Beyond(28)

What else has everyone been keeping from me?





“He used to feed her,” Sam says, studying me as I lean my back against the tree trunk and close my eyes. “We killed any other zombie that came near the castle but not her.”

“She wasn’t a pet,” I whisper. “I don’t know why he did it.”

“He loved her. Too much to kill her. Love made him selfish. He didn’t want you to know. Made sure that no one told you. It was his burden to bear.”

His voice is sympathetic, and when my first tear drops, he sits next to me and holds me in his arms.





“I know you wanted us here because you don’t trust us,” Fred says. “But we will prove ourselves to you.”

I really hope they did.

“You’ve been nothing but great so far,” I tell him, because it was true. The dungeon men blended in with the others. They kept guard, didn’t start any fights, and seemed honest. Only time would tell if that’s the people they truly were though.

“We love living in the castle. It’s nothing like out here. It’s a whole new world,” he admits, smiling and showing off his yellow teeth.

“Drink some water Olivia,” Gina demands, handing me an animal hide water bottle. I take a few sips and then hand it back to her.

“Thanks.”

We’ve been walking for hours.

Apart from seeing bodies of zombies on the floor, there were no other signs of life. Was it Dane that killed them? It was almost like there was a trail of them for us to follow.

Then I see it.

Smoke.

I nudge Sam and point to it. He motions for us to duck down, so we do, behind the trees.

“Looks like a camp,” Jase whispers. “I don’t know how many.”

“Plan of action?” I ask, pulling an arrow out and holding it in my other hand just in case. “Why don’t two of us head closer and check it out?”

“Let me guess, you’re volunteering,” Gina whisper-hisses at me. “Seriously you have more balls than most men I know.”

Sam flashes her a dirty look.

“Shut up,” Jase snaps at her, then turns to me. “You’re staying your ass here. Sam and I will go.”

“He’s kind of hot when he goes all alpha male,” Gina turns and says to me with wide eyes.

“Hot,” she mouths again.

I lift my head and pray for patience.

“Protect them,” Sam tells Wyatt, one of the men. Wyatt was a bulky guy, who kind of reminded me of a large bear. Scruffy beard, long messy brown hair and the muscles of a body builder, he also had kind brown eyes that said he wasn’t as mean as he looked. Oh, and he was quiet. He never spoke unless spoken to. Wyatt nods then glances in my direction. Not knowing what else to do, I wiggle my fingers at him. He blushes.

I look to Gina who is staring at Sam. “Be safe.”

“Hey that’s my line,” I murmur, looking at my best friend. “Be safe Sam.”

He shakes his head in exasperation, and then he and Jase are off.

“This team needs a name. A code name.”

Gina looks at me like I’m crazy. “There is something seriously wrong with you.”

I wish Dane was here. He would have thought of an awesome code name.

Dane.

Fuck, I missed the man. He better be safe, or I’m going to be pissed.

He said he’d always come back.

“How long until the sun goes down?” I ask no one in particular.

“Couple of hours,” Wyatt replies quietly.

As soon as the sun went down we would need to find somewhere safe to sleep. We’d have to take turns taking guard. Hearing a noise coming from behind us, I grab my bow and arrow, positioning the arrow and pointing it in that direction. Something steps out from behind one of the bushes. It…hell, I had no clue what it was.

But it was f*cking scary.

“What the f*ck is that?” I ask, my heart about to jump out of my chest. It wasn’t anything I’d ever seen before in my life.

It was a monster.

That was the only way I can describe it.

With elongated fangs and black fur, it was standing on two legs… paws. I don’t f*cking know. It was like a cross between a bear and a t-rex. Yellow eyes stare down at me, drool dripping from its sharp teeth.

“Olivia?” Gina whispers, her voice shaking. “What is that?”

Wyatt and the men surround Gina and I, as we slowly move backwards as a group.

“You two run. We will kill it,” Wyatt says, holding out his spear in front of him. “On the count of three. One, two, three…”

I grab Gina’s arm and run. Not because I was scared, but because I couldn’t leave Gina alone. Also, I had an idea. I hear the men fighting behind us as we make our escape. I stop when we come to a tall tree and look at Gina who is panting from running. “Can you climb?”

“No,” she replies, leaning down, hands on her knees.

“Yes, you can Gina,” I snap. “I want to climb up there and see if I can take a shot with my bow. Can you try to climb up? Or will you wait down here?”

“I’ll w-wait,” she whispers, sitting down and clutching her knees to her chest. She looked dazed, maybe she was about to have a panic attack, but I’d have to deal with her in a second. Putting my back pack down next to Gina, I climb the tree with my bow and arrow. When I find a steady spot, I stop and look. I see the men trying to kill the beast, but it was strong. When I see it strike one of the men down, I know they need my help. Aiming my arrow, I try and get a clear shot. I couldn’t risk hitting one of the men. So I wait.