“Hey,” I said to her. “I hope you read lips.”
She nodded and I smiled. That was a good sign.
“We’re going to take you to a place where you’re safe, do you understand?” The girl nodded and I felt a growing confidence. “You’ll leave with us tomorrow, yes?”
Emily gestured me closer and I leant in, eyes searching her face for a sign of understanding. It’s how I caught it just before it happened and managed to jump back as the knife she held entered my stomach.
I landed on my back on the floor, hands pressed against the wound as pain filled me. I could feel the knife blade sticking out of my flesh and darkness closed in on my vision. I had just enough time to see Ryan leap at her with his own knife out.
“Don’t,” I screamed as everything went black.
Epilogue. - Ryan
I’ll kill her, I thought. It will be slow and very, very painful. I would make every last minute of her life worse than the one before. If Lily dies.
The boat rocked beneath us and I clenched my hands tight before me as I stared down at the still form that lay in the cabins only bunk.
She looked so pale, so weak, as she lay there. I was helpless to do anything to save her and all I could do, should she die, was burn the rest of the world down in my fury.
The cabin door opened and Cass poked her head through, she looked as though she’d been crying again with red-rimmed eyes and dark circles around them. Her gaze met mine and then went to Lily.
“Any change?” she asked and I shook my head.
She opened her mouth to speak but I turned away, not wanting to hear it. If she mentioned the girl’s name, I wasn’t sure I could hold myself back from taking my knife and heading out on deck to end her for good.
I should have killed her last night, at the warehouse. I’d wrapped one hand around her throat and raised my knife to stab through her defiant eyes when I’d heard Lily yell, a demand, and a plea for me not to. So I hadn’t. She lived but only so long as Lily did.
Beyond the wooden walls of the fishing boats cabin, gulls wheeled and circled the boat. Their cries were raised when scraps were thrown overboard and then they’d descend in a frenzy to feed. Far too similar to the zombies.
My hand enclosed hers, hating how limp it was, how cold the flesh as though she were already dead. The others were on deck, complaining about the people of Haven who had kicked us loose despite the injury she’d sustained.
Ethan had been adamant. Injured or not, we’d leave. He’d ignored the protests, the warning that moving her wouldn’t be safe. Of course, he’d promised me all manner of things when I found him in his office first thing that morning while everyone else was asleep. When I’d finished, I’d tossed away the empty syringe and closed the office door where he had a cot.
We’d left a short time later and no one had questioned his absence. No doubt they’d think he died in his sleep and turned.
Her hand twitched and my thoughts came back to the present. I stared down at her as her eyelids moved the barest fraction. A moan escaped her and she opened those beautiful eyes of hers and met my own.
“Hello Lily,” I said and she smiled.
Note from the Author.
The journey has begun and Lily and Ryan are well on their way to Scotland. The zombies are changing, as is the world. Dark times are upon them and as their journey continues, they will find themselves faced with challenges that even they cannot overcome. I hope you continue along with them.
Richard Murray
For updates on the books and infrequent Tweets you can check out: Richard@Rhayn4
How about you check out my website : http://richardmurray2.wix.com/rm-author where you will find links to all my books along with news and updates about what is coming next.
I can also be found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8340039.Richard_Murray Why not drop by to say ‘hello’
Killing the Dead (Book 8): Dark and Deadly Land Page 19
