He turned his body, crying out in agony at the movement. He managed to get onto his knees. By the time he’d stumbled to his feet, his whole body was giving him some kind of warning alarm, letting him know that his body couldn’t handle what he was trying to attempt. But he stumbled forward with a grunt anyway, moving toward the man as he kicked Megan’s gun from her hand. If he could get the element of surprise, he might be okay. If he could manage to get the man on the ground, he could kill him.
Jake knew the only option was to tackle the man from behind. He ran at the man, ready to throw his body at him, but as he did, the man swung his branch backward, hitting Jake square in the face. He stumbled back in agony, but even though the branch had bloodied his face, he didn’t let it stop him from trying again. With a cry, he ran at the man once again and crashed into him, sending them both toppling to the ground.
Jake’s body was screaming in pain, but he didn’t stop struggling. The man was thrashing out, but without his weapon now, they were almost on equal grounds. Jake managed to lock his hands around the man’s neck and, with all the strength he had left in him, he began to squeeze his throat.
Jake looked down on the man who had tortured him and felt no scrap of sympathy inside him. As the man’s eyes bulged and he attempted to escape, Jake just gripped harder. He thought of the ways the man had hurt him and Megan and smiled as he struggled against his hands. He wanted this man to die. He wanted him to suffer. Perhaps he’d only suffer for a few moments, not hours the way he had, but it was good enough for Jake. Knowing that he’d gotten to kill the man who hurt him so badly was an added bonus.
When the man went limp underneath him, Jake gripped his neck for a little longer. He had to be sure. But he felt the man’s pulse disappear from underneath his fingers and he knew it was over. Only then did all the strength drain from his broken body. He collapsed sideways, lying next to the dead man and a few metres away from Megan. She caught his eye, her face bloodied and tears streaking her cheeks, but there was still fire inside her. He could see it. She knew they’d made it. She knew that they’d overcome yet another challenge.
They were going to be okay.
“Jake…” Megan groaned, trying to sit up. She reached for the gun that she’d dropped and held it close to her, cradling it to her chest like a baby. She lay there for a moment, breathing hard. “You saved me...thank you.”
“I’d be dead if it wasn’t for you,” Jake said, his vision swimming. He’d never been in so much pain, but he had to let Megan know what he was thinking. “Megan...I’m so sorry. Again. I’m sorry we’re in this mess.”
“We’re going to be okay,” Megan said. “They’re gone now. We’re going to pick ourselves up and keep going.”
“I don’t know if I can…”
“You can,” Megan said firmly. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
Megan managed to crawl toward Jake and began to wipe blood from his face with her sleeve.
“We should find somewhere to shelter...somewhere to hide out until you’re recovered. Maybe one of the houses around here is empty.”
Suddenly, there was a noise from inside the house. Megan turned, alert all of a sudden. They watched as the owner of the house appeared in the doorway, dragging himself along on his bloodied leg. He was clutching another gun, his face like thunder. He raised it with a lot of effort and pointed it right at Megan.
“No!” Jake cried. Somehow, he found his way to his feet at the bullet ripped through the night. He tossed his body like a rag doll in front of Megan’s. Pain like he’d never known before hit him as the bullet pierced his arm. He cried out, his voice echoing in the night. He saw Megan pick up her gun and shoot back, striking the man down, but it was too late for Jake. He’d already been hit.
“Jake! Jake, talk to me!”
But words failed him. His eyes began to shut involuntarily. He was slipping away. His last thought was of Aby before his body entered a black pit of darkness.
Twenty-Three
Aby
The drive back to Peaches’ house was long and stressful. Aby hadn’t realized how far they’d driven away from it until she tried to recreate the route back home. She made several wrong turns and ended up in places she didn’t recognize. Then she had to backtrack and try to find the right way again, all while worrying about the dwindling levels of gas in the tank.
Her entire body hurt. Her heart hurt. She just wanted to get back to Peaches’ home and rest her head, but she wasn’t sure she’d even be able to sleep. Her traumatic experiences seemed to replay in front of her eyes as she tried to get back to the house, another hurdle to overcome. But Aby knew she had to fight through it. She’d made it this far and she couldn’t give up now.
The roads were quiet. Silent, even. She didn’t see a single other person. It occurred to her that with the amount of death she’d seen over the past few days that humanity was quickly turning in on itself. How long would it be before they all killed each other? How long would it be before they were all so untrusting of one another that they’d kill strangers on sight? Aby knew that in her current state of mind, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone who tried to approach her. The woman who saved her at Tex’s house was an exception to the rule, but Aby kept
