Page 28 of Desiderium
I see him there... trapped... on the beach. One ofthemis on his back, scratching and clawing at him, while at least a half a dozen others surround him, doing the same.
Pressing in on him.
Surrounding him.
Refusing to let him escape.
“Shit,” Hawk exclaims just as he lifts his gun, aiming and shooting at the resurrected bodies as they attempt to flank Cole’s position. Unfortunately, that only helps Cole a little since Hawk can’t take the risk of hitting those closer to him, or Jax for that matter. He’s simply thinning the heard.
They’re relentless and determined. Persistent in their want and need. Their hunger... undeniably terrifying.
I can’t stay here...Need to help him... Now...
Hawkcontinues shooting, never taking his eyes off his targets, but sharply cuts a leg in front of me when I move to take a step toward the chaos, his large body blocking mine and my restless urge to get to Cole. “Stay here, Aly. Jax will get there in time.” From what I can see from his profile, his eyes and facial expression are fury incarnate, but his voice is as calm as a morning sunrise.
“But—”
“Look, Aly. Jax is right there. He’ll get him. Don’t worry.” Hawk indicates with his chin as he continues to take more and more of them out.
Turning my gaze to where Hawk directed, I see Jax further out, running to where Cole is huddled on the ground, but he’s still fighting his own entourage as he closes the distance. I’ve half a mind to race past Hawk and make my way back to him anyways but stop myself once again.
First of all, I can’t swim for shit, barely managing to keep my head above the water as it is.
And, second, I know Jax would still get there before I do and, knowing me, I’d just get in the way.
I watch impatiently as Cole struggles, trying to flip over, kicking and punching any which way he can but more and more keep flocking to where he’s fallen. They must have been closer than we thought.
Cole stretches his arms, reaching for something in front of him. It’s then I realize, he no longer has his rifle. It’s on the ground... about five feet away from his outstretched fingers.
Shit.
I’m sure he still has his knife, and maybe his sidearm, but it might not be enough. And that’s if he’s even able to reach it or remember that hehasit while fighting against their increasing numbers.
“Come on Cole, get up. Move!”
I can see him grunt his effort as they pin him down. There are simply too many of them, surrounding him so completely I almost can’t see him anymore. It’s only been a minute or so. But a minute might be too little too late if Jax doesn’t make it there in time. My breath hitches at the thought of losing him.
No.
Not like this.
Fuck this.
Over my dead body.
I stubbornly push myself through the water. Back toward the beach.Back to Cole. I don’t have time to think about the repercussions. My muscles and limbs move even without my brain willing it so. Despite the danger it puts me in, Ineedto get to him, Ineedto help him, but Hawk stops me, once again, with a hand on my shoulder before I even manage to get more than a few feet away.
“Fuck.Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“But…”
He wrenches me back with an arm around my waist, makes me look into his stern and serious eyes and, with anurgently terrifying voice I haven’t heard come out of his mouth until this very moment, says, “Aly, stay in the fucking water.” I open my mouth to reply but he continues before I can utter a sound. “No Aly. No ifs. No buts. Just listen and don’t fucking move. You’re safer in the water. I’ll be right back.” Hawk turns and leaves me just as Jax shows up at Cole’s position, the rest of the horde still charging toward them, closing the distance quickly.
Between the bullets and his fists, Jax manages to take out a few within their vicinity just as Hawk reaches them. Together, they manage to subdue the immediate threats and check over Cole quickly, but before long the remainder of the undead mass is on them once again.
Jax picks up Cole, heaving him over his shoulder in a fireman carry, and runs towards the water but the dead are closing in, surrounding them from every direction even with Cole and Hawk shooting as many as they can.
I suddenly don’t care what Hawk told me to do.
