The truck died as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Max, guard!” I barked and stepped out. “Come on. Let’s check the vehicles we passed for gas.”
Stain rummaged around in the truck's bed and grabbed a rusted gas can and hose.
“Looks like this has happened before.” He raised an eyebrow.
I grabbed them from him, then moved. Crouching by the first car I came to, I twisted the gas cap and pushed the short hose inside. I’d just started filling the can when I heard panting.
“What the fuck, Beck?” He bent and grabbed his knees, sucking air into his lungs. “You moved fifty yards in seconds.”
I was trying to decide how to respond when I saw three infected coming straight at us.
“Three o’clock.” I pulled the hose free of the car, then twisted the lid on the can.
“I see them.” Stain pulled the gun from his waistband.
I grabbed his hand, “No. Find something else. The more noise we make, the more of those things we’ll attract.”
Stain nodded and grabbed a tire iron lying nearby. Someone had clearly tried to use it as a weapon. I hoped they had succeeded, but I doubted it.
He didn’t wait for it to come to us but ran up and bashed its skull in.
We ran quickly back to the truck.
Max was still guarding Taryn. The ugly dog was really growing on me.
I quickly filled the tank, then jumped back into the truck. We had barely driven a mile when it started smoking.
“Fuck this piece of shit!” My patience was at an end.
It seemed like everything was against us at this point.
“There’s a dealership up ahead.” Stain pointed to the left.
I smirked; maybe my luck was turning around. I stopped the truck, then bailed out with Taryn in my arms and Max close on my heels.
“Right side!” Stain called.
I adjusted without thinking as an infected came out between two cars. I grabbed the knife from my waist and stabbed it in the head without breaking stride.
Shit! There were tons of trucks on the lot, but it didn’t matter. We weren’t getting access to them without becoming dinner.
“Go!” Stain yelled, taking out another one with the tire iron.
We hit the service bay, slamming the door behind us.
I lowered her carefully to the floor, Max at her side.
“She’s not gonna make it if we don’t find somewhere safe to go,” Stain whispered.
“She’ll make it. Taryn is the strongest person I’ve ever met.” I narrowed my eyes. “And I won’t accept anything else.”
He held up his hands, “I’m not disagreeing with you. Just stating facts.”
“Keep the facts to yourself.” I snapped.
He raised both hands in surrender. “This is your rodeo.”
