Noah opened his eyes at the sound of something impacting the door. He grimaced as he raised his bandaged hand. Devin had managed to pick the lock, removing the handcuff so he could tend to Noah’s injuries. Noah sat forward. He had only closed his eyes for a moment. Their reluctant guest was conscious, sitting with his back to the desk and his knees drawn up to his chest. His eyes were narrowed, his jaw tense, a mixture of fear and anger etched on his pale face. Across the room, Devin and Hank were crouched below the level of the windows. Noah caught Devin’s gaze.

With a shake of his head, Devin pressed a finger to his mouth. He and Hank seemed to share some unspoken language as their eyes met.

“They’re inside.” The man’s voice was low but hostile as he tapped his foot on the floor.

Noah shuffled toward him. “What’s your name?”

“Anders.” He tensed his jaw, twitching his head as he stared at the closed door.

“I’m Noah. Devin and Hank.” He indicated the others.

Anders shook his head. “That’s great,” he said. There was an edge to his voice. “You think I care?” He folded his arms over his knees and rested his chin on them. There was something in the way he kept scanning the room that unnerved Noah.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Noah warned.

One raised word, any sound, and those things would be alerted to where they were, and in no more than a heartbeat the freaks would be through that door and they’d all be dead.

Anders shot Noah a sideways look, then returned his focus to the door when there was another thud. The monsters were in but with no immediate source of food in front of them, their movements along the corridors were somewhat subdued.

The noise died down as the freaks progressed farther into the hospital. Hank knelt up and eased two of the slats in the blind apart. He ducked his head as he checked in both directions. “They’ve kept on moving.” He brought the slats back together, then sat down. “Give it a minute.”

“A minute for what?” Anders creased his brow and held his mouth open in an incredulous expression. “You’re going out there?”

“Keep your voice down,” Devin urged.

“You can’t be serious,” Anders snapped in a hushed voice. “There must be, like, twenty or more of those things.”

Noah recalled just how many freaks had been fenced in outside. Things could have gone very differently. Guilt brought a wave of nausea to his gut. Devin and Hank could have been killed and it would have been his fault. They were here because he had been so desperate to mean something to the group again, to be important, to be a reason for them to go on fighting, and just maybe, finally, find a way to end this hell on earth.

Selfish.

“What’s the plan?” Noah asked. He could apologize over and over but what did it matter? They had bigger and more immediate problems.

Maybe when we’re out of here and safe I’ll apologize a hundred more times and make sure Devin knows I mean it. I am sorry.

“Go out the way we came in,” Devin said, as if it was the easiest thing in the world. “They’re inside now. Most likely all of them. Once the last have gone by that’ll clear a path. Any stragglers shouldn’t be a problem.” He nodded with each word he spoke, as if convincing himself of the validity of the plan. “We get the hell out of here.”

“Out there?” Anders shook his head. “No way.”

“Nobody said you had to come with,” Hank told him.

Devin edged forward and into the sunlight that shone into the room. “Look. I get that you’re scared but we—” Devin held his hand to his chest and glanced from Hank to Noah “—can’t stay here.” He met Noah’s eyes. “We’re going home,” he said and it was clear it was for Noah’s benefit. There were no answers here about Noah and his immunity, none worth dying for.

Devin locked his eyes with Anders’.

In a flurry of movement, Anders grabbed the corner of the desk and sprang to his feet. He fumbled his way around the furniture and backed into one of the cabinets. “He’s one of them.”

“What?” Devin got to his feet. Confusion etched on his face.

“You see it, right?” Anders looked at Noah. “That’s how it starts. The eyes.” In the brighter office, Anders was only now aware of the change in the color of Devin’s eyes.

“No, no.” Noah shook his head. “It’s not what you think.”

“He’s bitten. He’s turning,” Anders said.

Too loud.

Devin averted his gaze. Noah knew how he felt about his eyes and the way people judged him as if he was one of those freaks, something to fear. “Do I look sick? Bitten?” Devin held out his arms as he raised his head. “You need to calm down.” His voice was quiet but urgent.

Anders rushed Devin, pushing him in the chest and away from him. “Why don’t you all see? He’s a fucking liar.”

Getting to his feet, Noah held his hands out in front of him, almost pleading. “I’ll explain everything, but you need to be quiet.”

Hank fidgeted with his rifle. It seemed his patience had run out as he stood as well. “Shut the fuck up and sit your ass down.” He hissed the command and stepped forward. He went to say something else but froze. He glanced over his shoulder. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard and approached the door.

Noah came to stand beside Devin.

“Hank?” Devin whispered.

Hank took another step forward. He cocked his head.

“We’re not safe,” Anders said.

There was a rush of motion behind Noah as Anders darted forward. In his hand he held a pen that must have been on the desk. He lunged for the back of Devin’s neck, but Devin was too quick, too aware as he spun around and grabbed Anders by the wrist and throat, forcing him back and hard onto the desk. Papers on the desk fanned outward and fell to the floor.

Rage and despair clouded Devin’s eyes as he slammed Anders’ hand down, knocking the pen from his grip and sending it rolling across the desk and onto the floor. Anders tried to get up but Devin pinned him.

Panic turned Noah’s gut, burned its way into his chest. There was a low noise outside the room. Behind him, Anders continued to struggle in Devin’s hold despite Devin’s warnings about the danger he was putting them all in.

Hank proceeded to the entrance. He glanced back at Noah before reaching for the handle. Accompanied by a terrible sound, the door was pushed violently open. The edge of it hit Hank in the chest with enough force to knock him backward and against the wall. Hank was left wide-eyed as three freaks stumbled into the room. He didn’t move at first, waiting for the freaks to move past his obscured position behind the door before trying to get to his rifle.

“Devin.” Noah raised his ax and slammed it into the lead freak’s head. Two more undead monsters shuffled into the room, stopping Hank momentarily, before he was on his feet and securing the door.

“Fuck.” Devin released Anders and drew his handgun. He seemed to hesitate as he aimed at the well-built freak lumbering toward him.

Noah understood why Devin hesitated. Gunfire would draw more to them. Pulling back his ax, Noah pushed the limp body to one side and darted forward to grab the next. The two freaks behind were slower, zigzagging across the room as they were fueled forward by their hunger. The freak Noah had hold of struggled as he tried to find the angle to bring the ax down on its head. The monster lashed out with its one good arm. Its other was gone at the elbow, only pointed bone emerged from beneath torn and rotted flesh.

As he fought with the monster, Noah was aware of the other two freaks in the center and the path they were on that led them straight to Anders. With no weapon, Anders stumbled around the desk. The freaks followed. He disappeared behind Noah, but Noah was aware of the frantic sounds of Anders lashing out and fighting to keep the monsters at bay.

Noah gripped the freak by the shoulder and spun it around, slamming it against a cabinet and disorienting it for a moment. Taking his chance, Noah raised his ax. He was winded as a body slammed into him from the side. Noah fell to the floor, dragging the one-armed freak with him. The second freak fell across him and all he felt was a sharp pain in his stomach. White patches shot across his vision as he raised his hands trying to protect his face and neck from the writhing bodies laying over him. He looked across at Anders. The man shoved the other freak he had been battling with away and in Devin’s direction before running for the door.

Orange diamonds flashed across Noah’s vision with every step Anders took.

Hank grabbed for Anders. The kid had snatched Devin’s rifle, along with Hank’s pack, which Noah guessed held ammo and supplies, and was out of the room before Hank could stop him.

Fuck. Noah slammed his fist against the side of the freak’s head, then pressed his fingers into soft flesh at the back of its neck. He felt out the links of its spine, forcing his hand through rotted flesh to take hold of bone. With an anguished cry, he closed his fist and yanked as hard as he could. There was a terrible sound, a stench stung the back of his throat as the monster thrust its head back and jolted from side to side. Noah ripped his hand away, bone and muscle torn from the undead shell. The freak went into a crazed fit and pain tore through Noah.

What the hell is that?

Noah managed to lift his ax, slamming the point of the pick into its eye socket. The rotted monster fell still and Noah tried to shift the weight but it hurt. Something didn’t feel right. There was a wail from above him as the freak that had fallen into him clambered across the body of the one he had just killed. He was trapped, pinned and it felt as if the room was shrinking as he struggled to breathe with the weight against him.

I need help. Noah searched for Devin.

Devin had chosen to wait for the large freak to get close, until he was able to kick its legs out from under it. Devin gripped the flailing monster by the back of its neck and slammed its head into the corner of the desk. He did it again and again. A final blow smashed its skull.

Noah fought as hard as he could to lift the weight. It was as if his chest was on fire. It hurt to breathe. He arched his head back. Devin was tackling the last of the undead still on its feet. Relief flooded his body, almost numbing the shock of pain when he found Hank standing over him.

With a deft swing, Hank stabbed a knife into the head of the writhing monster and rolled it away. Hank lifted the other body and Noah found himself biting on his lip to stop himself from crying out.

“Crap.” Hank quickly knelt beside him and pressed his hands to Noah’s stomach and side. “Don’t move,” he ordered. He examined Noah.

“What?” Noah went to sit up, but Hank stopped him. He lifted his head and looked down. The rate of his breathing increased as he noted the blood soaking his T-shirt. His blood. “Oh God.” His voice broke. He gritted his teeth against the pain. His gaze settled on the mangled point of the dead freak’s severed arm.

It must have been when we fell.

Having swiftly dealt with the final undead, Devin came over. “Shit.” He was on his knees and pressing his hand over Hank’s on Noah’s stomach. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” He met Hank’s eyes. “What happened?”

Hank shook his head.

There was a noise from outside and both Hank and Devin looked anxiously at the door.

“We need to get him out of here.” Hank slipped his hands from beneath Devin’s and got to his feet.

“Can you move?” Devin cleared his throat as he pulled one bloodied hand away from Noah’s stomach to stroke Noah’s hair. He picked up Noah’s handgun and slipped it into his waistband at the back of his pants.

“Do I have a choice?” Noah winced. It would only be a matter of time before the other freaks stumbled upon them. They weren’t safe here.

Devin leaned down and pressed a kiss to Noah’s forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay.” He took one of Noah’s hands and pushed it to the wound. “Come on.” Devin sat Noah up and worked to get him on his feet.

Standing had never felt so alien. Noah held one hand to his stomach. His palm was heated as blood soaked through his T-shirt. He gripped Devin’s forearm as he steadied himself, glad of the support.

Hank went ahead with his rifle raised. He stopped at the door and checked behind the blind. He seemed to pale, his expression grim as he turned to Devin. He shook his head and Devin tensed, tightening his hold on Noah.

“The plan?” Devin said in a low voice.

“We go left. While most are busy with…” Hank stared at the door.

Anders? It has to be. That idiot.

Since the nightmare had begun and the dead had started walking, hunting, and killing, Noah had seen many different types of people—heroes and leaders, thieves and cowards, people willing to sacrifice themselves for others and those only out for themselves. There were those who could handle anything, then there were others, those like Anders who were impulsive, who would freak out and put themselves and others in danger because of their reckless behavior. It seemed an apocalypse could bring out both the best and the worst in the human race.

“Left,” Hank repeated. He reached for the door handle. “And we run.”

Noah was unnerved. Was he going to be able to run? How many were out there?

“You should go without me.” Before the words were out of his mouth Devin was dragging him to the door.

“We didn’t follow you all the way out here to leave you behind. We’re going home. All of us.” Devin holstered his own handgun and picked up the ax on their way to join Hank.

“That idiot took the bag, your rifle.”

For a brief moment, Devin tensed his shoulders. “Then you make them count.” He nodded in the direction of Hank’s rifle.

Devin leaned in close to Noah. “You focus on staying on your feet. Leave the rest to us.”

Noah nodded and draped his arm over Devin’s shoulder for support. He gripped the material of Devin’s T-shirt and braced himself. Maybe it was down to loss of blood, the rush of fear that consumed him, but he felt somehow detached from the moment. His vision blurred at the edges.

“Okay,” Hank checked with Devin. He must have gotten the word to go ahead, when suddenly the door was open and they were in the corridor.

Noah glanced to the right. Four freaks knelt over a mass on the floor. Blood pooled around them. Noah made out a booted foot. The leg it was attached to twitched as the freaks tore into their fleshy meal. Noah stared at the sole of the boot and the orange diamond tread.

It’s funny what you remember about a person. He turned his head, unable to tear himself from the horrific scene as Devin guided him in the opposite direction. The boot, the leg, it was Anders.

Noah lifted his head, movement beyond the man’s body drawing his attention. More of the monsters were coming in their direction, probably drawn in by the attack on Anders, by his spilled blood.

“Hank,” Devin said.

“I got it.” There was no hesitation from Hank.

Noah focused in the direction they were heading, a twitching freak lurched out of an open door but was taken down by Hank with a knife to the back of its neck.

“Behind us,” Noah said.

Devin gripped Noah’s arm. “I know.”

“Anders.”

“I know.” Devin didn’t turn his head, but it was clear he was aware of the danger behind them.

Noah glanced over his shoulder. Not all of the freaks were interested in Anders. Muscular firm legs stepped over Anders’ protruding boot. This monster was more solid than some of the others. It bared its teeth as it hurried forward, leading a group of four or five others.

“They’re coming.”

“I know,” Devin said. His voice was harsher, and he grunted as he lifted Noah higher to keep hold of him. This time he did look back. “Shit.” He tucked the ax in his belt, drawing his handgun instead.

“The gunfire,” Noah warned. The noise could draw more of the freaks to them. They might find themselves facing more than they were able to handle.

“Worth the risk.” Devin quickened his pace, dragging Noah with him.

Devin was right. There was no way Devin and Hank could risk taking all of them on hand-to-hand. If they were overwhelmed, it would be over for all of them.

Devin awkwardly pulled Noah’s gun that he’d secured in his waistband, and held it by the barrel. “Can you hold a gun?” His eyes were on Hank as he spoke to Noah.

Hank was a few feet ahead of them, checking each open door they passed for hidden dangers.

“I can try.” Noah peeled his hand from his stomach, his palm slick and sticky from clotting blood. He took the gun from Devin, gripped it tightly. The weapon was cool to the touch but felt heavier than he remembered.

“Okay,” Devin said.

“Uh huh,” Noah managed.

Devin’s shoulder was tense, the muscles in his arm exerting every ounce of strength he had left. In one swooping movement, Devin spun them around then raised his gun and took aim.

Noah struggled to hold up his arm. The sound of gunshots echoed around him. His head felt heavy, as if there was a pressure clouding his mind. His arm went limp, the gun falling from his hand and landing with a clatter. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, closing in on him as it grew louder and slower with every beat.

“Noah.” Devin’s voice sounded far away, desperate and pleading. Noah slipped from Devin’s hold.

Sounds and smells merged into something unbearable. His guts burned, his stomach tensed, gripped in a painful hold. He retched, bitter liquid covering his chin and neck as he leaned forward, damn near folded in two.

Noah hit the floor, and was left to do nothing but stare at Devin’s booted feet as he stepped protectively in front of him.

The monsters had one focus—them. Devin fired off his last round, winging one of the fast-gaining freaks. With a grunt, he took up Noah’s weapon from the floor. He dropped two of the approaching freaks with ease, a third took what was left of his ammo as it swerved his aim through uneven steps.

“Fuck.” Devin tossed the gun. He rushed to Noah in a desperate attempt to lift him from the floor, drag him to some as yet inconceivable safety. “Help me,” Devin called out.

There was a moment punctuated with short bursts of gunfire Noah guessed were from Hank’s rifle. Before he could figure out what was going on Devin and Hank had their hands wrapped in his clothes, holding his shoulders, and supporting him under his arms. Just as quickly as Devin and Hank had started moving him, they abruptly stopped. Noah was knocked sideways and he watched helplessly as Devin was thrown backward. Devin slid across the tiled floor, hitting the wall on the other side of the corridor.

Hank knocked into Noah as he was forced down onto one knee. “Devin,” he cried. His rifle was pressed to his chest as a powerful freak lunged for his neck. “Devin, watch Noah.”

Noah could feel something like pins in his thigh and hip, then the worst kind of pain he thought he could ever imagine. It was as if he was being ripped in two. He lifted his head to see a monster dragging itself upward by its fingers, which were dug into the wound at Noah’s stomach. Noah did his best to move, to kick out, to punch the freak in the head. It was drawn to the blood, and no weak actions from Noah were going to turn it away from the chance to satiate its hunger.

“Dev—” As Hank’s cry was cut short, gunfire rang out.

Congealed blood spattered Noah’s face as the freak fell still over him, before being dragged away. There were raised voices and Noah leaned his head back, looking across at Devin who knelt on the ground.

Fear mixed with anger creased Devin’s brow as he could do nothing but raise his hands. He flinched as there were more shots.

“Clear. For now,” someone said. The voice seemed to belong to a woman, but with the intermittent rushing sound in his ears, Noah wasn’t sure of anything anymore. “What do we do about this one?” There was a moment, the sound of a weapon being repositioned, aimed at him, then a question. “He bit?”

Hank shifted toward Noah. “No,” he said without hesitation.

Whoever had come to their rescue fell into another short silence.

“Follow us,” came another voice, deeper, male. That accent. It was the man who had jumped him in reception. Brandon had said his name.

Mac.

Devin made his way to Noah’s side. He seemed to be keeping his head low, avoiding eye contact as he slid forward. When he reached Noah, he gently cupped Noah’s cheek. “It’s going to be okay. It looks worse than it is. Okay?” Devin’s words didn’t seem to match the fear in his eyes. Noah saw defeat and acceptance. It was as if he was readying himself to lose Noah, just as he had Connor.

Noah simply nodded. He didn’t have the strength to reassure Devin, not when he didn’t believe it himself.

I feel like death.

The sound of more infected echoed along the corridor.

“We need to go,” Mac growled, he bent over and picked up Noah’s gun that Devin had discarded.

Noah clutched his hand to his stomach as he was lifted by Devin and Hank. Pain shot through him and he was glad when they supported his weight, the toes of his shoes dragging against the floor as he was pulled along with them.

“What are we going to do?” Hank’s voice was low and urgent. He leaned his head close to Noah’s, Devin doing the same as they talked across him.

Devin gripped Noah’s arm. “I don’t know. But if they can help Noah… If you see a chance, you take it. But I won’t leave him.”

“Move,” Mac encouraged them forward.

“Well, I hope they have room for three.” Hank’s voice was firm and supportive, despite the attempt to lighten their situation.

Noah managed to raise his head as they stopped. A woman with cropped blonde hair nodded toward an open door. “In here. Quickly.”

They were directed into a dim room. What little furniture there was had been pushed up against the walls.

“What happened?” Brandon was in front of him, pulling Noah’s hand from his stomach. “Damn. Over here.”

Noah took comfort from Devin and Hank’s tightening grip on his arms. They were still there. Still with him.

“Please. Let us help.” Brandon stepped close. “I know how special he is.” He directed his words toward Devin.

It seemed to be enough for Devin, and he and Hank carried Noah to the far side of the room, before laying Noah on the floor.

“Go,” Noah said. He felt so tired. Was this it? Was he done?

Devin knelt over him and wrapped his hand around Noah’s. He leaned down and touched his forehead to Noah’s. “I’m not going anywhere.” He pulled back a little and glanced down at Noah’s stomach. There was clear worry on his face. “Just…” He didn’t know what to say. His voice was breathy, low, and uneven as he said, “I love you.”

The words were a simple declaration but the expression on Devin’s face, it was as if the world was breaking all over again, along with Devin’s heart. He squeezed Noah’s hand and held it to his chest, only looking away as Brandon and a woman approached. “You can help him, right?”

Brandon’s and the woman’s eyes met. “If anyone can, March can,” Brandon assured them as March took charge.

“Can you hear me?” March asked. She shone a light into his eyes and Noah was hit with a wave of dizziness. “Noah, right?”

“I’m gonna…” Noah gagged, thick, bitter liquid rushing upward and back down to cover his face and neck as he couldn’t turn in time.

“Get him on his side.”

Noah wasn’t sure what was happening, people had their hands on him, their touch painful, lighting sparks behind his eyes with every press of their palms, every clawing of their fingers as they rolled him.

Things started to get hazy. The one hand he focused on was the one he held onto as if he might float away and be lost forever—Devin’s hand. He closed his eyes and held on.

I love you too.