Then I moved.
I crossed the room in a blur and grabbed the infected by its hair, yanking it backward hard enough that its head snapped against the doorframe.
It twisted toward me instantly, teeth snapping.
Clouded eyes locking on like I was a turkey on Thanksgiving.
I didn’t hesitate. The bat came down once, and the bone gave. Brains and blood spattered the floor at my feet as he landed hard, then bounced slightly.
I threw the body out into the hallway.
Max was still snarling and pacing in tight circles between the bed and me.
“It’s dead,” I said, breath ragged. “It’s not getting back up.”
He didn’t seem to believe me and kept growling in the direction of the hallway.
I moved to the bed to check on Taryn. Even with all the commotion, she hadn’t moved an inch. I pressed my hand to her face. Still burning up.
“Stay with me,” I muttered. “I’ll die right here with you if you don’t.”
A knock came from the open doorway.
Max snapped toward it instantly.
“Hey.” Nash stuck his head inside. “If she’s sick, maybe I can help.”
“No.” It came out flat.
I didn’t need or want his help. Even though he was my father, I wasn’t foolish enough to believe I could trust him.
Silence stretched for half a second.
“You don’t get to make these decisions,” Nash replied, calm as ever.
I stepped closer to the doorway, the bat hanging loose at my side.
“You try to come in that door,” I said quietly, “and we’re gonna have a problem.”
Another pause. Much longer this time.
Then he took a step.
Behind him, Stain’s voice cut in. “Don’t. She ain’t turned.”
“Yet,” Nash replied.
“Maybe, but for now, you need to leave it alone,” Stain insisted. “Beck can handle it no matter what happens.”
Nash exhaled once through his nose. “Fine. For now.” He looked at me, “If she does turn, you'd better take care of it, or I will.”
Footsteps moved away from the door, but Max kept growling until they disappeared entirely.
I waited too. Counted to ten, then twenty, before stepping back and lowering the bat.
“Who’s a good dog?” I leaned down to scratch behind Max’s ear, and this time he let me. “You’re an ugly thing, but you might be worth keeping after all.”
I guess I’d proved that I was willing to protect his human, so now we were friends.
