Break Free The Night (Book 1) (27 page)

             
“
Nobody is shooting her
!”
Nick roared, flying from the wall and standing inches from Quinto
n’
s face, his body creating a barrier between Emma and Quinton. Kaylee reached down to squeeze Emm
a’
s hand, both in reassurance and in warning to keep her mouth shut. Quinton had
n’
t moved an inch; his expression remained as relaxed as before
.“I’
ll kill you myself if you even so much a
s
—”

             
“I’
m not a murderer
,”
Quinton interrupted coolly
.“
But if she is infected and she ask
s
—”

             
“
No
,”
Andrew growled, coming to stand beside Nick. Kaylee had not noticed until that moment just how tall Andrew had grown. He was now taller than her father, his shoulders just as broad. They were an imposing sight.

             
“
We should
n’
t even be discussing this
,”
Anna said, her voice cracking slightly
.“I’
m removing the restraints. W
e’
ll see from there
.
”

              Nobody argued as Anna bent to untie Emma, though every eye was on her. Emma whispered her thanks as Anna helped her to sit up and one by one every spectator but Kaylee and Andrew filtered out of the room.

~

              On Ann
a’
s suggestion, Kaylee officially moved into the infirmary. Despite allowing Anna to untie Emma in the end, Bill was still clearly not okay with it. He had grumbled to Quinton that Emma could turn in the middle of the night, kill Kaylee and then wander down the stairs to the next room, his, and do the same. Anna had overheard and went off on him again, really yelling this time. In the end, she said she would just keep Emma with her.

             
“
That way, when she gets hungry, you wo
n’
t have to worry.
I’
ll be there instead
,”
she jeered. Emma had laughed nervously but Kaylee just felt nauseated. She was
n’
t worried that Emma was in danger any longer. It had been four days. Even when the infection first started to spread, at least one symptom was always visible by four days. She had no problem with the thought of sharing a room with her sister. Oddly enough, she did have a problem with sleeping alone. So when Anna suggested all three of them share the infirmary, which was more than big enough, she gladly agreed.

              And she was happy she did too. That first morning she woke up in her new room, she had rolled right out of bed and got down on the floor. She had no idea how to do what she wanted to do but she knew why she had to, ever since her sprint from the infected with Jack there had been a niggling worry in the back of her mind. Emma being bitten and her fathe
r’
s reaction and, well, everything to do with Jack had eclipsed it for a while. But that morning, it could no longer be ignored. Kaylee needed exercise.

             
“
Wha
t’
re doing
?”
Emma sniggered, her voice raspy from sleep.

             
“
Sit-ups
,”
Kaylee replied, crossing her good arm over her injured arm on her chest and straining her upper body upwards.

             
“
Why
?”
Emma snorted through a laugh. But instead of answering, Kaylee concentrated on her breathing. It was already coming harder. She noticed Anna prop herself up on her elbow to watch. Instead of mocking her, like her sister was, Anna slipped out of bed and dropped to the floor next to Kaylee.

             
“
I used to do yoga
,”
she said, wedging her toes under her low bed frame and folding her body up into a sit-up position
.“
We could try that later, if you want
.
”

             
“
Thanks, yeah
,”
Kaylee said, breathing out forcefully while counting off in her head.

              Ten, eleven, twelv
e
…

              She did
n’
t want to say it, not out loud, and not to Emma, but the more and more Kaylee thought about it, the more she was worried about how she had felt when running with Jack from the infected.

              They were so fast.

              And Kaylee was so slow; and out of breath and sore and achy.  And it was
n’
t just her bruises and scrapes. She was seriously out of shape. She did
n’
t ever want to be caught in that situation again. Next time, if she had to run, sh
e’
d run fast.

              Emma grunted and rolled back over, turning her back on Anna and her sister. Kaylee ignored her. Anna was still going strong, faster and longer than Kaylee could. She fell back on the worn wooden floor, sucking air in through pursed lips.

             
“
Do
n’
t worry about it Kay
,”
Anna murmured, slowing down and watching Kaylee
.“
W
e’
ll keep working on it. Yo
u’
re young, it wo
n’
t take long
.
”

             
“
Thanks
.
”

             
“
Some running would help too, maybe sprints on the rooftop
?
”

             
“
Yeah, okay
,”
Kaylee agreed
.“
Now
?
”

             
“
Sure, why not
.
”

              They shut the door to Emm
a’
s muttered
,“
Yo
u’
re both nuts
!
”

~

              A knock sounded, faint compared to the noise from outside. Glass shattered, the infected moaned and shrieked, the thuds of broken fists and feet against closed doors echoed. A rising sun cast their room in brilliant hues, setting the glass of her lone picture frame shining a bright, blinding white. Kaylee threw off her covers, completely dressed, shoes on, to let Andrew into the room.

             
“
Su
n’
s up. You ready
?”
he whispered, motioning for Kaylee and Emma to follow him. Emma nodded, shoving her feet in her worn sneakers and hurrying past Ann
a’
s already empty bed. Andrew held the door wide for both girls, the last to follow Kaylee into the hall.

             
“
Yo
u’
re sure, Kay
?”
Emma whispered, catching up to her sister.

             
“
Jack said today
.
”

              He had caught her, earlier that morning before the sun had risen. Heat had raced up her arm at his touch as he pulled her from the hall and into her old bedroom.

              It was funny because for over a year it had been her room, but she had felt awkward and nervous when she entered. He slept there now, with Quinton. It was their room for as long as they stayed. An indefinable feeling flared in Kayle
e’
s chest at the sight of his leather jacket tossed over her old bed, the covers rumpled, the sheet pulled back.

             
“
Your father does
n’
t want you to know this and he does
n’
t want you there, but he, Anna, Bill, Quinton, and I are all meeting in the garage at sunrise
.”
His hand ghosted from her upper arm to her wrist, lightly tracing the contours of the brace she still wore, a wake of goose bumps trailing his calloused fingertips.

             
“
I, hmm
?”
she murmured, focused too entirely on the feel of his skin, on the way his eyes caught and held hers. He chuckled before he kissed her lightly.

             
“
Focus Kaylee
,”
he murmured. Kaylee recognized the laugh teasing in his tone, but she felt her eyes drift shut anyway at his proximity. But then he was backing away, smirking at her now from across the room. She cleared her throat.

             
“
As I was saying, I think you should hear what has to be said
,”
Jack continued, ducking his head and hiding his grin as he sat on the bed. The metal springs creaked.

             
“
Right
,”
she answered, licking her lips as she felt a blush heat her cheeks
,“
the garage. Sunrise
.
”

             
“
They think that even if you wanted to, you would
n’
t be able to hear. All the noise, you know
?”
Kaylee nodded, already thinking of a way around it. A smile slowly overtook her features.

             
“
So, you know a way
?”
he asked, but he was smirking. He knew she did.

             
“
Make them meet by the workbench, okay
?
”

             
“
Done
.
”

             
“
I have to talk to Andrew
,”
she said, her hand already behind her, searching for the doorknob. Jack opened his mouth but shut it quickly, deciding against whatever it was he was going to say. He had frowned but nodded his head anyway as Kaylee had slipped outside.

             
“
Is it on
?”
Emma asked, turning to look back at Andrew as she hit the top step. He nodded
.“
Why ca
n’
t we hear it? Are
n’
t they there yet
?
”

             
“
The volum
e’
s down
,”
Andrew whispered
.“
Le
t’
s get closer first
.
”

              Kaylee reached the landing ahead of Emma and Andrew. She peered around the corner, but there was no real need for her caution. The kitchen was empty, as she knew it would be. By now everyone else would be gathered in the garage, hopefully by the workbench where Andrew had planted the large, black walkie-talkie that he had dug up out of the firehouse storage several months back. A stack of pennies was duct taped to the transmitter button, keeping it depressed and broadcasting.

              It was funny how important money had seemed before the infection swept the country. Metal and fabric and paper all pounded and pressed together and people fought and died and worried over it. And now, now there was nothing more useless. Kaylee found Emma flicking coins off the roof one day, Andrew copying her, attempting to hit the infected from above. She got a couple before Kaylee could reprimand her, they groaned and shrieked as the flying metal hit them. Kaylee had collected all the rest of the change and put it in a jar in her room. She did
n’
t take it for safekeeping or saving, but to keep Emma from torturing the people roaming the streets below. Just yesterday Kaylee saw Bill lighting the cook fire with ten-dollar bills. Really, it was such useless junk now.