Page 30 of Surviving Her

She couldn’t think. She could only act.

Eliza staggered back into the main room, her breathing uneven. She needed to get out. She had to find a way to escape. But as she tried the door that would lead her out onto the street, she discovered that it was blocked, and with each failed attempt to force it open, her panic grew.

Finally, she found a small window, barely wide enough for her to squeeze through. She clawed at it desperately. The cool air rushed in, helping her breathe a little easier.

Without a second thought, Eliza hauled herself up and through the window, ignoring the pain as the rough edges scraped against her skin. She landed heavily on the ground outside, her knees buckling.

For a moment, she lay there, her chest heaving as she gulped in the fresh air. But the sound of footsteps—heavy, draggingfootsteps—sent a jolt of fear through her, and she forced herself to her feet.

A low growl echoed from somewhere nearby. Eliza’s body moved on autopilot, her instincts taking over as she ran as fast as she could down the street.

At last, she stumbled into an alleyway, her lungs burning as her body gave out and she collapsed onto the ground. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being hunted, of eyes watching her from the shadows. Everything hurt—her scalp, her face…her heart.

“River,” Eliza whimpered, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. The darkness closed in around her, cold and suffocating, and she curled into herself, trembling with a fear she couldn’t suppress.

She was alone. Truly alone. She’d lost the only person who made her feel safe, the only person she’d ever loved. She’d lost her River to a world of monsters…and now she was one of them.

11

RIVER

River’s heart thudded against her ribs as she tore through the abandoned streets of Verdwater. The town lay in eerie silence, and the air was thick with the scent of decay and stale rain. The stench clung to her. She felt like she was stuck on the edge of some dark, twisted nightmare. All she wanted to do was wake up. She had to find Eliza—nothing else mattered.

Why didn’t she run? Didn’t she realize they were coming? Fuck! Why did I leave her in there?

Her body had gone into pure survival mode, running purely on adrenaline. She skidded to a halt at the corner of a street, her eyes scanning the desolate scene before her. The road ahead was littered with cars, motorcycles, shattered glass, and remnants of a world that looked like it had long since died, yet this outbreak had started just a few days ago, maybe a week or so. She couldn’t remember. She also realized that it didn’t really matter when, where, or how this whole end-of-the-world thing had happened. All anyone needed to know was that ithadhappened. The wind carried the faint scent of smoke and something sour that turnedher stomach, but she forced the sensation aside. Her arm ached and her head spun.

Eliza was lost somewhere in this ruin, and River felt the need to find her pressing down on her like a physical force.

“Eliza! Just shout back to me!” she called out, her voice slicing through the oppressive silence. The only response was the distant rustle of leaves blowing in the heavy breeze and the low creak of a window swinging open and closed. She was running out of time.

She looked down at her arm in wonder. The bleeding had stopped and the pain had subsided.

How the hell did she fix this? She’s a miracle worker.

A flicker of movement caught her eye—a flash of color. River needed to know what it was. She bolted to the other side of the street, her boots crunching on the loose gravel and pieces of glass scattered across the pavement. As she approached an empty-looking burger joint, she could see the place had been ransacked—the counter was overturned, and dollar bills spilled out in a chaotic mess.

Shit! Does money not matter anymore? Why didn’t anyone pick up this money?

A wave of stale, musty air hit her as she drew closer, causing her nose to wrinkle up involuntarily. But before she could investigate further, she caught sight of a figure lurking by the entrance to the ladies’ washroom.

River tensed up, her instincts screaming at her to be on her guard. The man who emerged from the darkness was tall and gaunt, his face half-hidden behind a greasy curtain of unwashed hair. His clothes were filthy, the fabric caked with mud and something darker. The smell of him hit her like a wall—sweat, dirt, and alcohol.

Come on, Riv. Don’t judge the guy. Who wouldn’t want to get drunk right now, huh?

“What do we have here, sunshine?” the man drawled, his grin spreading across his red-stained lips. His southern accent was thick and familiar, but something about it made River’s skin crawl. Normally, she liked that kind of voice, but his felt wrong, like a red flag.

She squared her shoulders and took a step back, keeping her distance. “I’m looking for someone,” she said, keeping her tone neutral despite the unease curling in her gut. “A woman. Dark hair, about my height, maybe a little taller. Have you seen her?”

The man’s grin widened, revealing a line of crooked yellow teeth. He moved closer, his boots dragging lazily through the dirt. “Maybe I saw some broad run by,” he said, his words slithering from his mouth. “But what’s in it for me, huh? Ain’t no more use for money, and you don’t look like you’re carryin’ much of use. Got any drugs? Booze?”

A wave of disgust rolled through her, but she kept her expression blank. “I honestly don’t have anything to offer you,” she replied, her voice coming out colder and more abrupt than she’d intended. “Could you please just tell me where she went?”

The man’s smile vanished and his eyes darkened as he took another step forward. The stench of him hit her even harder than before—sour sweat and stale alcohol. It made her stomach churn. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? You’re no lady. I know that much,” he hissed, his voice low and threatening. “You think you can just go around demanding answers from people you don’t know?”

River clenched her fists, her heart pounding. “Look,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “I don’t want any trouble. Just tell me what you know.”

Jesus, he’s an issue. How can I distract him?

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