“Good idea,” Devon said.
When I looked at Lisa, she was grinning, her gaze on me. “I’m not going to lie, it was nice watching you take that sexist asshole down a few pegs.”
“I’ve been underestimated a lot in my life,” I replied. “Because of my age, because I was a foster kid with a junkie mom and no dad, because I’m black and a woman. I never let anyone get away with it before, and I’m not about to start now.”
“Anyone who underestimates you is a fool,” Devon said. “You impressed me from the second we met.”
He was smiling, and even though it didn’t reach his eyes, the expression was genuine. I appreciated his admiration because I’d felt the same about him from the very beginning. The day we’d worked together to raid the cars at the motel in Texola, Devon had been so sure of himself. He was a planner, like me, and methodical in the things he did. It had been so different from Rowan. At that point, I hadn’t really been sure if she had what it would take to survive in this world. I’d thought she might have been too spoiled to make it. It had been her desire to learn that had eventually convinced me, although I was still worried about how rash she was. She needed to learn to think things through before she made a decision.
I gave Devon an appreciative nod then turned to Lisa. “We should find Lane so we can head out. Did you get the radios we took from Meijer?”
She patted the book bag slung over her shoulder. “Got them.”
“Okay.” I reached back and twisted my hair around my hand so I could put it in a ponytail. “Then I guess there’s nothing to do but get this over with.”
4
Rowan
My cell ended up being a hospital room. One bed, one stiff couch that pulled out so someone could sleep there if necessary. A sink in the main room, an attached bathroom with another sink, toilet, and shower. Heath had dropped me off, warning me to leave the area at my own peril as he gleefully pulled a remote from his pocket and activated the torture device he’d wrapped around my neck. Then he’d left. Now I was alone, pacing. Staring at the shower because not only had I not had one in days, but I also felt dirty after having him force me to the floor. I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to take one while wearing the collar, though.
I tugged at the leather around my neck, wincing, then returned to the mirror above the bathroom sink so I could study it once again. The lock was small but sturdy, and breaking it would have been impossible, and the leather was thick, meaning I couldn’t rip through it. I searched every drawer in the room despite the fact that Heath had most definitely removed anything that could have been used as a weapon, and just like I’d thought, I’d come up empty handed. Which meant I was stuck.
My gaze shifted from the collar to my face, studying my reflection. I wore no makeup—it seemed pointless in this world—and without my normal mascara, my blonde lashes looked non-existent and my blue eyes wide. I looked younger, too. Undoing my messy braid, I ran my fingers through my blonde locks, ignoring how greasy they were as I worked at the tangles. After only a few seconds, I gave up. My hair was too dirty, and I didn’t have a brush. Plus, what was the point? The only person who was going to see me was Heath, and I didn’t give a shit if he thought I looked good.
I thought about Devon. About the way he stared at me, taking me in like I was the most beautiful thing in the world, and my gut clenched. What had I been thinking when I begged Heath to bring me here? I was an idiot. Too rash, never thinking things through before I acted. It was stupid and had to stop.
Disgusted with myself, I turned away from the mirror and went into the room so I could return to pacing.
The wall clock ticked with each move of the second hand, the sound loud in the otherwise silent hospital. My door was open because I’d been hoping someone would pass and I could ask them about my dad, maybe even beg for help, but since Heath and I had passed no one on our way here, I suspected I was in a part of the hospital they only used for people like me. People on probation.
I let out a bitter laugh. What a joke.
After a few more minutes of pacing, I went to the door and peered out, trying to locate the wires Heath and his people had supposedly set up. I couldn’t see any, though. Was Heath lying about the wires? Was he assuming the threat of shock would be enough to keep prisoners in line? I was sure it worked for most people. The building was safe and clean, and there was power and running water. Plus, after being on the run from zombies, most people would probably be content to just sit here and enjoy the silence.
Not me.
Hesitantly, I moved forward, taking one step across the threshold of my room. Nothing. I paused for a moment, waiting to see if the shock was maybe a delayed response, but still nothing happened. I took another step. Nothing. Another. Nothing. I was halfway in the hall now and starting to think I’d been right. Heath had lied. Excitement bubbled up inside me, and I took another step, going back the way I’d come. That was when the beep sounded.
My hand flew to the collar before the shock registered, and I screamed in pain when the tips of my fingers came into contact with the current. I dropped to my knees, tears stinging at my eyes as the pain continued to pulse through me, and crawled back toward my room. After a few steps, I passed the threshold, but it took a moment longer for the pain to subside. When it finally did, I collapsed on the cold ground, panting, crying, trembling.
Warmth spread down my pantleg, making me cry harder when I realized I’d peed.
That was when I noticed the tape on the floor. It must have been how they wired the place, and one look around told me it clearly marked off the safe areas. I should have taken the time to examine the place more carefully before stepping out of my room. Again, I’d been rash. It was going to get me killed.
Humiliated, I pulled myself to my feet and went back into my room. Inside, I pulled off my soiled pants and underwear and used a washcloth to clean myself as best I could. I tossed the clothes in the shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and went out into the room, hoping to find something to wear but not feeling too optimistic.
I froze when I spotted Heath in the doorway. Smiling. Always smiling. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.”
Where had he come from?
I glanced past him, out into the hall, and shuddered at the memory of the shock pulsing through me. He must have been nearby, waiting to see how long it would take me to test out the limitations of this collar. He’d heard me scream, maybe even watched me fall. Knew I’d peed. It made the humiliation of the moment ten times greater.
“You son of a bitch,” I growled, clutching the towel as I charged his way.
He stepped back, smiling. “Careful.”
I froze. He wasn’t far enough into the hall for the current to get me, but the memory of the pain was enough to keep me where I was.
He held a stack of neatly folded blue scrubs up for me to see, then tossed them into the room. They landed on the floor at my feet. It looked like several pairs.
“I figured you’d need these. Everyone pisses themselves.”
At that, I startled. “I’m not the only one stupid enough to test you, then?”
“Not by a long shot.” He let out a laugh that sounded more threatening than amused. “Although it usually takes people longer to get tired of waiting for me to come back and give it a shot. You’re too impulsive. It’s going to get you killed.”
I hated how right he was.
Not wanting to meet his gaze, I leaned down so I could scoop the scrubs up off the floor. “Only if you do the killing.”
“I’m not going to kill you, Rowan.”
“Even if I don’t give you want you want?”
“Where would be the fun in that?” Heath’s smile stretched wider.
I stiffened at the way he said it, like a twisted child eager to pull the wings off some bug he’d caught.
“Relax,” he said, sounding more exasperated now. “Your dad has made me promise to take care of you.”
My heart leapt. �
��He knows I’m here?”
“Of course. Even if I hadn’t told him, someone else would have.”
“Why hasn’t he come to see me?”
“Probation.” Heath tapped his neck and took a step back. “Someone will bring you dinner in a bit. Probably a book or something, too. Our people are considerate like that. In the meantime, take a shower.” He waved to the hall at his back. “And I promise, you’ll be okay as long as you stay put.”
Then he turned and walked away, leaving me alone once again.
5
Kiaya
“Hank told me that you didn’t check the bite last night,” I said to Lisa as we followed Lane across the parking lot, headed for a truck.
“I wanted to, but he brushed me off.” She twisted her hair into a knot at the base of her neck. “He’s a kid, but he’s old enough to make his own decisions about some things.”
“True, but I’m worried it could get infected again, so I told him he needed to let you look at it tonight. He agreed. I think so, anyway.”
She released her hair without securing it, and it tumbled around her shoulders in brown waves. “He’s definitely a tough one to read.”
It was the best opening I was going to get.
“Speaking of Hank, there was something I wanted to discuss with you.”
We were halfway between the school and the truck when Lisa stopped walking and turned to face me. It was mid-afternoon by that point, and the sun was bright in the sky, shining down on us and highlighting her inch-long gray roots. She had an odd expression on her face, giving the impression she knew what I was about to say. It was possible. Hank hadn’t been very subtle in his attentions, and Rowan and I had both noticed. Plus, it wasn’t like Lisa was immune to it. She was old enough to be Hank’s mom, but he still stared at her in that unsettling way.
“I know what you’re going to say.” Lisa’s mouth turned down in an exaggerated frown. “Something about that kid bothers me. I know I can’t be the only one.”
“You’re not,” I said with a sigh. “Rowan had a bad feeling about him, too.”
I cringed at the unintentional use of past tense. It was like I thought she was dead, or we were never going to see her again, and I hated that I’d let it slip. I didn’t think that. We had a group of intelligent and well-rounded people, and I was certain we had an excellent chance of figuring out a way to get her back.
Lisa had to have noticed, but she didn’t acknowledge my little slip. “I tried to brush it off as no big deal at first, but the more time I spend around him, the more I’m convinced something isn’t right.”
“He’s a kid. How dangerous can he actually be?”
“Honestly?” Her mouth turned down even more, deepening the lines in her face and adding years to her usually youthful appearance. “Some people are born not right. We like to think all serial killers are a product of their environment, but the truth is, some were disturbed from a young age.”
My back stiffened. “Serial killer? You don’t think he’s that dangerous, do you?”
“I don’t know, I just know I have a very bad feeling about him. I don’t think he should be alone with your sister, or even the kids, if I’m being honest. Something about him has warning bells going off in my head.”
“Me too,” I said with a sigh. “I’ve already discussed it with Devon, and I told Zara to be careful. Once Buck sobers up, maybe we can get him to help keep an eye on things as well. Maybe even Miller should know about our concerns. He’s a pain in the ass, but I doubt he’d sit by and do nothing if he saw something disturbing going on.”
“Even he can’t be that much of an asshole,” Lisa agreed.
“Let’s hope not.”
“Hey!” Lane stood beside one of the trucks, the driver’s side door open. “Are you coming or what?”
“Sorry!” I called then started walking, motioning for Lisa to follow. To her, I said, “There are other women here, too, and it might not be a bad idea to let everyone know what’s going on.”
“What then?” she asked. “What if we’re totally wrong? What if he’s just an awkward kid and we put everyone on alert for no reason? Is that fair to him?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure how to proceed in a situation like this, but I hate leaving people in the dark. It makes them too vulnerable.”
“I hate everything about this situation,” she mumbled to herself as we reached the truck.
Lane looked between the two of us, curiosity brimming in her brown eyes. “Is there something I need to know?”
“Just discussing a potential problem with one of the people in our group,” Lisa said.
“The old man or the kid?” Lane shrugged when I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. “I’m observant. It’s important in the best of times, but these days it could mean the difference between life and death.”
“And what have you observed?” Lisa asked.
“The old man is a drunk,” Lane replied flatly. “I knew it the second I saw him. No one travels with that much booze unless they need it to survive.”
“And the kid?” I prompted.
“The kid is harder to diagnose.” She gnawed on her bottom lip, her expression thoughtful as if she was either choosing her words carefully, or still uncertain about what she wanted to say. “He’s strange, that goes without saying. There’s something else, though, something that just isn’t quite right. The way he watches people. Like he’s a predator or—” She shook her head. “Or nothing. That’s exactly what it’s like. He’s a predator searching for his next prey.”
“So, you think he’s dangerous?” Lisa asked.
“Unequivocally,” Lane said. “Don’t ignore the warning signs just because he’s a kid. I mean, if an adult man were behaving the same way, would you stand by and do nothing?”
“No.” I didn’t even hesitate. “If an adult man were staring at the women in our group the way Hank does, I would call him out on it. Right away.”
“Then you have your answer.”
“But has he done anything other than just stare at people?” Lisa asked. “You’re talking about accusing a sixteen-year-old boy of something, we don’t even know what, simply because he likes to watch women? That seems a bit extreme.”
“He walked in on me changing.” The other two women looked at me. “When we were still at Rowan’s house, he walked into the office when I was changing. He tried to pass it off as an accident, but something about it just didn’t seem sincere. Devon also said Hank was watching him and Rowan while they were kissing. You know what it’s like when he watches. It’s intense.”
Lane turned toward the open door of the truck. “It’s up to you guys what you want to do, but personally, I don’t want that creeper around. We have enough going on without having to worry about some teenager getting in bed with us in the middle of the night.”
Lane climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled the door shut with a thud.
I was looking at Lisa, who was focused on me as well. She shrugged, and I copied her. Like me, she didn’t seem to have a clue what to do. She was right, bringing this up to Gabe and his men might be a bit extreme, but Lane was right, too. Something about Hank was off, and I didn’t want to risk our safety by looking the other way when I could do something about it.
“Let’s take care of this first,” Lisa said. “When we get back, we can talk it over with Devon and make a decision. One problem at a time.”
I didn’t have an argument for that because I agreed, so I said nothing and followed her to the other side of the truck.
It was the same one we’d been in earlier on our way to the farm, and like then I climbed in the back while Lisa took the passenger seat. Once we were in, Lane turned the key, and the engine roared to life. We were silent as she backed out of the space, maneuvering the vehicle between the other cars and trucks parked in front of the school and heading toward the crude barrier Gabe’s men had set up. It formed a semicircle around the main door, and like every time I looked at it, I wa
s struck by how temporary of a solution it was. Zombies might have a difficult time climbing over the cars, but people would be able to. It was yet another problem that needed to be addressed. They were starting to pile up.
Lisa slowed to a stop in front of the makeshift barrier of cars, pausing so Max and Ari could work to get the gate open. It was heavy and awkward work, the gate having been made out of a few sheets of wood that were held together by two by fours and nails.
“That gate is a piece of shit,” Lisa said. “Gabe knows that, right?”
“Gabe only knows what he wants to know,” Lane replied.
“Well,” Lisa said, her voice rising in irritation, “Gabe is going to have to learn to be open to other people’s ideas. I mean, if we don’t work together, we’re screwed.”
Lane put the truck in drive the second Max and Ari managed to get the gate open. “You’re preaching to the choir.”
She gave a little wave as she drove through but didn’t glance toward the men as we passed them. I did, and I returned Max’s smile. At his side, Ari was watching us with a deep frown on his face, making it seem like he still wasn’t very thrilled with the idea of women going out on their own. Too bad. We were just as capable of being able to leave a note and radio at the gym as he was, and I wasn’t about to sit back and do nothing when Rowan was in trouble.
Lane turned left, driving in the opposite direction of Rowan’s house, and I craned my neck so I could see through the windshield. In the distance, the fire was still going strong, the pillar of smoke billowing into the air in thick, gray waves. The sky was still devoid of clouds and clear with the exception of the smoke clogging it. No sign of rain.
We drove with the windows down, the cool autumn air sweeping through the cab bringing the stink of fire and blowing my hair around. A few curls managed to escape my ponytail, and I held them back with one hand as I studied our surroundings. The landscape in Ohio was bright and green compared to Arizona, but similar to Indiana. Fields that stretched on for acres, wooded areas with branches blowing in the wind, their leaves just starting to turn gold and red and orange, and middle-class homes that had once held happy families. They were all empty now, their doors open, their yards overgrown, their rooms abandoned.
Far Series | Book 3 | Far From Lost Page 8