The Girl Who Punched Back: The Death Fields Read online

  “So he’s not happy then. Because…” she pauses, racking her brain. “Because…he wouldn’t let you go without him.”

  “We’ve got different battles to fight. We’re all good.”

  “And Wyatt?”

  “What about him?”

  “Is he going?”

  “Probably. I’m not exactly in on all the plans.”

  Chloe thinks I have a thing for Wyatt. I don’t. Really, I don’t. But we both know he’s handsome. Sexy, even. Like, really sexy in that post-apocalyptic-last-man-on-earth kind of way. He’s fit, confident, and possibly a ninja. He makes me feel safe. He’s also a smart-ass, secretive, and dangerous. I only trust him with my life because to him I’m a job. There’s no way I’d trust him with my heart.

  “I guess it makes me feel better that he’ll be out there with you.”

  “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

  There’s a knock on the door and we both look over. Cole stands in the doorway looking red-eyed and tired. He’s got a full day of stubble on his chin, the hair darker and a little redder than the blonde on his head. He looks at me with interest and a hint of intensity that causes heat to spread down my limbs. He may not be a ninja but he’s pretty freaking cute, and I know from experience he can start a fire without a match and kill an Eater one-handed.

  Not that I’m looking for a life partner or anything, but it’s a little easier surviving the end-of-days with someone to be close to.

  “Hey,” I say, sliding off the bed. He walks in and slips a hand around my waist.

  “I was taking a break and thought I’d check in.” He gives me a small grin. “Didn’t know you’d be down here.”

  “Yeah, had a late training with the Fighters.”

  He quirks his eyebrow. “So it’s official?”

  I shrug. “Official enough.”

  We stay and talk with Chloe until her brain seems to get foggier. Cole says it happens when she’s tired, but I see the concern in his eyes. I give Chloe a hug and wait outside the door as he tells her goodnight.

  “I guess you’re heading back to the lab?” I ask when he exits the room. He doesn’t reply but takes my hand and quickly walks me down the hall. “Uh, Cole?”

  He opens a door and pulls me inside. It’s warm—some sort of storage/utility closet and in the dim light I barely make out the lines of his face.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Just wanted a minute with you—alone.” His hands are on my hips and I move closer. “Is that okay?”

  I nod, touching my forehead to his chin. “Yeah. It’s been a long week.”

  “Too long.”

  His lips press against my forehead and the hairs on my neck stand on end.

  “So is this some sort of Jordan Catalano fantasy thing?” I ask.

  “Uh, who?”

  “My So-Called Life? You know, the infamous boiler room scene?” He looks at me, blank-eyed, and I sigh. “All of that will be lost one day, you know? Pop-culture and movie references. ‘Nobody puts baby in a corner’ and all of that. Totally lost.”

  “I’m already lost.”

  He runs his lips down my neck and my breath catches. I press against him, kissing his collarbone, inhaling his warm scent, until the want is too great and our mouths meet.

  Our time alone is limited, each minute of our day micro-managed with assignments. Feeling good isn’t part of the day. Stress, exhaustion, hunger—even in this safe place—dominates my emotions. But this? I sink into the kiss deeper, feeling nothing but Cole’s mouth and his fingers gripping my waist and the hard press of the door behind me.

  “I think we could leave at any moment,” I say, catching my breath.

  “Did they say something? Wyatt?”

  “No, not really, but it feels like we’re getting ready.”

  Cole frowns. “Okay, then. I’ll be ready.”

  “Ready?”

  “To come with you guys. I got clearance from the lab to work on the vaccination team—including off-site.”

  “What about Chloe?”

  “Working on the vaccine is more important. She and I both agree with this.” He squeezes my hand. “We also think it’s important to stick together outside of the fort.”

  I can’t help but wonder if, like Chloe, he’s worried about me and Wyatt being in the field together, but he tugs me so my body is pressed tight against his and I realize I don’t care. I’m happy he’s coming with me, and smile gratefully at him being so close and his news. He graces me with one, too.

  Chapter 10

  Two days later I’m leading the training group around the track when an imposing Fighter appears in the doorway. Seeing a quick jerk of his head, I peel to the side and jog over.

  “What’s up?”

  “You’ve been requested in room 213 at three pm. Make sure you’re on time.”

  “For what?”

  He stares at me but doesn’t reply. I fight an annoyed sigh.

  I leave Davis with the class and take a quick shower before changing into my assigned black cargo pants, T-shirt, and boots. I glance at the backpack I’d carried from Raleigh hanging over the sole chair in the room. A nagging feeling tugs at my gut and I grab it, checking quickly for my few personal belongings I’d never unpacked. It’s sentimental stuff; photos of my best friend Eliza and another of the family. The map I carried from our home in Raleigh all the way down here. I swallow the lump in my throat at the last item, the wedding ring my mother gave me. I should probably give it to my father but I can’t bring myself to do it.

  With a quick look around the room, I zip up my bag. I hate being paranoid but ever since I got here I’ve the distinct feeling I wouldn’t stay long.

  I pause outside Cole’s room and try the handle. A quick glance inside proves he’s not here and the clean lines of his bed linens suggest he hasn’t been up recently. I’d only seen him once, two days ago, since we parted from our little make-out session in the storage closet. He’d stumbled bleary-eyed into his room across the hall, mumbling that we’d talk in the morning. When I’d checked, he’d already left.

  Not that I’d had a lot of free time either. Wyatt has us in intense weapon training. The walls surrounding the sparring ring revealed hidden caches of PharmaCorp-developed weapons. Pipes like the one Hayes used in his fight. There were others—scary-looking guns and bayonets. Grenades and other hand-held explosives. We were ready for war.

  I’d wanted to share all of this with Cole, to let him know that Walker and Wyatt were leading us on a serious mission, but our schedules didn’t fit. I had to hope they’d prepared him and the other scientists coming with us.

  The hallways are quiet and empty as I walk down to the meeting room, although Wyatt waits in the doorway, clipboard in hand. He scribbles something and gives me a once over when I approach him. “Who tipped you off?” he asks.

  “About what? The meeting? Someone invited me.”

  “No,” his eyes dart to my pack, but he clamps his mouth shut. I roll my eyes. I’m tired of all the super-secret stuff going on. I’m either in or out. Right now it’s clear that even though they’re letting me in the room, I’m still on the outs as far as hierarchy goes.

  The recruits are all here, as well as a small group of Fighters. The only difference is the patches on our arms. The veterans have the standard FF patch on the arm, but others have the “doctor” symbol of two twisted snakes with wings. My arm, along with the other new recruits, is noticeably patchless and bare.

  I push past Wyatt, spotting Davis, and move to the empty seat next to his. Glancing around I recognize the nurse from the intake room, the one that flirts with Wyatt. Perfect.

  I assess the rest of the room; two other people looking slightly uncomfortable in their fatigues are familiar from down in my father’s lab. The quick surge of hope I feel is squelched when I look around for Cole but don’t see him.

  Walker steps to the front of the room followed by what has to be a scientist. He’s thin with thick-framed glasses an
d has the tell-tale pale skin of someone who has spent too much time underground. Everyone quiets and Walker speaks. “Each of you have been selected into the leadership command for vaccine distribution. As you know, our goal will be to set up clinics, locate survivors, and establish a protocol for inoculation.”

  I’ve promised myself I won’t say anything, not today. My whole mission has been to get on the team and see where this is headed. Luckily Walker is a stickler for details and begins outlining our mission.

  “We’ve heavily patrolled and scouted the greater bi-state area for the last several months. During this time, we have locked down several specific facilities to use as a temporary clinics. They are outside of metropolitan areas but can easily be accessed by vehicle or by foot. Our plan is to bring survivors to the clinics in manageable numbers and begin vaccinations.”

  “What happens to the survivors once they’re processed? Do they just go back out?” someone in the back asks.

  “There will be additional, follow-up procedures that will be administered by members of our team.”

  A tough-looking, dark-skinned girl next to me shifts in her seat and asks, “And we’ll be implementing all of this? Do we actually have enough vaccine for that many people? It could be thousands. Tens of thousands.”

  Or it could be way, way less.

  “As with all jobs within the elite Freedom Fighters squad you will be given orders and you will follow them,” Walker says, her tone sharp. “When we get to the clinics you will be assigned a job. None of this will be pretty. It will most likely be dangerous and we will certainly have a period of trial and error.” She crosses her arms. “Director Ramsey and PharmaCorp scientists have spent countless hours on the vaccine. She has big plans for the survivors of this widespread epidemic. We need to have faith in her ideas and you need to have faith in our mission. Understood?”

  The room nods, including the girl that asked the question. I’m reminded of Walker explaining to me that I needed to hand my blood over to Erwin at Fort Shaw because it was my duty to society. She’d been bluffing then, truly on the side of the FF and eventually helped us escape, but I’m well aware of how she can spin any story to fit her narrative at the moment.

  Wyatt walks up to the front and looks at his watch before announcing, “I know this is short notice but we’re leaving in thirty-minutes from the first floor garage. You’re uniformed already and if you don’t have a pack, you’ll be given one before we leave. Do not go back to the dormitory.”

  “Wait? What?” I jump to my feet. I need to get back to the dorm and talk to Cole. He should be with me—us. That was the plan. “We’re leaving now?”

  “Twenty-nine minutes,” he says. “I’d start down now so we don’t leave without you.”

  I fumble for my bag wondering if I can dash down to the lab or not, but I know it’s impossible. This building is a maze and the labs are at the furthest point from the garage. I push through those around me to get to Wyatt or even Walker but they both slip out the door before I can get there.

  “What the hell, Davis?” I ask bumping into him on the way out.

  “You wanted to be in the FF, Alex. This is how we roll.”

  “Are you telling me you had no advance warning?” I can’t help but notice his backpack, loaded, on his shoulder. He knew.

  He shrugs. “That notice you got today was your advance warning. You’ll be okay. They’ll pack everything we need.”

  “So this is how you operate? On blind faith?”

  He smiles, a little sad, like it hurts to see how slow I am. “Welcome to the Fighters, where we take orders and get shit done.”

  “Are you serious?”

  His face turns grave and he gestures to the door. “As serious as an Eater bite.”

  I follow the others but keep my eyes peeled for Cole as we file down the hallway. Panic rises in my chest and I think for a moment I should run, but then it’s too late and we’re corralled down to the garage.

  I quickly learn that everything said by Walker or Wyatt is only a partial truth. Yes, we go to the garage, no we don’t leave right away. When I get downstairs I’m instantly queued up. “What’s this for?” I ask the girl from the meeting. She turns and I see her nametag. Parker.

  “You don’t think they’d send us out without our own inoculation do you?”

  The vaccine. We’re getting the vaccine.

  Why does that idea scare me so much?

  “No, I guess not.” My hand clenches around the strap of my bag.

  “What?” Parker asks.

  “I’m just…I guess I never really thought this would happen, you know? Being able to go out there safely.”

  She laughs, her teeth white and perfect. “All the vaccine does is keep the virus from taking hold and spreading into your neurological system. If one of those things tries to bite your head off and you bleed out? You’re still dead. You won’t turn though—that’s definitely a bonus.”

  “Oh, right.”

  Again, I search the room for Cole, wondering if I’m the only one in the dark.

  “Next,” a voice calls from the front of the line. We shift forward.

  “So you think this vaccine will work?” I ask. Parker gives me a weird look. “What?”

  “Aren’t you Dr. Ramsey’s daughter? You don’t trust his work?”

  “I trust him. He’s brilliant.” But my sister? She’s a genius but unstable. “You’re right. I’m just nervous.”

  We shuffle forward and soon Parker is sitting in the chair next to one of the scientists from the meeting upstairs. The patch on his uniform says Adams, and unlike in the briefing room, he looks much more comfortable now. “Roll up your sleeve,” he directs.

  Parker complies, exposing the inside of her forearm and elbow. I have a flash reminder back to when Cole and I met. His blue eyes intense over the white lab mask. I had no idea then we’d be together, all these months later. I didn’t even know his name back then. The memory hits me like a ton of bricks.

  I step out of line and search the room. Wyatt and Walker stand next to the door deep in discussion.

  “I need to talk to you,” I say, rushing up to Wyatt. His eyebrow lifts. He knows. Of course he knows.

  “What’s this about?” Walker asks.

  I keep my eyes on Wyatt’s. “In private.”

  “I’ve got this,” he says. Walker rolls her eyes but leaves us alone.

  “You promised me,” I say. “We have one rule. You know that.”

  “What? You’re here. I’m here. No one is getting left behind.”

  I cross my arms. “Where’s Cole.”

  “That rule is between us.” He sighs. “Cole is not my problem.”

  “He should be here, with the other scientists.”

  “He’s not on the list, Alex.”

  “Then get him on the list. Tell Jane. Or my dad.”

  He shakes his head. “Again, not my problem. But if you want to stick around you can. No one is making you go. This was your idea, remember.”

  Realization dawns and my hands clench into tight fists. “So that’s what this is about. She thinks I’ll choose between him and the mission.” I pace back and forth, ignoring the way his eyebrow shoots up again, implying that he thinks I’m delusional.

  Maybe I am.

  “If you’re coming you need to get your shot.”

  “Did you get it?” I look over at the dwindling line.

  “Yes, the veterans got them yesterday.”

  “Nothing weird happened?” He shakes his head. I sigh and step back into line.

  “If it’s worth anything, I think Cole’s actually helping down in the lab. They should have called him in months ago.”

  His comment hits me hard. He’s right. Cole shouldn’t be with me and the Fighters. His brain is too important to risk out there with cannibalistic savages. He should be with my dad. More importantly, he should be here for Chloe.

  “Next.”

  I step forward and settle into the hard pla
stic seat, rolling up my sleeve. I keep my eyes down as he wipes and my arm tingles cool from the alcohol and I tense, waiting for the prick. The pain is sharp but quick and I blink back tears as the medic slaps a bandage over the small wound. More than ever, I miss my Lab Guy.

  “Thanks.”

  “Drink water,” he says. “And let someone know if you feel woozy or something.”

  “Is that common?” I ask.

  “No. Hydration is important, though. One of the doctors will find you within twenty-four hours to check.”

  I nod and walk off, following the waving hand of the Fighter corralling us into the back of a military vehicle. The soldier glances at me and his list. “Ramsey, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Keep your pack with you and your weapon ready.” He notices my hatchet sticking out of the side of my bag. There’s skepticism in his voice when he asks, “Is that your personal weapon?”

  “One of them.” I have a gun in my boot and knife strapped to my leg.

  “Good luck, Ramsey.” He pushes me inside and I stumble into the group of recruits. The door slams behind me. I’m hunched over, looking around, when someone slides over giving me space. Jude pats the seat.

  “Thanks,” I say, squeezing in and dropping my bag between my feet.

  “No turning back now,” he says as much to himself as anyone listening.

  “Nope,” I agree, feeling the bandage on my arm, now aching from the prick. “There’s no turning back.”

  Chapter 11

  I learn in the first hour that the Fighters have done an even better job clearing the surrounding area of the infected that I realized. I already knew the hoard that attacked the fort when we first arrived had been removed, but even the stragglers from a couple weeks ago are gone, leaving nothing but quiet, empty streets and the hum of our vehicle.

  Parker, the African-American woman I stood next to in line, peeks out the window and asks, “This area was slammed when we got here. Where did they go?”