Page 107 of Red

Yelling comes from beside us as a siren fills the air.

“Tripp,” someone says, bolting past us.

“Give me a minute,” he says.

“Now,” they snap.

“Aly, you’re sticking beside me. I don’t know what’s going on, but I want to hear the rest of your story.”

He turns, and I keep in stride beside him. We walk over to the man who yelled his name. “There were gunshots on the north side. The fire’s drowning them out. Might want to check it out. That’s why we started the siren,” he says.

My heart thumps against my chest.

He swings his rifle forward and takes off. Tripp is right beside him, and I have no choice but to run through the camp after them. I need to see what’s going on.

The second we’re away from the fire, three more shots go off. A howl sends ripples through the air. No.

Where is he?

I run until we get to the edge of the camp.

Tripp halts and puts out his arm, colliding with my ribcage. He lifts his gun and brings the rim of the scope to his eye, then lowers it again and turns back toward me. “I’ll keep you safe.” He brushes my cheek and I flinch as a huge man covered in white camo comes up behind us.

“Tripp, we’re surrounded.” Finley says, close enough now for me to see his face.

“Where’s Hudson?”

“Out there.” He points off to the left as another shot goes off.

“Stay right behind me.” Tripp raises his gun and starts to walk.

We move further out into the forest as a set of howls breaks out into the air.

Now.

I got the little human.

I turn to see six wolves charge a hundred feet away from us. A shriek rises in the air, then another.

Tripp moves his gun to the side, while I put both hands up to his back and push. “Aly, careful,” he says resetting his position.

I hear screaming near us as armed humans run over. Tripp sends off four shots.

A body flies into the trees to the left. I need to help. Two humans come up from behind us, guns firing. One drops a magazine and pulls another from their pocket. It snaps in with a click. I cover my ears again.

Tripp starts walking further out into the forest, and the others walk with us.

“Aly, hurry up.” Tripp looks at me over his shoulder, and I pick up my pace.

Three wolves are up ahead, but I can’t tell who they are. Tripp stalks closer, and they run off to the side, turning into blurs. I hear a yip.

“Got one,” someone yells. My stomach sinks.

Finley next to us fires off a spray of rounds to the right. I press my hands to my ears. “Fuck, I’m almost out.” He digs in his pockets. Good.

“Men!” Tripp shouts. “Spread out more. We need to cover more ground. Save the rounds for when you have a shot.”

They all fan into different directions. Tripp drops his hand and reaches for mine. I tighten my grip. He can’t shoot with one arm. We walk another fifty feet forward, where Tripp stops and bends down. “I need my hand, Aly. When this is over, we’ll have all the time.”