Page 7 of Hell Breaks Loose

“Oh, yeah. They’re all packing, too.”

“Why do you sound so happy about that?”

“Sheesh. Your time in the woods has made you soft, old man.”

“Or it could be exhaustion. You know, the two weeks of constant running? Besides, you’re only four years younger than me, Lia.”

She startles back, releasing her grip and swallowing, her eyes darting to the side. “Y–you really must be losing it. You haven’t called me that since…”

“Sorry.” Since we were married. Since she allegedly died.

“Don’t be sorry. Be ruthless. It’s the only way we’re making it out of this alive.”

“How did you make your way into this?”

“Well, we gathered up as many boats as we could find originally. Got people out. Then cars. I’ve been making trips through town since most of the water drained into the bay.”

“Looking for me?”

“Looking for any survivors. I guess you, too.” Alaya curls one side of her mouth and shrugs.

“You shouldn’t have bothered. I still need to find?—”

“I know. But we need to get out of here. Now. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“Didn’t think you cared.”

“Jockstraps to jokers, you’re an idiot. Maybe someone else does? You think about that?” she snips, punching my arm and shaking her head, clearly avoiding my gaze. “God, you’re really that stupid.”

Hellena…

The ache in my chest for her outweighs the pain of the news I’ll have to deliver when I see her again. Alaya’s right. I need to get back, be there for her.

My shoulders slump a bit as I make up my mind. “Fine. I’ll come with you. Any ideas?”

“As if you ever had a choice? And yes, I always do.”

Alaya, still unrecognizable in her sickly disguise, scurries to the edge of the wall, peers aground. “We need to get right in the middle of them to have a chance.”

“Back-to-back?”

“As long as you trust me to have yours.”

“I do. So?”

“I was thinking ‘hostage situation’. But I’ll need to make it convincing.”

“I’m too tired to argue. Get it over with.” I close my eyes, knowing what comes next.

“FUCK!” I shout for more reasons than just selling the show.

The flash of blinding pain that hammers through my skull as she pistol whips me fades quicker than I thought it would. She really knows how to strike to the best effect, causing more surface damage than any real harm to my head.

Almost immediately, blood trickles over my left eye.

“Damn. That worked a little too well.”

“You always knew how to make me bleed.”

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