I lowered myself to the floor and leaned against the wall. “I guess all we can do is wait.”
My head felt like it was about to explode, and my vision was blurry. Maybe this was the way it all ended?
Adrian plopped down beside me and leaned his head back. “I’m completely obsessed with Taryn.”
I raised my head and looked at him in astonishment. “No shit. Did you really think I wasn’t aware of that?”
He turned to look at me. “No, but I think it’s time you admitted the same.”
I gave him a withering stare. “I’ll admit no such thing. The little bitch cost me my job if not my whole career.”
I wouldn't admit anything to him, both because she was my student and because I was afraid he might kill me if I did.
Adrian gave a short laugh, “Who the fuck are you going to teach now? All your students and coworkers are either infected or soon to be eaten by infected.”
“Fuck you.” I let my head drop back and sighed. “I’ll admit that she has a nice ass, but that’s it.”
“We’ll see,” he closed his eyes.
I looked at my friend; his cheeks were flushed, and there was a bead of sweat trailing down his forehead.
“I hope so, I truly hope so.” I closed my eyes and succumbed to the fever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
BEN
The deadbolt would hold for now. But with the pressure from the growing crowd pushing on the car, that wouldn’t last forever.
I moved through the pharmacy floor without rushing. There were no infected inside other than the one that we’d killed earlier.
Outside was a different story.
The front windows were covered in shadows. Shapes shifting behind the glass. Pressing hard enough that I knew it was only a matter of time before they made their way inside.
I kept the flashlight low and moved toward the back of the store. There had to be access, a roof hatch, maintenance ladder… something.
Every commercial building had one. You just had to know where to look.
I wandered around the store, gazing at the ceiling until I spotted a narrow alcove behind the counter.
“There,” I murmured.
A ceiling panel was slightly out of place. Maybe there would be access to the air duct.
Not ideal, but possibly workable.
I dragged a plastic bin beneath it and climbed up, pushing the panel aside slowly.
No noise.
No rush.
The last thing I needed was something hearing me from inside… or outside.
The space above was tight and dusty.
I pressed myself upright and secured the panel behind me. After turning off the flashlight, I listened for several minutes. While it was unlikely for an infected to be here, I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
