So, Jeb had decided to move them out during the day, obviously trying to outrun the vampire by traveling when she could not. A smart choice, I had to admit. I wouldn’t be able to follow them far, not with the sun minutes away from breaking over the horizon. Still, Jeb didn’t know vampires. And he didn’t know me. He could lead his people as fast and as far as he liked. I was very, very persistent.
Zeke swept his pistol over the fields as he left the compound, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Looking for a vampire, but he wouldn’t find it. He couldn’t see me here in the trees and darkness, the woods still cloaked in shadow. Part of me still wondered why I was doing this, why I would bother. Jeb would kill me if I was discovered, and Zeke would do his best to help. But as they started across the field, I couldn’t help but think how vulnerable they looked, how easily a rabid horde could tear them apart, even with Zeke and Jeb’s protection. And I remembered the look in Zeke’s eyes when he spoke of how many they had lost, the torment on his face because he blamed himself. I would not let that happen. Not to Caleb or Bethany or Darren or Zeke. I wouldn’t let anyone die.
As the last human passed through the gate, it closed behind them with a loud, final bang that echoed across the empty fields. With Jebbadiah Crosse at the front and Zeke bringing up the rear, the group shuffled quietly into the dark woods, inching toward their mythical city somewhere beyond the horizon.
A small smile played across my lips. Okay, Zeke, I thought, drawing back into the shadows, preparing to sink into the earth. Run if you want. I’ll see you all soon, even if you don’t see me. I’ll make sure you get to your Eden, whether you like it or not. Stop me if you can.
*
THE NEXT EVENING, I pushed myself out of the ground with a sense of purpose. The night was clear, the moon and stars bright overhead. It wasn’t hard to find the tracks of a dozen humans, making their way through the woods. I could see their footsteps in the soft earth and mud. I could trace their passing in the snapped twigs and crushed grass, blatant signs they left behind.
They’re not even bothering to hide their tracks, I mused, stepping over a low spot on the trail, churned to mud from several boots and feet. It made me a little nervous. If my vampire senses could pick them up this easily, so could any number of rabids or wild animals lurking about. I guess Jeb is more concerned with speed now. Good thing rabids aren’t smart enough to track their prey, otherwise they’d be in a lot of trouble.
I followed the trail for most of the night, slipping easily through the dark woods, having no need to rest or slow down. I found a few empty cans tossed into the bushes, crawling with ants, and knew I was on the right path. When dawn arrived, I buried myself in the earth, frustrated that I had to stop, but feeling I was closing the distance.
Two hours past midnight on the second night, I finally heard voices, drifting ahead of me through the trunks and branches, and my heart leaped. As silently as I could, I eased closer, listening to snippets of conversation echo over the breeze. Stepping around a boulder, I finally spotted two familiar figures, standing on the edge of a narrow cracked road that snaked into the darkness.
Jebbadiah and Zeke hovered beside the pavement, facing each other. Jeb’s mouth was stretched into a thin, severe line, while Zeke’s face looked earnest, his expression intent.
“We’ll make less noise if we’re walking on pavement,” Zeke was saying, sounding exasperated but trying not to show it. A few yards away, the rest of the group huddled beneath the trees as Jeb and his pupil argued. I leaned against the rock, concealed in shadow, and listened. “It’ll be easier on Teresa and the kids, and we’ll make better time, too.”
“If Jackal and his thugs come around any of those bends, we won’t know it until they’re right on top of us,” Jeb argued in a low voice, glaring at Zeke with cold, angry eyes. “You’ve seen how fast they can move—by the time we hear them coming, it’ll be too late. Will you sacrifice the safety of this group just because walking through forest is a little harder?”
To his credit, Zeke didn’t back off.
“Sir,” Zeke said quietly, “please. We can’t keep going like this. Everyone is exhausted. Walking all day and all night—we need a rest. If things don’t get easier, we’ll have people lagging behind and making mistakes. And if anyone is following us, we’ll just be that much easier to pick off.” Jeb’s jaw tightened, eyes narrowing, and Zeke hurried on. “We’re going to need supplies soon,” he said. “And Larry told me this road eventually leads to a town. Sir, we need food, ammo and a proper rest. I think we’d rather deal with the possibility of raiders than have to watch our backs for rabids and vampires in the woods.”
Jeb stared at him, and for a moment, I thought he would refuse just on the principle of never agreeing with anyone. But then he blew out a short, irritated breath, and turned to the road.
“Keep everyone together,” he snapped, as Zeke straightened quickly. “And I want two people hanging back at least twenty feet from the rest of us. If they hear or see anything at all, I want to know about it immediately, do you understand?”