Page 29 of Surviving Her

“I’m here,” Eliza said, moving to help River to the floor. “You’re safe. You need to rest, okay? Let me take a look at that arm. I need to do it quickly.”

River leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Eliza’s hands shook uncontrollably as she examined River’s arm, wincing at the unnatural angle of the bone beneath the skin. It was definitely broken. She didn’t know how to help River with only minutes, maybe even seconds, before she changed.

“I’m sorry,” Eliza murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “This is going to hurt so bad, but I need to set it right now.”

River gritted her teeth in anticipation of the pain. Eliza gulped as she positioned River’s arm as gently as she could before bracing herself.

“Okay, I’m going to count to three again,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “One…two…three!”

She pushed the bone back into place with a sharp, decisive motion. River screamed in agony, her body tensing as she clutched Eliza’s arm. Eliza’s heart ached as she held River close, whispering soothing words in her ear.

“It’s done now,” Eliza whispered. “I’m sorry, River. I’m so sorry.”

After a few moments, River’s breathing calmed, and her grip on Eliza’s arm loosened.

“You…did g-good,” River murmured, her voice faint. “Don’t you d-dare be s-sorry.”

Eliza swallowed the lump in her throat, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts, every last one of them centered on the woman in front of her.

I have to get away from her now. I have to go.

Eliza leaned back as she wiped the sweat from River’s brow. “You need to rest,” she said, kissing her lover’s hand softly. “Just…just rest, okay? Goodbye, River.”

River’s eyes fluttered shut as exhaustion finally took over. Eliza watched her for a moment, her heart aching with a mixture of fear for what was about to happen and something else—something she hadn’t acknowledged until now.

Love.

It hit her like a freight train, the realization crashing over her with such force that she could barely breathe. She loved River. She was already in love with this woman. And the thought of losing her, of facing whatever lay waiting for her in the next world, was more terrifying than anything she’d ever imagined.

Eliza’s hand slipped from River’s. She could barely keep her eyes open, her mind drifting in and out of focus.

This is it. This is the end. Oh, River…

But just as she began to lose consciousness, a jarring sound snapped her back to full alertness.

A loud crash echoed through the room, followed by the unmistakable groan of a zombie. Eliza somehow found the strength to force herself to her feet as the world spun around her. The noise had come from the back of the building—a door she hadn’t checked.

“River!” she gasped, turning to where she’d left her, but the space was empty. Panic surged through her, making her head throb with renewed intensity. “River!”

There was no response. River was gone. Nothing made sense.

Maybe this is it. Perhaps I’m in hell?

A chill settled over her. River wasgone.

Eliza stumbled toward the back of the building, every step sending a sharp pain through her head. She had to find the woman she loved. She couldn’t lose her.

No! What if I kill her? Don’t be so selfish, Eliza! Maybe River saw you change and ran to safety?

But as she reached the source of the noise, her heart sank. The door at the back had been forced open, its hinges hanging limply. And beyond it, a trail of blood led out into the darkness.

“No!” Eliza cried. She stood frozen, staring at the trail, unable to make her legs move. The blood was fresh, still wet. River had been here, but now…

A guttural snarl from somewhere outside snapped her back to reality.

Was that me? Did that sound come from me? How come I’ve changed so quickly? Isn’t it supposed to take a while…hours, days, even? Why is this happening to me?

Her mind raced, torn between the primal urge to survive and the desperate need to find River. But deep down, she knew the truth. She was lost. She’d become one of the undead. And with her head pounding and her vision blurring, she had no idea which way to go.

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