Page 20 of Demon Shock

She nodded, and Zach gave me a thumbs-up before motioning that I should leave.

Don’t let your desperation show.

Rather than stay with her like I wanted, I jogged to the main truck and helped Will dig out our overnight supplies.

“Here,” he said, handing over the first tote.

Ava and Zach were a few steps behind me with her cats as I went inside with it.

“Is this what you normally do?” Ava asked. “Break into vacant houses?”

“Pretty much,” Zach said. “It’s warmer than sleeping outside, but if we have to, we have the gear to do that too. We did last night.”

She glanced from me to the tote I carried. “Do you need help with anything?”

“Yeah,” Zach said as I set the tote on the kitchen table. “You can help me see if we can get the heat and water going. Let’s check the basement.”

“Wait,” I said.

Although I’d already walked through it, I didn’t want Ava down there with only Zach. He could defend himself, but what about her?

“Actually, why don’t you help her, Gyrik?” Zach asked, reading the situation well. “I’ll carry in supplies.”

He walked out without waiting for an answer from either of us.

CHAPTER SEVEN

AVA

Gyrik was coveredin snow from his time outside, and it wasn’t melting off.

With Zach’s stories running through my head about how Gyrik and his brothers had been mistreated by the people in their survivor colonies, I reached up and gently brushed the snow off Gyrik’s shoulders. Then I motioned for him to lean down.

He did so with startling speed, proving he hadn’t exaggerated that talent. I flashed a half-smile at him, hoping he couldn’t hear how it’d made my heart race, and brushed the snow from the top of his head.

“You looked like you were part snowman,” I said. “I’m actually surprised it’s snowing like this so late in the season.”

Will entered with a tote and said, “We weren’t expecting this much snow on the ground either. Back in Missouri, it’s starting to feel like spring.”

“It was like that here a few weeks ago. The lake likes to throw some unexpected snow, though.”

He nodded, and while he set the tote on the table, I glanced at Gyrik. “Ready to see if we can turn on the heat?”

He led the way to the basement and explained the rules for entering unknown spaces. Move quietly and listen. Stay close to him at all times. Say if I see anything suspicious—like if things were moved that might seem out of place. Trust him to keep me safe.

Basements had never bothered me before, but his warnings put me on edge despite not having seen anyone infected with any sickness. When we found the furnace, the pilot light was out, and the valve on the gas line was closed. A long lighter waited on top of the furnace.

“I think we’re in business,” I said.

A few minutes later, the pilot was lit, and I heard the furnace kick in.

“No way!” Zach shouted from above.

The water heater was the same as the furnace.

“I think whoever lived here planned on coming back,” I said.

Gyrik grunted.

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