Page 10 of After the Burn

“Just be happy you didn’t become one of the infected.” I took the band off my wrist and twisted my dark hair into a messy bun.

This time out, I wasn’t stuck in a ridiculous cheerleading outfit.

Thank God.

On one of our scouting trips, we’d come across a large retail camping store that wasn’t completely cleaned out, so we took everything we could carry back to the farmhouse.

We had to leave most of what we owned behind when we fled from my house.

Both Lila and I were wearing what I lovingly called apocalypse chic.

Big flannel shirts hung off one shoulder over tight tank tops. Flashlights dangled from utility belts, and scuffed hiking boots were paired with cutoffs or leggings that looked like they'd survived at least one fence hop. Backpacks adorned with colorful patches complemented outfits that blended practical survival gear with a determined flair for style.

At least that’s what we told ourselves.

It was all very rugged, outdoorsman-meets-hot-girl, who absolutely knows how to start a fire and slit a throat.

And let’s not forget the matching bracelets we made with the twins using some craft supplies we found. Looking down at my wrist, I thought it might be my most beloved accessory ever.

Lila shuddered. “Believe me, I am. I wonder why certain people didn’t become infected or get superpowers?”

“I don’t know. Adrian has a theory about that, but he doesn’t want to share it until he knows more… the dickhole,” I snarled.

My stepbrother was a sensitive topic. Almost immediately after waking, he made it clear I was his. Beck strongly opposed this, and the only thing keeping them from killing each other was the circumstances we were in. Before the incident that haunted me constantly, it’d been my dad. I felt tears well up, turned my head, and regained control of my emotions.

I didn’t want Lila to see me crying.

We’d all experienced tragedy by this point, but the human need to survive kept us from succumbing to our grief. Lila had lost her entire family, and she wasn’t crying, so I wouldn’t either.

The only thing I needed to think about at this point was finding out why in the hell Beck and Adrian hadn’t come back yet.

“He’s a sexy dickhole,” Lila sighed dreamily.

“You can have him.” I rolled my eyes.

She laughed. “As if he would even glance at anyone who wasn’t you.”

I didn’t comment. My heart was being pulled in two directions (my body in three), and I didn’t know what to do about it.

We walked for several more hours without speaking, both of us lost in our thoughts.

“We’ll stop soon,” I said, looking ahead through the trees. “Then we can make plans to check out the town.”

With a yawn, Lila nodded her head in agreement.

Max moved a few steps ahead of us, nose low, body alert but not tense enough to signal immediate danger.

Just…aware.

Like me.

It didn’t take long to find something I thought would be relatively safe. It was a small, rundown hunting shack tucked back just far enough from the nearby road to remain unnoticed. Someone had boarded up the windows from the inside, and the door hung slightly crooked on its hinges.

“Home sweet home,” Lila muttered.

“Stay here while I make sure it’s clear.” I pulled GG from my pack.

“I can kill infected, too, you know.” Lila rolled her eyes but did as I said.