The World Without End [Box Set]

by Nazarea Andrews

  He snorts. “The Haven is run by politicians with little time for a war vet who is more crazy than he is cautious. They won’t listen to me—and I’ll let the Haven fall before I give the infects a chance at me.”

  Finn hesitates, and I look at him. He’s ignored me all morning, ignored the tension that spikes whenever we brush against each other in the small room.

  “Have a plan. You won’t be able to save them all, but you might save a few and you’ll have a better chance at getting out alive if you have a plan. Don’t count on the gates—those will lock down as soon as the Horde gets close. Have another way out. Don’t go to the Hatch— those will be death traps.”

  “Is that how you got out? When Hellspawn fell?”

  Finn’s lips thin, but he nods reluctantly. “Yeah. It is.”

  Ansliey frowns, clearly unhappy, but he nods.

  And that quickly, we’re done. We’re ready to leave. Except...

  “Dustin,” I say softly. Both men turn to look at me, and I see the tension in Finn’s face tighten, just a little. He doesn’t like me asking about Dustin. Not even this little bit.

  Well, fuck Finn and what he likes.

  Ansliey’s lips tip into a slight smile, and he pulls out a thin silver chain. A tiny vial swings from it, and tears cloud my eyes. I take a deep breath, determined to get through this meeting without breaking down like a little girl on her first day of school.

  “I thought he seemed important to you. I can’t give you everything—Haven procedures when we have a mutating virus.”

  I nod, and he hands me the thin chain. The little vial swirls and clouds with gray dust— not much at all, but so much more than I expected. “Thank you,” I whisper, hugging him suddenly.

  Ansliey goes stiff and startled, and then he relaxes into my embrace, patting my shoulder softly. “I’ll see him buried, girl.”

  I nod and pull back, wiping my eyes quickly. I loop the thin chain over my head and let the cold vial settle against my skin, the ash inside swirling and slowly coming to rest.

  It’s a tiny memento, but it is more than I expected. It will be enough, because it has to be. I step away from the Warden, and Finn clears his throat. Tosses me my pack. And that fast, we’re done—ready to leave once again.

  Chapter 24.

  Destinations and Clues

  We’re in the ZTNK, pulling the truck behind us. I’m not sure if that’s because Finn wants the versatility of an extra vehicle, or if he’s too stubborn to leave it behind in a Haven we will likely never return to.

  I move around the back of the RV, getting our bags stowed and changing out of the corset and into a loose practice shirt. A bag of weapons gets tossed between the driver and passenger seat and I grab two bottles of water from the RV’s fridge before dropping into my seat and cross one leg under me, handing Finn a bottle of water silently before I flip open the book in my lap.

  “What is that?”

  It’s a thin book I found in the barracks last night, when I couldn’t sleep and slipped out.

  I’m still a little surprised I was able to get past Finn without waking him. Or maybe it’s just that he didn’t care that I was leaving.

  “Oral history of the Change.”

  He glances at it, and I hold it up. The title is very self-explanatory, but I elaborate anyway. “People who were in the Battle for the East, and who survived that first few years—these are some of their stories.”

  “Everyone has a story,” he says dismissively.

  I pin him with a hard stare. “Everyone does, but not everyone wants to talk about it. Unless you’d like to talk to me about the Thrasher? Because I can put this down, if so.”

  His gaze darts to mine, furious, and I smirk. “That’s what I thought, O’Malley.”

  I turn back to my book. I don’t really want to talk to Finn any more than he wants to talk to me, and I definitely don’t want to remember the feel of his leg between mine, his mouth on me.

  He opens his mouth, and for a moment, I think he’ll talk. That he’ll tell me one damn thing without me having to beg for it or fight it out on my own. Instead, he makes a face and focuses on the road. I stare at the page, the words blurring as my temper rises, and reach for the vial hanging between my breasts. I clench it, hard, and fight to even my temper. Flip to the next page and try to read these strangers’ horror stories.

  Ironic, that I will know more about them than I will about the man I’ve been traveling with for two weeks.

  “Why do you suppose he went to the Stronghold?”

  “What?” Finn says, distracted as we weave down the potholed road. Clearly 9 has priorities, and maintaining the roads in and out of it aren’t high on the list. Maybe it’s their proximity to the border.

  “Collin and that priest. Why would he go with a priest to Vegas?”

  “He didn’t.”

  I jerk hard in my seat, twisting to look at Finn.

  “There was another message. With the morgue attendant. He’s not headed to the Stronghold—he’s going to 6.”

  “Why there?”

  “Why not?” Finn shrugs. “I don’t really know, Nurrin. I’m just following the breadcrumbs and hoping we get to him before they run out. But what it does tell us is that he’s alive—or he was three days ago.”

  That’s true, a comforting truth. But maybe he isn’t anymore. Maybe Finn is feeding me that line of hope because I’m crumbling and he can see through my shell and tell.

  Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for it. I nod a little, blinking back the tears that are stinging my eyes. “So. Not the Stronghold?”

  “Not this time. As much as I’m sure Omar would love to see us.”

  “What happened between you and Omar?” I ask, the question out before I can stop it.

  Finn’s grip on the steering wheel tightens, enough that the plastic creaks alarmingly. “What is the only thing that matters?” he asks, softly.

  I don’t have to question what he’s talking about. “You will keep me alive and keep Collin alive.”

  Something flickers across his face, and then, “Omar betrayed me. He betrayed the mission. I can forgive a lot—but not that.”

  There’s more to it—so much more, from the rage in his voice. But for once I’m not interested in pushing him.

  “One day, you’ll trust me enough to tell me some of what happened to you,” I says softly. He looks at me, staring as we bump down the road, and I don’t look away. Finn finally smirks, a mocking twitch of his lips before he turns back to the road. I let out the breath I’m holding and lean my head back on the seat.

  “One day, little girl, you will have earned it.”

  Chapter 25.

  Another New Place

  The trip to 6 is surprisingly uneventful. With a bed to crash on and plenty of food, we don’t need to stop for much—once for gas at a fortified little station that sells us fresh, hot sandwiches, and then we’re on our way again. Moving is the safest way to be, in the Wide Open.

  “What will we face in 6?” I ask.

  Finn shrugs. “I don’t know. I’ve never been there.”

  “So we won’t be trusting your name to open doors?” I ask, flipping a page. I’m almost through with my little book, and feel like I’m no closer to knowing anything.

  Certainly this book has nothing about the Thrasher and why she was so important in the East. The account I’m reading now is from a sailor on one of the last boats to make dock in New York before ERI-Milan mutated in Atlanta.

  Finn ignores my question. Typical.

  “Where are you from?” I ask abruptly. “Originally?”

  Finn shoots me a startled look. “That is your burning question? Where I was born? What the hell does it matter? I’m here now. I’ve been here for over twenty years.”

  “One question,” I grit. His eyebrows arch, and I shake my head. “I’m not pushing about Kelsey or Omar, or why the fuck every haven seems to know your name—all important things, by the way. I’m not demanding to kn
ow what’s so important about Collin that you will do all of this to find him. I’m asking where you were born.”

  I stand and start to the back of the RV, unable to stomach him anymore. I pause. “You demand a lot of trust from me. A lot of tolerance for a ton of bullshit. You can’t expect me to trust you without reservation if you won’t give a little.”

  It’s late that night—he let me sleep longer than I thought he would, maybe because I yelled at him. Although that’s not typical behavior for Finn.

  The ZTNK rumbles to a stop, and he calls back to me. “We’re here.”

  I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling for a long minute, trying to shake the fog of sleep, and process that we’ve arrived. The air is drifting in from Finn’s open window, and it tastes wilder—bigger—than anything I’ve ever known. Distantly, I can hear a dull roar.

  I roll from the bed and twist my shirt straight, then shamble up to the front and drop into the seat next to him.

  He glances at me then back at the Haven. “We’re just ourselves here. If Ansliey got in touch with them, it’s too late to lie.”

  “But you won’t be able help us by flaunting your name.”

  “Not here. But that was true of 9 as well,” he reminds me. “And we still did fine.”

  I don’t take the bait. Too much about Finn is pushing me too far. I need space from him, time to think. I need my brother, to remind me why I trust this enigmatic man.

  Neither are options right now.

  We roll up to the gate, and I stare at the wide white walls, reminding myself that Collin is why I’m doing this—any of it.

  “Do you think he’s still here?” I murmur.

  Finn sighs. “I really hope so. But if he’s not, we’ll keep going. You know that, right?” I bite my lip, and he reaches over.

  His fingers are hot on my chin as he twists me to look at him, but gentle—softer than I expect from him. “We will keep going. Until we find him.”

  I stare into his eyes for a long heartbeat, longer than is really comfortable, and even though I don’t have any reason to, I trust him.

  Maybe Finn doesn’t answer questions, but he doesn’t lie either. It’s an annoying trade off, but I’ll take it.

  The gate clatters open, and two Wall Walkers jog out, one assuming a defensive position while the other taps on Finn’s window.

  He rolls it down and slips out our IDs.

  The Walker frowns at them then glances up quickly, handing one card over his shoulder to his partner. The man glances at it and wordlessly retreats back to the gate.

  “I thought you said you weren’t known here?” I murmur.

  Finn is frowning, watching the two Walkers. He doesn’t respond to my comment. A few more Walkers clatter out of the gatehouse, slipping into the Wide Open, and neither of us misses the fact that they are heavily armed.

  What the fuck is happening?

  “You don’t know me. Understand? You found me on the roadside, and we traveled together for a few days, but you don’t have any past history with me and you have no idea who I am. Do you understand?” he says, voice low and urgent.

  “No,” I whisper, because I don’t understand. And because I know one thing—

  Finn is the best chance I have of finding Collin.

  His gaze flashes to mine, and I tilt my chin up, a silent challenge. “This is not a good time to decide to trust me, Nurrin,” he growls, frustrated.

  “I don’t,” I say. “But I need you.”

  I glance out the window instead of watching his reaction. The Walkers have circled the front of the truck, and they’re all armed— with those guns pointed at us.

  “Finn,” I say, staring.

  He curses, low and vicious, and leans across the bag of guns between us to murmur. “Take the wheel. Try not to be combative—I have no idea what’s going on, but let’s try not to get shot today. Okay?”

  Without thinking, I reach for his hand. His grip on my fingers is tight, strong—it steadies me. He pushes the door open and releases me, sliding out while I wiggle into the driver’s seat.

  I can see the glances the Walkers are sliding toward me, but Finn is blocking me with his body. His tone is furious.

  “Do you greet all visitors like this?”

  “You’ll need to be tested,” the Walker says without answering his question. If he thinks that will put Finn off his stride, he knows nothing, no matter what he thinks.

  Finn waits patiently as a medic scurries out, fixing him with a fierce glare before focusing on the needle stick. When she’s done, she flicks her eyes to me. I can feel Finn’s tension shoot up, even without him touching me, and I force an easy smile.

  Clean tests are no one’s idea of a good time, but I am clean, so it’s nothing to be worried about. I extend my arm, and she jabs it, a little harder than necessary. I hiss a breath. Finn shifts. “Be careful.”

  The medic snorts. “I don’t take orders from you, O’Malley. I never have.”

  Finn jerks back, and I shoot him a confused look.

  For the first time, he looks just as lost as I am. And I realize something.

  I trust him. I don’t know what he hides or what will happen next. I don’t know from one minute to the next how we’ll get out of whatever mess we’ve found ourselves in. And I deal with that not knowing because I trust that he does. It’s flawed, imperfect, and frustrating. But it works for us, and I am comfortable there.

  This—this not knowing, with both of us lost, isn’t a place I like to be. I didn’t realize until it was jeopardized just how much I trust Finn’s odd brand of handling things.

  The medic straightens, handing me a swab of cotton to clean my arm. She gives me a look of loathing and stalks away. “She’s clean.

  They both are. Strip him of his weapons.”

  Finn jerks, the crossbow coming up and leveling at the medic. “You might rethink that, sweetheart.”

  The medic laughs, a twisted noise. She hates him. I don’t know why, but I know, deep down in my gut, that it’s true. I twist to look at Finn, who still has her pinned with the crossbow.

  He meets my gaze, and I can see what he wants—me to leave. Cut my losses and get the fuck out.

  Idiot.

  He’s going to hate this.

  I toss my knives out the window and watch them embed at Finn’s feet. His gaze goes furious—so angry it makes me shiver. Even when I did something stupid and risked my life for his in 8, he has never looked at me with this much anger.

  The medic smirks, turns to look at me, and says softly, “The rest.”

  “This gun is special,” I tell her, ignoring Finn completely now. “You damage it at all, O’Malley will be the least of your concerns. Do you get me?”

  “You aren’t in the position to make demands. Sanders.”

  She nods abruptly, and the Walkers shift to point their guns at me. A gleeful smile twists her lips up, and I shake my head, leaning back to stare at her. “You aren’t smart, are you?”

  Anger colors her cheeks, but she doesn’t lose her temper. Instead she cocks her head to the side and grins. “Take them. Both of them. I’ll gather the panel.”

  She turns away without waiting to see if they will listen, trusting that her word will carry. Bitch. Finn steps into her space as she moves to skirt past him, and he murmurs, “If anything happens to her, I will bring down everything I have on you. Not this Haven. Not the Walkers— you. Do you have any idea what that means?”

  Her gaze flicks to me, steely, then back to Finn. “I think the whole world knows what that means, O’Malley.” She shakes off his grip and stalks away. The Walkers close in around us, and I move closer to Finn. He glares over at me. I shrug lightly.

  “Let’s go,” one of the Walkers barks, and just like that, we’re taken into custody.

  Chapter 26.

  The End at the Beginning

  Some things were irreparably changed after the zombies rose. A lot of things, if we’re honest. Emilie is a name more known t
han some presidents, and—in some minds—as infamous as Hitler. The way of life, travel, education, our everyday sense of security—all of that vanished when Emilie died.

  We didn’t even realize it was over, not then. Not when the president deployed a thousand soldiers against the mob in Atlanta.

  And the worst part is, that wasn’t the end. That wasn’t the beginning. Both moments in time were occupied by the same thing: the moment that ERI was commissioned and accepted for use. The first time a brilliant mind—and it was; only a very brilliant mind could conceive of a way to suppress emotions and pass it off as a good thing—happened along the idea and went to the lab to execute it.

  Synthrix did one thing that for years was lauded as a life saver. A life changer.

  They were right. It changed everything. And scientist have been working ever since to undo that damage.

  Chapter 27.

  Detainment and Surprises

  We’re put in Containment. 6 was a prison before it was converted to a Haven, and even though it’s been expanded to a sprawling Haven with miles of Walls, at its heart, it’s still a prison with a prison mentality.

  They march us into a tiny cell, and when they try to separate us, Finn goes icy and still, a hairsbreadth from danger. I clear my throat. “You are detaining two citizens who have no infection. We’ve broken no laws. I think you’ve pushed as far as you can without us losing our patience completely—we stay together.”

  They confer briefly, and the leader shrugs. “Caitlyn said nothing about separating them.”

  Once we’re safely locked into the tiny cell, the Walkers fall back and watch us, talking softly amongst themselves.

  “What the hell is going on?” I demand in a near whisper.

  Finn flicks a glance at me. “Always with the fucking questions, Nurrin.”

  Jokes. The idiot has jokes, now, of all times. I roll my eyes and turn away, dropping onto the single narrow cot. It’s creaky and hard as hell.

  “I don’t know. And I don’t like not knowing. I wish you had listened to me and left.”