Page 115 of After the Burn

I pulled with all the strength I had left, even though I knew it wouldn’t be enough.

My strength had failed me for the first time since the meteors fell.

A massive hand appeared over my shoulder. It wrapped completely around the infected’s skull.

The pressure around Wren vanished. The torso lifted into the air as though it weighed nothing.

I stumbled backward.

The man holding it was enormous. Well over six and a half feet. Broad enough to make Beck look merely muscular instead of intimidating.

A thick beard hid most of his face. Dark hair brushed his shoulders. He wore clothes patched together from scavenged canvas and faded flannel, and every inch of him seemed honed for violence.

The infected snapped wildly at the immense man, but he didn’t react. With one smooth motion, he drew a hunting knife from his belt and drove it through the infected’s temple, blood spraying his shirt.

The body went limp, and he dropped it on the ground at Wren’s feet.

Wren coughed violently but finally got out. “You…” She cleared her throat. “… you’re the mattress person?”

The giant stared at her for a few moments before giving a slow nod.

“I figured,” she said, brushing leaves from her jeans and flinging a long piece of rotten intestine over her shoulder. “I left you some jerky.”

He stared at her in fascination for another moment, then his eyes shifted past us, and his entire body went still. His head turned toward the trailers, and one word left his mouth.

“Men.” The tone was so flat it somehow carried more urgency than a shout.

I followed his gaze.

Then I caught it. The faint crunch of boots, more than one set.

Coming fast.

Max gave a low growl, and the giant stepped in front of Wren without hesitation, putting his body between her and the road.

A heartbeat later, I heard branches snapping.

“Taryn!” Beck burst from the trees, his rifle already in his hands, two rabbits swinging forgotten from one fist, as his eyes swept the scene in an instant. “What the hell happened?”

Before anyone answered, three figures emerged from between the trailers.

They froze the second they saw us.

All three men were from Gideon’s town.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

TARYN

“Well, what do we have here?” The tallest man said, stopping a few yards away.

“Looks like the latest find of Gideon’s.” A short, red-haired man, whom I believed to be named Peter, came up to his side.

I knew all three were enhanced, and I’d seen them hanging out with Mace and Gage often. Everything had been total chaos when we left, so hopefully they didn’t see Harper and Finley leave with us.

“I’m glad to see you made it out.” Beck stepped in front of me, ignoring the giant covered in blood who was doing the same to Wren.

“Well, hello there, Beck.” The third guy spoke up. “Gideon sent us to find you.”