Chapter 45: 45

NADINE’S P.O.V

The next two nights, we slept out in the open but according to the map, we were a day away from the town.

I hadn’t taken a proper shower in days. The rain did what it could but it didn’t do much and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was dirty.

We stopped by a little patch of grass to fall asleep and as soon as I lay on the sleeping bag, I was out like a light. Rowan and I had first watch last night, so it was Jennifer and Dan’s turn. I faintly heard them whispering to themselves before I fell asleep, but I didn’t pay much attention to them.

Rowan lay next to me, his arms wrapped around me as we slept. It was peaceful for the most part, at least until I felt something. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it felt like I was being watched. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling, even from a deep sleep so I peeled my eyes open ever so slowly and the first thing I noticed was how quiet it was.

I looked around for Jennifer and Dan. I found them lying down with their eyes closed and nearly cursed. They must have fallen asleep during their watch. It wasn’t easy to keep watch, I knew that, but the least they could have done was try. I slowly detangled myself from Rowan, making my way over to them when I heard something.

I tried not to panic but my heart was already pounding wildly in my chest. It sounded like steps and Rowan must have heard it too because his eyes snapped open. His eyes found Dan and Jennifer and he frowned.

He made his way over to them and shook them with a little more force than necessary. “Wake up.”

Their eyes peeled open slowly and they mumbled a few incoherent words under their breaths. While he scolded them, I grabbed my bottle of water, lifting it to my lips. I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, not for a long while at least.

I turned back to Rowan who seemed to be done scolding the others who were still half-asleep. He opened his mouth to speak but didn’t have the chance to get the words out because we both heard it- the low growl that filled the air.

“Run.”

It was one word but the order was clear. We left everything and ran as quickly as we could. The remnants of sleep disappeared instantly as the fight for our lives began. I could hear the monsters gaining on us, but for once, I didn’t care enough to turn back. I just ran.

I could hear the monster gaining on us. I wasn’t sure if it was just one or more. We were so close to the station, it was only a few miles away and I knew we could make it. We just had to keep going.

I heard the sound of flesh tearing behind us and stopped.

Dan and Rowan were locked in a fierce battle with the monster. I started to head for them but Rowan turned, his eyes locking with mine.

“Run, princess, now!”

“But-”

“Fucking run!”

I would have refused but Jennifer grabbed my arm and pulled. “Don’t be foolish, run!”

I was torn between surprise and disbelief that she had tugged me along but I pushed it aside and forced my legs to keep going. I felt shame creep up my spine. I was a coward to leave him there. I should have gone back, I wanted to go back, but she was stronger- much stronger- and her grip was unyielding.

“We have to go back for them.”

“They will do better without us.”

“But-”

She ignored me and kept going.

I could see the station. It was so close that I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. I wasn’t sure how long we ran before we got to it- ten minutes? Twenty? My lungs burned and my legs hurt but I kept moving.

If we had just kept walking instead of stopping to rest, we would have gotten here without the monsters.

It wasn’t until we got to the station that we finally stopped. I fell to my knees as the exhaustion hit me.

I couldn’t breathe.

I heard Jennifer walk around for a while before returning with a bottle of water. She placed it on the floor in front of me, no words spoken. I watched it for a long moment before drinking it.

“We have to go back,” I said once I managed to catch my breath. “We cannot leave them to die.”

“Are you insane? We can’t go back.”

I pulled myself to my feet. “I don’t know what kind of person you are, but I don’t leave my friends behind.”

She grabbed my arm. “If we go back there we will die. They will die as well. They did a noble thing by letting us run. We have to keep going.”

“We wouldn’t have needed to run if you hadn’t fallen asleep! You were supposed to be watching and now they could be dead. Rowan and Dan could be bleeding out and dying and it will be your fault.”

Her lips pursed but she didn’t fight me. “You’re right. But you left them too, so don’t put it all on me.”

I shoved her hard and she went flying back into the wall. “You bitch.”

I didn’t even realize when I grabbed my dagger and held it against her throat. “I should kill you.”

“You should.”

“How do you expect me to trust you after that? How do you expect me to keep going with you when you are leaving them to die?” my eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “If they die, it is on your head and I will find great pleasure in killing you.”

“If they’re dead, I’ll do you a favor and end it myself but we can’t go now. We have to wait and trust that they’ll return. We were running for almost half an hour. It’ll take us almost twice that time to get back there.”

I swallowed deeply.

“Fuck you.”

I shoved her once more for good measure. She muttered a curse underneath her breath but made no move to fight me.

I saw her step into a booth, presumably for protection but I couldn’t afford to do that. We didn’t have anything, and chances were that when Rowan and Dan returned, they would be hurt.

I couldn’t go back for them now, but I could go and find supplies.

I hadn’t gone on a supply run on my own before and I would have been lying if I said it wasn’t terrifying, but I wasn’t just going to sit back and do nothing so with a deep sigh, I headed for the town.

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