Page 32 of When the Living Fall

Zoey leans in, her voice dropping. “Don’t tell anyone else, especially within this colony. I’m sure Emily won’t, either. She’s trying to get you guys inside, even if you don’t stay, in case Griffin needs more help than either of us can offer.”

Max scoffs and crosses his arms. “It’s not exactly something I like to advertise.”

“Alright. Well, you should be good to go now.” Zoey finishes applying the bandage, stands up, and glances toward the hill. She lowers her voice to a whisper, so we all have to lean in to hear her. “Listen, I need to warn you of something. Richard’s been twisting the truth and turning people against her. Most of the colony doesn’t really blame her for what Nathan did, but he’s using her as a scapegoat to keep control. He only has a handful of people who are fully on his side. I don’t trust him with her, not for a second.”

Griffin clenches his fists, his eyes darkening. “What’s he telling them?”

“It’s hard to know exactly, since everyone knows I’m her best friend and a lot of people are afraid to tell me for fear of getting on his bad side. There have been whispers, and suspicions, that I’ve overheard. It’s enough that I don’t want to leave her alone with him any longer than necessary.”Zoey grabs her bag and turns to head back. “One of us will come find you soon.”

We watch her walk away until she vanishes over the hill. A tension sits heavy between us as we all process her words.

Max tightens his fist, his mouth set in a hard line. “Fuck this. I’ve had enough.” He starts walking.

19

EMILY

Iknew trying to convince Richard would be difficult, if not impossible, but I didn’t realize I would wind up being this angry.

The tension between us is palpable. Richard crosses his arms, his face a wall of stubbornness that I want to carve out. I expected resistance, maybe even anger, but not this stone-cold determination to ignore reason. I try to keep my voice steady, but frustration leaks through every word. “You can’t punish innocent survivors who’s risked everything to get here, who have proven themselves over and over, all because of one cruel person’s actions.”

“You think I’m punishing people for one man’s mistake?” Richard’s jaw tightens, and he shakes his head. “I’m not risking everything we’ve built here for strangers.”

“That’s exactly what you’re doing.” My hands curl into fists, and I close the gap between us. I won’t let him ignore me. I’m done cowering to his punishing words. “You can’t hold the sins of one man over everyone’s head. Let the people decide for themselves instead of deciding for them. I thought you were supposed to be a leader, not a dictator.”

“I won’t have a repeat of that night. It’s not a risk I’ll let the town make. Not again.”

Zoey steps in, breaking our intense eye contact. I look over at her with an unspoken question. She places a gentle hand on my shoulder and gives me a subtle nod in confirmation that everything is okay. My shoulders sag with relief. If I can’t get the guys in here, then Griffin might still be alright after all. I wouldn’t be trying this hard to convince Richard if Griffin didn’t sabotage his body the way he did.

She then turns her attention to Richard. “Then let the townspeople vote for themselves instead of speaking for them.”

“Maybe I will,” he says, his words laced with a chill. “Let’s see what they say about letting more outsiders in, brought here by the same person who brought Nathan. We can tell them right outside of the cemetery where we buried the bodies of their loved ones. I’m sure they’ve forgotten the chaos and terror they endured.”

The accusation stings like salt in a fresh wound. “You can’t keep punishing me forever,” I snap, my voice rising. “I’ve done everything I can to make up for it. I’ve torn myself up over it every single day and night since. Tell me what it’s going to take for you to forgive me.”

Something bitter crosses his face. “If I’m being honest, I don’t know if I ever can.”

This is madness. I didn’t expect him to say yes right away, but I thought he would at least hear me out. He hasn’t even let me finish telling him about the guys and all the good they’ve done.

I step closer until we’re almost nose to nose. There’s a thin line between confidence and recklessness, and I’m breakdancing on that tightrope. “That sounds like your own problem, Richard. Stop making everyone else pay for your own inability to move on. I’m done suffering from your incompetence.”

Something flashes across his eyes before his hands fly out and shove me back a few steps. The action catches me off guard, because I’ve never known him to be physical with anyone. Well, two can play at this game.

Zoey says something, but I don’t catch it before I steady myself and push him right back. I’m no longer interested in keeping the peace. Trying with him is like waiting for the world to go back to normal.

Despite the shove, what I don’t expect is for Richard to raise his hand at me.

Before I can brace myself, another hand shoots out and catches his wrist mid-swing. Max stands between us in a flash, his gaze dark and seething, muscles coiled and ready to strike.

Richard’s faithful guards waiting nearby react, pulling weapons when Max slams Richard backward, planting a boot on his stomach that makes him double over in pain.

Oh shit. We’re in deep water now.

Seeing the guards move in closer, I step in front of Max, arms wide, as if my small frame alone can shield him from a bloodbath.

“Stop!” I shout, panic rising inside me. This is not how this was supposed to go.

Max rests his palm on my lower back, and I turn my head to see him out of the corner of my eye. His voice comes out low and controlled, almost a purr. “You okay there, pet?”

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