Dead Friends Series (Book 2): Dead Friends Running

by Carlisle, Natalie

  “Uh…” I struggled to find an answer.

  My lack of response caused her to cry even more.

  Tony shifted his feet uncomfortably, like he hated seeing girls cry. He was still scratching at his arm, but the Benadryl must have been kicking in because he didn’t seem as red and bumpy. “I have an idea,” He offered, hesitantly. “But I can’t do it.”

  Missy let go of Nathan’s arm, and rubbed her hand harshly across her cheeks. “What is it? Can I do it?”

  “Well, I doubt she’ll allow that.” He gestured toward me. I instantly furrowed my brow, skeptical. “But guys, maybe one of you can.”

  “What are you talking about? Spit it out already,” Lew pressed, impatience written on his face. He really wanted to get going, I could see that clearly.

  “Well, there’s always the vet hospital. Someone could just take him, and the rest of us could keep looking for Jason and Kyle.” He paused. “I’d offer to, but I’m allergic to dogs, and I’m itchy enough.”

  “We’ll do it,” Missy immediately volunteered. “Just tell us how to get there.”

  I mentally groaned, knowing as soon as I objected, I’d get the wrath of her whining.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Lew interjected, sparing me the chance to. “It would be more a hassle and waste more time to explain to you girls how to even get out of these woods.”

  Missy looked like she was about to flip out.

  Nathan sighed, and his hands instantly went to the rope around his torso, pulling it over his head. “I’ll take him. You guys stick together.”

  “Okay, well then I guess I’ll go with you,” Carlos added. When Nathan went to object, he said simply, “you can’t protect yourself if your hands are full.”

  Lewis rubbed at the back of his neck, as if he was getting a headache. “Well, that’s better.”

  “Ohmigod, seriously?” Missy said, her voice in question, as if she was afraid to believe they’d actually do this. “You are going to help him?”

  Nathan handed Missy the rope. “Yes. We’ll try our hardest to save him. I promise.”

  She took the rope from him, a smile reaching her tear-glistening blue eyes. “Thank you! Thank you so much you have no idea how much this means to me.” If Missy was a hugger, I was almost positive she would have flung her arms around his neck right then.

  She dropped her attention back to Anubis. He barely acknowledged her. His breathing remained weak and shallow. She swiped more tears away. “Did you hear that boy? They are going to help you. You just have to stay strong.”

  “Uh, I have one question though,” Carlos interjected, holding up his index finger. “Is it even worth the effort? I mean,” his other four fingers quickly spread out, offering up his full palm in a way to stop Missy’s sudden outburst. “It’s just he was bitten. Can he even be saved?”

  His question hit her hard. You’d have thought someone slapped her across the face. Her smile diminished replaced by pursed lips of sudden doubt.

  I stared at them both then dropped my gaze to the injured lab at my feet. I thought of Duke, Jason’s dog—of how he saved me last time there was an outbreak too. He had been exposed to the virus, he had bitten the infected and he turned out just fine. Perhaps because of the distemper and rabies vaccination Duke had already received, he was unaffected by the disease or perhaps animals weren’t affected like humans. Either way my guess was if they could stop the bleeding, Anubis would be just fine.

  “I believe so,” I said, finally finding my voice and brought up Duke. The guys quickly agreed with my theory—including Carlos—and a relieved smile resurfaced on Missy’s face.

  “Then it’s settled,” Nathan uttered, reaching out to scoop Anubis into his arms. Anubis whimpered but didn’t fight him. Either he was too weak to, or he realized he was being saved. It took about five seconds then Nathan was heaving him up, straightening his legs out so he was standing at his full height again. He made a face in the movement, the way one does when they’ve been in a squat position too long.

  The blood was gushing out of the wound, all over his shirt, and dripping down his forearms.

  Lewis cursed. On reflex, he swung his back pack forward again, and started opening it. Raising my eyebrow, I watched as he dug out the first aid kit again. Moments later he pulled out an ace bandage and a wad of gauze. “This will never work if you don’t apply pressure to the wound.”

  Shaking his head ever so slightly, he walked over to Nathan and Anubis, and placed the gauze over the worst of it. He inclined his head to Missy. “Hold your hand there while I wrap him.”

  Missy stumbled over on reflex. “What about Jason though?”

  Another pained whimper left Anubis, but only for a second, as she placed her hand down over the gauze.

  “I have more,” he replied, unrolling the bandage. He quickly began to wrap it fully around Anubis, discarding Missy’s hands as soon as the first turn of the fabric could cover it. He did a sloppy make-shift job of wrapping it, due to the placement of Nathan’s hands and where the wound actually was. I was actually sickened by the thought of how much flesh a person managed to tear off him with human teeth.

  “Won’t stop the bleeding, but it should help slow it up, and if anything, it should keep your shirt cleaner.” Lewis stepped back, picking up the backpack he had discarded to the ground right before. “And I didn’t mean it as a dick comment,” he mumbled, before Missy opened her mouth. “So spare me the backlash.”

  Missy narrowed her eyes at him, but didn’t say anything. At least not to him. “Thank you, Nathan. Really.”

  He nodded, his neck muscles tensing under Anubis weight. “You ready?” He shot his gaze to Carlos.

  “Sure thing.”

  “Okay, I guess we’ll catch up with you guys and gals, later. Good luck. And be safe!”

  “You too,” Lewis grumbled. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch their backs.”

  “I don’t doubt it for a second.” They started to walk away, only to pause a moment later. “Curious Dee,” Nathan said, “was it the blood trail that made you go this way?”

  “Yeah,” I admitted. “I saw it.”

  “Good eye.” He seemed impressed. “You do realize that it could have been from anything though, right?” By anything, he meant it could have been something or someone dangerous.

  I bit my lip, wincing. “Honestly, that wasn’t my immediate thought. I just saw the blood and worried it was Jason.” I now realized how dumb I actually was being.

  “It’s why we were really yelling for you to stop.” He shook his head. “You got lucky.”

  I shrugged in response. “I had my gun.” I sounded like a naive moron.

  “That you did.” He adjusted his grip on Anubis again. “Okay, he’s getting heavy. Time to go. Let’s see if we can save this fella.” They didn’t hesitate again. They kept walking.

  My eyes followed after them, my mind all over the place, but at least I was grateful we found Anubis. Since after all, he was on our search and rescue list too.

  “Need I remind you the longer we just stand here, Jason suffers more,” Lewis remarked.

  His words instantly snapped me out of it, and I turned, facing him. But from the corner of my eye, I saw Missy was still staring off into the distance, but in an entirely different direction, unmoving. Clearly she was unfazed by Lewis’ words or she just didn’t hear him.

  Shocked, I took in her expression. Her tears had dried up for the most part, though some dampness still darkened her lashes and lingered on her cheeks. I could see color slowly returning to her face, a healthy amount of flush.

  Whatever she was looking at clearly had her distracted however, for she didn’t even acknowledge me looking at her.

  I adjusted my grip on the gun and scanned the shadows between the trees, suddenly feeling anxious.

  “Missy, what is it? Do you see something, or someone coming?”

  That got her attention.

  “Oh, no. No.”

  I sighed in relief. “T
hen did you not hear Lewis?”

  “Hmm?” That was a negative.

  “We need to get going.”

  “Oh. Right. Sorry.” She started to take a step only to pause again. “It’s just—”

  Lewis exhaled sharply. “What? What now?”

  “It’s just, Anubis. He was crawling that way.” She pointed her finger in the direction for emphasis. “It makes me wonder if maybe they are nearby.”

  “Who?” I said, furrowing my brow. “His owners?”

  “Yeah, Zac and Margeaux. Or maybe not. Maybe he was still just looking for help.” She sighed. “Or us.”

  “Well, we’ll never know the real reason Miss, we just have to let some things go and not obsess over them.”

  “I know, I just hate to think we are right here —and they are right there—and they’ll never know help was so close or that Anubis is injured on his way to the vet.”

  “They could be near here or we could waste all day looking for them and never find them. That’s just not a gamble we can take right now. Unless Jason’s life means nothing to you,” Lew interjected.

  “Hey, that’s not fair. I want Hallmark to be okay.”

  “Then prove it,” he retorted, sharply. “And stop just standing there.”

  “Okay. Okay, damn,” she snapped back. “Sorry. Sorry I care about all people and animals and have a freaking heart.” That healthy flush she had was deepening with her growing annoyance.

  “Alright,” Tony intervened, calmly. “How about we all just get along? Attitudes aren’t going to accomplish anything.” There was Tony. Suddenly the new group mediator.

  “Dee,” he continued, sparing me a glance. “You still want your bag? I mean, while we are still this close to it?”

  “Of course.” I didn’t even think twice about it. Needed those keys. The bag was just a bonus.

  “Then let’s backtrack for a couple minutes, get your stuff then make way that way.”

  “What way?” Lewis grumbled.

  “The way Missy was just pointing to,” his friend replied matter-of-factly. Lewis went to object but Tony kept talking. “It’s killing two birds with one stone, Lew—not only can we look for Jason but also for that couple. I mean, Carlos and I have been around this area for a bit and there wasn’t any sign of Jason or them, but we didn’t head too far off in that direction. It could be worth a look.”

  I could see how bad Lewis wanted to argue the point, but he surprised me. “Thirty minutes. We’ll spend another thirty minutes out this way. That’s it. If we don’t see anyone, then we are heading back to the Jeep and checking for Jason elsewhere. No exceptions. Understood?”

  His line of vision didn’t include me or Tony. His eyes were locked solely on Missy.

  She gave a short nod, glaring back at him.

  “That’s fair,” Tony concluded. “So let’s go.” He took the first official step forward, not allowing us to hesitate or argue any longer. Silently, we took off with him. Within moments, Missy and I somehow ended up between the two of them— Tony in front and Lewis tailing behind us both with weapons at the ready.

  This was one really messed up version of Monkey in the middle.

  28

  Missy bent over and lugged my book bag onto her shoulder. “I’ll carry it.”

  I half-smiled, muttering a thank you as I continued to scan the ground for my keys. “They can’t be too far from here,” I pressed.

  “What’s that?” Tony asked, but he must have spotted them the moment he said it. “These?”

  I looked up, just as he squatted down, picking up my keychain.

  “Yes,” I exclaimed, with relief, hurrying over to him. I tried not to think about the ground beneath my shoes though. On how blood-stained it was or how pieces of torn clothing were sprinkled across it like remnants of a busted piñata.

  Heck, I didn’t even want to think about the paw and the footprints that danced around my feet in different directions as I walked.

  I didn’t want to think about last night at all.

  And yet, I still did.

  Once I reached Tony, I quickly realized I needed another hand or I couldn’t take them from him. I stared down at the sling on my right arm and at the gun in my other grasp. “Uh.” I contemplated, biting the inside of my cheek. I didn’t really want to tell the guy to stick them in my pocket.

  “Give them to me,” Missy said, heading over to us. “I’ll toss them in the bag.” Oh thank goodness for best friends. Missy to my rescue again.

  Tony quickly handed them off to her and started to scratch again. He looked so much better though. The medicine was starting to work, but his eyelids I noted seemed a bit droopy.

  “You okay?” I asked anyway.

  Tony’s fingers paused on his bicep. “Yeah, I’m feeling a lot better thanks to Lewis.”

  “Good,” I said, noting he was probably just a little drowsy from the side effects of the medication. Nothing to be concerned about, except for the fact he was holding a pretty large gun.

  “Well, I got all I need here,” I prompted, giving the cue to leave. I was definitely eager to get away from these memories.

  If that was possible.

  Lewis turned around first, taking lead this time, his impatience still written all over his scruffy face.

  I hurried after him, being the first to start hollering Jason’s name again.

  We walked a total of twenty nine minutes and thirty seconds. I know this, because that’s when Lewis stopped and started counting down the seconds out loud.

  I paused, not at all shocked to hear him verbally warning us our thirty minutes was almost up. Most of the search, he glanced at his watch instead of around him. It was clear he considered this whole half hour nothing but waste of valuable time.

  Considering we hadn’t found anyone, I was beginning to agree with him.

  “Time’s up,” he added after the last second left his lips.

  “Wow,” is all Missy said, her expression incredulous. Still, she spun gesturing the other way. It was the agreement after all.

  Tony yawned, nodding. “Alright. We gave it a go. We tried.” He was looking sleepier every time I glanced at him. A little disconcerting.

  Even though everyone was spinning to leave, I of all people stood still a second or two longer, my eyes scanning the woods for any sign at all, and gave Jason’s name one final shout before admitting failure.

  Another thirty minutes had passed with Jason out there—somewhere—waiting for us to help him and we hadn’t found him. I felt sick.

  The only response I got to screaming were two black birds flapping their wings on a nearby tree, squawking in protest to his name.

  I’m not sure what made me do what I did next. I just did. I fired the gun at the tree they were perched on.

  The loud thunderous sound made them instantly take flight, and the three people beside me jump simultaneously.

  Even I twitched in reflex. Not from the sound really, but because the trigger pull had been longer than I was expecting and it startled me when it finally fired. The kickback wasn’t too much to handle thankfully. I at least hadn’t dropped the gun. And even left handed, my aim was on target.

  “What the hell was that?” Lewis barked. He was the first to regain composure. He had crouched down drawing his free hand over his head, but now was lowering his arm when he realized it was a shot from me.

  I stared off at the bullet lodged into the center trunk of the maple.

  I shrugged, unsure really. “I, uh, I guess I just figured the sound would carry further than my voice.”

  I mean, I hope it wasn’t just out of frustration. That would make me a bit unsteady, wouldn’t it?

  And here I was concerned about Tony.

  I pulled my attention away from the damaged bark to the others. “Sorry guys,” I apologized. “I should have warned you I suppose.”

  Missy’s blue eyes widened a fraction. “Ya think?”

  It wasn’t a question.

  Lewis s
tarted shaking his head again. “Well—I hope we don’t come to regret missing that bullet now.” His tone was laced with anger and worry.

  Cringing, I dropped my chin to stare at my feet. He was right. We shouldn’t waste bullets. Not out here. Not ever. I didn’t think it was possible to feel more stupid than I did right then.

  What if that one missing bullet is the reason one of us dies?

  Damn it Dee, you are a moron.

  “For what it’s worth,” Tony began, hesitantly. “I don’t think it was a total waste. She does make a good point. It was louder.”

  I spared him a quick look, appreciative of his words, even if I know he was just trying to be the group mediator again.

  Lewis blew out a breath like an angry bull. “Fine. Whatever. It’s obviously there is no one here. So can we just—” His voice suddenly changed octaves. “Fuck. Dee— duck.”

  My brows shot up into my bangs. “What?” I peered up at him, clueless. What the hell was he talking about?

  “Duck!” He demanded again, in the same instant rushing forward, grabbing my shoulder, shoving me downward at a fold against his chest as his other hand raised above my head, firing his gun over me.

  I jolted, and he locked his grip around me, spun us in a circle, then shoved me at Missy.

  “Run—”

  I stumbled, but Missy caught me, steadying me, yanking me with her, at the same second Tony raised his gun, firing it in unison with Lewis’ second shot.

  I glanced back, trying to figure out what exactly was happening and saw a man right behind us. I fumbled again, startled. Both at how close he was, and what the hell I was seeing.

  “Holy shit,” I muttered, fighting for balance. “Holy freaking shit.” I faced forward again, regaining control of my feet and kept running, as Missy continued to tug at me. The guy chasing after us had a hiking stick shoved into his eye socket. Not just a stick, either. A legit, store bought aluminum hiking stick in lime green—the ones with those expandable heights and super sharp spike tips used for rough terrain.