“I think we should also swing by a hospital to pick up a few supplies,” Zahara said, shifting closer to him. He looked down at her and her face was earnest. He smiled and she grinned up at him. Their relationship had taken an unexpected turn and it was a peculiar feeling. Ethan grunted his agreement but said nothing and Xander looked over and watched the agent search for targets. It was a truck full of stone-cold killers and he was fairly certain they’d make it through this disaster okay.
“Where are you going to go after we leave Alabama?” he asked Ethan, because he wasn’t sure where the man called home. Ethan turned and stared at him and shrugged.
“You don’t think you’re tagging along with us, do you?” Zahara asked, a laugh in her voice. Ethan’s mouth flattened out and his eyes narrowed.
“I hadn’t really thought about it too much. Guess I could tag along with you,” Ethan said.
“Hah! You think I’d trust you?” Zahara said.
“Damnit, I didn’t even try to kill you. Can’t you give me credit for that? And can’t you just drop it? I only look for you to warn you. I would have hoped you’d have done the same for me. But I think you’d just end me and piss on my grave,” Ethan said hotly.
“Damn skippy. I’d have done you from a hundred yards and not thought a thing about it.”
“Alright guys, this isn’t getting us anywhere. Look, I think you could essentially go anywhere now. I don’t think anyone will be hunting a few stray operatives down and if any of them are alive, I doubt they will be thinking about us. I’m sure O’Donnell is either dead or a zombie. I think Washington has bigger fish to fry. Not only that, I have a feeling all of the big cities have fallen hard. If these zombies are any indication of population conversion, then going anywhere near those places is a nonstarter.”
“Where do you suggest I go? My place is in Chicago and I don’t think I want anywhere near that.”
“He ain’t coming to our place,” Zahara mumbled and Xander looked down at her, his eyebrow raised. Her mouth had a recalcitrant slant to it and her arms were folded across her chest. He wanted to laugh that she’d already claimed his home as her own. Well, werewolves were notoriously territorial.
“Look, I got a small hunter’s cabin at the back of my property. It is very rustic, shall we say. Got a pond to fish and wildlife to hunt. On our way there, we can maybe pick up a trailer and pick up supplies. Or, you can find you a place along the way, maybe something that suits you better,” he offered. Zahara wasn’t pleased judging by the huff she let out. He chanced a glance down and her lovely eyebrows were drawn together and her mouth was moving silently.
Ethan eyed Zahara and then looked at Xander and nodded.
“Thanks, man. Really. I guess I should get my brain into post-apocalypse mode. I guess I’m still in denial, though after watching you and Zahara rip through those zombies, I guess I’m coming to the realization things will never be the same.”
“That idiot is lagging behind. At least we’re only a mile or so from the gun shop. Now, that guy is in denial. He’s been tucked up at that hotel twiddling his thumbs,” Xander said.
“Civilians,” Zahara grunted.
“Cheer up,” he nudged her.
“Why?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Now you can let your inner beast out and no longer hide in the shadows.” That seemed to perk her up and she sat up and clapped her hands and grinned.
“So true. I think I might start going out in the evening and hunt. I really had a good time earlier today,” she said and sighed happily.
“Geez. Kill me now,” Ethan said.
“Challenge accepted,” Zahara said and raised her gun. Xander placed his hand over hers and pushed the weapon back to her lap.
He pulled into Wonderworld of Weapons. The windows were intact and it didn’t look like it had been looted. As they exited the truck, the SUV pulled up. The doors opened and Xander lifted his hand.
“Just you, the rest stay in the vehicle. There’re a few creatures roaming around and I don’t know what’s in the store. Safer if your family stays put,” Xander said. The woman, Beth, he thought her name was, opened her mouth to protest but he stared hard at her and her mouth snapped shut. She huffed and gestured for her children to get back into the SUV. Xander shook his head. They just didn’t get it. Even seeing the bodies and blood all over the hotel parking lot, Beth still wanted to get out and expose her kids to danger.
“Some people,” Zahara muttered, following behind.
Going up to the storefront, Xander tried the door and found it locked. Ethan had his back to him, keeping an eye on their six. Jess shifted from one foot to the other. Xander took the butt of his weapon and tapped around the glass near the lock. Looking around, he gritted his teeth, trying to do it as quickly and quietly as he could. They would need to think about getting weapons that didn’t make noise. They could all kill hand to hand, but being in human form was a big risk. He thought that if either he or Zahara got bit in their human form, they’d be three kinds of screwed and no transformation would
