Page 116 of Afflicted

SILAS

I knowI’m being watched. Logically, I know I should keep my distance from Juliet, to assuage any sort of suspicion. I know I’m being irresponsible, and I’m probably placing us both in danger. But none of that stops the need to see her from thumping in my chest. The need to be with my girl is too strong. I can’t live without her. And I’m prepared for that need to be the addiction that finally kills me.

I tend to my duties, running checks on the perimeter, checking the positions of the security cameras. All the while thinking of nothing but Juliet, wondering where she is and what she’s doing. It’s been raining heavily all morning, so I know she’s not in the garden. As I flick through each camera, I look for her, coming up empty until I reach the gym.

There she is, running on the treadmill. Her hair is wound up on top of her head in a messy bun, and she’s wearing the tightest pair of white shorts I’ve ever seen, along with a crop top.Holy shit. I can practically smell her through the screen. She rubs a hand over the back of her neck, brushing away sweat, and I have to suppress a groan.

“Georgia Peach getting herself all sweaty, huh?”

I’m so entranced I didn’t even hear Crawley enter the office. I flick away the image of the gym and Juliet running quickly, clearing my throat.

“Yeah I guess so. She was told to work out by the doctor.”

“She was, huh?” Crawley drops down into the chair beside me. “You seem pretty interested in her.”

I shrug, keeping my eyes trained on the monitor. “She needed help. I gave it. End of.”

“Hmm.” Crawley leans back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling. “Anderson said you had the brilliant idea of running PR after what Braun did. Good excuse to spend time with her I guess.”

“Well, it worked, didn’t it? No more riots. Happy bloodbags. Job done.”

Crawley strokes his chin thoughtfully. “Yeah, well done you.” He inhales through his nose. “You know, there was a guy at the last compound I was stationed at, up near Roanoke. This young vamp, he fell in love with one of the bloodbags.”

“Did he now?” I’m going to keep my voice perfectly even. “That’s a bit stupid, innit?” This has nothing to do with me. Crawley’s just talking. If I maintain the nonchalant tone, he won’t suspect a thing.

“Yeah, pretty stupid.” Crawley swivels back and forth lazily in the chair, eyes still focused upwards. “Sorta ended up bad for everybody.”

“Oh yes? What happened?”

Crawley puffs out a breath. “They poisoned him, starved him, then put her in the room with him. After two weeks of no food, nothing was going to save her from him.”

My blood runs cold. “He killed her then?”

“Sure did.” Crawley gets to his feet and claps me on the shoulder. “I can still hear him screaming when he realized what he’d done. Shit like that, it never ends well.”

“Well, the rules are there for a reason I suppose.” I don’t meet his eyes, aware of his gaze fixed on the side of my face. “Break ‘em, deal with the consequences.”

“That’s for sure.”

When he doesn’t move, I look up at him, praying he can’t see the betrayal that has to be written all over my face.

“Did you need something, Crawley?”

“No, not a thing.” He turns for the door. “Take care, King.”

His parting words are heavy, and I begin to wonder just how many people know. I wonder if Anderson knows. I click the screen twice, bringing up the feed to the gym. Another click, and the screen goes black. I shake my head at myself, pushing away from the desk and heading out into the rain. If Anderson knew, I wouldn’t be here anymore. I’d be either dead or stationed elsewhere, far away from Juliet.

The story Crawley just told me makes me shiver. The thought of hurting Juliet makes me sick. The very notion that they’d do that to her, to me, as punishment for merely wanting to be together - it’s disgusting. I glare at the barbed wire as I pass it, once again cursing this fucking world we find ourselves in.

I head for the gym, barely acknowledging the humans that pass me as I head up the steps. Juliet is climbing down off the treadmill just as I walk in. I want to go to her side and take her in my arms, and the way her face lights up as she turns and sees me tells me she wants the same thing.

But we’re not alone. Two men are still by the weights, finishing their sets. Juliet dips her head, then makes a bee-line for the ladies bathroom. Making sure the men are more concerned with their reps than with me, I follow her, and lock the door behind me.

Juliet is leaning against the counter, her face breaking into a smile as I stalk towards her.

“Hey there,” she says breathily, moaning softly as I crush her mouth with mine.

“You OK?” I pull back from her, eyes searching her face.

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