Page 17 of Anarchy

The sun starts to dip behind the trees before I make it up off the rock to dress. Picking up my shirt, I rip off another thin strip of fabric, because why not at this point, and use it to tie my hair up into a messy bun. A movement to my right startles me and has me jumping back, and then there's a movement to my left with a twig snapping. My heart rate increases at my impending doom as four zombies amble their way out of the trees. They are surrounding my only exit, because the other side of the stream is covered in jagged rocks, and I know damn well I can’t make it over those. I take a few steps forward, intending on just edging myself around them, and they don’t even sense my movements. My brows furrow while I lean down and grab a hefty branch by my feet, lifting it up as I’ve seen Maverick hold his axe. Walking closer to the zombies, I can smell their rancid stench emanating off of them, and they don’t even flinch when the tree branch brushes up against them. “What the hell?” I mutter under my breath, and that gets the attention of the zombie closest to me. She limps her way towards me, and I don’t move a muscle as she sniffs directly at my shoulder before she stumbles away with the rest of them. As soon as they are a few feet away, I toss the branch and run like hell.

Lungs burning with the exertion, sore muscles continuing to strain as I run through the trees. The sun is officially setting when I burst through the edge of the forest, leaning down to brace myself on my knees as I catch my breath. Staring at the ground, my toes are touching the edge of an asphalt road. I just stay there and stare at it like I’ve never seen one before. I think I’m in shock at this point. Finally I lean back up and sweep my gaze up and down the road that is lined by dense forest on both sides, with no road markers. My feet step up onto the road, and I almost sigh with the smooth feeling that lies under my feet while my gaze sweeps left and right. “Eenie, meanie, miney, moe.” I say before choosing to walk right down the deserted road. It’s almost eerie how quiet it is out here, and it has goosebumps erupting on my skin. I trudge down the road until it’s well past dark, barely being able to see the few feet in front of me, and then I hear it. A sound that I haven’t heard in weeks, a rumble and roll of tires as a vehicle comes closer. I turn towards the noise, stopping in the middle of the road as headlights flash over my body, blinding me. I throw up my arm to shield my eyes, and I hope to god that they decide to stop, but I brace myself for the impact anyways. The screech of tires reaches my ears, and I heave out a relieved breath. A door squeaks open, and then I hear the voice that I thought I’d never hear again. “Little one, is that you?” His deep voice reaches my ears, and I drop down to my knees in sobs. I jerk back when rough hands touch my arms, but then his warm arms start to envelop me, and it starts to feel like I'm finally home.

ChapterTwenty-Four

MAVERICK

Ilost her. She slipped right through my fingers just like the water she vanished into. The only thing left of her is her muddy pink boot that I have tied around my neck like some morbid necklace. I’ve been walking for hours, and I’m completely exhausted. My body feels like it has been yeeted off of the highest cliff, and I’m really feeling my age right now. I stumble over a branch and fall to my knees on the hard ground. I hurl curses at the inanimate object, screaming out into the darkness, “Fuck!” with all my might until my voice starts to crack. I shake my head, leaning back to look up at the stars, “God, I’m fucking pathetic.” Pushing myself to my feet, I set off walking again, breaking through the dense trees out onto an asphalt sea. I heave out a relieved breath just to be out of the uneven terrain. I start to trudge down the road, up the road, whichever way you want to call it, until I see a looming object in the distance. Quickening my pace, an RV comes into view, making me come to a stop and look at my surroundings.

The crickets chirping is the only noise that reaches my ears. Stealthily I move towards the RV, peering into the lowest window I can reach and seeing nothing but black space. I curse under my breath, “Fuck it,” and move towards the door. My hand wraps around the handle, pulling it open on soundless hinges, revealing the space within. The RV dips down a bit as I enter it, taking tentative steps up the stairs. The space is bigger than it looks, housing a whole kitchenette with a fold-out table. Turning to the left, I peer down the hall, spying another door and a large bed at the end, and my shoulders drop at the lovely sight. Before I can take another step forward, I’m grabbed from behind, a hand wrapping around my mouth and the other one pointing a gun at my temple. My body freezes, and I almost chuckle at my rookie mistake.

“You have five seconds toquietlyconvince me not to kill you. If you wake my girl up, I won’t even hesitate.” A laugh rumbles through my chest, his hand muffling the sound. “The fuck are you laughing for?” He taps the gun against my temple then lowers his hand from my mouth so I can speak.

“Long time no see, Ghost.” I chuckle, a smirk marring my face as I slowly turn towards him. Our eyes connect and understanding flashes through his. “Never thought I’d be relieved to see your ugly mug again.” We stare at each other, the awkward silence grows thick until he reaches out and hugs me, patting me on the back roughly before letting me go again. Usually I’d scoff at the gesture, but I’m so worn down that I don’t even flinch at his touch.

“Fuck, Mav, you look like hell. How did you get here? Where’s Aspen? Shit, let’s go outside and talk so we don’t wake up Rue.” His questions fire out at a rapid pace, and my brain is too exhausted to answer them that fast as he ushers me back down the stairs and out the door. I drop to my ass on the ground, back propped up by one of the RV wheels. “Where’s Aspen?” He asks again before plopping down a few feet away from me.

“She’s dead.” I say after clearing my throat, memories of that night flash rapidly through my mind, making me cringe.

“Did you kill her? After everything we did to get her out?” His scolding voice cuts through me like a knife.

“I killed her because Ihad to,Ghost. She was sick… I didn’t know until it was too late.” I say as I drop my head back against the RV. I never cared for Aspen as much as I do Mallory, but she was still a good chunk of my life.

“Fuck. You okay, man?” His concern would be laughable, but I tell he really means it.

“Not really. I mean, I’m over her death if that’s what you mean. It was about a month ago, I would say. Fuck, Ghost, I don’t even know where to start right now.” I say, scrubbing my hands over my face in exasperation as he waits patiently for me to keep talking. “The day after you and Rue left, I found Aspen in our room; she had already turned, so I uh… yeah, anyways, I burned the house down, and then I set off to wherever the fuck. While I was walking I found someone, but now she’s lost, and I’m a fucking mess.” My voice cracks at the end, and I punch the ground with my fist, berating myself for being a fucking pussy right now.

“You found someone? Who? Where is she now?” Ghost’s arms are now leaning over his knees as he looks at me with genuine interest. “Don’t give me that fucking look. Just take my kindness for what it is right now, yeah?” I heave out a sigh and nod my head.

“Her name is Mallory.” He gives me a funny look when I say her name, but doesn’t comment on it. “I found her tied between some trees about to be raped by some assholes. Fuck, man, she was beautiful hanging up there, her eyes shining with tears, and those goddamned pink heels still strapped to her feet. I killed those fuckers and took her with me. She’s… everything that I wanted Aspen to be. She’s my perfect little Pet.” He smirks at me, nodding as he fully understands what I’m saying and motions for me to continue. “We ended up in a boat going down the swamp the other night during the storm.”

“Shit, I remember that night! That storm about blew this fucking RV over.” He growls with an annoyed shake of his head.

“Yeah, wasn’t really a fun time. The boat tipped over, and we got separated.” I hold up her pink boot, waving it at him. “This is hers; I found it stuck in the mud down the bank. I have no idea where she is, but fuck man, I need to find her…” Ghost stares at me, examining my expression, and he must find what he’s looking for when he nods at me in acceptance.

“Okay, we’ll help you find her, but Rue won’t be happy. She has her mind set on us getting to Florida.”

“Oasis?” I say, and confusion zooms through both of us.

“How do you know about Oasis?” He questions, leaning forward more on his haunches.

“Mallory told me about it.” Ghost nods his head, his expression contemplative.

“Rue said she has a friend named Mallory… Do you think?” His thoughts are going in the same direction as mine are, our expressions identical as we contemplate this new revelation.

“Mallory has mentioned Rue and Noah, but I guess I never pieced that together. I… I don’t want to get Rue’s hopes up if it really is Mallory. Only one of us needs to be heartbroken if she’s truly gone.” Ghost nods in agreement.

“I’ll talk to Rue when she wakes up in the morning, just telling her that you’re looking for your Pet.” He says with a smirk. “But I’m going to warn you, I don’t think Rue will be very receptive to your appearance. She’s pissed at how you treated Aspen.” He ends his words with a chuckle.

“If it’s any consolation, I treat Mallory much better. She’smine.” The seriousness in my gaze conveys all the words that I don’t have the energy to say right now.

“Come on, you look like you’re about to drop dead. You can sleep on the floor.” Ghost rises to his feet, walks back to the door, and motions for me to follow after him. Once we enter the space, he leaves me standing in the kitchen area and walks towards the back of the RV. I watch him leave before sliding down to the floor and stretching out on my back with a groan. A few seconds later a pillow and a blanket are dropped on my face. “Here, get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.” I salute him, tuck the pillow under my head, and wrap the blanket around me. It doesn’t take me long before I drift off into a dreamless sleep.

* * *

“What the fuckis he doing here?” The screech penetrates my ears as I’m thumped on the head with something soft. “Get out!” The thump comes again, but harder, jostling my eyes open. Rue’s small form is looming over me with a pillow in her hands, ready to strike again. Her eyes narrow as she brings the pillow down hard against my face.

“Ghost, restrain your girl before I do it for you.” I growl out as my fists clench. Ghost’s hand snakes up and around to hold the collar on Rue’s neck with a smirk marring his face.

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