Zeke backed away from her like she’d lost her mind. “No.”
“Damn it.” Scotlyn stood up and jabbed a finger at him. “You really want to spend my last minutes alive arguing? It’s the only way and you know it. Just hurry up and do it.”
“No.” He whispered, again.
“I don’t want to turn into one of those things!”
“I won’t shoot you!”
“Fine. Give me the gun, then.” She held out a hand.
He put the weapon behind his back.
“Give me the gun, Zeke.”
He shook his head. “I’ll die first.” He said simply.
“You stupid, stubborn, son-of-a-bitch!”
“No.” It was barely a sound this time. “I can’t let you go.” She met his eyes and saw they were glistening with tears. She was the one about to become a zombie, but Zeke was the one falling apart. “No, Scotlyn.”
Shit.
He wasn’t going to budge.
Scotlyn sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. Emotions were hitting her so fast she couldn’t sort them out. “Alright.” She ran a hand through her hair and tried to think. “Well, what do you suggest we do, then?”
“Let’s chop off your foot.” He said desperately. “Maybe the virus doesn’t spread fast. Maybe we can stop it before it infects all of you.”
“I’ll die of blood loss. Even if I didn’t, this building is on fire. We don’t have time.”
“How long does it take it chop off a fucking foot?!”
“Longer than we have.”
“No.” It was a denial of the entire situation.
“Zeke, I’m dead.” She couldn’t make it any plainer than that. “It’s over. You said yourself that your pack leaves behind anyone who can’t keep up.”
“No. There has to be a way. I can’t lose you. I need you.”
“Zeke…”
“You’re my goddamn life.” He roared.
“You’ll still have a life.” Scotlyn had to get through to him. “You can still survive.”
He stared at her for a long moment, growing strangely calm. It was as if the reality of the situation finally hit him and he knew what he had to do. “I don’t want to survive.” He decided. “Not without you.”
The certainty of his tone made her panic more than the zombie bite. “I don’t care what you want. You have to live. You think I’m going to let you kill yourself?”
“How are you going to stop me?”
She had no idea.
Zeke moved to sit next to her on the mattress, stepping over the dead zombie. “We all gotta die sooner or later.” He shrugged as if everything suddenly made sense. “Now’s as good a time as any.”
“How very John Wayne of you.” She got out around the lump in her throat.
“I think it might be from Die Hard, actually.”
“No, it’s not.”
He snorted. “How would you know, Little Miss Art House? Have you even seen Die Hard?”
“Yes! With you. About sixteen times. That line is not in the movie, you idiot.” Scotlyn gave him a push, trying to get him moving. “Now, I’m telling you to go.”
“Go where? You think there’s anything out there for me?” Zeke snorted. “I have nothing without you.”
She wiped at her eyes. “You have Darcy and Caleb. They need you.”
“They’ll be fine. I’m sure of it. I told Joseff where to take them.” Zeke leaned back, obviously settling in for the duration. “I’ll just stay here, thanks. You and me in a hotel room… There are worse ways to go.”
She let out a shaky breath. All her life people had been leaving her, starting with her parents. Now that she wanted someone to go, he was stubbornly sticking around. “When I become a zombie, I’m going to kill you. At the moment, I’m actually looking forward to it.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
Finally, Zeke glanced over at her and his mouth curved. “So… wanna make out before we die?”
Scotlyn covered her face with her hands, caught between laughter and tears. “Why are you doing this? Why can’t you just be logical, for once?”
“Because you’re my person, Trix.”
Her heart snapped in two.
For a moment, there was nothing she could say without dissolving into sobs. Swallowing hard, she tried a different tactic. “Well, this show of solidarity is pointless, since you’re not my person.” She would’ve said anything to save him, even if it was a total lie. “If you care about me, you’ll see that you’re just making my last few moments of humanity socially awkward and…”
He cut her off. “You’re a human.” His eyes went wide and he straightened, again. “That’s why you’re changing into a zombie.”
“Right.” Good to know he was keeping up. “And there’s nothing anyone can do about it, so you might as well save yourself. You’re nobody’s hero, Ezekiel. Remember? You told me so…”
“You’re a human.” He interrupted again. “If you were a shifter, the bite wouldn’t infect you. Supernatural beings don’t turn.”
Scotlyn had no idea what he was getting at. “But, I’m not a shifter.”
Lavender eyes met hers, filled with crazed determination. “Not yet.” He unclipped the walkie-talkie from his belt and lifted it to his mouth. “Cale? I need you. Now.”
“What are you doing?” Scotlyn demanded.
He ignored that, listening intently as Caleb’s frantic voice came over the radio. “I got problems here, Z, so…”
“Scottie got bit.”
“Aw fuck.”
“I’m going to Change her into one of us. It’s the only thing I can think of.”
Scotlyn’s jaw dropped. “What? Hang on…”
“Will that stop the infection?” Caleb asked.
“We’re about to find out.”
Caleb was silent for a beat. “You know what’ll probably happen to you if you do this.”
“I know. That’s why I need you here for her.”
“Wait, what’s going to happen to you?” Scotlyn yelped.
Again, they ignored her.
“Alright.” Caleb let out a sigh. “She’s gotta go through the ritual first.”
Zeke snorted. “Luckily, I tricked her into that part, earlier.”
“Tricked me into what part earlier?” Scotlyn could’ve strangled him. “What is this ritual thing? What did you do?”
“You’ve only been out of my sight for a couple hours and you took advantage of the poor girl already?” Caleb’s eye roll was nearly audible. “You always were a gentleman, Z.”
“My libido is about to save the day, ass wipe. Just get here. Room,” he backtracked to check the door, “thirty-nine eighty-eight.” He hesitated, his voice getting more serious. “If something does go wrong for me, Cale, protect my mate.”
“I’m sick of hearing that today.” Caleb said grimly. “Just do what you have to do and keep breathing. I’m on my way.”
“Zeke?” Scotlyn watched him, her heart pounding. “Take a second and explain this plan. You want to turn me into a werewolf?”
“Of course not.” He tossed the walkie-talkie aside. “I’m going to turn you into a shape shifter.” He crooked a finger at her. “Come here, Trixie.”
Instead, she stepped back. “Why do I feel like you’re not telling me everything? What could go wrong for you? What were you talking about?”
“Nothing. I was just being cautious.”
“Bullshit. You’ve never been cautious a day in your…” Scotlyn stopped short, her arm going to her midsection as she doubled over in sudden pain. It felt like something inside of her twisted. Red hot anguish swept over her body, breaking her out into a sweat and nearly driving her to her knees. “Oh God.” She reached over to steady herself on the wall. “Zeke, it’s happening.” Stricken eyes met his. “I’m dying.”
“No, you’re not.” Zeke grabbed her, carrying her back to the bed. “Keep your eyes on mine, understand? I’m right here.”
&n
bsp; “We don’t even know if this will work.” She tried to focus on his face as the agony got worse. “Please don’t do anything crazy.” Her nails clenched against his arm, her whole body going stiff. “Zeke.” She curled against him and tried not to scream.
“I’ve got you, baby.” He laid her on the mattress and leaned over her. “Hang on.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Scotlyn started crying from pain and fear. “I don’t want to be a zombie.”
“You won’t be. I’m going to fix this. I promise.” His touched her hair. “Hey, listen to me, okay? This is important. After this, go back and get the metal box I gave you at TGW.”
“What?” She tried to think.
“You need to find that box and figure out the map inside. Caleb and Darcy will help you.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re going to be alright. You stay with them.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. “I want to stay with you.” It would be so much safer for him to get away from her, but, at the same time she… needed him. As darkness closed in, Zeke was the one person she wanted by her side. “You said you weren’t going to leave me.”
“I’m with you until I die, Trix. Maybe even longer than that.”
“Really?”
“Really.” His hand folded around hers, gripping tight. “Trust me.”
She did.
Scotlyn held onto his palm. “I was never gonna quit that stupid job.” She needed him to know that. “I told myself I would, but the times when I’m happy are when I’m with you.”
He smiled, his eyes bright. “You are my dream.” He gave her a quick kiss and then stepped back. “Now, when it happens, you have to say to say you accept, alright? Just like you did before.”
“When what happens?”
“You’ll know.”
If she hadn’t been dying she would’ve hit him. It wasn’t the zombification making her feel violent; it was all her jackass boss. “This is such a bad idea.”
“You say that about all my ideas.”
“That’s because you’re a reckless, irresponsible idiot who doesn’t remember that he’s not supposed to be a hero…”
Right before her eyes, he Changed into wolf, again.
Scotlyn gasped in horror. “Stop! You’re not supposed to do that without a full moon. Caleb said…” She trialed off with a shriek of surprise as the wolf’s jaws closed around her wrist. His teeth sank into the weird tattoo on her wrist. “Hey!”
Lavender eyes burned into her, his grip holding tight when she would’ve pulled away. This must have been the “it” she was supposed to be waiting for. Of all the crazy, insane, suicidal…
“Yes! Fine!” She yelled as his teeth sank deeper into her skin. “I accept! Just Change back to Zeke before it’s too late, you moron!”
He released his hold on her, leaving a ring of broken skin on her hand and not much else. Nothing shape shiftery happened. Nothing that she felt anyway. In fact, for a heartbeat, nothing seemed to happen, at all.
Then, the crippling pain… eased.
Inside of Scotlyn, the twisting heat cooled and she could breathe. The feeling of “about to become a zombie” faded. She was herself, again. Zeke had done it.
He’d saved her.
Scotlyn released a shuddering sigh of relief. “Thank you.” She reached out to touch the thick black fur of his neck. “Thank you.” He leaned into her palm and she smiled at him. “I think I’m okay, now. Please just shift into yourself again and…”
Beautiful purple eyes rolled back and he hit the ground in an unconscious heap.
“Zeke!” Scotlyn scrambled out of bed, dropping to her knees beside him. This was worse than his collapse in the Wal-Mart. He hadn’t even turned back into his human form. It was like his entire body just gave out.
Also, he wasn’t breathing.
Goddamn it!
“Don’t you do this to me!” Fumbling in her pocket, she came up with the salt shaker she’d stolen from Prowl. “Zeke, wake-up!” Popping the top off, she dumped the entire contents of it into his mouth.
Caleb must have been right and the stuff acted like adrenaline, because Zeke’s whole body jolted as the salt hit his system. He slowly morphed back into his human shape, which she took as a good sign.
He still wasn’t breathing, though.
She started CPR, blowing air into his lungs and rhythmically pumping his ribcage. Her earlier crisis of faith vanished and she begged God in continuous, jumbled prayers for some sign of life. She couldn’t lose Zeke. He was everything to her. Without him, she would…
Zeke gave sudden gasp.
Scotlyn almost sobbed in relief. “Zeke?” She shook his shoulder. “Wake-up, Zeke!”
He didn’t open his eyes. His chest began going up and down in rasping breaths, though, which was a hell of a lot better than eerily stillness. At least, he was alive.
Scotlyn dipped her forehead to his. “Just hang on for a few more minutes until Caleb gets here. You’ll be fine. We’re going to get you up and you’ll be…”
Gunshots sounded in the hall.
“Cale?” She called, relief filling her. “In here! Hurry!”
No one answered her. The hairs on Scotlyn’s arms stood up as she realized that maybe it wasn’t Caleb, after all. Maybe it was whoever setoff that bomb.
Aw, shit.
Scotlyn didn’t take the time to think about it. She just shoved Zeke under the bed. He was heavy as hell, but panic gave her strength. She made sure he was out of sight, pulling the comforter down the mattress and onto the floor, so it blocked him from view. It was the only choice she had if she was going to keep him safe. Whoever was out there, they knew where she was, but they hopefully didn’t know about Zeke.
Jumping to her feet, she headed over to try and lock the door. Before she could slam it shut, though, a white figure appeared on the threshold. He pointed an automatic weapon at her chest, his eyes narrowed behind the plastic faceplate of this germproof suit. Whoever he was, he looked like a human. Actually, he looked like an astronaut.
“What are you?” He barked, jabbing the muzzle at her.
Scotlyn raised her palms, frozen in shock.
“What are you?” He bellowed, again. “Are you one of them or are you human.”
She slowly shook her head and told the truth. “I have no idea.”
Chapter Eleven
Bright side to the zombie apocalypse:
Two reassuring words for germaphobes: Hand Sanitizer
Zeke came awake with a gasp and the sensation that he was flying.
His eyes popped open, trying to get his bearings. At first, he thought he was in a tunnel. He certainly felt like he’d been hit by a train, so that made sense. When he looked down, he saw was inching upward in a long, dark, vertical tube. His feet dangled in thin air and the pressure around his chest told him that he was in some kind of harness. Also, he was naked again.
What the hell…?
Zeke looked up and saw Caleb and Brew in a doorway, hauling him upward. Actually, it wasn’t doorway. It was an opening on a floor high above. He was in an elevator shaft, being lifted by a long fire hose wrapped under his arms.
Memories came flooding back.
He should be dead.
No shifter should ever wake-up after two moon-less Changes so close together. It wasn’t possible. Not unless salt got into his system almost as soon as he collapsed and even then he didn’t see how he kept breathing. Frankly, when he made the choice to Change Scotlyn, he’d known he wouldn’t survive. But, Changing was the only way to save her, so he’d done it anyway. Her life for his seemed like a fair trade.
There was always a choice for shifters and it turned out his choice was always Scotlyn.
“Cale?” He got out, craning his neck and trying to focus. “You got Scottie?”
“Stay still, ya moron!” Brewer shouted back. “God, you weigh a fucking ton!”
“Is she okay?” Zeke pressed when Caleb remained silent. “Where is she?”
>
“Get him up here, before he freaks out.”
Shifters had incredible hearing, so Zeke picked up Caleb’s fierce whisper like he was right next to him. His eyes darted around the elevator’s opening, trying to spot Scotlyn and coming up empty. His heartbeat sped up. Scotlyn would be there overseeing his haulage. She lived to supervise. “Caleb, where is she?”
“We don’t know.” Darcy shouted back. “We think Joseff and Scotlyn got taken by the guys in white. My idiot mate went after them and slowed them down so we could get away. But, by the time we got out of the stairwell, they were already carting people out the front doors. Scotlyn and Joseff aren’t anywhere. I looked. So they have to have been…”
“Wait, who took her?”
“I don’t know who. They were humans in protective space suits.” Darcy leaned over the abyss, looking strained. “We need to get out of here and find them. I’m in a bad mood and I plan to kill every asshole who’s pissed me off today.”
Brewer perked up. “We’re killing Joseff?”
“No.” Darcy snapped. “Every asshole, except him.”
“Oh.” Brew frowned in disappointment.
Zeke’s mind was racing. “So… you’re telling me you let Scotlyn get kidnapped?” He turned his body around so he was facing the wall. Bracing his feet, he started climbing up as they pulled, trying to speed things along. “Goddamn it, Cale. Every time I close my eyes, you’re losing my mate!”
“It wasn’t my fault.” Caleb retorted. “When I got to that room, she was gone. It took me ten minutes to find you. As far as I can tell, she must have dumped an ass-load of salt into your system and then stashed you under the bed.”
“She heard the guys in white coming for her.” Darcy speculated. “She didn’t want them to get Zeke, too, so she hid him.”
Of course she did.
Zeke jaw clenched. “I’m going to kill her.” He was close enough to reach Caleb and he extended a hand upward.
Caleb reached down and Zeke saw he still had a pair of handcuffs on. “Joseff lost the key.” Caleb explained, following his gaze. “At least, that’s his story.” He seized hold of Zeke and helped pull him through the door.
Zeke collapsed on the carpet, breathing hard. Changing again had wiped out his reserves of energy, so now he was going on pure determination. He would find his mate or die trying.
Love in the Time of Zombies Page 15