This is the End 2(656)

“Even in the Zombie Apocalypse,” I nodded with feeling.

“You’re a strange, surprisingly sentimental girl, Reagan. I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“Then don’t,” I quickly ordered him. “It’s weird talking about my virginity with you, even if it’s in the context of saving your immortal soul.”

Vaughan’s head dropped, chin to chest and I couldn’t tell if he was irritated with me, or laughing at me. “It’s weird talking about my brother’s sex life too. Probably that breaks some kind of man code.”

“Probably” I giggled.

“Stop moving!” A deep but young masculine voice shouted from a to-be-determined location. “Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air!”

“Shit,” Vaughan cursed under his breath, but immediately complied. His two handguns hit the forest floor with a dull thud.

This surprised me some- but only because I expected him to pull out an oozie from somewhere hidden in his cargo pants and engage first. Obviously that was not possible and the few guns a piece with limited ammo was not going to cut it when we couldn’t even see the body attached to the voice.

Vaughan lifted his hands above his head and shot me a look that demanded I do the same. I shook my head.

“No way,” I bit out.

“Reagan,” he growled in a warning voice.

“Drop your weapons!” A second voice shouted, angry and demanding.

“That sounds like a terrible idea,” I taunted. “Why don’t you come get them?”

Silence.

From them. Not from Vaughan.

“Reagan, do you trust me?” he whispered. His eyes were pleading with me to do just that, but my stubborn pride was getting in the way. I wanted to feel fear and anxiety over yet another new threat, but the irritation that we had somehow managed to get caught- again- was pumping through my blood louder and fiercer than the appropriate terror I should be experiencing.

“Vaughan, your brothers,” I whispered.

A haunted look of panic crossed his expression but his jaw clenched with frustration. “Trust me.” It was a silent plea and I was almost ready to submit.

A snapping branch to our left had us both swirling around when a strong arm clasped around my waist from behind and the cold metal of a large barreled gun pressed against my temple. We were completely distracted and they had managed to trap us. This was so not how I imagined our gallant rescue going.

In a smug and somewhat arrogant voice I declared to Vaughan, “I told you the woods were a terrible idea!”





Chapter Two



“Son of a bitch,” I hissed, loathing the feel of captivity and helplessness.

“Instead of talking about my mother,” a growly voice I’d never heard before warned in a slow southern drawl. His voice rumbled against my head, rolled down my neck and skittered across my spine. I hated him instantly- whoever he was. But even my hatred could not outweigh the suffocating feeling of foreboding that carried in the air as he spoke. “Why don’t you obey the command?”

The muscled arm tightened around my waist and my breathing picked up with the pulsing fear I finally felt. Vaughan spun around and took a lunging step forward. He plucked his remaining gun from the back of his pants and had it cocked and aimed at the stranger pressing his chest into my body in half a second.

The other two voices appeared then, both behind Vaughan, and as if out of thin air. Their guns were aimed at his head in another breath and their threat and intent clear. Their arms were straight and steady, their bodies wound for the attack.

I shook my head and pressed my lips together. With a steadying breath, I clicked the safety on the handgun I was holding with my right hand and then dropped it to the ground. I reached into my waistband and pulled out my second weapon, dropping it at my feet as well. Both of my hands felt empty and useless. My entire spirit deflated with defeat and frustrated tears pricked at the corner of my eyes- but I would in no way give into them.

The rest of my guns were pressed against my back in my canvas backpack as my captor leaned into my body and held me close to him. Fractures of anxiety sparked and crackled all over my skin. I did not like this guy touching me.

Not at all.

Vaughan’s arms and hands were steady while he did not remove his threat, even after I lost my weapons- or at least some of them. I looked at him, begging him to lose his final gun. I was stubborn before, but the tables were turned. I wouldn’t lose him. I wouldn’t be responsible for something happening to him.

“I trust you,” I promised in a low, vulnerable voice. My stomach churned with anxiety and my breathing was quick and panicked.