I want to fight him but instead, I hand over the key and look up, giving him access to my collar. Everything inside of me is screaming at me not to trust this guy. I shouldn’t be showing him my throat. I shouldn’t be submitting. But what else can I really do?
There’s a rag wrapped around his palm from where he cut himself, leaving his blood all over the camp. The moment my collar is popped open and tossed onto the ground, I’m overwhelmed with something I haven’t felt in a long time; relief. I feel like I can breathe for the first time since I was captured. I am free.
I stare at the man in front of me, blinking slowly. He saved me. He actually saved me. We might not be out of the clear yet, but I’m no longer chained. Already I can feel my strength returning. They will never chain me again.
“You can understand me, right?” I nod my head. “Good. We’re gonna use this clusterfuck to our advantage. I put blood on every part of the camp except over here. We should have a clear shot tothe tree line. I saw they had guns but I’m hoping with everything else going on, they won’t waste the ammo on us.”
“They might,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse and scratchy. Gods, it’s been so long since I’ve had to speak.
“That’s a chance we have to take. Come on,” he says, reaching over and taking my wrist. I pull my hand away, more out of instinct than anything else. Thankfully, the guy doesn’t seem to mind.
Someone comes barreling towards us but before they can make it, a zombie reaches from between the tents, tripping the guy and lunging onto him. The zombie takes a bite out of the guy’s shoulder. As we move, all I hear is his screams.
We run through camp, fighting as we go. I cry out as pain lances up from my ankle. I throw off a zombie that’s attached itself. I stop in order to stomp down on its head, shattering its skull before I move on. This guy, the one who saved me, and I are never far away from each other.
We make it to the outskirts of the camp quickly, my savior taking out a zombie and another guy along the way. Part of me is angry that he’s getting all the human kills but the bigger part of me is thankful to just follow behind. My strength might be coming back but I’m still so goddamn tired.
Everything is a blur. I follow this guy’s lead until we pause at the very last tent.
“This is it. We need to make a break for it. Head for the tree line and get something between you and the camp as soon as possible.”
“Why does it sound like we’re departing separately?”
“Because we are. Let me cover you.”
“No,” I say, my voice hard. “Come with me.”
He shakes his head but I growl, the sound coming from my chest. He looks up in surprise. His eyes dart between my own for too long before he finally agrees.
“Fine. We’ll go together. You ready?”
“Yes.”
The guy turns around, like he’s waiting for something. That’s when an explosion occurs on the other side of the camp. There’s more groaning zombies, more screaming, more fire. He gives me a small smile before turning away and running towards the forest.
We make our break. It’s been too long since I was allowed to run like this. My animalistic side rejoices at finally being free to stretch my legs. My lungs ache but in a way that feels so fucking good. We run as fast as we can.
Just as we’re about to make it into the trees, a bang sounds. Fire lights up my right thigh. I hit the ground, tripping over myself and rolling into the forest.
“Fuck,” I gasp out, my breath stolen from the pain. I look down, finding my thigh bleeding heavily. I look out and see Saul holding a rifle. That fucking asshole. Just as I’m about to look away, a zombie tackles him from behind.
Seems like poetic justice. Or something. I don’t fucking know, all I know right now is pain. That bullet was silver and it’ll take my body twice as long to heal itself.
“Come on,” my savior says, pulling me deeper into the safety of the woods. “We need to keep going.”
“Can’t,” I manage to get out. “Shot. Silver. Bleeding.”
“You’ll be fine,” he says hurriedly. He grabs something from his backpack, using it to tie around my thigh. “It looks like it went right though. You don’t have silver inside you. You’ll be okay. You’ve survived worse.”
He’s right, but this is so much blood. My head grows light. The adrenaline is fading, leaving behind a tiredness I can’t seem to fight.
“Keep going,” I tell him breathlessly. “I’ll be fine.”
“Like hell,” he says. I’m pretty sure he somehow hefts me onto his back, but I can’t be sure because a moment later, I pass out.
Chapter Three
Briggs
