I sighed, “You know she’s probably infected.”
I saw the boy flinch in the rearview mirror. “Maybe, but we don’t know that for sure. Let me out here, and I’ll go by myself.”
“You can’t do that,” Lucas whispered and met my eyes in the mirror. “Take him.”
I knew it was a lost cause, but I nodded in agreement anyway. Lucas was holding on by a thread.
“We need to drop the rest of these kids off at their homes.” Ben grumbled, “They can’t come back to my place.”
Lucas and I both stared at him.
“I don’t have the room or the supplies for everyone in this town. They’ve had as much time to prepare as I have. It’s on them if they didn’t.” Ben wasn’t the least apologetic.
“Take a right here. My house is the last one on the left.” Ethan leaned over the seat and pointed over my shoulder.
Ben did what he asked, pulling up a few minutes later to a large brick house with two cars in the driveway.
“Both of my parents are home,” Ethan murmured.
“I’ll go with him.” Lucas opened his door and checked his gun.
I got out. “You all wait here.”
“I’ll watch the kids. If you two aren’t back in ten minutes, I’m taking them home and going to find Taryn.” Ben opened his door and took up a position with his gun, surveying our surroundings.
I nodded, knowing he wouldn’t hesitate.
Lucas and Ethan were already on the porch.
“Stay quiet and let us go first,” I told the boy.
The house smelled stale when we stepped inside.
“Mom!” Ethan yelled, moving past us to where I presumed her bedroom to be.
“Damn,” I murmured. “The kid is going to get us killed.”
“I’m not losing another one, even if he is an asshole.” Lucas followed swiftly behind him.
He caught up with him and grabbed the kid's arm, jerking him back before he entered.
“Let me go first.” He whispered urgently when Ethan began to struggle.
I grabbed the boy and pulled him back. “If you don’t quiet down, I’ll put you out.”
Lucas gently opened the door and flicked the light switch, but it didn't turn on.
We all moved further into the room, and from the pale light filtering in through the window, we could see a figure lying still on the bed.
I let Ethan go, and he stood completely frozen, making no move toward her. Lucas studied the boy for a few minutes before turning back and gently pulling the cover from her face.
Her skin was pale, and her lips were slightly blue.
Ethan whispered, "Mom," with hope filling his voice because she wasn’t infected.
He stepped forward carefully, a smile beginning to form on his face.
I watched her chest. There was no motion.
