Page 17 of Cruel Devotion

Our footsteps echoed.

The path led us outside, into the cold embrace of the night, away from the confining walls of the mansion and all those damn zombies.

Finally, we emerged, battered, zombie blood-splattered, and bruised, but alive.

I looked at Lei, my heart still racing.

Gratitude and relief poured through me.

Lei leaned against a gnarled old tree and caught his breath.

The moonlight bathed him in a silver glow.

Cold wind rustled the leaves.

Lei slowly unzipped his jacket, peeling it off and revealing the soaked shirt underneath, stained heavily with the zombie blood. With a grimace of distaste, he wiped at his arms and face with the cleaner inner side of the jacket, scrubbing vigorously to get off as much of the grime and gore as possible.

Seeing him, I mimicked his actions, unbuttoning my own jacket and using it as a makeshift washcloth. The rough fabricscratched my skin a bit but the feeling of getting even just a little cleaner made it worthwhile.

“I never thought I’d be so relieved to take off a jacket.” I chuckled softly.

“I’m just happy we made it out of there.”

I shivered. “Me too.”

After ensuring we had removed as much blood as we could, we bundled our jackets up and set them beside a tree. There would be more jackets to get further up, in abandoned houses or stores. There was even a huge mall a mile ahead. Perhaps, we could rest our heads for the night.

Maybe even. . .make love like we’ve been getting so close to doing.

Lei looked at me. “Alright. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Lei held out his hand, which I gratefully took, our fingers intertwining.

Without a word, we began walking, each step taking us further from the mansion and its nightmare.

The path stretched ahead and although we were unsure of what lay beyond, there was solace in the fact that we had each other.

The world might be changing in unpredictable and terrifying ways, but as long as we stood side by side, there was hope.

Lei squeezed my hand tighter as we walked forward.

The chill of the night nipped at my skin but it was the warmth of his gaze that kept me calm.

Lei slowed our pace. “Monique. . .”

“Yes?”

“I wanted better for us.”

“Our world is no longer the same.” I shrugged. “What else can we do but somehow find a way to love while it all rots around us?”

“I agree and even this may not be the perfect moment, but I need you to know. . .”

I met his gaze. “Know what?”

“Being close to you tonight, it made me realize something.”

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