Читать книгу The Queen Of Zombie Hearts - Gena Showalter - Страница 15
ОглавлениеEAT YOUR HEART OUT
The gym was a pile of charred rubble, as expected, but the sight of it made my heart fester and ooze with an infected wound in need of tending. Shouldn’t be this way. The air, heavy with smoke, painted the surrounding landscape an eerie gray. There was something very postapocalyptic about it. As if we were the only survivors and we now had to figure out how to navigate a new world.
At least there wasn’t a rabbit cloud.
The authorities had already come and gone, leaving barricades behind.
Reeve hid our car at the side of another house. The gym was—had been—a large red barn planted in the middle of a neighborhood with homes spaced apart by acres of wheat and surrounded by a forest.
Any one of my friends could be waiting in the forest. Possibly injured.
Possibly being hunted.
“Reeve, you’re with Cole,” I said, taking charge. “Kat, you’re with me.”
“Prison rules?” Kat asked. “Kill first and ask questions later?” She withdrew a .38 revolver. It had no safety, but it did have a laser at the end to help her sight whatever she wanted to hit. Plus, the trigger was coiled tighter to prevent her from shooting accidentally.
Yeah. It had happened. She startled easily.
Reeve pulled a .22 from her purse. The gun had very little backlash, was more likely to irritate a target than kill it, but with halfway decent aim, she would be able to slow even the biggest of men.
“Actually, we’re going by Holland rules,” Cole said. “The best safety is this.” He wiggled his index finger in front of their faces. “Don’t put yours near the trigger unless you’re ready to fire. Side note. You aren’t ready to fire unless Ali or I say you’re ready.”
“But keep your weapons out and ready,” I added.
Cole kissed me before we disembarked, sending a warm pulse through me. With the girls at our sides, we ran toward the forest, tree limbs seeming to go out of their way to slap us. When we were deep enough inside that we were concealed from prying eyes, everyone slowed and moved in the direction of the gym.
“Ready to split up?” I asked. “You guys come in from the west, and we’ll come in from the east. We’ll cover more ground.”
“Sounds good.” Cole held out his arm, stopping me. Which in turn stopped the girls. His gaze pierced me. “Don’t get hurt. I mean it.”
“As if I’d dare. But you’d better be careful, too. You aren’t just a pretty decoration for the world to enjoy, you know. You’re my decoration.”
“And you’re my toy.”
We shared a look ripe with amusement and promise before branching apart.
“You guys are weird,” Kat said, “but the good news is, Cole is probably stronger than ninety-nine percent of the population, even with his arm in a sling.”
“A perfect description for Frosty, too.”
“True story.” Worry in her eyes, quickly extinguished.
With every exhalation, mist formed in front of my face. A signal trained trackers would pick up on, but it couldn’t be helped. We made our way to the east side of the gym and...saw footprints! Excitement mingled with hope, filling me up and giving me new purpose. Who had made them? Bronx or Mackenzie?
But...why not both? Why was there only one set?
Some of my excitement drained.
“Come on.” We followed the prints for a few yards. They were big. Too big to belong to Mackenzie. One—the right one—dragged. And there was a drop of blood beside that one...and that one. Bronx, if that’s who had left these, was injured.
I stepped through one line of bush after another, remaining on alert, my .44 at the ready. The drops were getting thicker, and I thought the person responsible must have begun to drag his other foot, too...only to stop. I looked around. Saw nothing. Up. Down. Left. Right. Where the heck—
“There!”
My excitement returned in an instant. He’d camouflaged himself with mud and leaves, and if not for the green of his eyes, I would have missed him. He was leaning against the tree, and “he” wasn’t Bronx. He was Gavin.
Kat and I rushed to his side. He didn’t respond. He was still, too still, his head resting on his shoulder. On closer inspection, blood was clearly mixed with the dirt, and my heart sank. His mouth was tinted blue, and, despite the cold, his teeth weren’t chattering.
My hand shook as I felt for his pulse....
“Please, tell me he’s alive,” Kat pleaded.
“Yes,” I nearly shouted. “He is.”
“Thank God!” She exhaled with relief. But she was paler than she’d been a moment ago, and I wasn’t sure if the problem was stress or her kidneys. Or both.
“Gavin,” I said, gently patting his cheeks, willing my warmth into him. “You’ve got to help us get you to your feet. We may be strong, but we’re not strong enough to carry you to safety fireman-style, so you’ve got to walk. Come on, Barbie. Please. Do it for your favorite cupcake.”
He didn’t even blink.
Very well. We’d do this the hard way. The riskier way. The same way I’d helped Cole.
“Watch my back,” I told Kat. “In a few seconds, Gavin might grunt or scream. Don’t touch him. Don’t touch me.” She wasn’t a slayer. She wouldn’t be able to see me in spirit form, and she wouldn’t be able to feel my fire—until it was too late, and she was dead.
She didn’t bother asking questions. Trusting me, she got into position behind Gavin, on the alert for any signs of an ambush.
I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath. Held it, held. As I exhaled, my spirit emerged. I quaked from the newest increase of cold, ice crystals buying prime real estate in my chest.
“Light,” I commanded my hand.
This time, it did not obey.
Okay. So. Starting a fire was going to be difficult this go-round. Noted.
But I didn’t give up. Strength to summon the flames came by faith. A spiritual weapon for a spiritual power source. I didn’t allow myself to worry, either. Worry actually weakened faith.
“I can do this,” I said. “I will do this. Now. Now! Now!”
Words were another spiritual weapon. They could be used for my good or my bad. Positive or negative. Today, I focused on the positive and flames sprang from the ends of my fingers, slowly spreading to my wrist. Slow. Not what I was used to, but okay. I could work with this.
Unsure of Gavin’s injuries, I pressed my hand into his chest—his sluggish heart.
He didn’t ash, thank God, but he did unleash a broken scream, his back bowing. At any other time, the sound of his pain might have made me flinch. Now? I smiled.
I maintained the contact for several seconds before withdrawing, dismissing the flames and returning to my body.
“You can touch us now,” I told Kat.
Gavin groaned.
“Good boy,” I said, wanting to dance and sing. I hadn’t lost him. “I know it hurts, but you’re stronger than a little pain, right? And if not, well, you’ll soon get to enjoy Mr. Ankh’s vast array of drugs, so it won’t matter.”
He tried to focus on me, but his eyes were rocking back and forth, unable to stay locked on any one object. A sign of dizziness. “Ali?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Kat, too.” She moved to his left, squeezed his hand.
“Kat, I need you to text Cole,” I said. “Tell him to return to the car, that we’ve found Gavin, and he’s hurt pretty bad.”
“On it,” she said, withdrawing her phone.
Now for the hard part. “We can help you, Barbie, but we need you to stand.”
He didn’t act as if he’d heard me. “Wreck...was chased, shot at...ran, lost tail...got to gym...fire...”
“I know. Everyone but Cole is missing,” I said as gently as possible. I’d tell him about the deaths after he was stabilized.
“Frosty,” he said, then grimaced and clutched his side.
Kat pocketed her phone and pinched his chin, forcing him to face her. “What about him? Have you seen him?”
“Ali,” he repeated, as if he hadn’t heard her. “Help.”
Disappointment could have felled her, but my friend squared her shoulders, determined to motor on.
I was beyond proud of her. “Let’s get him to Mr. Ankh.”
With a major effort from both of us, we finally maneuvered him to his feet. As he swayed, we positioned ourselves under his arms, becoming his crutches. Had to be a comical sight, two sticks trying to balance a grade-A manimal. My legs juddered under his weight, and I’m sure Kat’s did, too.
As we lumbered forward, Gavin said, “Saw...Frosty. He came to gym...men chased us...he led them away...from me...but not before he told me...meet him...Wok and Roll.”
Kat practically bubbled over with exhilaration, and I didn’t have to wonder what she was thinking. The Wok and Roll was a twenty-four-hour Chinese buffet only a few blocks from here, and if Frosty was still there, waiting for Gavin, she could be in his arms within the next half hour.
Cole and Reeve paced beside the car. Spotting my ragtag trio, Cole rushed over and took Kat’s place. Reeve opened the back.
“Any sign of Anima on your end?” I asked.
“Not one.”
Together, we got Gavin settled inside. I straightened, stepped back and said, “Take him directly to your house, Reeve, rather than the church.” Gavin might blow an artery if he had to climb into the tunnel. “But call your dad on the way and let him know you’re coming. He’ll do something to ensure Anima isn’t nearby, watching.”
She nodded. “Done and done.”
Kat took my hand, tugged. “Ali and I are heading to the Wok and Roll. Frosty might be there, waiting for Gavin.”
“Uh, Kat.” I planted my heels. Hello tricky, sticky situation. “You’re going with Reeve.”
“What? No.” She gave a shake of her head, drawing attention to the fact that she was paler than before. “No way. No how.”
Yes way. Yes how. “You’re not objective when it comes to Frosty.” More than that, he’d had Anima on his tail. Could be with Anima right now. Not only would Mr. Ankh disapprove of me taking her into a situation far more dangerous than this one, but Frosty would also. “I need you to listen—”
“No.” She stomped her foot. “You listen. I’m going!”
O-kay. I suddenly understood why Cole was as hard-core as he was. Arguing with your allies wasted precious time. “Kat. Please. Be reasonable.”
Cole didn’t give her a chance to respond. “Two choices. You’ll do what she says.” In full commander mode, he added, “Or you’ll do what she says. Feel me?”
Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits, the patent stillness of a predator coming over her. “Oh, I feel you all right. Now you’re about to feel me.”
He flattened his good hand on the car, caging her against the metal, leaning down to get into her face. “You want to try something? Go ahead.”
Ding, ding. Round one of The Bloodbath has begun.
“Gavin could be bleeding out right this minute.” I glared at one, then the other. “We could have targets on our backs. Get in the car and go, Kat.”
Still she shook her head, stubborn to the bitter end. “I’m going after Frosty. That’s final.”
I looked to Cole. He was practically hemorrhaging determination. Hard decisions came with hard consequences—he was getting ready to make one. One of us would have to go with her, and we both knew it.
“It’s time for you to prove number seven.” That he would stand back and let me fight. “You’re injured. I’m not. I’ll be the one to find Frosty.”
I expected an argument. Instead, he gave me a clipped nod and grabbed Kat by the waist, hauling her inside the car, holding her down. She fought like, well, an alley cat, hissing, clawing, scratching, and it tore me up inside. Every fiber of my being screamed to help her, to stop this, to give her what she wanted, but I didn’t. Sometimes what we wanted wasn’t what we needed. I would apologize later, and she would have to forgive me...because Frosty would be with me.
Please, let him be with me.
I stored my .44 at my waist (safety on). As the car sped away from the curb, tires squealing, my gaze collided with Cole’s, and through the window, we experienced a moment of total understanding. He’d do whatever was necessary to protect the girls. Even at the cost of his own life.
It had better not come to that.
The second the vehicle was out of sight, I sprinted into the forest, heading toward the shopping center where the Wok and Roll was located. The activity helped loosen my regret, and I began to warm, my blood rushing faster and faster through my veins.
Eventually, gnarled trees gave way to a paved road. I went up a hill, down a hill, through another neighborhood, careful to study every passing car, before finally reaching my destination. My lungs burned. Despite the cold, beads of sweat rolled down my spine.
It was Saturday, and shoppers were out in droves. Building after building stretched on both sides of me, each peppered with stores and restaurants. Being around so many people unnerved me. Anyone could be with Anima, just waiting to strike.
Strike and die.
A bell tinkled over the door as I entered the buffet. The scent of fried meat immediately assaulted me, and I almost hurled.
Only one other customer was there. A middle-aged man who definitely wasn’t Frosty, and I highly doubted he was with Anima. He had to be one egg roll away from a heart attack.
Frustration cut at me. Enraged Kat for nothing.
No, no. Maybe Frosty had taken off, but had plans to return.
There was still hope.
A bright-eyed hostess approached me, smiling a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How many?”
Could she be with Anima? “Just one.”
She led me to a table in the center of the room.
“In back, please.”
Shoulders stiff, she moved to the booth hidden by a huge aquarium and arched a brow, a silent is this good enough for princess?
“Perfect.” I scooted into my seat, accidentally on purpose brushing against her to feel for weapons. Nothing. “Thank you.”
Her lips compressed as she set a menu in front of me and took off.
I pulled out my phone and texted Cole. Frosty isn’t here. Gonna wait N case he comes back. Has Kat calmed down?
Cole: Kat—no. U—DON’T WAIT LIKE SWEET LITTLE TARGET, GO HOME.
Swear I heard his irritated voice reverberating through my mind. He’d let me do this, and now he regretted it. Figured.
Me: News flash, Holland. ALL CAPS DOES NOT INTIMIDATE ME.
Cole: IT SHOULD. THE WRATH OF C.H. IS NOT A PRETTY THING.
Me: Bite me.
Cole: This just in—I will. W/pleasure. But I want U 2 come back & get me. Currently there R no other cars available. BTW this is nonnegotiable.
Me: Sorry, babe, but this was an FYI exchange & not a solicitation 4 orders. U can use the time apart 2 negotiate this. (I used an emoticon to flip him off.)
Cole: So that’s a soft yes?
Good glory. I put the phone away, before he distracted me from my purpose. More than he already had.
Think! Even if Frosty had plans to come back to the Wok and Roll, he wouldn’t have gone very far. Unless he was forced. He would probably move from shop to shop, where he could watch the restaurant’s front door for Gavin without allowing anyone to get a lock on him.
But...if that was true, he would have spotted me and come racing over.
“Know what you want to order?” asked the hostess—waitress now—when she reappeared at my table.
“Hey, was there a fight in here today? Any kind of yelling match?” Any hint that my friend had been spotted?
Her brow furrowed with confusion. “No. Why?”
Rather than answer, I threw a twenty on the table. “Never mind. I’ve got to go.”
She didn’t try to stop me as I stalked outside. I leaned against the brick wall, as if taking a moment to warm myself against the cutting breeze. Really, I was scanning the shops across the way. Clothes. Clothes. Coffee. Shoes. Bakery. Cloth—
Coffee.
He could stay there longest, without drawing notice.
I rushed over and entered the warmth and deliciousness of the caffeine-scented shop. I studied the occupants, my nerves about to reach the breaking point, and—
Found him!
Joy. Such profound joy. He was in the corner, looking out the glass window. He’d hidden his pale hair under a hat. The coat he wore had to be stolen, because I’d never seen him wear it, and it wasn’t his size. It was also pink with purple flowers.
I walked to Frosty’s table, pulled out a chair.
“Get lost—” Relief eroded all hints of anger. He leaned toward me. “Thank God it’s you. Tell me everything you know. Start with information about Kat.”
“She’s alive and well and desperate to see you.”
He closed his eyes, one of which was black, and sagged against the table. “You have no idea how badly I want to see her, too, but when I searched Ankh’s place last night, she was gone.”
“There’s a secret passage that leads from Ankh’s to an underground facility,” I said. “She was staying there.”
“Was?”
“As of this morning, she’s back at Ankh’s. He’s refortified the security.”
Frosty’s hand curled into a fist. “I’ve been so worried....”
“I know,” I said, patting that fist. “Why didn’t you come to the Wok and Roll when I arrived?”
He frowned. “I didn’t see you.”
“But you were supposed to meet Gavin there.”
“No. I was supposed to meet him at the coffee shop across from the Wok and Roll.”
I’d blame Gavin’s confusion on blood loss.
“Is he okay?” Frosty asked, an edge to his tone.
He expected bad news. “He will be,” I said, determined. “Right now, he’s in pretty bad shape. Cole, too, though he’s doing much better. He was shot.” Keep it together. “They’re both with Mr. Ankh.”
“Good. That’s good.” A grim cast overshadowed his expression. “Cruz is—”
“Yeah. I know.” The sting of tears. Shut down the waterworks. Now. “Trina and Lucas, too.”
He ground his fists into his eyes. “What about the others?”
“I wish I knew. You haven’t heard or seen anything?”
“Only that Justin and Jaclyn are missing.”
Had the twins been kidnapped? Or were they dead?
Jaclyn and I weren’t the best of friends, but we were no longer enemies. I hated the thought of her out there, suffering—or worse.
“I planned to give Gavin five more minutes,” Frosty said. “Then I was going to head out and start searching for the others.”
More proof that ticking clocks sucked. Had I arrived a few minutes later, I would have missed him. “What happened last night? With you, I mean.”
Bleakly, he said, “I was at home, in bed but still awake. I heard a squeak and tried to sit up. A hard hand slapped over my mouth, and a needle jabbed into my neck. It was an instant mind-screw. I was dizzy. I was weak and compliant. The guy must have drugged my guardians, too, because he was able to get me downstairs and out the front door without their interference. Then he made the mistake of putting me in the front seat of his car. The moment the dizziness eased, I was able to force him off the side of the road, get out and head for the gym.”
“But it was already burning to the ground,” I confirmed.
“I noticed armed men chasing an injured Gavin and did my best to gain their attention. I succeeded, but it took almost two hours to lose them and another two to make it to Ankh’s. I kept passing out. Then I came here.”
So. Anima hadn’t wanted to kill Frosty. But they’d certainly wanted to kill Cole. Why?
What was their plan? Their purpose?
“Do you know where any of the others might have hidden?” Bronx. Mackenzie. Veronica. Collins.
“Bronx...maybe. I was going to check a meeting place of ours when I left here.”
“I’ll go with you. Just need to tell Cole what’s going on.”
“He micromanaging?”
“Something like that.”
I texted Cole and Kat at the same time. Found Frosty. He’s alive & well. We have lead on Bronx. More soon. & Kat...I’m sorry. I will make it up 2 U, swear!
Cole’s response came seconds later. Keep me updated.
Kat’s came a few seconds after that, and only after I’d read it did I chill. Bring my boy toy home & all will B 4given.
Oh, how I loved that girl. She wasn’t going to hold a grudge or even yell at me.
“So,” Frosty said as we stood. “I have to ask you a personal question, because our next move hinges on your answer.”
I tensed, unsure about what he could possibly want to know. “Ask.”
“How do you feel about stealing cars?”
