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I stared at Patrick, unable to believe what he’d just said.When Molev slowly crossed his arms and looked down at him as well, I knew we were in trouble.
“I am not your weapon, and I am not the only one who needs to prove himself an ally.Walk with care, Patrick.”
Patrick’s gaze narrowed, but not in an angry way.More like he was weighing his options and deciding on his response.I hoped Patrick would get it through his head that Molev wasn’t the type to respond well to threats and wouldn’t try to strong-arm him again.
Molev didn’t give Patrick time to speak.He jumped down from the vehicle and strode toward the barn.A few seconds later, the first body flew out.The head followed.The barn team moved away from the opening.
“We walked into a nest or something,” Brandon said.“Ten to twelve undead were just clustered together in the back corner, standing there, waiting for us to find them.As soon as William spotted them, they swarmed.William was bitten.I managed two kills before the rest scattered.It was like a game of hide-and-seek after that until Molev started talking.Two went for him.We didn’t have a clear shot to assist until he and Andie jumped out of the way.”
Brandon looked up at me as another body flew out of the barn.“It was an impressive jump.”
“No more impressive than a guy tossing two-hundred-pound men at least twenty feet,” I said, nodding toward the growing pile of bodies.
“All that has nothing on his hearing,” Derek said, moving away from the throw zone.“He heard you cleared the house before you radioed it, and he heard there was trouble in the barn.”
“And what did he do when he heard there was trouble?”Patrick asked.
“Nothing other than telling us about it,” Derek said.
“Not true,” I said.“He did come with us.”
“No, he came with you,” Derek said.
It felt like everyone turned to look at me.
“Try being nicer,” I said.
Patrick rubbed a hand over his head.“We need to know if he’s really with us, Andie.”
Without acknowledging his unspoken command, I climbed off the top of the truck and entered the barn, careful to stay to the side so I wouldn’t get hit by flying dead people.
This time, I let my eyes adjust.Molev was carrying another body toward me.His gaze swept me from head to toe like I was being judged or maybe scanned for a weapon.Then he dismissed me completely when he threw the body out.
He backtracked and sat on the ground, leaning back against a support beam just like he had in the last barn.Only this time, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
He was definitely dismissing me.
Even if Patrick couldn’t see that we’d just lost footing with him, I could.I wanted to swear.Instead, I joined him on the floor.Our shoulders brushed when I leaned back against the beam.
“You’re strong, fast, and apparently have super hearing,” I said.“Even with all of that, I wouldn’t want to be you.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw him turn his head to look at me.
“Why not?”
“You’re either hated or feared for being different.No one trusts you.You’re alone right now with no friends.No one you can count on.”I met his gaze.“It makes people wonder why you’re here and not back with your friends where you wouldn’t be getting shot at.”
He grunted and faced forward.
“I think there’s something in it for you.When a person is desperate enough, they will suffer through anything to get what they want,” I said, thinking of Zion.
“Patrick is right,” Molev said after a lengthy silence.“I left those bodies so you would notice.Humans fear us, and I needed to give you a reason not to fear me.”
“A pile of headless bodies isn’t exactly a friendship gift.You can see how it could also be viewed as aggressive and threatening, right?”
“Iamdesperate for something, Andie.And I will suffer through anything to get it.What do I need to do to prove I am worthy of your trust?”
“Trust isn’t won with a single act but a bunch of them.We were on our way to gaining the group’s trust by sharing a meal and arm wrestling.We need to get back to that.”
