I’m feet away from the dumpster, the gate slightly ajar in view, when I hear my name called. I turn slowly and come face to face with Amber, the nurse. She walks my way carrying a container of garbage in her hands.
“Hi,” I say, hoping it doesn’t come out in a squeaky panic. I do not look at the dumpster or back at Davis.
“Hey.” She eyes me warily. The sweat trickling down my forehead can’t make her feel better about my health. “I heard you were in high security quarantine. Did they release you?”
“Yep. Just got out.” I force a laugh. “Thank goodness. I was going a little stir crazy.”
“I bet.” She walks past me, opens the lid of the dumpster and drops the garbage in with a thud. After making a face at the smell wafting out she pushes back her hair she says, “Things are a little weird around here right now anyway. Have you heard?”
“About what?”
“They’ve been searching all the buildings—even the ones under quarantine. I think they’re looking for someone.”
“Weird.” I fight the reddening of my cheeks with little success. “I wonder who?”
“Must be someone important. Maybe one of the survivors brought in for vaccination or something.” She gives me a long look and I wonder if I’m going to have to shoot her. My hand rests on my gun and she asks, “I was wondering if you’d seen Wyatt?”
“You think they’re looking for Wyatt?”
Crapcrapcrap.
Her eyes widen. “What? No. I was just looking for him. Personally.”
Of course she is. “Uh, no. I haven’t seen anyone since they let us out. I’m just, you know, taking a walk to get some fresh air.”
Her nose wrinkles. “By the dumpster?”
I shrug and offer a dramatic inhalation, but then fight off a gag. It really does stink out here.
“Well if you do, let him know I’m looking for him and I’d, uh,” she smiles at me knowingly, “like to continue on with our conversation from yesterday.”
Yesterday? He was flirting with her (or more) while we were all stuck down in that hole? Packing everything up? I start to give a sharp retort when I come to my senses and simply reply, “Sure. I’ll let him know.”
She moves away from the dumpster, hesitating like she’s waiting for me to come with her but I wave her off, mumbling about that fresh air I crave and stretching my legs.
“I’ll tell Wyatt to find you, though. Definitely.” She smiles again and walks back toward the buildings. I take a few steps around the other side of the dumpster hoping no one else spots me, and then dart behind it when Ashley is out of sight. From there it only takes a few seconds to get through the gate and get swallowed whole by the forest.
I see a scrap of fabric tied to a branch and follow it until I see Wyatt and Jude, alert and ready in the forest. Relief is written all over their faces.
“What took so long?” Wyatt asks.
“Your girlfriend stopped me.”
“Girlfriend?” he asks.
Parker looks between us, but I just roll my eyes and jab Jude in the side with my elbow as he barks a nervous laugh. It’s only a few minutes more when Cole appears, pale-faced, like he’s being chased by the devil himself. Paul and Davis appear before I can ask him what happened. Paul is no longer on his feet, he’s slung over Davis’ shoulder.
“Let’s go,” the fighter says, not stopping and heading through the woods. No one questions him, running to keep up. Within minutes we’re in deep and I’m totally lost, but I also hear something, like a barking sound.
“What was that?” Parker struggles to get the question out since we’re running.
“A dog?” I suggest.
Other barks join in, forming a chorus.
“Are they after us?” I ask.
“Definitely,” Wyatt says, picking up his pace. “They know we’re out here.”