“I’ll go get changed then,” Liz spoke, heading into Raven’s bathroom.
“You should take a shower too,” Raven called after her. “I don’t know when we’ll have the opportunity again.”
“Okay,” Liz called back and Raven heard her turn on the water.
Raven stuffed everything into her rucksack and sat on the bed. She sighed and lay back, feeling the comfort of the mattress. “I will miss this bed,” she spoke aloud.
It was quiet in here without Rocky and Henry. They had packed everything they could and were settled in the cab of the truck. Rocky hadn’t wanted to stay in the cabin and Raven thought her brother could use the company. Raven closed her eyes and listened to the pattering of rain outside. It had slowed to a light drizzle but the temperature had dropped again, sinking into the high thirties at night. She missed her home and its heater. Raven sighed again and drifted, dozing lightly.
Chapter Six
Exodus
Zach
The moon was high and for once the rain had stopped, clouds parting here and there to let the moonlight through. It was late, past midnight and Zach and Riley approached the cabin as quietly as they could.
“You ready?” Riley whispered.
“Yup,” Zach responded, settling his rifle on his back and tilting the hilt of his knife for easier reach.
They stood at the edge of the trees, looking at the cabin. No smoke drifted from the chimney and the upstairs windows were dark.
“Are you sure they’re still in there?” Zach asked, glancing at Riley. The hood of his green parka was pulled low over his face. Zach couldn’t make out his expression; it was lost in shadow.
“Yup,” Riley responded. “They’re in there all right.” He turned to Zach. “Let’s go, man.”
They walked out into the clearing. The ground was still damp from the heavy rain. Zach stepped through puddles, boots squelching in the mud. He glanced at Riley again and the other man pointed to the west side of the cabin. Zach nodded and headed that direction. He reached the wall and saw there was a pile of wood just beneath a balcony with a large glass window. He smiled minutely. Riley was always thinking ahead. Zach stepped atop the pile and reached the bottom of the balcony. It had a metal frame set with smoothly polished boards. Zach pulled himself up, using the massive upper body strength that he’d maintained since his days in the army. Twisting his body and vaulting onto the balcony proper, Zach hunkered down and peered into the window, wiping condensation from the glass.
Raven
Raven woke suddenly, aware that someone was standing outside the window. She quickly slid fully-dressed from bed and slipped on her long leather coat. Unsheathing her axe, she stood out of the window’s view.
A man peered in. His eyes were shining blue and his skin was pale, covered in freckles. A shock of red hair stuck out of his hat. He pulled the hood of his parka over his face, covering his menacing expression.
Liz shifted in her hiding place beneath the bed and Raven shushed her with a wave of her hand. She held her palm out. Stay put, she mouthed.
Liz nodded. All Raven could see of the girl was a wisp of brown curls that bobbed up and down. Liz scooted further beneath the bed. Raven nodded minutely and turned back to the window.
The man stood and in one swift movement shattered the glass with the butt of a rifle. Raven was ready for the noise but it still made her jump. He pushed open the wooden shudders that Raven had left unlocked in anticipation. She unsheathed her axe, swinging it loosely in her hand. The man stepped through the glass and Raven knew she had one chance to take him by surprise. She screamed as loud as she could and brought the axe down on his thigh. It buried deeply in the tissue, thunking on bone. The man screamed. He teetered on his good leg, still halfway outside. Raven jerked the axe out and blood erupted from his meaty thigh. He shrieked and fell back onto the balcony. Raven advanced, watching shock warring with pain in the man’s eyes. He was trying to staunch the bleeding with his hands. The rifle had fallen from his shoulder and lay useless on the porch.
“You fucking bitch!” he cried, gaze switching between her and his gun.
He reached for it and Raven moved quickly, bringing the axe down on his hand. She’d aimed for his wrist — any man will bleed out quickly from there — but got his fingers instead. The hatchet completely severed everything but his thumb, which hung by a thin strip of gristle. Blood squirted erratically, covering the balcony.
The man shrieked and scooted away from her. He cradled his wounded hand to his chest. Blood still oozed from his thigh but his hand spurted in a hot red spray.
The rifle lay forgotten and Raven stepped over him to grab it. He didn’t move to attack her just stared with wide eyes that showed too much white. She picked up the gun and, pausing only briefly, flung it over the railing. Raven had never seen much use for guns and the sound would just draw the undead.
The man’s face was pallid and his bottom lip trembled. Raven planted her left foot and kicked him straight in the nose. He wasn’t expecting that and took the full force of her boot.
There was a gap in the railing and he wriggled toward it unknowingly. Raven kicked him again, aiming for his chest this time. She nicked his wounded hand and he shrieked loudly. His body convulsed in pain and he dropped suddenly away, having slipped through the gap.
“Take that fucker,”
