Hard bands wrapped around my upper arms and jerked me backward.
She struggled to free my body and get back to Gavin. So close! His eyes were wide. He was panting from exertion, his pulse thumping wildly. He was confused—no, now he was afraid. She’d made him afraid, and she knew the fear would taste so sweet.
“Her eyes are red,” he gasped out.
“Ali! Snap out of it.”
Cole’s voice.
I tried to speak. I gurgled.
He tossed me on the floor and pinned me with his knees. She continued to struggle against him, turning my head in an effort to bite into his inner thigh.
He barked something. I don’t know what. Then Gavin was there, placing something in Cole’s hand. A needle. A needle Cole jabbed into my neck. A familiar cool stream bathed me.
I sagged into the carpet. Cole glared down at me, violet eyes crackling.
“Ali,” he said.
“Yes,” I croaked.
He eased off me. “You were trying to feed from him.”
I rolled to my side and curled into a ball. “Leave. Please.”
“Ali.” Gavin this time.
“Get out of here.” Cole scooped me up in his arms and carried me toward the bed.
Gavin was trying to lead my Nana away.
“Is she going to be okay?” she whispered.
“Yeah. I’ve got her now.” Cole lay down with me still locked tight in his embrace.
He held me for a long while, whispering to me, smoothing his hands through my hair.
“I hate this,” I said.
“I know.”
“She took over, Cole. She used my voice, controlled my actions.”
“The new antidote stopped her.”
“For now. But we both know I can’t take the antidote forever.”
He kissed my temple.
“Cole.”
“Yes?”
“If she takes over and the antidote doesn’t work, I need you to—”
“Don’t say it,” he growled.
“—kill me,” I finished anyway. “Please.”
“That’s not going to happen, Ali.”
That wasn’t what my instincts said. Maybe it was time to bring back my original to-do list, version two, but with a slight tweak. Find a way to disable the zombie inside me. Kill the zombie inside me. Addendum: even if I have to die, too.
*
I made it through the school day without incident. I hadn’t wanted to go, but Cole had insisted, citing I couldn’t afford another absence. He watched over me, making sure my zombie side didn’t try to take over.
He even dropped me off at work, only to return an hour later and remain inside the coffeehouse for the rest of my shift. My coworkers stared at him, the guys frightened, the girls excited. Everyone whispered, speculating about who he was, and why he was there.
I think I blew their minds when I left with him.
“Any zombie sightings tonight?” I asked. The moon was high, full.
“So far, none.”
“Shouldn’t you be out there searching?”
“I traded nights with Gavin.” His voice tightened. “He owed me.”
“Don’t fight him over me. Over what happened.”
“I want to, but I won’t,” he said tightly. “You aren’t mine. Not officially. Technically he didn’t do anything wrong.”
He dropped me off at home but didn’t try to kiss me. I couldn’t blame him.
I received a text from him the next day. No party tonight, I’m sorry & I’m not ditching U this time, promise. My dad is sending me out of town. Will U miss me?
Me: I plead the 5th.
Him: I will definitely miss U.
Sappy girl. My heart soared.
I could have gone to the party with Kat, but after what had happened with Gavin, I wasn’t going to risk it. And, to be honest, I was kind of bummed that I wouldn’t be seeing Cole.
As the week passed, I received at least one text a day from him.
Friday.
Him: I can’t stop thinking about our last kiss. U were topless.
Me (blushing): Thanks 4 the reminder.
Him: If U needed a reminder, I need 2 work on my technique.
Saturday.
Him: Are U eating properly?
Me: Yes, Dad.
Him: I kind of like the sound of that. How about a spanking??
Sunday.