Affliction Read online

  I look at each of the men in the room, numbering fourteen in total including Fletcher, Cyrus and Nox. Some of them look vaguely familiar to me. Others are complete strangers.

  “I’m not asking for you to decide at this very moment. We need to strip this place down and take what supplies we can. Our intel says that Cable’s forces are still a good few hours out so we need to stay ahead of them. You have one hour and then we move out. Any questions or comments?”

  “Yeah, this bullshit!” I growl and pull out of Cyrus’ grasp. “What part of ‘you’re not welcome to join me’ didn’t you hear earlier, Nox?”

  The men around me shift uneasily but I don’t care.

  Nox grits his teeth and slowly turns to look at me. “I do not answer to one man’s heart anymore, Avery. This is a group decision. It is out of my hands.”

  “Like hell it is. I trusted you to do the right thing!”

  “I am.”

  “What’s all this yelling about?” a voice calls from the living room. “I say we let bygones be bygones and get this show on the road!”

  I turn to see a familiar face emerge from the hallway and shake my head. “I should have known you’d be here too. It’s good to see you, Flynn.”

  Holding out his arms, Flynn crushes me in a bear hug, lifts me off the ground. The unnatural strength in his arms surprises me and I feel a bit light headed when he spins me around. I give him bewildered look but he raises a finger to his lips and catch Nox’s warning gaze.

  Setting me back down on my feet, he steps back until he’s at arm’s length to look me over. “Wow. You look rough. You’re way too skinny.”

  “Gee. Thanks for that,” I shove my wild mane of curls back out of my face. “I didn’t realize I needed to make myself pretty for company.”

  He turns to glare at Nox. “You told me she was okay. Does this look okay to you?”

  “She will be,” he replies curtly. “Trust me. She’s the most stubborn person I know.”

  Flynn frowns at that comment but then turns back to me. “Well, once you are a picture of health again and all of this shit is behind us, I’ve got a real bone to pick with you about leaving me behind back at the hotel.”

  “I figured you might.” I glance over his shoulder and see Liam hanging out in the hall. “Let me guess, was his sudden change of heart about coming along for the death ride your doing?”

  Flynn glances behind him and shrugs. “I guess I just know what it feels like to want to fight for what’s right. He didn’t really need much persuasion.”

  I lean forward and whisper in his ear. “You have a lot of explaining to do, mister, but we can settle this later. There’s no way I’m letting you come with me.”

  Flynn chuckles and throws his arm around my shoulder. “It’s cute that you still think you have a say in that.”

  “Are we about done with the happy reunion now?” Nox growls.

  I look up and realize that all eyes, both familiar and not, are on us. My cheeks flame with heat and I grimace.

  “Good. We meet back here in one hour. Get to work, men.” Nox turns without looking at me and walks past Liam to disappear into the living room. I start to make a move to follow but Fletcher holds out his hand to stop me.

  “What he said was true. This decision isn’t on him,” he says and I stop to look down at him. “Once he became the leader he swore an oath to do what was right for our people. The men may not like you very much but they agree with what you’re doing. If there’s anyone who can get them out of that Safe Zone alive, it’s you. They are willing to follow if you two will lead.”

  I struggle to stuff down my annoyance. “I am not leading shit.”

  “Either way, this plan is already in motion and there’s nothing you can do to stop it now. Nox may have wanted to let you do your thing but he has been outvoted.”

  “Outvoted? He’s in charge!”

  Fletcher shakes his head. “It is only right for him to allow these men to make up their own minds. Many of them lost people during the attack. Some of them had loved ones down in that hospital wing with you that were slaughtered during the cleansing. You’re not the only one with a score to settle with Wiemann.”

  “You think this is about revenge for me?”

  “No,” Cyrus speaks up for Fletcher, “but for them it is. You can’t deny them their right to avenge those that they love. If we take that away from them we tell them that there’s nothing worth fighting for anymore.”

  “That’s bullshit,” I growl. “They are fighting for the living. For kids like Hope, Liam and Flynn who still have a life to live.”

  “And how much longer will the living still be living if Wiemann gets his way?” Fletcher says. “Wiemann may be too arrogant to realize that he can’t control the creatures that he’s creating, but there are others out there who can. Your old boyfriend taught us that lesson.”

  He gives me an appraising look before continuing. “We know that you’re one of them, Avery. You have the ability to control them too. If things go to shit like we know they are bound to do, we believe that you hold the potential to turn the tide and help us to win. This may be our only chance to stop the Armageddon that’s about to be unleashed and we want to take it.”

  I shake my head rapidly. “I can’t do what Cable did. I tried before that zombie bit my shoulder but I failed. If it hadn’t been for Nox showing up when he did...”

  “Aw, girl, you just failed because you didn’t have the proper motivation or the extra mojo that’s running through your pretty little veins now,” Cyrus says with a wink. “I’ve got faith that when the time comes you’ll know exactly what to do.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  Fletcher and Cyrus exchange a glance. “Then I guess we’ll all die fighting for what we believe in.”

  FIFTEEN

  Within an hour, Flannery’s house is completely stripped down and prepped for destruction. Nox’s men work with impressive efficiency as they punch holes in the roof that will allow oxygen to feed the fires once they are lit. Liam stands off to the side with his arm around Hope. Tears stream down the little girl’s face as she watches the men work.

  “Do you think that she will ever be okay after this?” Flynn asks from beside me when he follows my gaze.

  “I need to believe that she will be.”

  “You saved her, Avery. She won’t forget that.”

  I smile and tug him under my arm. “When did you get to be so wise?”

  “You’re just now noticing?” He scoffs and laughs when I ruffle his hair. I can feel the bulk of him beneath me and know that soon enough we will have to have that chat about the changes I see in him. Nox may have stopped it from happening in front of his men, but I know something has shifted in Flynn and they don’t want anyone to know about it.

  “I guess I’ve been gone a while.”

  “Not that long,” he bumps my shoulder with a smile.

  Gunfire sounds in the distance and everyone stops. Flynn flinches as the sound repeats multiple times, echoing off the hills. “Raiders?”

  “Could be. There’s at least one group not too far from here that I bet wouldn’t be too thrilled about seeing Cable headed their way.” I look up to see Nox motioning for his men to move. “We need to get ready to head out.”

  Flynn brushes off the dirt that clings to his flannel shirt. His time spent rummaging through Flannery’s attic has left him a bit worse for wear. As stupid as it sounds, it’s kinda nice to know that there was some dirt somewhere to be found in that psycho’s house after all.

  Piles of supplies have been boxed up and are in the process of being loaded into the back of two trucks but the soldier’s efforts kick into high gear as the battle continues somewhere in the distance. One truck will haul the stuff while the other will haul those returning to the base. I just hope they don’t run into trouble along t
he way. The route Nox settled on should give them a wide berth, but who knows what else could be out there waiting for them.

  “Even though I don’t want you guys coming with me, splitting up now doesn’t feel right either,” I whisper.

  “Is that your gut talking or your stubborn as a mule mind?”

  I reach out and ruffle his hair. “Both, wiseass. But that doesn’t mean I’m not right. Splitting up like this, those gunshots in the area...I just feel like something is going to go wrong.”

  Flynn’s broad shoulders rise and fall with a shrug. “We’re prepared for anything.”

  “Are you?” I turn to look at him. Just like Liam, he’s been forced to grow up far too fast. Though each of them have suffered in different ways I know that they can relate to the anger and helplessness that they have felt at the hands of a sadistic man. “Can you honestly tell me that you’re not going to go into that Safe Zone half-cocked and hell bent on revenge against Wiemann for what he did to you?”

  “If I did would you blame me?”

  “Hell no, but that will only get you killed, Flynn. You have to be smart about this. We all do. Breaking into that base if it comes to it will not be a walk in the park. They will be well supplied, fortified and already on alert for our arrival if Wiemann reaches them first.”

  “Well, then I guess we need to make sure that he doesn’t reach them in time, huh?”

  His cocky grin reminds me so much of Nox when he’s being overconfident.

  “You’re hopeless,” I laugh.

  “And yet so utterly charming at the same time.” He wiggles his eyebrows and I can’t help but ease up on him. Someday, some girl is going to get her heart stolen by that kid and she will be very lucky to have him.

  “Why don’t you go see if Nox needs any help? I’m going to hang back and say goodbye to Hope.”

  Flynn tosses a wave in the air and turns on his heel. He puts a little skip in his step that has me laughing in spite of my growing concern as I head over toward the truck parked in front. I weave around soldiers hefting the last of the large boxes and larger items into the truck bed. I am amazed that Flannery’s home could provide so many necessary supplies, but I am grateful that at least some good will come from this place. Perhaps it will help give a bit of aid relief to those left behind in Nashville.

  A small pickup truck rumbles in the front yard with its tailgate down and five soldiers begin piling inside at Nox’s call to begin rounding up. Amongst the heavily armed men and supplies, I spy the little girl being lifted up into the truck. She looks so tiny as she takes a seat between their legs, but a small smile stretches across her face as I approach.

  “I guess it’s about time for me to say goodbye. These nice men are going to watch over you until you get back to their base.”

  She looks at me but says nothing as I shield my eyes from the late day sun. It slants over the trees and strikes me exactly at the wrong angle and I’m forced to turn my body away.

  “I think you will really like the hotel. There are trees to climb in and fish in the ponds to watch, unless the cook has nabbed them already.” I wink at her before continuing. “There are also some nice beds to jump on, hot meals to fill your belly and other kids to play with. I bet you will like that, won’t you?”

  I wish that she would say something, anything, so that I know she’s okay with this decision to leave. Her smile remains in place as she leans back against one of the soldier’s legs. When the middle aged man behind her reaches down and gently pats her on the shoulder, she surprises me by not flinching at his touch.

  “I’ll take good care of her,” he promises and smiles down at her with a father’s love. “My old lady and I have always wanted a little girl but the good Lord just didn’t see fit to give us one...until now.”

  Hope beams up at him and I feel the worry in my chest ease just a little bit. This man, Fredricks, as his name badge says, seems like a decent sort and Hope appears to already be comfortable with him. I imagine this is the first she has truly felt safe in a long time.

  “Keep that arm of yours nice and clean,” I lean forward and take a hold of Hope’s hand. “I’ll see you soon. Maybe then we can have that little chat, hmm?”

  As expected I get nothing more than a shy smile and a little head nod, but it’s good enough for me. I step back away from the truck as a soldier slams the tailgate into place and hoists himself up onto the back tire and over the side then slams his palm against the side to alert the driver.

  I sense a presence over my shoulder as the engine roars and turn to see Liam standing beside me. His eyes look sad but he has a smile plastered on his face as he waves goodbye.

  “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing leaving her with complete strangers?” I ask, trying one last time to convince Liam to join them before the truck begins to pull away.

  “Fredricks seems like a nice guy. After Nox had to leave on patrol that first night after the attack, Fredricks offered to take over with Hope. He told her all sorts of silly stories about growing up on a pig farm until she fell back to sleep. That was the first night in a long time that she didn’t need to curl up with me. I think she senses that these people don’t want to hurt her and that helps. Besides, she’s tougher than she looks and she will have my dad to watch out for her after she arrives. I’ve given her a note to give to him and promised her that she would be safe.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “It will have to be.”

  He lifts his hand to wave again. Hope clings tightly to her doll and offers us a tiny wave in response before the truck disappears into a cloud of dirt as the tires dig deep into the ground and rumbles away.

  It would have been nice to have a working vehicle for our own trek through the mountains, but cutting across the steep terrain will require going it on foot if we want to split the distance. The likelihood of us stumbling across another working vehicle is slim to none but I know Nox will be on the lookout all the same.

  We turn our backs on the trucks and look to the soldiers that have remained behind. Nox, Fletcher, and Cyrus have been joined by Kira, a presence that I was none too fond of when I discovered she was among those whom I’d yet to see while out on patrol securing the perimeter. She isn’t exactly my biggest fan and that feeling is definitely mutual.

  Three others have remained behind to join my mission: Phillip, Bo and Gentry. Flynn informed me during our search of the house that each of these men are loyal to a fault and quick on the draw. I guess if anyone had to stay behind we got a few of the good ones.

  “I really wish you weren’t coming,” I mutter under my breath as we make our way past the back of the house and head up the hill toward the barn where Nox has brought everyone together.

  “And I wish you’d get your head out of your ass long enough to say thank you for the help.”

  I look over at him and laugh. “You know, you and Flynn are so much alike it is almost scary.”

  “Yeah,” he smiles and nods his head in greeting to Flynn when we arrive. “He seems cool. Reminds me of my brothers.”

  “Just don’t let his fool headed thinking get you killed. He may have his own vendetta to see finished but it’s not yours. You hear me?”

  When Liam grins I punch him lightly on the shoulder and then move over to speak with Nox as Liam collects his small bag of supplies. Each of us have acquired a blanket, small throw pillow and a mismatched change of clothes. Food will be scarce and with only one water bottle each we will have to fill up anytime we run across a stream or rainfall. With as many storms as we’ve had come through since I left Nashville, water is the least of my concerns.

  When I arrive, I notice a visible tensing in Nox and know that we still need to clear the air.

  “Can we have a moment, fellas?” I say when I stop next to him and gently place a hand on his arm. Cyrus jerks his head toward Fletcher and the two of them sile
ntly move off to allow us some privacy.

  “I don’t want to fight about this—” Nox starts, but I hold up my hand and he falls silent.

  “I came to thank you.”

  His eyebrows shoot nearly into his hairline. “Come again?”

  I laugh. “I know it’s hard to believe considering I’ve a bit of a hard head, but now that I don’t have a say in the matter, I thought you should know that I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Huh.” He rubs the sexy as hell stubble on his chin and I smile. “Well, I have to say you never stop amazing me.”

  “Is that a good thing?” I ask, slowly stepping toward him.

  “Oh, it definitely could be.” He reaches out for me and draws me close. “You’re sure you are okay with this now?”

  “Hell no,” I respond without hesitation as I place a hand over his heart. “But you were right. These guys have just as much of a right to fight as I do.”

  “They do, but you weren’t completely wrong.” He sighs and his shoulders slump forward as he rests his chin on top of my head. For the first time, I can feel the burden of leadership falling heavily on his shoulders. “I feel like every time I turn around, I am faced with an impossible decision. I couldn’t bear the thought of letting you go to Atlanta alone, especially with Cable following you, but to do so left others in danger that were depending on me. No matter what decision I made, I was leaving someone I love in harm’s way.”

  A warmth swells in my chest as I press myself against him. “Did you just throw out the ‘L’ word, Nox?”

  “Maybe,” he presses his lips to the crown of my head. “Does that scare you?”

  “Maybe.”

  He pulls back so that he can look down at me. “I’m glad you told me the truth earlier. I’ll admit that I probably could have handled that a bit better, but I understand why you did what you did. I still believe in you and I’m not going anywhere, so whatever you need to do to figure things out with these changes you are going through, we can do it together.”