Page 151 of Afflicted

“If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say Roanoke.”

I gasp, shaking my head. “No, no way, why would they attack humans?”

“They think it’s vamps as well.” He looks back out the windshield. “The rumor that vamps lived there had spread to Savannah, there’s no reason to think it wouldn’t have spread even further.”

“They’re going to kill them all. Oh my god, there arekidsthere.”

Silas guns the engine, throwing the truck into reverse and executing a turn amidst a squeal of tires, before shooting back down the way we came.

“We’ve got to warn them,” he says, reaching over to take my hand. “It’ll be alright, we’ll move much faster than them. We’ll get there, and warn them. They’ll have time to get out of there.”

“Do you think they’ll listen to us?”

Silas’s jaw ticks. “I bloody well hope so.”

I’m sure we didn’t drive that far from Roanoke, but my palms itch with every passing mile, every minute that ticks over. I keep checking over my shoulder, like I’ll suddenly see a cavalcade of tanks behind us, or Afflicted climbing into the bed of the truck. Silas keeps trying to reassure me, but I’m beyond panic now.

Finally, we’re on the outskirts of Roanoke.

“How long do you think it’ll take them to get here?” I ask, scrubbing my hands along my thighs.

“I don’t know, a few hours? Maybe? It’s hard to say.” He gazes up at the sky, where iridescent silver clouds are starting to gather. “It almost looks like snow. That’ll hold them up.”

“How are 800 people going to find shelter out here in the wild when it’s snowing?” My eyes begin to sting, because this whole situation feels so fucking hopeless. “And there’s those bandits, what if there’s more of them?”

Silas brings the truck to a sudden stop, and reaches over to me. He pulls me close, kissing me hard. His mouth is so warm, and I try to steady my wild heart rate, holding on to him with everything I’ve got.

“It’s going to be alright,” he murmurs, looking deeply into my eyes. “It’s going to be alright, angel. I promise you. No matter what, I’ll keep you safe.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“Come on now, let’s get in there and help these people.” He lets me go, and I stay right beside him on the seat as we head for the gates of the colony. Silas starts blaring the horn, and I wind my window down, waving my arms wildly as I lean out the side of the truck.

“Open up!” I shout as loudly as I can, the cold air burning my throat and my lungs. “Open the gate!”

We come to a stop and jump out, continuing to wave and shout.

“There’s danger!” Silas yells to the guard tower gesturing back the way we came. “Open the gates!”

Almost immediately, the gate begins to groan and shift, rolling open slowly. Two guards emerge, having clearly thrown their body armor on quickly, the buckles on the side dangling open.

“What’s going on?” One of them asks, clutching his assault rifle across his chest. At least they’re not pointed at us.

“The National Guard are coming.” The words bubble out of me almost hysterically. “They raided our compound down in Georgia using Afflicted, and now they’re going to do the same to you.”

The guards glance at each other, jaws dropping.

“What the - what do you mean?” The taller one takes a step closer, looking from me to Silas and back. “We’re a human colony, why would the National Guard come here?”

“When I was in Savannah, I was told there were vamps living here with you. It’s more than likely the National Guard have heard that rumor too.” Silas’s voice is deep with worry, his hands spread in front of him. “We need to get everyone out of here now.”

“What’s going on?” Sutton’s voice rings behind the guards, and they step aside, one of them jerking his thumb in our direction.

“These two think the National Guard are bringing Afflicted here to take us out.” The guard rubs a hand over the back of his neck, shifting on his feet. “Jesus Christ.”

“Don’t panic just yet,” Sutton says, eyeing us uncertainly. “Why are the National Guard using Afflicted? As a weapon? A diversion?”

“More like a battering ram.” Silas replies. “They did it in Milledgeville, sent the Afflicted in before storming the compound themselves. It was a disaster. They didn’t take out any vamps, but 20 humans died. It was a bloodbath.”

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