Page 12 of Anarchy

“Mallory, DUCK!” I yell. She looks up at me with a shocked expression on her face, clutching the pink shirt to her chest because of course, she's more concerned about a fucking shirt than getting out of there. I pull the rifle up and aim it at the first zombie’s head. “Get the fuck down!” Mallory drops to the floor like dead weight, her hands going over her head, and I start firing at them like it’s target practice. The first zombie’s head explodes with the bullet's impact, spraying blood everywhere like confetti. In quick succession I take them all out one by one, none of them even making it out of the store. Their dead bodies lay in piles surrounding Mallory on the floor. Making my way over to Mallory, I hear the crunch and squish from the glass and zombie parts under my boots. “You can get up now.” Her head pops up, and she looks around her at all the decomposing bodies scattered around and then looks back at me with admiration. She gets to her feet and leans down to grab her coveted pink shirt, and that’s when all hell really breaks loose.

“Maverick, what the fuck! You got blood on my new shirt! Do you not see how cute this thing is? You have got to be kidding me!” She throws the shirt at my chest and crosses her arms, stomping her foot on the floor like a toddler. “I basically risked my life to get that damn thing! None of them were even bothered by my presence, so why did you even waste your time and bullets?” She throws her hands up in the air with the most irritated sigh I’ve ever heard.

“Yeah, about that… why weren’t they interested in you?” I raise my brow at the question. I know we both have to be thinking.

“How should I know? I came out of the dressing room, and they were just there!” She waves her hands around at the zombies piled on the ground. “I started walking through them and even made some noises, and they didn’t even care. Some of them looked at me, but it was like they were seeing through me. I didn’t feel like questioning the fact that I was still somehow breathing, and not their chew toy, ya know?” Honestly, she has a point. If I had been in that position, I wouldn’t have questioned it either. As soon as I showed up and yelled for her, they all turned towards me and started to shuffle in my direction. They most definitely noticed me and wanted to tear me apart.

“It’s just fucking weird, don’t you think, Mallory? I’ve never heard or seen them act like that towards humans. But I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it? Anyways, I grabbed you a few things you might enjoy.” I set my pack down at my feet amongst the bodies, finding a clean patch of flooring and pulling the boots from hanging around the axe to hold out to her. The squeal that pierces my ears is deafening.

“OH EM GEE! Maverick, they are so pretty!” Her delighted smile is so bright it's almost blinding, and I can’t help but smile back at her. She sits on the ground where she’s at, carefully avoiding the pool of blood next to her, and tugs off her current boots, flinging them behind her. Pulling her new pink boots onto her feet, she ties the laces up and then stands, spinning around like a ballerina. “They fit perfectly! How did you know my size?”

“I honestly just guessed, but I’m glad they fit. I also grabbed you this as well.” I hand her a chocolate bar, and her eyes light up again. “Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not screech like a banshee again.” Her eyes are about to roll out of her sockets with that comment.

“Thank you for this. Well, for everything really. Thank you for taking care of me, sir.” Her ending word has my heart beating faster, and I would love to fuck her over the top of these dead zombies right now, but damn, we really need to get out of here. She leans up on her tiptoes and kisses me softly on the lips; kissing her back is enough to pacify my craving for her body for the moment.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here, yeah?” I hold my hand out to her, and she grasps it in hers. “I’m sorry about that shirt. I’m sure you can find another one eventually. Looks like you were able to find some clothes though.” I nod towards her new outfit that fits her perfectly and also follows the guidelines I set for her.

“Yeah, I was able to find a few pairs of pants, a T-shirt, and a sweater, but that’s about it.” Her frown tugs at my heart, and I vow to find her another pink shirt when we come across another strip mall. I pull on her hand, guiding her through the dead zombies and out the doorway.

ChapterSeventeen

MALLORY

The crackle of the fire and the crickets chirping are oddly peaceful. Who knew I’d turn into an outdoorsy girl? Well, I wouldn’t classify myself as outdoorsy, but I’m trying here. I’m sitting between Maverick’s spread thighs, my head back against his chest, his back against a fallen log. We didn’t walk too much farther after we entered Georgia. I insisted that I could walk farther, but Maverick could see straight through to how tired I really was. We veered off to the right and into the dense trees, finding a small clearing where Mav set up camp. I tried to help him with the tent, but it ended up in such a jumbled mess that he sent me out to collect branches and twigs for the fire. I aced that assignment though, no problem; seeing his eyes light up with pride and surprise when he saw me come back through the trees with my arms full of dead branches made the good girl in me purr. After the fire was going strong, he pulled out some cans of soup from his pack and set them by the fire, then tugged me into his lap. His hands have been combing through my hair for the last several minutes, and I’m almost on the edge of sleep when he nudges me to scoot over so he can grab the cans with a sock-covered hand. Pulling the tabs on the cans, he hands me one along with a spoon.

The smell of beef stew assaults my nose, and the smell is so scrumptious I let out a moan, my stomach growling in response. A few weeks ago I would have wrinkled my nose at this, and requested something else, but not today. I start shoving the food into my mouth, burning my tongue in the process, but it doesn't stop me from continuing. “Mmm, this is so good!” I say, around a spoonful of stew. “What is this? And please tell me you have more in that magic pack of yours!”

“It’s just some random stew I found in the hunting store. I think the label said Dinty Moore on it before I tossed it in the fire.” The chuckle that leaves his chest tells me that he’s never been around someone who gets this excited about all these little things. “And yes, I did grab a few more things of this, so I’m glad that you like it.” He says as he leans over and wipes some gravy from the corner of my mouth. We continue to eat in silence, well, as quietly as I can be when I’m shoveling this stew in my mouth like I’ve never eaten before. Maverick seems to be lost in thought while he eats, staring at the fire. The glow illuminates his strong jaw and thick beard that has grown from lack of shaving. His straight nose and long eyelashes flutter against his cheeks every time that he blinks. Why is it that men always have nice eyelashes? The lines around his eyes are the only thing that actually gives away that he’s not in his early twenties. Come to think of it, I don’t think he ever told me how old he really was. That thought is the domino that tips them all over, questions racing at top speed through my mind about who this man really is. I mentally scold myself for being too distracted by his prince charming hero act to really get to know him. I place the empty beef stew can down next to me along with the spoon. My hands drop into my lap, and my fingers twiddle at the same speed that my thoughts are racing right now.

“Go ahead and ask what question has you so worked up, Mallory.” How does he always know what I’m feeling before I know what I’m even feeling?

“There’s more than one question.” I decide that is the safest answer, giving me more time to think about what questions to ask him.

“Go ahead then.” He says, nodding his head and setting his now empty can of stew down on the other side of him. His knees come up to his chest, thighs spread, hands splayed across his knees, and head tilted back onto the log, eyes glued to the starry sky.

“Are you a killer?” I blurt out then slam my hands across my lips. That is so not what I wanted to ask first.

“Yes, next question.” The shock in my gasp must be apparent as he swings his head and eyes towards me. Deep down I knew he was a killer, because not just any person can kill that many zombies at once all by themselves. He lets out a deep sigh. “You can’t tell me that you didn’t think I wasn’t one. Fuck, I killed those douchebags who had you without even blinking.” My hands drift back down to my lap, mulling over the words he just spoke to me so nonchalantly.

“Tell me.” The resolve in my voice is enough for him to start spilling all his secrets.

“I worked for a man who ran a trafficking ring. I was the one they called when they needed someone disposed of.” His eyes are blank, and the careless way that he says it sends shivers down my spine.

“So you’re saying you were what, a human exterminator? Who exactly were you told to kill?”

“Pretty much, and I killed whoever they wanted me to. A client who didn’t pay? Okay, done. A woman who wouldn’t fall in line? Yep, got it.” He says with a shrug of his shoulders and no remorse in his eyes. My heart rate speeds up with the seriousness of my situation right now and how damn stupid I was to just go with him willingly.

“So you just… killed whoever they wanted you to with no questions asked? What if it was a little girl?” My screech echoes through the trees, and I jump to my feet. He meets my eyes and rises slowly to stand before me, peering down at me with a cold gaze.

“If it was for the right price, then yes.” His I don’t give a fuck shrug sends me over the edge, and I push him back, but of course he doesn’t even budge.

“What if they ordered you to kill me, then what?” I pound my fists against his chest, and his eyes roll in their sockets.

“Never. You’re different, Mallory, and you know it.” His words should comfort me, but they don’t.

“Am I the only one? Or do you usually have a different flavor each week?” I cross my arms and pop my hip out to the side, glaring at him.

“There was one before you, but I ended up killing her just the same.”

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