Anger rose. “Hold on. I’ll find a way to help you.”
“Yes, help her,” Lucas gritted, ducking to avoid a punch.
I looked around the field, found what I needed. I stalked to a motionless suit and dragged the guy to Trina’s side. After cutting away his glove, I pressed his thumb into the small ID pad that acted as a key. Nothing happened.
Maybe Kelly had learned from his mistakes. Maybe his print was the only one that would work.
I searched one more time. Still no sign. Coward that he was, he’d probably left the battle. But he wouldn’t have gone far. He would want to watch, to see whether his men succeeded or failed.
I panned the darkness, watching for movement rather than a silhouette. There! A bush swayed. Kelly? Only one way to find out.
“I have a plan.” Needing a boost, I dosed up on antidote before racing off, staying in the heart of the shadows, heading for the line of trees. The moment I broke the first, I changed direction, heading for the trembling bush.
I kept my steps as light as possible, but a twig snapped. Though I tensed, I didn’t allow myself to stop or slow. I palmed two daggers, and just before I reached the bush, I raised them. Ready.
But he wasn’t there.
A few feet away, another bush danced, and I figured he’d heard me and moved on. I picked up the pace, charging after him.
I smelled the rot before I passed the wall of brittle foliage. The moment I stood in the small clearing, I saw the zombies surrounding him. Six creatures, reaching for him, snapping teeth at him.
What happened next happened quickly. Within three seconds, at the most. I could only watch.
One of the creatures bit into his arm. The suit protected his skin, but he felt the pressure of the action and grunted. He swung with his other arm, hitting the zombie in the head. The creature bit down with more vigor, like a bulldog with a bone, refusing to give up the prize. Another zombie latched onto his other arm, jerking to the ground.
“Let go,” he commanded. “Stop. Stop!”
Another creature fell upon him, sinking teeth into his unprotected cheek. Kelly released a high-pierced shriek.
I launched into action, willing the fire to come as I moved. White-gold flames spread. They weren’t as wild and consuming as before, nor as weak as they’d been with Gavin, but they would do. I reached the zombies and got to work. Contact. Ash. Contact. Ash. Contact. Ash.
Victorious, I peered down at the writhing Kelly.
“Antidote,” he rasped. “Please. In my pocket.”
Strapped to a chair... Injected with poison... Electric shocks tearing through me... “I’ll help you, but then you’re going to help my friend.” I slid my hand into the pocket of his suit. Placed the needle at his neck.
Just like with Gavin, my flames licked over him, and his back bowed.
“Don’t worry. It’ll fade in—”
Kelly burst into ash.
Shocked, I fell to my butt, my flames dying. Like Kelly. I stared down at the pile of blackened dust he’d left behind, wide-eyed. I had...I had just...
Hard hands dug into my shoulders and jerked me backward. I hit my head on a rock, and dizziness took advantage, consuming me. Two collared zombies circled me, peering down at me with abject hunger. Their red eyes were bright, no more than a blur to me.
What were they doing? Why hadn’t they attacked?
The collars?
I tried to sit up and fight, but my body had thrown in the towel. I should...oh, pretty...stars swirled overhead, spinning round and round, hypnotizing me. Think. Concentrate. “Emma.” Yes. She would help. “Get...Cole.” He could see her. She could tell him where I was.
I thought I saw a wall of clouds part and my little sister float down to me. Worry contorted her features, and she opened her mouth to speak, but I couldn’t hear the words.
Zombie Ali rose from my body and grabbed her by the arm. The two faced off.
“Don’t...touch...her,” I tried to shout.
The zombies bared black-stained teeth.
The zombies!