Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three)

by Blakeley, Rissa

  Mara glared at Eli. “I’m going to get him one way or another.” Her lips curled into a devious grin. Eli returned it with a muttering of how stupid she was behaving.

  Tired of their bickering, I decided it was time to get moving again. I hopped up, startling everyone. “Let’s roll, people.”

  Already walking, the others scurried to catch up. I continued at a steady pace, keeping an ear open for anything that could be going on around us.

  Eli growled something to Mara, then footsteps came up behind me. I rolled my eyes, hoping it wasn’t a mistake bringing them.

  “How much farther?” Mara asked as she caught up.

  “We’re a bit more than halfway.”

  She moved in close, almost to my ear, making me want to swat her away like a nuisance bug. “When will you be ready?”

  Sounding business-like, I said, “I’m fine. I will let you know if I need assistance.”

  “I’m just a little anxious, but I’m here for you with whatever it is that you need.” She smirked.

  I glanced at her, wondering what she meant. “I’m fine. I’ll let you know if it will be necessary. Chill the fuck out.”

  “Right.”

  It was dusk when we reached Cora’s burnt down house. Leading them to the hand pump by the barn, we began the tedious duty of filling bottles.

  Once we finished, night had settled over us. This was the first time we’d been out so late on a run for water.

  Not a good idea.

  Panning my flashlight around, I looked for shelter. The barn seemed a bit sketchy and would leave us open for attack, so I decided we should head to Cora’s bunker.

  “Listen up.” Everyone looked at me, waiting for instruction. “We’re going to walk back about two miles. There’s an underground bunker where we’ll camp there for the night, then take off first thing.” I loaded a bunch of bottles into my pack, being careful not to break any of my vials, tossed a large bottle over my shoulder, and walked off. Everyone else loaded their packs and jogged to catch up.

  Once we came up to the bunker, I opened the lid and went down to make sure we would be alone. Giving the all clear, everyone jumped down.

  Deciding to drop on one of the couches, the others fought over the beds. I leaned back with my pack tucked between me and the couch, pulled my cap tight over my eyes and settled in for a light rest, nodding off right away.

  “Henry…” A whisper lingered in the air around me. I sat straight up and looked around, thinking the demons were fucking with me again.

  “Henry…” A female voice.

  It wasn’t the demons. They always called me Liam.

  The air stirred around me. It was pitch black, and with the total loss of sight, I still couldn’t figure out if I was dreaming or in reality. Then I felt a warm hand grab mine and pull me up, dragging me through the bunker.

  Realizing my flashlight was tucked in my pack, I was screwed until I could find my way back to it.

  Out of nowhere, I felt that hand ease over my soldier, which was saluting. I gasped and grabbed the hand.

  Yep, definitely awake.

  “What? Don’t you like it? You’re already ready for me.”

  “Back off,” I growled, shoving her away.

  “I like it rough. Come on. Make me hurt, Henry,” she purred.

  “Mara…” What the fuck is she doing? “Cut the shit.”

  “Oh, Henry, come on. Loosen up and have…a bit of fun,” she mocked in my accent.

  “I’m committed,” I growled.

  In a sing-song tone, she said, “I don’t care.”

  No shit, Sherlock. With a brazenness I had never witnessed before, she unzipped my cargoes and wrapped her hand around me. My breath hitched because…goddamn it…it felt good.

  Such fucking betrayal and I grew angry at my body for feeling pleasure from her disgusting behavior. I tried pulling her hand off of me, but she gripped it so hard I gasped.

  “You have quite the thick piece, Henry. I’d love to show you how I could take care of you.”

  I felt her drop down. Shit! I tried to step back, but there was a fucking wall behind me.

  “Damn it, Mara. Stop!” I shoved her back.

  “Aw, come on.” Then she grabbed me again, wrapping her mouth around me.

  This demented whore is sexually assaulting me! But it feels good. “Fuck,” I groaned. She ran her tongue all over me before I could push her away again.

  “That sounds good, too,” she murmured, attaching a sinister giggle to her words. I shoved her away more forcefully, although her teeth raked down my shaft when I did. I growled in pain. “Oh, keep that up. It’s making me really hot. I’ll let you fuck me however you want.” She dove in again. I tried to push her away and step around her, but her lips connected with my cock. And, of course, I groaned again. Goddamn it. I was so mad at my body for enjoying her disgusting mouth. “See? Feels good, doesn’t it?”

  I pushed her off so violently, she fell over and I was finally able to zip up. “Back the fuck off. I’m committed.”

  “But I can make you a very happy man.”

  “I’m plenty happy, thank you. My love takes care of me very well.” I felt my way back to the couch and grabbed my pack and rifle, blindly searching the pockets for the flashlight. Mara grabbed me again as I tried to get back to the front of the bunker. “Seriously, back the fuck off.”

  “Why? Are you going to shoot me? Tell you what. I’ll let you choke me.” She moaned when she slammed her body against mine.

  She’s sick and twisted! I was astounded. “I don’t want you! Back off!”

  “But you’re ready, Henry.”

  “I was sleeping. It happens.”

  Highly annoyed with her, the situation, and my fucking body, I shoved her into the opposite wall and made my way to the front of the bunker. Throwing open the lid, the rattle reverberated off the bunker walls. Everyone else got startled and yelled out of fear, the slamming of the lid echoing through the night.

  “What the fuck is going on?” James yelled as several flashlights lit up the small enclosure.

  Mara unapologetically tried to play the angelic card. “Henry decided he was going to go outside to cool off.”

  “Mara!” Eli snapped.

  “What?”

  Revolted, he asked, “Did you try to get him?”

  “I’m sorry! He’s freaking sexy as hell. And, holy shit, he has quite the piece.”

  “Shut up. You’re making a damn fool out of yourself!” Eli scolded. “If something happens to him during the night, Elaina will beat you senseless.”

  “I have needs!”

  “Find someone who isn’t taken!” Eli rushed past her and went up the short ladder, shoving the lid up. “Henry…?”

  No answer.

  After the lid closed, I cursed a blue streak.

  “Goddamn it! Motherfucker! Stupid fucking whore! I swear to Christ!”

  Then I heard it…a fucking cackle. That was the last thing I needed at that moment. “No…,” I whispered, stalking away into the darkness.

  Liam…come on. What’s better at a time like this? A drink, of course! Cursing doesn’t help. That doesn’t feel nearly as good as an old-fashioned bottle of booze.

  “Shut the fuck up,” I growled. “Just shut up and leave me alone!”

  Chatty with yourself tonight?

  “Fuck off.”

  I heard the metal of bunker lid creek. “Henry…?” Eli. Shit. “Henry? Henry!”

  “What?!”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m heading back home.”

  “I thought we were staying the night.”

  “Goddamn it,” I grumbled, turning back around and heading toward the bunker. “That was until that slut-faced bird thought she could give me a fucking blow job.” I saw Eli, but he still couldn’t see me.

  “Dude, where the fuck are you?” I turned on my flashlight about ten paces from him. “You can’t walk all that way by yourself.

  “
I’m fine. I think I can handle it.” I patted the rifle slung over my shoulder.

  “Let me get my shit and I’ll walk with you.”

  I sighed. “Hurry up. I want to get the fuck out of here.”

  Eli disappeared for a minute or two, then popped back up. He pulled himself out of the bunker, slamming the lid down. “I’m sorry about her. She has been plotting to get you alone for a long time.”

  “I love my Elaina more than anything in this world. I would never cheat on her. She’s the only one for me, but it doesn’t change the fact that she managed to grab me a few times. I’m so fucking pissed off.” We both walked at a rapid pace. It was still eating at me, so I kept talking, “She got her disgusting lips around me. I couldn’t see a bloody thing. I was trying to shove her off, but she was on me like white on rice. It was like fighting off an octopus with lips.”

  “I’ll vouch for you if need be. Do you think Elaina will be mad?”

  “Are you kidding me?! What kind of stupid question is that? Of course she will! It will just make her want to throw your asses out even more. Fuck me. I don’t need this shit. My relationship is rocky enough,” I mumbled. “We’ve been diligently trying to mend it, and now… That slut-faced bird’s actions will probably ruin everything we’ve worked so hard for these past couple weeks.”

  “What do you mean throw us out?”

  Did he miss the fact that my relationship could be over? “I promised her if even one of you stepped out of line, I would throw all of your asses out. I never anticipated something like this happening.”

  “Do what you’ve got to do, but you have to tell her.”

  “I know. I don’t need a teen telling me how to handle my relationship,” I snipped.

  “Sorry. Just trying to be helpful,” he mumbled.

  “Yeah… Really bloody helpful.”

  We lumbered on in silence for quite a while, letting the moon light our path, until I heard something rustle in our surroundings.

  Stopping dead in my tracks, I whispered, “Eli… Did you hear that?”

  “No…”

  I turned on my flashlight and spun around a few times. Nothing. “Keep walking, but pick up the pace.”

  Watching our surroundings, I walked behind Eli. Noises were all around us, but I wasn’t sure if it was just normal night sounds or if there was someone following us.

  Lovely paranoia.

  “Stop,” I whispered.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Here…” I pulled the Sig out of the back of my cargoes. “All you have to do is aim and pull the trigger.”

  “What’s wrong?” Eli repeated.

  “I think there’s someone following us.” I wasn’t sure if Roger was finally making his grand appearance or what, but we needed to hustle. “Be mindful and don’t shoot unless it’s absolutely necessary.” I circled the light around again.

  “L-l-like now?” Eli stammered.

  I turned and he was pointing the gun toward the woods. A massive herd was stumbling right at us.

  “Holy fuck. Run.”

  “Wh-what?”

  “Run! Run back to the school!” We both lit fires under our asses and ran as fast as we could. Passing by Eli, I sprinted like an Olympian. “Come on! Keep up!” I yelled. And I thought I was completely out of shape.

  Eli was nowhere near in good running shape. He was wheezing and slowing down.

  Before I took another stride, Eli face-planted into the ground. Running back, I dragged him up to his feet while picking off the undeads as they stumbled closer.

  His breathing was very labored. I wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Mate, come on! We have got to move.”

  “Can’t…breathe,” he wheezed. “Asthma…”

  “Shit. You’ve got to will yourself through it, mate,” I encouraged, dragging him up.

  “I have…to stop,” Eli coughed, then bent over, trying to catch his breath. Sucking in any air seemed nearly impossible for him.

  I protected him and shot more undeads as they stumbled closer. “Eli! We’ve got to go!”

  “Trying…,” he gasped.

  They were closing in on us. Making a quick decision, I knelt and hoisted Eli over my shoulders in a fireman’s carry. I took off running again, still shooting the undeads as my legs burned from the exertion.

  Pure adrenaline carried us until I saw a pair of headlights.

  Chapter 31

  Unable to bring herself to walk away from the window, Elaina worried more and more as every minute ticked by. Henry was out there somewhere in the inky blackness beyond the glass.

  Quinn had come and checked on her several times, but the last time she said she was exhausted and needed sleep, telling Elaina to wake her if anything happened.

  Elaina paced and fidgeted around. Her anxiety was driving her straight to the asylum, even though she felt like she already lived in one. Where was the Xanax when you needed it?

  “Stupid fucking apocalypse. Goddamn program. Fucking Roger. If I ever get my hands on that pig bastard…”

  Rapid gunfire interrupted her flow of obscenities. She was shoved off of the anxiety bus and thrown onto the mental meltdown train.

  No stopping.

  No passing by.

  Express ticket purchased.

  Full throttle ahead.

  Knowing it had to be Henry’s rifle, her heart sputtered, then pumped so hard, it pounded in her eardrums. The erratic rhythm made her totter on her feet. Steadying herself, Elaina bolted out of the cafeteria, practically tripping over every chair and table in her path.

  Thomas was still stationed at the side door. “Thomas! Did you hear that?”

  “Yes!” he shouted back, their voices echoing through the halls.

  “Stay put. I’m going to get Gunther.” Elaina sprinted down toward his room, passing Josie, who was nodding off in the hallway. With a heavy fist, she pounded on his and Quinn’s door. “Gunther!” she screamed.

  To Elaina, an eternity passed before he cracked open the door.

  “What?” he groused, fingers rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

  “I heard gunfire! I think we should check it out and see if Henry’s in trouble!”

  He glanced over his shoulder at Quinn, somehow asleep through the racket. “Give me a sec.”

  “Hurry! Please!” she cried.

  She watched Gunther touch Quinn’s face. She groaned, but didn’t wake. He pulled his cargoes on over his boxers, grabbed his shirt and boots, throwing them on as he ran out of the room and down the hall.

  Josie was standing in front of Cora’s door, looking worried. “What’s going on?”

  “I heard gunfire outside,” Elaina said.

  “Want me to come?” Josie asked.

  “No. I need someone to protect Quinn and Cora. Okay?” Gunther said as he wrapped his hand around her neck and cheek. “I need you here, lass.” She nodded. They took off again and made it to Thomas in seconds. “Stay by the door and keep an eye out for anything,” Gunther ordered him.

  They bolted outside and he headed toward the trucks while she started for the front of the school.

  “What are you doing?” Elaina yelled. “We need to go!”

  “I have a little gas in my truck. We can get there partially and use it for cover if we have to.” It had been several weeks since the truck was started. Plus, it was on fumes. He hopped in and jammed the key in the ignition, turning it. Nothing. They heard another round of gunshots. “Come on, baby. Come on!”

  Relief filled him when it roared to life. Just as they were closing the doors, Gunther slammed it into gear. They sped off around the school, kicking up gravel as they headed down the road.

  “Keep your eyes open. Yell if you see him,” Gunther murmured.

  Elaina sniffled and Gunther looked over at her. “What if…?”

  “Shh… Don’t think like that. We’ll find him. He’ll be okay.” He refocused on the windshield.

  “But–”

  Gunther cut her off, “
Holy shit.”

  “What’s he doing?!” Elaina panicked.

  Headlights… I was blinded by fucking headlights. Eli was hardly breathing, and I was laboring trying to carry his weight. I could only hope it was someone from my crew because I couldn’t go much further.

  My chest was screaming and my throat was on fire. The driver’s door blew open and Gunther jumped out, running to the back and opening the liftgate. Letting out a sigh of relief, I walked the few paces. When I turned to place Eli in the back, I couldn’t believe what I saw.

  Liam… Vodka!

  “Shut up,” I whispered.

  “What, mate?” Gunther asked.

  “Nothing,” I choked out and glared at Gunther, dumping the near lifeless Eli into the back.

  “What happened?” Elaina asked as she came around the truck.

  “Love…” The fear hit me as soon as her face came into view. I was scared to death I would lose her when she found out about Mara.

  “Henry?” Elaina insisted.

  “Uhh… Long story, but we need to get him back. He’s having an asthma attack.”

  We all jumped into the truck, and almost made it to the school before we ran out of gas. Gunther jumped out and grabbed Eli, running to the door Thomas was stationed at.

  “Keys to the clinic?” Gunther asked.

  “Yeah,” Elaina ran in and unlocked the door.

  “Go get Jane and Lauren,” he barked. Elaina nodded and ran off.

  As Gunther lay Eli on the cot, he was gasping and had saliva foaming around his mouth. His eyes were big as baseballs, full of panic.

  It was bloody awful to witness.

  “It’s all right, mate. Just try to calm down,” Gunther murmured. “I know you’re scared.”

  Jane and Lauren ran into the clinic. “Eli!” Lauren screamed.

  “Where’s his inhaler?” Jane asked in a panic.

  “He ran out ages ago!” Lauren placed her hand on his chest. “Eli! Try to calm yourself.”

  “Look through the closet and see if we have what he needs,” Gunther directed.

  I sat in a chair on the other side of the clinic far away from the situation, trying to catch my breath.