against hers when he finally pulled back. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“I’ve been told before. But now we know.”
Kace snorted. “What we know is that the serum won’t kill us outright and that if taken soon enough, it appears to prevent infection. There’s no way of knowing how long it’ll last without running tests, which isn’t likely in a barn.”
Rhys nodded. “You can run your tests once we get back to the compound. How’s your knee?”
“Hurts like a bastard, but I’ll manage. I had some meds in my bag. It should get me there in one piece.”
Rhys looked around. “Where’s Hunter?”
Kace nodded at the ladder. “He just relieved me. He’s downstairs.”
Rhys accepted the hand Kace offered him as Em gained her feet, swaying slightly as she took a step. She gave her head a shake, glancing over at Kace.
He smiled. “That’s just from being exhausted, baby. You’re fine.”
She ignored the jibe, making her way down the ladder. Hunter hurried across the room, stopping dead when he saw Rhys.
A smile curled his lips as he gave the man a swat on the shoulder. “You look pretty good for someone who should be dead. How do you feel?”
Rhys snorted. “Slightly better than that. But it beats being one of them.” He pointed to Hunter’s neck. “I see you were just as insane as Kace and Emersyn.”
“We’re in this together. It just felt right.”
Rhys shook his head, but the smile on his face betrayed his true feelings. He walked slowly over to the barn door, peering out through a large crack. “How’s it look?”
Hunter stepped in behind him. “Roving bands but nothing too large. We’ll have to make a run for either the river or the woods and go from there. Unless we try to find the home this barn belongs to. There’s always a chance they have a…”
Emersyn nudged Hunter when he just stood there, staring blankly at the door. “Hunter? You okay?”
He held up his hand, cocking his head to the side. “You hear that?”
She furrowed her brow, wondering if this might be a side effect of the drug, when a distant hum vibrated through the air. She ran across the room, looking out one of the windows. A trickle of sunlight gleamed above the hills, but nothing moved in the distance. “I can’t see anything.”
Hunter motioned her over. “It’s a vehicle. A heavy one. Maybe a truck. And it’s getting closer.”
Rhys motioned to the ladder. “Everyone up. See if you can get a bead on it. I’ll stay here in case they come this way. Could be help.”
“Or a bunch of damn mercenaries. We left tracks all over the place trying to get here.” Em shouldered up beside him. “And you just came back from the dead. I’ll stay, and you three can keep watch.” She raised her hand. “You’re better with a sniper than me, and we both know it. Besides, being a woman could be an advantage. Buy you guys time to take them out.”
“While they consider raping you?” Hunter snagged her vest. “I don’t think so.”
“It won’t come to that. And we could really use a vehicle. I’ll be fine.”
Hunter growled but released her, giving her a firm shake of his finger as he darted up the ladder, his footsteps echoing overhead. Rhys muttered something about being careful or she’d get a spanking she wouldn’t forget as he followed Hunter up, shadowed by Kace. She waited until they’d disappeared before unbarring the door and moving behind a couple of hay bales, listening for any indication they were about to have company. Though she didn’t relish hurting other survivors if it came to that, they needed that truck.
The telltale crunch of tires along gravel drifted through the air, and she held fast, her attention focused on the door. Something squeaked just outside, and she knew they’d stopped. Mumbled voices sounded a moment before the door creaked open, a solitary figure cresting the doorway. The person moved to the right, staying close to the walls. Emersyn circled in behind, knowing it was a guy by the sheer size of him. She cocked her gun as she moved in close, aiming it at his head.
The man froze but didn’t turn, a slight tilt of his head the only acknowledgment he gave her. He raised his hands, a pistol silhouetted in one. “I’m not alone.”
Two guns cocked in unison on either side of her.
She held her ground, not bothering to face his partners. “Neither am I.”
Two bullets hit the floor in front of the other men’s feet, spraying shards of wood in the air. She readied herself for an all-out firefight, but the guy in front of her chuckled, shaking his head as he turned around. Shadows hid his features, but she saw a flash of white as he smiled.
“Nice play, Emersyn. Though it still would have been an even fight. Not the kind of odds to guarantee you’d come out on top.”
Her breath hissed out as she lowered her weapon. “Son of a bitch. Colby?”
He took a step for
ward, revealing half his face to the rising sunlight as the other two men walked forward, holstering their pistols.
Colby placed a hand on his chest. “I’m hurt you didn’t recognize me sooner. I’d like to think I’m pretty damn unforgettable.”
Emersyn huffed. “Oh, you are. And for the record, you guys were outnumbered.”
He raised an eyebrow when Kace appeared beside him, a gun aimed at his head. Colby turned, surveying the man before smiling again.
“There’re four of you? Now that I didn’t see coming. Who’s the new guy?”
Emersyn motioned for Kace to lower his weapon before Barrett and Darcy decided they didn’t like him. “This is Kace. Kace Scott.”
Colby’s smile faded. “As in Rhys Scott?”
Kace crossed his arms on his chest. “One and the same. Rhys is my brother.”
Darcy stepped forward. “Since when does Rhys have a brother? And I thought the man was dead?”
Rhys moved out from the shadows. “Not quite, but I gave it my best shot.”
Darcy grinned, pulling the man into a bear hug as he slapped him on the back. “I knew you were too stubborn to get yourself killed. I suppose your brother is the reason you disappeared?”
Rhys nodded. “It’s a long story.” He motioned to the barn. “How the hell did you find us?”
Barrett shrugged. “We caught that looping message you left, describing your intended route back, but when you weren’t along the road, we figured you’d been forced to deviate. We’d passed this place on our way down, and when Darcy found some tracks by the river, we thought you might have made it here. Looks like our hunch paid off.”
“And none too soon.” Rhys moved over to stand beside Emersyn, followed by Kace and Hunter. “When no one showed up after a week, we figured you weren’t coming.”
Colby’s expression hardened. “We would have tried sooner, but we thought Hunter and Emersyn were dead.”
Rhys frowned. “Come again?”
Barrett moved forward. “Jeb came back that first night. He said the three of you had walked into an ambush. That he’d barely made it out after watching the two of you get shot in the head. We didn’t want to believe it, but when the message just stopped…well, it all made sense.”
