I don’t want to die, Noah.

Noah opened his eyes. His sister’s words hung in the air. He pinched the top of his nose and massaged the corners of his stinging eyes. He was tired but couldn’t seem to settle, his mind too active to give in to sleep. With a sigh, he held his hand in front of him. Even in the dim light he could see clearly enough that his imagination was able to play wicked tricks on him. He opened and closed his hands, tried to ignore the memory of dark, sticky marks, the metallic taste in the back of his throat, the sound of his mournful cries with no one left alive to hear them.

Stiffly, he sat up, and looked at Devin who was lying beside him. Devin had his back pressed to the cell wall, and though his face seemed contorted from some unsettling dream, he was asleep. Noah studied Devin’s features and the slightest pang of jealousy sparked within him.

I wish I could sleep.

No, that wasn’t fair. Devin had had more than his fair share of sleepless nights and would no doubt have more in the future. If Devin could sleep, Noah shouldn’t be envious, he should be grateful. Many of them were close to exhaustion, running on fumes, any sleep was a blessing in such uncertain times.

Noah dragged his hand back through his hair, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He sat there for a moment, noting the light bouncing off the glossy photograph as it streamed through the undressed window. With a wince, he stood, praying he didn’t disturb Devin. He glanced over his shoulder. Devin was still asleep.

Rubbing his face, Noah walked to the window, and looked at the evening sky through the bars. He eyed the silver glow of the crescent moon and listened. He tilted his head and tried to distinguish the sounds he heard, from the sound of Devin breathing, to the low echoes of movement within the prison. Was that the sound of footsteps on metal stairs? The low thud of a door being closed? The soft click of a gun’s safety being released?

The corner of his mouth twitched as he smiled. His hearing wasn’t that good. He stared through the window. Narrowing his eyes, he focused on the brightest star. His breath hitched as he heard more than he wanted to. Was it just his imagination, or were those the moans of the undead carried in by the night air? Throaty, haunting sounds, echoed outside, accompanied by the unnerving sound of the wire fence swaying.

The wind… Maybe. He wouldn’t convince anyone, not even himself with maybe. Noah folded his arms across his chest and stared at the man in his bed. Part of Noah wanted to crawl back beneath the sheet and have Devin put his arms around him, tell him everything was okay, that Devin would keep him safe.

I don’t want to disturb Devin.

Having made his decision, Noah grabbed his clothes from the floor. He dressed as quietly as he could before slipping out of the room. He bit on his lip as he pulled the door closed. He held onto the handle and listened for any signs he might have woken Devin. Hearing nothing, Noah let go and stepped back. He stared at the closed door. He just needed some space, some time to think and to clear his head.

Pushing his hands into the pockets of his pants, he turned from his door and looked along the line of cells. The place felt as if it was closing in on him, smothering him. He did his best to dismiss the feeling. If he thought too long about where he was it would end up driving him insane.

It’s still a prison, and we’re its prisoners.

Noah headed to the stairs and the access point to the outside. He followed the route of similar corridors to the parking garage. When he stepped through the door there was the scent of metal and engines. The smell of burned rubber and fuel blew past him as he walked against the breeze to the inner gates. He slowed when he spotted someone else already there. The faint glow of a cigarette and the smoke catching the breeze, drew him closer.

“Kerry?” he said, noting the mass of red hair.

Kerry coughed after she inhaled sharply. She looked over her shoulder, wide-eyed. Patting her chest, she dropped the cigarette and covered it with her boot. “You scared me,” she said, and cleared her throat.

Noah eyed the trampled ash. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

Kerry shook her head. “I don’t.” She shrugged. “Not anymore. Much.” She pulled a crumpled pack of smokes out of her jacket. “I gave it up years ago, but sometimes I just…need one.” She opened the top of the pack and pursed her lips. “Four left.” She held the packet in his direction. “Do you need one?”

Shaking his head, Noah came to stand beside her at the gate. “I couldn’t sleep. I just needed to be out of my room. Find some space.”

“Do you want me to go?”

“God, no.” He might have come out here with the intention of being alone, but he was actually glad of the company. “What are you doing out here anyway?” He folded his arms and leaned against the fence post.

Kerry smiled. “Couldn’t sleep either.”

“We should start a club.”

“Yeah.” Kerry gave a soft laugh. “Emily would like that.”

“Emily?” Noah checked the yard.

“She’s waiting for me inside.” She nodded to the snuffed out butt on the floor. “The smoke and the baby.”

“Ah.” He sniffed a laugh. Secondhand smoke seemed the least of their worries.

“I needed one,” she said again and glanced to the far wall. “Plus, sometimes I just like to be out here. It’s as if I’m keeping him company.”

Noah followed Kerry’s sight to the end of the driveway. “I’m sure Lee…appreciates it.” That didn’t sound right, but he didn’t really know what else to say. They fell silent, but the air was filled with disturbing sounds. The low groans and moans couldn’t be mistaken for his imagination this time.

“I wish they’d shut up. For one night I’d like to forget about it all, and pretend everything’s fine, normal, you know?” Kerry hooked her fingers through the metal mesh of the gate and stared along the drive. “But they keep coming.” Her voice was low and tainted with the despair Noah was desperately trying to free himself from.

“They won’t come forever. One day you’ll wake up and they’ll be nothing more than a bad dream.”

Kerry snorted a laugh. “You really believe that?”

“You’ve been out there. You’ve seen them. They’re dead. They’re rotting. We just have to stay alive.”

“You make it sound easy.” Her voice was humorless.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Kerry said. “It’s good that you still have hope.”

“You don’t?”

She dropped her shoulders as she turned around. Lifting her head, Kerry stared at the garage roof and leaned back against the gate. “I’m not going to lie. I’m struggling to see an end to any of this.”

Defeat radiated from Kerry with every word she spoke. Noah wished he could tell her everything would work out in the end, but how could he when he didn’t believe it himself?

“We’ll figure it out. Together.”

“Together.” Kerry huffed. There was a hard edge to her as she met his eyes. “Did you tell Conroy and his goons that? Because I think they missed the memo.” She didn’t let him answer and pushed off the fence. She dragged her boot over the cigarette. After taking two steps, she stopped. “You coming?”

Noah lowered his eyes and listened to the low noises from beyond the stone wall. Was the only solution really to outrun, outlive those things? “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I’m coming.” He was surprised when Kerry looped her arm through his.

She curved her full lips into a small smile, and her green eyes caught the light, betraying the moisture caught in her pale lashes. They stood for a moment and she hugged his arm, pressing her cheek to the back of his shoulder. “Don’t say anything to Devin,” she said.

“About what?” He looked down at Kerry.

Deep lines formed in the space between her eyebrows and she swallowed hard. “About this. About Lee.”

Noah tilted his head to one side and relaxed his face. “You’ve nothing to be ashamed of.” For weeks, Kerry had put on a brave front and had hidden her pain for the loss of her son behind her focus and smile. He guessed it was her way of coping, and she wasn’t the only one. Devin hid behind his mask of a cold, uncaring man, Emily hid behind her science, and Jack? Actually, Noah was pretty sure it was a case of “what you see is what you get” when it came to Jack. From what Devin had said, even the loss of his legs hadn’t changed him, not really, but like everybody, he was paler, grayer, exhausted, even more so in the short time Noah had known him.

Noah hugged Kerry. The way she smelled and the feel of her pressed against him in the hug sent his mind to memories of his sister. He closed his eyes as her curls brushed his cheek. He was another one to hide his grief and how lost he felt behind a charade, behind dry-humored quips and indifference. He had felt alone for so long and had seen a solution in his pursuit of Devin.

It’s more than that. Devin was no longer just a means to an end. The feelings Noah had for him were real.

“It’s not shame. It’s…” She pulled away and raised her shoulders. “I just don’t want Devin to be anything but focused. He doesn’t need to worry about whether or not his partner is going to fall apart.”

Noah tensed. “And are you?” If Kerry couldn’t handle being out there anymore, Devin needed to know. As much as Noah respected Kerry and her need to mourn in private, he wouldn’t put Devin at risk. Not after everything they had gone through in Chicago. Corden covering the truth had almost gotten Devin killed.

Kerry’s hold slackened and she leaned away from Noah. “No.” She tensed her jaw.

Was her word enough? “Maybe you should talk to him. He’d understand if you need some time.”

Shaking her head, Kerry said, “He doesn’t need to know. And I promise you, when I’m out there, that is all I’m thinking about. Our safety, mine and my partner’s, and us coming home every single time.” She met his eyes. “Okay?”

Noah pursed his lips and looked at the ground.

“Hey.” Kerry gently slapped his arm with the back of her hand. “I don’t want him to doubt me. He doesn’t need that on his mind.”

There was some sense in what Kerry was saying, though he didn’t see Devin as someone to judge. Devin understood grief. “Okay,” Noah said. “But if you need to talk, to clear your head, you can always talk to me.”

“Sure.” The dark mood lifted and Kerry linked her arm through Noah’s once again. “Come on.” She pulled on his arm. “Emily will be waiting.”

With a nod, Noah walked with her.

She’ll be okay. We both will.

“Kerry and…” Emily narrowed her eyes as she looked toward them. “Somebody with big feet.” She grinned, raising her eyebrows expectantly.

“It’s Noah,” Kerry told her. “Found him creeping about outside.”

Noah sat down opposite Emily at one of the long tables that filled the dining hall. “I wasn’t creeping.”

“I believe you,” Emily said with a laugh. She nursed a mug in her hands. Steam rose above the rim of the mug. “Where’s Devin?”

Resting his arms on the edge of the table, Noah leaned forward. “Sleeping, for once.”

“Good.” Emily gave a small smile.

Kerry settled in the seat beside Emily and yawned. “So did you think of something while I was gone?”

“Something?” Noah asked.

“Trivial stuff. Stupid questions about stupid things.” Kerry shrugged. “Things you thought were important before the world went to shit.”

“Okay.” Noah snorted a laugh.

“It’s a really deep game.” Emily shook her head. “But no. Sorry. The baby was kicking. Totally put me off.”

Kerry supported her head in her hands as she leaned on the table. She stared at Emily’s stomach. “How is little Kerry?” She glanced sideways at Noah and smirked.

“Cute, but no. Besides, I think it’s going to be a boy. I just get this feeling.” Emily ran one of her hands over her stomach.

“So a little Noah then?” Noah teased.

Emily laughed. “We’ll see.” She looked down, running both hands in soothing circles over her growing bump. She worried her lip. “I’ve not really thought about it yet. It doesn’t feel right naming him, or her, just yet. Not until he’s here and safe.” Her face paled. “Things can go wrong and not just when there’s a zombie apocalypse happening right outside.” She laughed again, but this time the sound was hollow, humorless.

Noah glanced at Kerry. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say or do. There was only so many times he could say, or Emily wanted to hear him say, everything was going to be okay.

“Well, I thought of a question while I was outside. Though you might want to put your hands over your ears.” She looked at Noah. “So, Lukas? Should I go there again?”

Laughing, Noah sat back in his seat. “Okay. Seriously?”

“I said you should cover your ears,” Kerry said.

“Uh-huh.” Noah folded his arms across his chest. “Has he implied that he wants to go there? I mean, I have no idea how things were in Chicago between you two or before. Were you…together?” Embarrassment heated his cheeks. He didn’t know what the two had shared in Chicago beyond the obvious.

Kerry opened her mouth. Then she closed it. “Not really,” she said. “It was mostly about sex. Though he did stay until morning a couple of times.” She lowered her head and stared at the tabletop. If she felt embarrassed she didn’t need to be. She wasn’t the only one to have gravitated toward someone in the hope of a connection and comfort.

“Well, I say if you both want to, then go for it,” Emily interrupted the awkward silence. “You don’t get many second chances these days.”

The three sat in silence for a moment, until Emily broke it again. “Well, that question sucked.” She laughed. “Okay, here’s something, how about tattoos? Do you have any? Would you get any more? What would you get if you did get one?”

Kerry started, “I have two tattoos. I have a peacock feather on my right shoulder.” She reached over to tap her back. “And I have…I have Lee’s birth date and a small blue teddy bear on my left side.” She pressed her hand to her hip and slid it slightly over her stomach.”

Before the somber memory took hold, Noah shared, “I don’t have any. Never wanted one.”

“Okay, but now, if you did, what would you get?” Emily looked in his direction.

“I guess I like words. Something meaningful.” He pursed his lips. “This will probably kill the mood again, but have you ever seen Cape Fear? The De Niro one?” Kerry stared at him blankly. “It was my brother’s favorite film for a few years, he’d watch it over and over. I remember the voiceover at the end by the daughter in it and she says how holding onto the past kills us a little each day. I think I’d want something like that. A kind of reminder to keep looking forward.”

Emily nodded. “I like that.” She settled her pale stare somewhere over Noah’s shoulder.

“Yeah, and here I was going to say if I got another I’d have a unicorn on my ass.” Kerry grinned.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing that.” Noah pressed his lips together and raised a suggestive eyebrow.

Kerry laughed. “Yeah. Everybody knows it’s not my ass you’re interested in.” She folded her arms and sat back. “Em, how about you?”

“No. But I always wanted one.

“What?” Noah asked.

“You’ll think it’s silly, but when we were kids, Devin and I used to talk about getting something together. Something twinny.”

“Tweedledee and Tweedledum?” Kerry teased.

“Devin would never have agreed to that.” Emily leaned forward and placed her hands either side of her mug. “We were going to get our birth times. So I’d have had seven-sixteen and Devin seven-twenty-eight. Here on our ribs.” She lifted her arm and rubbed her side

“But you never got them?” Noah asked.

Emily shook her head. “By the time we were old enough, Devin was signing up for the army, and we never really talked about it when he got back.” She inhaled and tilted her head from side to side, stretching her neck.

“Tired? Do you want to go back to your room?” Kerry asked her.

“Not just yet.” She picked up the mug and sipped her drink.

Noah closed his eyes and leaned back. He wasn’t sure he could sleep yet either. His mind was crammed with too many memories of the past, together with fear for the future and what new problems might emerge. He wished he was ready to let them go, the bad memories, and all the hurt with them.

“I have a question.” He opened his eyes and dropped his head forward. He turned his attention to Emily. “And I’m sorry but it’s not trivial.”

Emily sat forward in her chair and quirked an eyebrow. “Okay.”

“I want you to tell me anything you know about the virus and why I’m immune.”

I want you to tell me how I can fix the world.