Afflicted

“The only one they reported missing was you. They said a cricket scared you off,” he chuckled and I tried to elbow him, narrowly missing as he ducked aside.

“Took you long enough,” Demi called from somewhere ahead of us.

“Are you alright?” Ryan jogged through the trees and pulled me into a hug. “I wanted to come and help find you but-“

“But I told him I was better suited to the task and I doubted a Quarterback would have much to offer in the way of help.” Lincoln winked at me and moved past us to join the rest of my friends.

“You're not injured?” Ryan asked, reaching for my face.

“I'm fine,” I said as I brushed past him and headed for the others.

Most of them were staring at Lincoln like he was some kind of god sent to save them. They clustered around him eagerly, waiting for direction.

“I'll take you as far as the city,” he was saying. “Where I’ll meet up with my squad. Once you're inside you'll be safe.”

“You can get us there safely?” Chloe asked desperately. “You promise?”

“I'll be damned if I'll make a promise like that but I'll certainly try. So we should probably get moving.”

“Try?” Demi sneered. “What use are you then?”

“I'm not forcing you to come with me. Do or don't - it’s up to you.” Lincoln turned his back on her and started a quick pace away between the trees.

I hurried to follow him and the others all fell in too. Demi muttered something but I didn't catch it and didn't need to. She wasn't stupid enough to stay in the woods alone but she was too proud to ever offer an apology either.

Lincoln strode through the overgrown forest without hesitating, clearly knowing where he was heading.

I jogged to catch up to him and walk beside him. After everythi

ng that had happened that day, Linc finding me was the only time I'd actually felt like I might survive long enough to get home. And I wasn't about to leave his side any time soon.

Chapter Twenty Seven

Kaitlyn

As we finally stepped out of the trees, the sky was beginning to lighten. The moon had sunk out of sight and a pale blue sliver of sky had appeared in the east.

The tarmac beneath my feet felt like heaven after miles across mud and tangled roots. We had emerged on the far side of town, a few blocks south of my house. I could have cried with relief.

“What now?” Spencer asked before we could set off again. “Do we all just split up and head home? Can we risk it?”

I glanced longingly up the street which led to my house. I knew that all of the others would be feeling the same and wanted to get back to their own families. But was it safe enough for us to split up?

A car blared its horn loudly at us as it came our way down the street. We hurried to jump out of the road and I watched as it headed off into the distance. There were suitcases secured to the roof and the trunk had been tied down as it wouldn't close around its cargo.

“Some people are fleeing to the mountains rather than heading for the city,” Lincoln explained as he caught the look of confusion on my face.

“Why?” Lacey asked with a frown.

“Fear. Everything that everyone is doing at the moment is pretty much based on fear,” he replied.

“Are the streets here safe?” Ella asked. “I want to go home.”

“I wouldn't say anywhere is safe just now. But my truck is fully charged back at the house and I can drop you all to your homes if that's what you want,” Lincoln offered.

“Sounds like a plan,” Reese agreed with a smile.

“Then let's move out.” Lincoln looked both ways then jogged across the road, leading our group at a fast but maintainable pace. Everyone ignored Demi as she grumbled in disagreement and she reluctantly followed us.