Page 71 of Uprising

Reed

Ihold Noah against my chest as I watch the dead rip everyone apart. Their screams cut through the air, sharp and panicked. I should feel sad, but I don’t. Chaos unfolds below us, Jake trying to fight off three zombies as they grab onto him, their teeth sinking into his arm.

Emptiness—no shock, no sorrow or guilt. It’s wrong, I know that, but the only person I care about is crying silently into my chest. They were all dead before the herd of zombies came. The group had no protection; they let the kids run around like it was just a normal Tuesday.

What if I hadn’t followed Noah?

My arms tighten around Noah at the thought. I don’t want to think what would have happened to him if I wasn’t here. There’s no time to play the what-if games.

Slowly everyone’s cries below fade until there’s nothing but the barn creaking from the wind. Noah keeps an iron grip on my shirt, afraid I might disappear.Never again.Even if I have to handcuff him to me, he’s not going to be alone again. I can feel his fear seeping out of him.

We can’t sit here any longer. Noah doesn’t need to see all his new friends dead. Gathering my bearings, I let my old training kick in. I need to get to higher ground so that way I can see a vantage point. We need a path to escape from.

Blowing out a silent breath, I climb to my feet, Noah’s legs wrapping around my waist. I smile, a chuckle almost escaping. He’s like a koala bear, refusing to let me go.

“Love, we need to move,” I whisper into his ear. Brushing one of his curls behind his ear. Noah shakes his head against me, his arms and legs tightening around me. I know he’s scared, and I need to be patient with him. But right now we don’t have time.

“Noah, we need to move; we don’t have time.”

Noah peeks up at me, his eyes bloodshot, tears running down his face. My heart breaks for him. I wish I could sit here with him in my arms for longer, letting him break.

“I promise once we’re somewhere safe you can fall apart. I will hold you all day and night. But weneedto move, love.”

It takes Noah a minute before he loosens his grip, sliding down my front. Taking his hand, I tug him towards the loft ladder, moving fast and silent. I move up first, Noah hot on my trail. Reaching the skylight, I climb through onto the roof. Moving down some, Noah is quick to follow.

From above, I scan over the zombies and mangled bodies. Noah gasps beside me before shoving his face into my back. I grit my teeth, hating every second we’re up here. Turning around, I pull Noah around to the back of the barn. Nothing. There’s nothing but trees. This is probably the best news. We couldeasilyclimb down, run around the barn, and off to the woods. It’s going to be tricky, and I’m going to need to convince Noah. Should be easy.

I don’t waste time, pulling him back towards the skylight. I can feel Noah wanting to ask questions, but thankfully he doesn’t. Easing my way down the ladder, my pulse hammers in my ears as I keep an ear out for the zombies while keeping an eye on Noah.

Each movement almost feels too loud—too slow. My boots hit the ground, but I don’t stop. I move across the barn to the back, eyeing the back door. Each step feels calculated; my muscles coil, and that stupid beating organ in my chest thumps against my ribcage. Keeping Noah behind me, I pull the door open, the hinges creaking. I grit my teeth, hating every little sound. I hold my breath—waiting, listening. When nothing comes, I’m the first to slip through, Noah following.

The sound of gunfire jerks my attention to the front of the barn. Pain explodes through me—hot and sudden—but my mind barely registers. I step in front of the door, not allowing Noah out while Jake stands in front of me. I don’t know how he’s here, alive, but here the fucker is. And he’s holding a gun at us.

“J–Jake?” Noah stutters. I feel him move against my back, but I move to the side, blocking him.

“Noah, stay back.” I growl.

“YOU!” Jake yells. My shoulder was on fire; I clenched my teeth, my hands forming into fists at my side. This isn’t the first time I’ve been held at gunpoint, but it is the first time I’ve had someone behind me. Someone I care about—someone I love.

“It’s your fault.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” I frown. Normally I’m good at reading people and understanding their motives. Clearly he blames me for the herd attacking, but I don’t get why. I’ve barely made a sound.

“Jake,” Noah hisses, trying to move around me again.

“Noah,” I snapped.

“We were fine without you! It’s your fault. It’s all your fault!” He screams. Scanning over his body, multiple bite marks bleed profusely. He’s going to bleed out and become one of those things.

From the corner of my eye, I notice three zombies eyeing us. Flesh hangs from their mouths, blood coating their faces. I don’t move or speak. Waiting for the right moment.

“Jake, please, j–just let us go.” Noah tries to plead with him. But there’s no bargaining with someone this out of their mind. He’s losing more and more blood, and he just watched his family get ripped apart. He’s not thinking straight. Thankfully Noah can’t see the zombies moving closer, or he would yell at Jake to turn around.

“I can’t. I can’t. It’s all his fault—he ruined EVERYTHING!” Jake screams.

“And you’re about to be zombie chow,” I mutter. Confusion flickers across his face. His grip loosens just slightly around the gun as he thinks about my words. It’s then when he hears the gurgle sounds that he whips his head around, only it’s too late. The three zombies lunge at him, their teeth sinking into his flesh again.

Noah gasps, a choked sob echoing around the barn. In one swift motion, I grab Noah's wrist and yank him forward. With no hesitation, I pulled him towards the woods. My feet pound against the ground, my heart hammering against my chest as Jake’s screams fade.

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