Page 36 of When the Living Fall

The girl in my arms cries harder. He’s her older brother. They used to help me tend to the garden I’d gotten started here. They’re good kids, and my heart hurts for them. I can only imagine the worst.

“We thought it was safe,” the second boy says. “There haven’t been any rotters there during the last two times we were in the area.”

“Fools,” a guard scoffs, his tone dripping with disdain. I tighten my hold around the young girl. “Idiots. It’s never safe out there. Only a fool would think so. You’ve got no business running around out there, and now look where it’s gotten you. Your friend is dead.”

The girl’s sobs turn into wails, and I scold the guard. “Shut it, will you? You’re not helping anyone.”

The guard glares at me and steps closer. “Me? Since you got back, you’ve done nothing but cause trouble. Now you’re leading kids out to get killed?—”

The accusation hits me like a slap, and the tension coiling inside my chest explodes. I clench my fists, wanting to lash out, but a sound—almost like a low, dangerous growl—filters through the surrounding air. “I want to smack you,” the voice says.

The first boy, young with hollow eyes, swallows hard, his voice wavering. “He could still be alive. We…we got swarmed, and he didn’t make it out, but that doesn’t mean he’s dead. We came back for help. Please, you have to help him.”

“Tell me where you last saw him. I’ll go.” I don’t evenhesitate. Whatever it takes, I’ll find him. If, by any chance, he’s still alive, then I’ll bring him back.

Richard appears beside me. I didn’t even notice him arrive. I expected him to argue against the idea, but then another voice speaks up, loud and clear.

“We’ll go with you,” Griffin shouts out from the window we’re standing by.

Richard’s lips curl into a grim smile. “A fantastic idea. You and your group have survived out there this long, after all. Who better suited to a task like this?”

I bite back the urge to flip him off. I’m sure he expects we won’t come back, but that doesn’t matter because we’re not sticking around this place any longer than we need to either way. Once we find Josh, I’ll say my goodbyes to Zoey, and then we’ll be on our way to anywhere but here.

“Great. Now let them out of that cell so we can go save a life,” I say.

When we walk into the jail, I’m not surprised to see all three of my guys fixing Richard with a hostile stare over my shoulder. I’m sure they could break through the bars with their bare hands if they tried to, but I’m grateful they’re not causing any more trouble. The last thing I need is to risk losing this to the place that already took so much from me. We still have some things between us we need to work out, and this cell is way too cramped for that to happen.

Once the cell door opens, William is the first to burst free, and he scoops me into his arms, cradling my head against his chest. “It’s so good to hold you again,” he whispers.

I tighten my grip around his shoulders. “Don’t do stupid shit anymore. My attempt to break you guys out was so lame, I would have wound up trapped in there along with you.”

He chuckles into my hair. “What a cozy, cramped space it would have been. If we didn’t have a life to save, I would turn around and lock the four of us in there right now.”

I give a playful smack to his shoulder, and he lets me go, but I can’t help the smile I have. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Let’s get a move on,” Richard says, making me roll my eyes and flipping him the bird behind his back. It’s a little satisfying, especially when Max chuckles at my antics.

The guards don’t hand back the guys’ weapons until we’re out at the gate, making it clear they don’t trust them and never will. Their message couldn’t be plainer. We don’t stick around for a second longer than necessary. As soon as we’re clear of the colony walls and any prying eyes, I come to a halt and turn to face Griffin.

“Lift your shirt,” I demand, crossing my arms.

He raises an eyebrow and flashes me a wry grin. “Why is everyone trying to undress me these days?”

“Griffin.”

He smirks, but he relents, pulling up his shirt to reveal the wound Zoey patched up. I move closer to examine the wound on his side and reach out to brush my fingers along the skin surrounding it. It feels warmer than it should, and the surrounding flesh is tinged with red. My gut tightens when I sense something’s wrong, and he must notice. “Zoey said it’s infected, but she took care of it, so I’ll be fine. Believe me, it looks a lot better than it did.”

“He tells the truth,” Max says. Looking out ahead, he shields his eyes from the sun by pressing his hand against his forehead. “He was a dead man walking a few hours ago. Now he’s…well, still a dead man walking, but not as gruesome.”

“Remind me to wring your neck later,” Griffin grumbles.

“How infected is it?” I ask, ignoring their back-and-forth.

Griffin laughs. Not a nervous laugh, but more sincere. “She didn’t get into details, but look. I promise I’m not turning into a rotter,” he says, a hint of softness in his voice. “I’m still here, Emily, and I’m far from done proving to you I’m not going anywhere.”

“Griffin…” I start.

He clasps my hand, pulling it up beneath his shirt to rest against the warm bare skin of his chest, right over his heart. I can feel his heartbeat thrumming. It’s a healthy heartbeat. Human. Alive.

---