Page 8 of Demon Shock

“I think most of the people evacuated,” he said.

“A house I checked had a message about evacuation. From what?”

“The infected.”

His answer confused and worried me. “People were sick? How long ago? Will I get sick?”

I hadn’t touched the dead man, but I’d been close enough to him. I’d also gone into that house.

“It was months ago. You won’t get sick unless you’re bitten.”

Bitten? Was he serious?

“Were you bitten?” he asked.

“No. Is that why you wanted to know if there’s anyone else here? Are you afraid we’re sick?”

“No. I heard you talking to Pete.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell him Pete was my cat, even though I’d pretty much already confessed I was alone.

The silence between us stretched until I shifted from one foot to the other. Why was he here? What did he want? If the sickness was months ago, why was that guy still in the hardware store?

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“No. I’m okay. Where did you come from?”

“Missouri. My brothers and I helped survivors build a community safe from the infected and the hounds.”

Missouri? That was a haul from here. And survivors? That didn’t sound good. It couldn’t be that bad. And… “Hounds?”

“How long have you been here?” he asked.

“Since the beginning of November. About five months now.”

“And you heard nothing? No howls? No bombing?”

“Bombing?” He was freaking me out now. No…hewasn’t. What he was saying was. He seemed pretty calm, which was good. I needed a lot of calm.

I saw him reach up to run his hand over his head and saw that he didn’t have a hat. Neither did I. I reached up and felt how wet my hair was getting.

While I didn’t want to invite him inside, I also didn’t want him to leave. He obviously knew more than I did. Was he safe, though?

Don’t trust anyone.

Did I have any choice? He was the first person I’d seen alive in months. Would I be stupid to send him away and head out on my own in the morning without a clue about what was going on? Yes, I would be.

“Listen, I have a lot of questions that I think you can answer. If I invite you inside, what are the chances I’m going to end up hurt or used in some way?”

“There will be no chances. I won’t let anything hurt you. I promise.”

He’d said “anything,” not “anyone,” which I found weird and concerning. But I didn’t see that I had any other option if I wanted answers.

“Okay. Then, if you don’t mind waiting another minute, I’m going to use the bathroom that’s behind you first.”

He stepped aside, and I moved to grab the screen door handle.

“My name’s Ava, by the way.”

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